Cyclizations of α,β-unsaturated ketones with aminoguanidine under neutral conditions were examined. In contrast to literature reports of 1,2,4-triazines as reaction products, formation of 5-aryl-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carboximidamides and carboxamides was observed. An explanation based on the Hard-Soft Acid-Base principle is presented and the probable causes of divergent reaction pathways are discussed.