I doubt anyone is still reading this, but here's my $0.02 (probably worth even less than that)

While I don't really disagree with much of what was posted - lots of good ideas for me to take into consideration - I do disagree with Rippy's assertion that the only way to make it late into a tournament is to double up early and then leverage the table to get higher. Skilled opponents, if they double up early, will probably leverage to the last and efficiently at that. In many games I've seen though, the big stacks *don't* use leverage when they're on the bubble. Especially when there are two or three big stacks (at a single table SnG, for instance) with 5 people left and everyone else just above the starting chip size.

Because of that other big stack, i think they were afraid of using the leverage lest it backfire and *they* become a shortstack having leverage used against them to force them out of the bubble.

I've blind-stolen quite effectively from the large stacks in this manner *as a small stack* until, well, i'm threatening their chip lead. Granted, these people aren't very good (tournament) players, most likely, and so the result is a bit skewed.

I have a relatively short bankroll, so I'm not one to put up money for a tournament and blow it hoping to double up early. I want to get ITM and build my bankroll steadily, not win 1/4 Big.

..I'm getting off topic here.

So, in that example, having the A on the bigblind. I'd check raise. It's too early to check/call (though that can make people extremely nervous if you can command respect at the table). If I know enough about the person, i.e. he'll always represent the Ace, then I'd Check/Raise. If he re-raises, probably push all-in, force him to make the decision. If I don't know much about him, probably just lay it down, let him have the blinds and the small raise. No risk blowing it all; wait for more info on him, then use it against him.