So I'm played late @ night and the game is 3 handed, me, a PLO player, and another guy. Game is a 1/3 converted into 2/5 so the stacks are short.

PLO guy raises the button
I just call w/ AKo in the sb
BB Calls

Flop QJ5r
I check and it checks around

Turn is a J putting a flush draw on board
I decide it's a good spot to steal and bet. Button calls

River J bricking the flush draw
I'm thinking and leaning towards checking, because I'm not sure he's gonna fold his 88 or w/e now. Before I can make my decision he bets big out of turn.

I'm thinking that strong = weak most of the time, that a J wouldn't try to scare me off like that by betting out of turn and a Q would've bet the flop. So I'm thinking I was had.

What are your guys' experience with bets out of turn?

The majority are unintentional and / or come from amateur players and those typically signify strength. This wasn't a mistake and PLO guy likely isn't an amateur.

It's an angle. He's praying for a fold or it's a reversal begging for a call. A very small percentage of times, a nutted hand shows up here hoping to look like a bluff. All things considered, all we have is a bluff catcher and while I feel strongly like you he might be getting out of line, what do we beat? Did he really raise on the button with Ax or Kx that missed?

Without more specifics, betting sizes, history etc, I'm fine with a fold there.

It depends entirely on how much this guy plays tbh. If he's in the room you play alot it's definitely an angle and if he looks like he's an amateur it's a strength tell 100% of the time. Sometimes when this happens I ask the player if they've ever played before. Usually that gets them to talk.

PLO guy probably has like QT and thinks he is bluffing with his QT kickers.

I think QQ is quite possible.

I agree on weak!

Yeah but which one? I think it's strong in this case.

1. Unusual behavior usually triggers calls, and an experienced player knows this.
2. It's somewhat creative, which also indicates a calmness and is strength.

It is also entirely possible that it's some kind of busted draw and it is an act of desperation. I really don't know one way or the other.

There's both weak & strong tells in play. Without more specifics, at a certain point, we just level ourselves into oblivion. Lets not do that. As desc'd / played, folding here makes sense.