First, in these higher stakes, I have found that it is best to play your normal game but add a little bit of creativity.  These guys generally understand lines, what they mean and are willing to fold bigger hands which allows you to pull off lines that you could not in lower buy in tourneys.  This adds some variance to my play but also makes me a little less predictable than the ABC poker I play at lower buy ins.  On the other side of this coin, sometimes, just because I am playing against what I perceive as craftier players it causes me to level myself into a bad move, I am still trying to figure out a balance.    

       Now to the hand, I am sure most of these guys have shark scoped you which gives you a meta-game image, which is what I call a conclusion someone comes to based on the info they have available without actually seeing you play.  Online it is sharkscope, the bluff dB ect, live it is your dress, your age etc.  You are playing WAY above your normal buy in, this means they are thinking you are scared money, just like you stated, wanting to do everything you can to move up the pay ladder and not making stabs to win the big prizes (1-3). Think about this and use it.  I do not mind flatting to induce a 4 bet jam scenario, but I prefer a raise.   Using our “meta-game” image it screams strength because you should never be raising light and we are able to range our opponents much easier and we can find out where we are for 5k in chips instead of the 6.5k you have invested after the flop raise.

     As played in referance to the check raise, I still think he is playing off your metagame image.  If you call you are down to 20BB and undoubtably be faced with a turn raise that would represent half of your remaining stack and he knows this.  To me, this decision is for your tournament life, I jam and am happy about it for all the reasons stated, not to mention I rarely give UTG raises any credit.

FkCoolers said:

Since the only real scare card is a King, I’m tempted to check back flop to disguise hand strength. 

Why play so meekly?  I would say another scare card is a J in addition to the K.  We always talk about being aggressive, and a check just seems soooo weak and opens doors for us getting out played.  I keep hearing Casey in my head, if you have a hand bet it, don't get cute.  Are you really playing a cat and mouse game with TPTK with 26 BBs behind at a final table?  When we get played back at do we always assume that we are beat?  I sure don't and even if NST comes back saying he was tighter than I drum I hate the check back.  This hand is not strong enough to sit and wait for him to improve his hand or to induce a raise.  At this stage of the tourney I am going for the chips and I will JAM eliminating the possibility of doubt creeping into my head if a J, K, pairing cards other than the Q hits on the turn or even a 4 or 9 to complete the straight.  If he hit a set, congrats man, or if I happen to run up againt As or Ks, nice hand.

I also do not like calling the flop with the intention of calling a JAM on the turn, I would rather put him to the decision on the flop.

(of course hearing Casey talk about Js like they are the end all be all nut hand on a 3 card fl board during the last TPE Live podcast worries me a bit)