[riverboatking]

[ QUOTE ]
If villian isn't a player, then his preflop raise isn't a speculative hand or a low pocket pair, right? That means it's a big pair or big overcards. Him checking the flop is pretty revealing, I think, the only hands that fit in those categories that he checks the flop with are KK (he's probably trying to find a way to get the money in and froze up) or a lower big PP like QQ - TT (because he is straight forward and afraid of the K). I don't think he checks this flop with AK or AA. He also wouldn't raise you on the turn with QQ - TT just to see if you have anything since it's a protected pot due to the short stack going all in, so basically I don't think he is making a move here and I'm actually kind of worried. Am I totally off?

[/ QUOTE ]

you pretty much summed up my thinking.
i couldn't think of any hand he would check the flop with and then raise the turn besides KK.
however one aspect i failed to mention in my OP was that the shortstack all-in player, is an habitual bluffer.
that adds a wrinkle to the plot, as the villian may think i am trying to isolate the all-in, and therefore may be raising with a wider range of hands.
however it should be known that i have a pretty solid table image. while i mix up my play, and definately play a wide range of hands preflop, i generally get a lot of respect in my postflop play.