I"m a ring game player. Was in a freeroll today payiing spots 1-5, 40 entrants, first pays $200.

I was about 3rd in cips with about 14 players left. Tourney chip leader is newly seated at my table. He raises 4-6 straight hands in a row since sittlng down. He has about 8k I have about 6.5k.

He open raises my bb for 600t with the bb being 150t.
I had A6o and pushed. He had AK and took it.

Obvioulsy I made a mistake and am looking for feedback that will be helpful, hopefully someone can provide feedback that is not specific to this hand in isolation.

Should a better line have been to wait until he raised my bind the next round or the round after that if I get a worse hand than A6 next round?

Should I just let him control the table?
Should I play defensively and allow him to force me to pick up a hand?
Should I reraise to say 1500 pre and push a non broadway flop?
Should I flat call and checkraise the flop?

Oh yeah, the tables were playing 5 max.

I figured his range was any 2 and he would fold prob 90% to my push there. I'm looking for helpful feedback. Thanks.

You should not be worried about him stealing anything from you. Remember that he is one of the only people that can knock you out here.

If he is running over the table, you want to go to battle with a stronger than normal hand. You have no incentive to try to make a move. The blinds are not pushing you, you are not trying to move up ITM at that point. The only way that you should be going against him is with a monster hand UNTIL he proves that he will lay down to pushes. IF he has given no indication that he will lay a hand down, then you cannot outplay him by pushing an iffy hand.

The bigger question is why do you feel the need to get involved with this guy at all? You seem like you are looking to pick a fight with a big stack. One of the differences between tourneys and ring play is that you need to be very aware of chip differentials. You want to avoind marginal hands against bigger stacks, because they can push you off/eliminate you and you want to take more chances against smaller stacks, because you can push them off hands/elimiate them if they make a mistake. I think a lot of ring players get into the mentality of "If he stacks me, I will rebuy and get it back as he is a maniac anyway", that just does not work in tourneys.

Tournament play is like having 1 bankroll to play with. You dont get the benefit of having a losing session. Granted its not quite as true in a freeroll, but you get the idea.

-Jus