I start with a couple weeks of 10s, then 8s, then a particularly long time with 5s because my body loves them, then 3s and so on down until I max.

I also think as you get up above 3 plates you have to start thinking about training based on the weak part of your lift. When you fail, where is it? Off the chest? About 1/3rd of the way up? At lockout?