Advice from friends:

These aren't my thoughts, so I'll quote:
My friend's basic strategy:

• Aggressive as hell until I get to at least 4-5K before 1st break. Then tight solid.
• After break, pick off small stacks only when in position. Avoid other big stacks.
• After second break (assuming I have 10-20K) ULTRA aggressive !!!! No free flops for anyone.
• With 2-3 tables left....back into slow down mode.
• At final table, I become a moron, so I can't give advice there as I am the king of 5th place finishes.
• 
  
• Situation 1 - You are a chip leader at final table: YOu MUST be consevative here and let other people blow themselves up.
• Situation 2 - You are short stacked at final table: You must be aggressive here and look to get into coin toss situations with other players to double up.
• Situation 3 - You are a medium stack at final table: Aggressive aganst all small stacks and avoid ALL confrontations with big stacks. PERIOD !!!! (Note: this can be TOUGH, as you often seem to get your "good hands" when a big stack is already playing the hand. Just be patient though and do not play versus the big stacks.)
  

Another response...
i like to just chill and get top 3 unless im getting amazing cards(rarely happens) if not then i just relaz and let them knock each other out

This is the best advice I've ever gotten, thanks 10691069:

This is how I try to play in a nutshell. Here is my advice and I think the reason I have had some success. Be very patient. Play the top hands only. Don't call early position with hands like 109off or qjoff and even when you call late with those hands and are raised by a later player don't feel like you have to call. Play premium hands, call with low pocket pairs, suited high cards, raise above the minimum with any hand you raise with. Raising 1x the blind is meaningless, If you gonna raise, RAISE and then have a planned amount of bluff chips if need be for the flop. Then know when to get out if reraised or other player calls your flop bet and you don't have nothing by the turn. Check the turn and get out. Not sure if any of this helps, but you must be patient. Look for big hands out in early position. See flops on your small blind and big blinds and flop two pair. I get alot of my chips by playing horrible cards on my bb or sb. No chasing flushes or straights when you can't afford it. Most players never win because they play horrible hands and chase. It takes alot of luck to be at a final table, but it takes more skill