Tribeca $.25/.$50 NL, full ring (9-handed).

I get AQ in the BB. MP, who raises a decent amount preflop but is not a maniac, is first in with a smaller-than-normal raise, to 3x. Button calls, and although I hate AQ oop it's only $1 more and I think he may be raising light this time so I call.

Pot $4.75, flop QT3 with 2 clubs. I have the . I decide it's time to try a check-raise instead of my normal lead-out. I check, MP bets $3, button calls $3, and I raise to $10. MP thinks for quite a while before calling. Button folds.

Pot is now $27.75, turn is an offsuit 6. My opponent started out a little bit shortstacked, and has $26 left.

I think for a while. I have obviously over-represented the strength of my hand so far. What I can't decide is whether he took so long to call because he was thinking about folding, or whether he was thinking about re-raising, or what. I only have TPTK, he was the PFR, and I'd feel like a total donk giving him my stack if he had KK or AA (or QQ/TT). He can't have [Kc] or anything similar because I have the .

What could he have called with that I'm beating?

What do I do now? Was the check-raise a terrible play here? If so, why? Should I have CRed stronger?

Help help!!

Maybe the CR was not really big enough to scare them all away. If he has a good draw, then he definitely wouldn't fold for $7 more. I'd probably make it $13 or so if I checkraise there. But then, I don't really like checkraising those drawy boards.
As played with the given stack sizes it seems really hard to get away now, so I'd just lead for the pot and hope he has a draw.

Btw, I don't think a squeeze preflop would be a bad idea here, if the first raiser is raising a lot, and the button flat calls you figure that they don't have hands to play a huge pot with.

The raise is to small IMO, you need to make it big enough that you make it appear that you are willing to put your whole stack in. Make it $15- $18. What is this guys preflop raising range? Id it possible he has KQ? KJ? This seems like a raise that he would have pushed with if he had an overpair. It could be a slow played 1010 or also another AQ. As this plays out I put him in, there is not enough depth of play you really cant make a bet and fold to a raise, or try to get out cheap by check calling, so I put him all in, if he has 1010, KK, AA oh well. At least by pushing you give yourself some fold equity is villian also has AQ.

i really like Ojingo idear of reraising preflop.
as played you dont have much choice, and i would put him all in on the turn.
on a side note i think you shoud CR into a short stack only if you r ready to play for their stack.