my initial post is a bit convoluted and my logic contradictory. my thinking on the flop was "he's not calling with anything worse and i dont want to build a big pot OOP with ace high" so i check. then on the turn the "hold up i have the initiative in this hand and it feels like a waste of AK to 3bet pre then c/f" idea kicked in which, you're exactly right sarbox, puts my hand pretty close to face up on the table (for any thinking opponent) as i am not checking AA,KK or QQ on that flop.

the turn bet was spewy and caused by the bad reasoning outlined above.

but im still stuck between b/f flop and c/f flop because i think i get called by every hand in his range that beats me and none that dont. what is your reasoning for 1/2 pot on flop sarbox? not that i'm criticising it, just trying to weigh up the merits of both c/f and b/f in this spot.