Saturday morning. Active table, loaded with cash.

Villain (CO) in this hand is the same opponent as the other hand I posted:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/17.../#post42442173

Russian, mid 30s, splashing around quite a bit. He's sticky after the flop.

MP is an Asian woman in her mid 30s. She plays a lot of hands and mixes up her raises. While she's active, she does not appear to be nuts.

I have ~500, CO has ~700, MP covers CO by at least double.

It is clear that these two villains know each other and possibly came to the casino together. I've never played with either of them before.

8-handed
MP opens to 7, CO calls, I raise to 30 on the Button with JT, MP folds, CO calls.
Flop (70): Q-T-4
CO checks, I bet 45, CO calls fairly quickly.
Turn (160): 6
Check, check.
River (160): J
CO checks in the dark, I bet 85...

Thoughts?

I have a bit of an issue with the flop. I think I should either check behind, or make a bigger c-bet (~55).

Seems fine

Bit bigger on the river maybe. Nh

He's never going to have AK in that spot. Possible ranges QT, 98 s, 22-55..you would have generally heard from a premium or higher pairs pre. Checking in the dark is typically a weak sign. I'd bet 85 in the dark at time being

Seems fine with me. You could make an argument that the river sizing is great because such a weak bet could seem like nothing and induce V to raise. Obviously we're calling with the line he took. But seems good to me.

Everything seems fine to me. I like betting all 3 streets though...

Either bet flop or bet turn so well played. I like closer to 110 on the river. The quick call/check dark usually leads to a quick, poorly thought out river call, and I think most of his range that calls 85 (Weak queens/some 10's) calls 110 as you could conceivably rep missed hearts. Need a bit more info on villain but river sizing is nit picking. Well played.

You're advocating a bet in the dark after he checks in the dark? On the river? That seems crazy.

For what it's worth, I love betting in the dark when people limp-call my preflop raise or cold call in the blinds and then dark check to me. I'm not sure why I started doing it; probably just to mess with people and because I loathe checking in the dark.

In any case, doing it on the flop is much different than doing it on the river in a $160 pot. I think we want to make the river bet with as much information as we can get.

I don't think I have the stones to blast off 3/4 of my stack just because I 3-bet preflop, especially against an opponent who has proven to be sticky.

Result:

CO called. When he saw my two pair, he muttered something about letting me get there and flashed a queen before mucking.

He and MP racked up and left within a few minutes, taking well over $2,000 with them...big blow to the game.