Last night I played a session at a 1/2 game with mandatory $5 straddle for previous pot winner. It was an ideal game loaded with ATMs and 3betting was almost non existent (and all but certainly indicated AA or KK).

In middle position post, but utg pre after the straddle, with AQ, I raised to $25 (a somewhat larger than average size for the game). A loose donk who bought in for about $120 and sat to my left the previous hand called and all folds after.

After PFR
Villain:~$90
Hero:~$270

Flop: ATT, Pot ~$55

For a number of reasons, Hero could see Villain was a Loose-passive donktomaton.

Hero: bet $35
Villain: call (estimated range: 77-QQ, Ax, Gutshot, Flush draw)

Turn: 6

Hero: bet $55
Villain: call

Hero shows AQ
Villain shows KT

River: brick.

Calling KTo OOP pre was pretty egregious (and needless to say this guy didn't fair very well the rest of the night). This hand kept me from having a very profitable session. Given the stack sizes and the info, is there any other way to play this hand post??

No, this is played fine.

Welcome to poker. Reload and print money vs players this bad.

If this stuff bothers you, try reading The Mental Game of Poker.

There's lots of "other ways" to play the hand, but you can sleep well knowing you played it fine. That said, your range analysis is probably wrong. As in you may want to include some 10x type hands. All the FDs and 10x hands beat you OTT, but if Villain is really calling with any gunshot OTF then the turn jam is fine.

I'm probably just optimistic. I meant to include Tx but I would put it near the bottom of his weighted range in terms of pure probabilities. In my mind Villain is calling almost any pair and any draw.

Doesn't bother me, but I just always wanna do what I can to improve. Been playing Live 1/2, 2/5 for less than 2 years. Always trying to get better. And yes I've started reading that one, but thanks for the suggestion

I probably bet a bit more OTF because I'm f'ed vs. a T no matter what, but he's calling with diamonds anyways. When that flop comes down stacks are going in no matter what though.

You're calling the Villain names, and you haven't shared any reasons, so I don't know how anyone can comment on your play.

If a donktomaton is someone who calls hands with any two broadway cards, doesn't that increase the chance you're way behind on the flop?