Call me a jerk, but in ring games I almost always build a side pot even if I missed. I want to kick out the other players and go heads up with the desperate all-in guy with my ace high. And many times, I win this way.

Other times, I will do it to protect my hand. And many times I do it just to build a side pot to win because I know the all-in guy is going to be drawing towards the nuts for free.

I don't play tournaments though and I think that's where your concern is in question.

In live play you will see a lot of, "Want to check it down?" Unless this person is truly a friend I will always be the jerk and say no. (My current excuse is, "I don't play enough hands to do that. Sorry.")