10/20, 3-betting on the button with cheese

[coolhandkuhn]

I caught some flack for this play after the hand was over, but I still feel like it was a good play. Typical 10/20 game...a few donators, a few rocks, and the rest kinda-ok. I play tight, to the point where it's noticeable to even the fish. Anyway, I'm on the button, it's folded to the CO +1 and he raises. It looks like a steal raise, and he's a good enough player to try this with a lot of hands. CO folds and I decide to three bet with Q-10 of diamonds, to get the hand heads-up, and steal the pot on the flop when CO +1 doesn't hit. I figure my image allows me a little more leeway, as a three bet from me isn't usually less than jacks. Good or bad play?

Back to the hand: small blind folds, but big blind (good player) calls, as does CO +1. Sh*t, so much for easily picking up the pot on the flop. Flop comes Q-10-4, rainbow. Hello!! Big blind bets out, CO +1 gets out of the way, I raise, BB makes it 3, and I cap. (Should I have just called the 3 bet and waited for the turn to pop it?). Checked to me on the turn (non-pairing rag), I bet it and get called. River is another rag, no flush possible. Checked to me and I bet and get called, and my hand is good. My main question is how bad is the 3 bet pre-flop, when used sparingly, against a possible steal? I thought it was a pretty good play, and was glad to have had the chance to show that I 3 bet with crap, in the hopes that future 3 bets will give me more action. Also, the flop cap --- standard, or do I wait 'til the turn to pop him (assuming he bets it out)? FWIW, opponent showed his pocket kings after the hand was over.