The universal concepts that govern anything usually are consistent. Poker is not different.
In all forms of stud, hold ’em and Omaha, you usually don’t want to give free cards to weak hands. And, consistent with that, you almost always want to get free cards when you hold weak hands.
Surrender
If you have a semi-hopeless hand that you’ll definitely surrender if your opponent bets, don’t check quickly when you’re first to act. It’s usually better to hesitate slightly.
Sophisticated opponents notice this, especially if you don’t seem to be acting. Often they’ll check after you and you’ll earn a free card.
Unexpected
This tiny tidbit of psychology can’t hurt, and it sometimes helps you stumble into an unexpected winning hand — a whole free pot, actually!
You can’t get get a free card without checking.— MC
Is it terrible to give a free card when you’re ahead if it’s the only conceivable way to make any more money?
No. If you encounter cases like that, weigh the risk against the possible extra profit.