1/2NL

V in this hand is a younger guy. When I started off the session he was on a shortstack. He hasn't really been playing many hands of note but has slowly been grinding his stack back up to $300 mostly by hitting some decent hands and getting paid. My best read on him is sort of an average reg. A bit too loose, maybe calls a bit too often, and doesn't seem to get overly out of line. It's a weak read though.

Hero (covers) hasn't done much at the table. I've been involved in a few small to medium pots that have gone my way but a otherwise not all that active.

We're playing 7 handed. I'm in MP with the AK, and V straddles to $5 UTG. Folds to me and I raise to $17. This was maybe a bit on the small side but the table was playing a bit tighter than average. Folds to V in the straddle and he calls.

Flop ($34)KJ8

Checks to hero who bets $20. V raises to $45.

What's the plan here? If it's not fold, what cards to we continue on? Do we ever bet the turn if checked to again?

what's yo stack?

Sorry. I cover him.

It is an odd raise size because it could be either one trying to suck you in or one trying to bluff. I think you can call and re-eval turn. I would definitely check the turn unimproved inless I had some kind of live tell.

Make it $20 pre as you likely would at 2-5(I prefer round sizing; makes adding up pot quicker/easier). As for flop, I don't mind a check-back in this spot. Yes you give a free card to a single spade, but you may also induce some stabs on brick turns. I guess I just feel like pot controlling what is at best a 2-street value hand.

As played I fold to the flop c/r.

C/R sizing looks weak for a value hand like KJ/J8/88. I'd call and evaluate turn. Likely checking back unimproved, folding to > 1/2 PSB ott.

Both of these thoughts crossed my mind, hence the confusion. The CR sizing seemed like either the nut flush or some pair+FD that I was ahead of. I've gotten in a bit of a habit, and I'm not sure if it's a good one or not, that when I have a decent hand facing aggression on the flop, rather than calling and evaluating the turn, I've just been folding. I did fold to his X/R. But I had the same thoughts of "I could probably call this, and call a small turn bet if I get a safe card, same with river, etc..." I elected not to call down in this spot, but am curious if giving up this easy is a big leak or not.

Seems to me both lines are arguable in a vacuum. Folding is 0EV (though the CB is certainly +EV), & calling down on very specific run outs + sizing is probably pretty close to break even as well. I usually opt to let it go as well.

Eg. I 7x KJo over a weak 60BB limper, she calls. K65r. I CB $25 into $40, she min XR, I fold. Yeah, maybe I make a small mistake the rare time she has KT, but the entire line is clearly EV & it's not worth my time putting myself into murky turn/river spots.

Agree with this. Also he can even have TP hands or AsJx. I don't think I can fold flop to an effective min raise, but def looking to pot control.

Also, raise is way too small, I'm always making it 20-25 minimum in a straddled pot, more at a table that calls wide.