[pergesu]

Sure looks like the first hand of the tourney. So you wouldn't know if this is a passive or aggressive table, unless you've played with a lot of the players before.

I think there are two ways you can approach this. First is to bet large, and be pretty sure you're beat when you're called. Nothing really wrong with that. The second way is to bet less, and not be entirely sure of where you're at when you're called. I think the second way is advantageous because it allows you to get more chips when you're ahead by expanding the range of hands he could logically call with, and lose less when you're behind. Seems like a reasonable formula for getting the most value out of this hand.

Betting larger tells you where you're at immediately..but it's not like you need to know that. "Defining" your hand is overrated. Do you really know more about your hand when it goes Hero: Bet Big Opponent: Call vs H: Bet Small O: Call, H: Check O: Bet? That should tell you the same thing (you're beat), and cost you less doing it. You'll also know when you're ahead and can make a VB on the river.