Situation: Very passive table (even for 1/2) as I am the only player raising non AA/KK hands pre and I'm getting a lot of folds any time I raise, so I've amped up my aggression (often following up with cbets and turn barrels) with some success over the 5 hours I've been at the table, slowly building up my stack.

Hero ($550): 30ish WG, should have true TAG image to table
Villain ($160): 70ish WG, very passive, but has called down hero somewhat light with TPMK when I raised turn with a combo draw that missed river (he was even more shallow than he is now). Probably views hero as aggressive.

OTTH... 1 limper in EP, Hero raises 89 to $12 in MP, Folds to V in BB who calls, limper folds.

Flop ($23) A67 V checks, Hero bets $20, Calls.

Turn ($60)A679 V checks, Hero checks.

While I pick up a lot of equity here, I just don't think he's every folding an Ace to me.

River ($60) A679 4 V bets $25. Hero??

Well, he has something. I’m hoping it’s 85s or A4s. Occasionally he shows up with a better flush. I suppose this is a textbook raise/fold.

The interesting aspect of this hand is the turn. I wonder what a solver would recommend against a tight BB defense range. My instinct is to keep barreling with added equity and not level ourselves into a check. But this could easily be mistaken.

Normally I'd raise/fold, but I don't think you're deep enough to fold to a re-raise, unless we min-raise, which I hate.

If our image were more maniacal, I'd just shove, but that might well be value-cutting ourselves here.

Bleh. I hate just calling that small bet, but given stack sizes, I think we're kinda hand-cuffed. I call.

Raise to 90-95 targeting Ax

Raise to 75, fold to reraise.

Garrick: are you Checking this turn?
Thanks!

I know you're not asking me, but in game every instinct I had wanted to bet the turn as we pick up even more cards that can beat a naked ace. Having made a bigger bet (I actually raised him) previously that he called with TPMK though, and being this short effective, I had to fight this strong urge to bet as I just think he is stacking off with an ace because he sees me as aggressive. Interested in others thoughts on this street as well.

Yeah Joey I was just trying to keep the conversation going, not ignore your input. It’s a really interesting spot that actually isn’t infrequent, so I was hoping more folks would weigh in. Hopefully others will opine. I appreciate your background thoughts.

You say he probably sees you as aggressive so maybe he is betting the $25 to keep you from betting more than he wants to call if he checks to you. This way he gets to see if his pair of Aces or two pair are good. I don't think he's calling your flop bet with a flush draw if he thinks you are aggressive enough to make it expensive to get to the river. I think I'd make it $75 and fold if he raises back. Make it much more than $75 and he's probably only calling you when he has you beat.

Sorry for the delayed response. I've been on vacation. Yeah, I like the turn check against this V. I don't see a need to turn our SDV into a semi-bluff against a loose-passive V.

Results:

Easy shove with stack size NH

NH Joey. I think against level 1 players at 1/2 you can make this play. Against trickier Vs deeper at higher stakes I’d probably call here.

Wp