[cpk]

This is probably a serious n00b question, but are you saying that you avoid justifying their optimistic calls by saying that you will refuse a huge river bet in case they get there? Or are you advocating overbetting the pot to eliminate implied odds?

For instance, the pot is $50, it's heads up, you have position, and you and your opponent each have $1000 behind. You have AA and the only credible draw is a gutshot. It's also possible for your opponent to have a set. But you know your opponent will also pay off reasonable bets with top pair.

Well, one thing you can do is to bet $100. A gutshot won't have the implied odds to call. But you'll also blow your opponent off of top pair. (Or will you?) But you'll definitely get at least called if he has a set. Probably just called, as with your overbet there's no need for him to build the pot.

You could bet $50 here, and you'll probably get at least called by TP, but now you've priced in a gutshot.

It seems like in this case there are competing desires. I want to get paid off if he just has top pair, but I don't want to risk getting stacked by a gutshot. Which desire should I give in to?