Semi-Bluffing in Early Position

[silverfist]

This comes up for me a lot. I get a good draw in early position (often because I play hands in the blinds I wouldn't normally play. How is it usually bet to play these hands? Here's an example from today:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

saw flop|saw showdown

MP (t2165)
CO (t700)
Button (t660)
Silverfist (t4585)
BB (t4225)
UTG (t1165)

Preflop: Silverfist is SB with 9, T.
3 folds, Button calls t30, Silverfist completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t90) A, 5, Q (3 players)
Silverfist bets t60, BB folds, Button calls t60.

Turn: (t210) K (2 players)
Silverfist checks, Button bets t120, Silverfist calls t120.

River: (t450) 7 (2 players)
Silverfist checks, Button bets t450 (All-In), Silverfist folds.

Final Pot: t900
Main Pot: t450 (t450), won by Button.
Pot 2: t450 (t450), returned to Button.

Results in white below:
Button doesn't show.
Outcome: Button wins t900.

Since I was only against 2 people, I bet the flop, and got called. Okay, I thought. Maybe I'll get my diamond (or jack, in this case). Oops, no cigar. So, what is the standard play?

1) Semi-Bluff again?
2) Check-Fold?
3) Check-Call then Check-Fold the turn (like I did)?

[_KO_]

I pot size bet the flop rather than 2/3 and then bet the turn strong, as well. Fold the turn if he re-raises, Check/Fold the river if he called the turn.

[gabe]

why is pot bet different than 2/3? bet enough to get the job done; no one is folding to a pot bet and calling a 2/3.

also, betting smaller when you know they will call anyway is giving you better odds to draw.

[Simius]

The flop bet seems reasonable enough, but I'm not sure about the call on the turn. I would still check I think, and depending on my read on the button either fold or make him have to call for all his chips. With the bet he made it looks like he has snagged a pair somewhere along the line and you're behind here I would imagine, but with any diamond or J probably being a live out you've at least got a decent chance with the reraise and if he doesn't have the A you could still scare him off there and then.

[_KO_]

why is pot bet different than 2/3? bet enough to get the job done; no one is folding to a pot bet and calling a 2/3.

also, betting smaller when you know they will call anyway is giving you better odds to draw.

The pot size bet is to show strength to one of the two stacks on the table that might fold to it if he's unsure of where he stands. More psychological than odds related with the blinds this small while working against the short stack. The show of strength also reinforces a strong turn bet, in my opinion. I wouldn't play it this way in all situations, but given Hero's stack strength and Villians stack weakness, this is how I'd play it.