Live 2/2, 500 max, UTG straddle to 4 or "dealer friendly 5" blind raise more often than not. Hand was a couple months ago at casino, so I'll provide as much accurate detail and relevance as I remember...
Hero has ~$1800. Villain is next largest stack with ~$1200.
Don't remember exact pre-flop action, but hero sees flop from SB with A
2
K
J
in a multi way straddled and raised pot. It was approximately 5 players to the flop for $25, I'll just call the pot $125 to make things easy.
Flop($125): 8
9
T
Hero gags and leads for pot. 1 fold, 1 AI for ~$100, 1 raise AI for ~$200, villain flats, hero calls ~75.
Turn($825): 2
Hero bets $200 praying that one of the AI short stacks has the SF and villain is perhaps looking for the board to pair, or will raise his SF now. Villain flats.
River($1225): A
Was almost hoping that the board would pair so I could check fold at this point. I've played with villain plenty, he's a decent player, but he does chase sometimes and has stacked off to me in the past more than once for 2+ buy ins. Based on the action I don't see him folding 99xx, TTxx, or something like Tx9xK
Q
on the flop or turn. He's not holding (just) a small flush thinking it's good. He was either drawing to a boat, needing another connecting heart to make a SF, or he flopped the goods. Anyway...
Hero pukes and bets $200. Villain tanks. At this point I'm ready to toss my cards in the muck now. Not just tanks, but Hollywood tanks..."Why such a small bet?" "Did you really flop a straight flush?" Making facial gestures like he's really perplexed. The whole 9. At this point I'm not calling a min raise (wasn't calling a snap min raise either fwiw). He ends up shoving. I muck.
Anyway... In the grand scheme of things I don't feel like I played it terribly. As played I think I have to bet the river and I don't hate the size of my bet. Having said that (questioning my previous logic now)...I suppose that I could check-fold the river in this scenario, as the only hands that call are K
Q
xx and K
J
xx. Curious what you guys think about alt lines. I'm guessing that check flop gets me to basically the same spot on the turn. Not sure what short stacks had but I don't think my bet had anything to do with their eagerness to get their money in. Flop as played and check turn could be check check, but would also give a set a free card. I'll stop rambling, curious to hear some thoughts. Thanks guys.