I've been at this table for 4 hands. I've already ascertained that HJ and CO are loose/cally fish from play and from information volunteered by the player sat to my right. This is somewhat relevant to the hand.

BTN is villain in this hand. He is a reg, I've seen him a fair few times. He is usually sat with a stack more than the max buy in so I assume he is a small winner in the games, sometimes he is on tea/coffee only but he is drinking beer tonight and more jovial than usual. The only history we have together (which I doubt he remembers) is that he folded to my river overbet in a medium size pot when a FD missed vs his PFR/CBET and x/x turn action. It was for value, but I was trying to make it look bluffy. Only other real hand I've seen him play was when he raised pre, bet near pot on a QJ5 flop, and then vs a small raise he snap jammed all in. Villain tank called with an OESFD and got there vs his top set. I've seen him overlimp with 93s. I have £150 in front of me and he covers.

Im UTG and straddle to £2. Yep, its lighting money on fire but since I'm new to the table I want to appear looser than I am plus I do think it generates more action on the table for my none straddle hands too.

UTG+1 Folds
HJ calls £2
CO calls £2
BTN looks like he may raise but then just puts in £2
SB completes for £1
BB completes for £1
I have A 7 and check my option

Pot: £12 Flop: 4 A 5

I lead for £7. HJ calls, CO calls and BTN calls.

Pot: £40 Turn T

I check, HJ checks, CO checks, BTN doesn't think too long and bets £50.

In heinsight, given how bad HJ and CO are, I think betting turn may be better than checking?

This bet weird's me out. He shouldn't have 44/55/45/A4/A5/23 because with two fish calling the flop and the board being wet he should be raising these hands. So his only value hand to me seems to be AT and maybe 2s3s? And then a boatload of draws? I'm not sure how many better hands I have in my range here to be fair. AT+ I'm raising pre, 23/44/55/A5 Im continuing with on the turn. Maybe I check A4, but with a wet board and 2 fish in the hand I'm probably just betting anything better than TP rather than trying to c/r.

TIA

You have TPNK facing a turn overbet into 3 players. I really don't see myself doing anything other than folding. I'm not thrilled about continuing to lead this turn either. Maybe it's a bit of a leak, but when I make a weak top pair I'm really not interested in continuing with the hand for any amount of money. Sure, it's exploitable, but these are really rare spots that are incredibly thin if not -ev. Whenever I flop a weak top pair from the blinds in a multiway pot like this, I'll just check it and let the action develop before deciding what to do. I guess in this spot it's not as bad, because there are a lot of draws you can get called by, but it's still tough to get called by worse made hands on this board, and when this guy fires $50 into 3 people I'm done with the hand.

Why do you lead flop? Is that for value or as a bluff?

Leading into three players on that flop with your hand is obviously asking for hard descisions on the turn when people call.

Just check and call on this flop.

I was going to quote the relevant parts but I'm on mobile so:

1. Hero is at the table for 4 hands? You have no non-superficial reads then. Don't accept reads from anyone at the table but if you insist on doing so, take them with a huge train of salt until you have enough info to confirm/deny.

2. So what kind of player is V then? You posted a few hands sure, but what's his play style/habits? He's OTB so to me this is the most relevant information that you're missing.

3. Don't straddle to look loose, you can develop that image by playing more hands in good positions. Straddle because you want to, everyone else is and you'd ruin the table party, or you want to gambool.

4. Checking your option pre is fine. Flop bet is situational, I'm ok with it though. If we get called and don't improve, we should be ready to fold to a strong play.

5. OTT your check is the right option. Now fold. I don't follow why you remove every small hand that beats you from his range? V going C/C/B should make these hands MORE likely, if anything.

Also, your hands is pretty face up when you check the turn. What straddle hand goes X/B/X? A weak Ace or an attempt to rep one.

In the end, sure he may be stealing but he has position, sized his bet perfectly, and you have 2 unknowns left to act. Your goal was to straddle to get a loose image - consider the £9 your marketing cost and move on to the next hand.