I'd say checking this on the flop with 3 players behind us is pretty terrible.
If we consider villain to be a good payer (which I honestly seriously doubt from the little info you've given on him) why would he ever start bluffing into 3 people?
So yes, I'd want to bet here for value.
Assuming most draws have no reason to start betting multi-way.
I solved this spot (GTO+, so HU solve) with a tight BB range and a semi-wide villain call range.
The solver is choosing to bet this flop 60% of the time and 71% of the time with our combo specifically.
Given the option between 33%, 50%, 66% and 100% pot,
the solver is going with 33% - 29% of the time
and with 50% - 28% of the time
So I think sizing 50% pot here is just fine.
I think we have even more reason to bet multi-way, so I'm definitely betting here.
On the turn I think both checking and betting is fine.
I might prefer checking against our opponent, since we know he's just going to start bluffing into us, so if we check it's with the intention of calling.
The solver is actually only checking 25% of the time on the turn here.
And only 5% of the time with AQ
So against an opponent who isn't a total maniac, like the one we're playing, betting is probably better.
Solver likes betting 33% or 66% pot. With a slight preference for 33%
Once we check and villain bets, solver is calling our combo and most other AQ combos, raising with AQo where the Q is a diamond.
I've assumed we check range for the solver.
(Solver villain is never betting A8s on the turn, in fact he's only betting 12% of the time.)
On the river against the opponent you've described I think we have an easy check/call again.
You've described a player who is constantly playing with a range that is too wide and then turns a large part of that range into big bluffs.
That's exactly what's happening here, so why would we ever fold against this player with a good bluff catcher?
Don't get me wrong, I'd snap fold this against any other player.
But against the player you've described, I'm never folding my bluff catchers.
I know several of these players in my live games, and I'm NOT folding to them, NEVER!
Solver is folding our combo 100% of the time, so folding is probably not a huge mistake.
It's calling and folding some weird stuff though.
- Calling any flush
- Calling with a JTs straight 92% of the time
- Folding a set (KK/QQ/99/88) 44% of the time, mostly 99 at 83% for some reason.
- Folding two pair (KQo, 98s) 75% of the time.
- Calling TP (AKo) 100% of the time.
- Folding middle pair (AQo, AQs, QJs, QTs) 90% of the time, only calling QJs 43% of the time.
- Calling weak pair JJ 100% of the time
- Folding weak pair TT 89% of the time
Do you really think folding this much against this villain is optimal?
Where would you find your calls?