Have to bet. But how much ?

i think you should bet $2.50. makes the pot bigger on the river in the event you need to take it away, or you hit flush. also the ace is a good card to rep

I dont think i should continue on missed river though or do you like shove on blank. I had just lost a pretty decent pot before this hand, subjectively thinking would suggest im tilting shove prob get snapped with a 9. Or worse a 3 :[

short stacking

well if you intend to give up on river, check behind the turn. if you bet turn, but check blank rivers, its a problem because its inconsistent (in that you are repping a good hand flop and turn, but giving up a river where you cannot possibly win....especially if he checks) and if you dont intend to bet blank rivers as well as good ones, you might as well take the free card to draw for free, since you are saying 'hey, i dont have a king or an ace'.

if you bet, and he calls, the check calls river on flush or 4 rivers, you get paid, and you can induce tilt in him. also the pot will be bigger instead of checking then betting a good river (you earn less money). also if you bet and he calls, then check calls a river, you get to see what hands he is playing like this (most likely heart draw played passively that makes a pair, a weak ace he decided to float and then flat with, or a random King that he stubbornly wont fold) and he sees you bluff, which makes it more likely he will call you with weaker hands when you bet for value on all streets with good hands.

aggression is good, especially in heads up, and you are getting a chance to dictate the tempo and put him on the defensive. if you bet too small you allow him to continue to draw, or make it easier for him to stick around with 9s and weaker kings, as it doesnt look all that convincing you are strong. if you check, you give up any chance of bluffing a river, and are surrendering your pf and flop bets, as well as making it clear you will cbet and give up.

the ace of spades is a really good card for you



****All of this in my humble opinion***

wreckognize, you do realize there is an instrinsic edge to shortstacking vs full stacking, especially since just about every Hu reg plays absolutely horrible against a short stack?

he's not ratholing (short stack hit and running) he is just starting off short, and there is absolutely nothign wrong with that