1/3 NL with a no max buy in, Hero - new to the table. Only played about 15 mins and just beginning to get reads on a few layers. Probably no real read on my image at the table yet. If any, slightly tight.

V=$500+ and UTG raises to $10 PF.

Folded to me in UTG+3 ($297) and I have AA I reraise to $35. Everyone else folds and V calls.

Flop: ($66 rake deducted) A8J

checked to me I bet $55 and V calls.

Turn: ($176) A8J8

V checks. Hero????

$85 turn/shove river

That's it.

Shortest thread ever.

Bet. He either has a hand he can call with or he doesn't.

While I'm typically a proponent of playing straightforward in these games, I wouldn't mind a bit of a slow play here. 100% flop bet. I might check back the the turn here, adding hands like qq and kk to our range . I think most villains would spite call the flop with pair hands and fold the turn to aggression. I also think I'd they have any type of draw, they would bet the river whether it hit or miss. We aren't scared of any rivers at this point and the prospect of picking up extra money from inducing a bluff makes it worth it.

Can't get value from missed draws when the river bricks.
$75 - $ 90 here depending how fast V called otf.
The faster the called, the more that you can bet.

Checking loses value from all the times he bricks the river and won't bet.
And betting is slightly better than checking because sometimes he has 8x and will get scared and not get his stack in.

So betting is the best option.

I disagree. I think checking behind will induce a river bluff from bricked rivers /weaker hands often enough for it to be profitable. Double barreling essentially makes your range AK+, where as checking behind feigns weakness and allows a player to represent the Ace (or 8). Given that he is an UTG raiser and this is a 3bet pot, it's less likely for him to have 8x here. He also check called a flop bet. If he did somehow spike the 8 we're getting his money most of the time anyway.

This is pure conjecture on a readless villain. Somebody much smarter than me said "absent a good reason not to, bet for value."

This couldn't possibly be more player dependent. Absent the reads required to decide that this is a profitable play, and OP says he is new to the table, betting is the best option.

Well guys this is how the hand played out. I actually did read some weakness in the villain. I checked the turn when the second 8 hot the board. On the river, V threw out a $100 bill. I moved all in and he called. He said he had AQ. Later someone said they thought he had JJ. So I'm not sure exactly what he had. I'm not saying checking the turn here was the best play which is the reason I posted this hand.

Stacks are a bit awkward right now .. but the board saved us by pairing. You bet pot both PF and OTF (basically) so you can now back off and show weakness OTT by betting small or checking (either is fine). I think as a new player you can open up more opportunity for bluffing when IP and the board pairs since V can figure you dont know them.

IMO it's a bit unrealistic for V to call a shove OTR and since you basically have the nuts you might as well let V catch up 'more' OTR by checking. I totally agree you are only getting one street of value here but IMO it's a coin flip as to which street you 'will' get it on. Hands that might fold the Turn, may bet the River and opposite as well. GL

Only one ace left in the deck, but I think V often has it (AK/AQ, maybe ATs, less likely AJ as he would've raised flop). He could be slow playing JJ. I like a weak "I don't know what I'm doing" $55. Maybe V spaz shoves, but I think you at least get a call with his entire flop calling range whereas he might occasionally find a fold if it's obvious by your sizing that the rest is going in otr.

Your sizing is mostly irrelevant though. Most villains are going with their Ace with a decent kicker.

As to a check, I don't like the idea of a spade coming out. Sure, your range should have almost no flush draws in it, but psychologically villains are so used to just checking when the flush comes that it's going to be hard to get it all in if that happens.

Wow, when I first read this thread I thought this response was obviously right. I didn't expect people to disagree.

I'm looking to double up with this hand so I'd definitely bet the turn looking to set up a shove on the river.