Hey everyone, I am new to this forum this is my first post, I just want some thoughts on what we do in this spot. I am new to playing live tournaments, today was my 2nd live tournament ever. I've been playing cash for a few years and do well, but I have struggled a bit in the last 2 tournaments I've played. I underestimated how tough tournaments can be, and thought that with my cash game experience the transition wouldn't be so significant. I was wrong on that one. Today was day 2 of the 100 k guarantee at Sugar House in Philly, and I started the day with 54,600 in chips, blinds at 1500/3000 with 500 antes. The first hand I got involved in, it folded around to the CO who raised it 2.5x. The button and sb fold and we have KQo. I have no reads on anyone, as I hadn't played with anyone at my table on day 1, and we were only a few minutes into the first level of the day. My thought process was with KQo I have blockers to all of the hands that crush me (QQ,KK,AQ,AK), and with only about 18 bb left I'm not sure I can fold a hand as good as KQo...not that it's a monster or anything. Also, since it was the start of day 2, and the first hand I played, I wanted to set the tone that I wasn't going to fold every hand but AA or KK verse a late position raise, and give everyone license to steal my bb. I feel as if we can find a fold here, potentially smooth call and take a flop, or shove. What do we do here?

Shove > Call >> Fold > Raise at these stack sizes.

Thanks for your response and I agree. Being completely new to tournaments I just wanted to make sure my thought process was on point and see what the consensus is on the standard play here.

No way that fold beats non all in raise, but I would shove, too.

shoving here all day

they're both terrible options. Anytime I'm putting 35%+ of my stack in pre and not shoving, it's got to be a very well thought out plan. I think it's a possibility with AA/KK, KQ less so.

Not that I'm advising OP to do it, but i'd be amazed if the math ev of 3betting non all in is worse than fold.

shove!

Probably a shove 99% of the time unless you get a stone read the guys a nit. You're too shallow to flat and unfortunately your hand is too strong to fold to a LP open

Default is to shove, but vs nits can see a flat being good.