TP with 2nd NF Draw Line Check

Are you saying you'd expect BB to 3B pre with 88 and 44, out of the BB? That seems more LAG than most low-stakes recs are likely to be. I mostly see them flatting with low and middling pairs, unless they're short-stacked or trying to make some sort of play.

PRE - Opening KTo from the CO seems reasonable, so long as we don't over-play our hand post.

FLOP - Think we should be checking back or c-betting REALLY small on a monotone flop. Maybe $5, not $20.

As played, when we c-bet large on a monotone board and V x/r's to 3.5x, it's pretty gross, and kind of a tricky spot at this SPR. I'd expect V to bomb most turns. If that happens, it's going to be tough for us to continue without making a flush, and even if we do, he's probably not putting more money into the pot without the nuts.

Most low-stakes recs aren't going to x/r a flopped flush unless it's a baby flush that doesn't mind taking the pot down right here. We could raise as a bluff, but I'm not a fan of trying to make anyone fold a low flush. I doubt he's x/r'ing with just the naked As or a set / 2P.

I hope I'd find a fold here, but I might call and evaluate the turn. The challenge is what happens if we check back a turn brick and he leads out on a river brick, or another spade. We'll be somewhat lost.

If we call and he checks turn, it's one of the rare spots where we might actually be better off turning our hand into a bluff and betting rather than checking back to realize with our draw to the 2nd nuts.

I don't think a min-click 3B is terrible if V is capable of folding a flush and isn't likely to show up with a lot of suited AX combos. But we'd need to know a lot more about him before I tried to get him off his hand here.

TURN - Yeah, I think I'm done with it now. Just fold.

It's really hard to find low-stakes recs who play TAG but will take this line with a bluff.

All the above aside - if you had more time with V, and knew him to be capable of taking this line with just the naked As, or if you saw him take a bet-bet-check/fold line in spots like this, then I could see continuing at some frequency.

One of the problems I see with continuing with your exact holding is that your top pair loses to all his better value and if he's doing this with the naked As he's going to flush-over-flush us when a fourth spade rolls off.

I'd rather have AsTc, drawing to the nuts while blocking the nuts, or a made yet lower flush with outs to the pure nuts, like 9s7s, or a set that has equity to boat up. Basically, I'd rather have a hand with some better properties than this one, which is thin value with the potential to get coolered.

This is a tough one as I would need my read and not just your description. I could fold to the flop check-raise, it’s a strong move. Or if I thought villain was trying to fold me, I might get sticky.

But, I’m giving up to the turn bet either way. He’s telling a strong story I can’t dispute. Maybe if I had the ace of spades, I might fight back. But I play with too many players that hit their hand and start betting it. I don’t mind getting out of the way with just a pair.

Thanks for the real detailed reply!

-WRT PF 3! from BB, that was a bit of a typo on my part. I can see him 3! TT/88. Would be surprised if 44. KTo is near bottom of opening range for me in CO.

-Agree with your thoughts about the flop bet sizing; smaller would be better here, if bet at all. Though a K-high flush will often be best if the 4th spade comes in, the amount of times we get coolered by AsX is probably uncomfortable.

-I folded to the turn bet after a bit of thought/tanking. Was interesting that after I folded, BB Villain did flash me the JsTd. The 9 was about the best card for him to continue on as he picked up more equity with the OESD. Fairly aggro move on his part...