Wanted to get some opinions on this hand, particularly with regard to turn action and how it is affected by empty side pot.

V2 - Loose player. Has been in 50% of hands. Has not showed a ton of post flop activity, but has been fairly active pre flop. In this hand he was the straddler. He has fast played two overpairs, and a set to get his stack up to $600 ish.

V1 - A mark. He thinks I am horrible (not sure why.), so he is playing in every pot against me. Short, $280

Hero - MAWG. Have not been too active. Did go flush over flush vs V2 earlier. $600 ish.

OTTH
V2 is straddling from Button.
One caller, and I make it $30 from middle position with AQ
V1 calls, V2 calls from button, and the EP caller calls.

Flop ($120) Q83
EP Checks
Hero Bets $80
V1 Calls quickly - As he has done in every hand I have played against him.
V2 Thinks about it. Counts out some chips. And raises to $190
--Hero thinks "I am not sure if I am ahead or behind. Raising is an option, but most likely I am only getting called by better hands, and potentially folding out worse hands." I call, hoping that V2 will come on along and juice the pot. I also figure that V2s comittment will stop any future bluffing of V1, and that he can only bet his monsters into an empty side pot.
Hero calls.
V1 throws his hands up in the air, and says "I am all in. Can't fold now. Total of $250"
V2 Thinks about it. He does some talking, something about a set of threes. And calls (he can't raise)
Hero calls

Turn $870 7
Hero checks - The side pot is empty, and I have given up control of the pot.
V2 moves all in quickly for $400 more..

On his flop bet I was ranging him on all sets, Q8, QJ+, any two spades, and maybe even an overzelous AK. I figured if V1 would come along, that V2 would most likely check all worse hands, and only bet sets and two pair on the turn.

But now that he is betting into an empty side pot, I have to take all semi bluffs out of play, right? Where do we stand? Are we ever good when a fairly competant player is betting stacks into an empty side pot? It smells like pure value.. And we still have to beat the AI hand (even though I think he is on a random draw).

Call it off in a $1400 pot? Or save the last $400 and wait for a better spot?

thankfully, this guy isnt phil ivey and there is no way he shows up with 8sXs often enough for you to callTPTK+
so you can fold

if he showed up with 8sXs, he sure would of owned me

you really need some kind of reads, if you think he ever shows up with KQ and is a complete drooler, folding is a pretty big mistake, so if he's a drooler who puts you on AK i guess you can call.

I think this is the main problem in the hand. You don't know if you're ahead or behind so you just call (which doesn't solve the problem) hoping that V2's overcall will freeze V1 (which may not happen, as shown). You are surrendering all control of the hand, and it's debatable whether you want V2 in there in the first place.

The key is to have a plan before you call V1. You have to anticipate his turn shove and know which cards you'll call with and which cards you'll fold to.

If you're calling flop, then you must think you're ahead most of the time, or at least a reasonable amount of the time. The turn didn't change much and you're getting great odds. I think you have to call.

I would fold on the flop.

Shove the flop. Straddler has a set or 2p cool for him.

After some thought, I think this is correct.

Yeah I agree.

Basically 60bb TPTK not folding.

I would've raised to $40/$50 pre though. Think $30 is too small with a caller and the straddle on.

Righto.. I had a plan that our villain would be cock blocked by V1, and that would mean that any turn bet could not be a bluff, and thus, my TPTK must not be good.

So the plan on the flop was to fold to a shove into an empty side pot (at that time I was assuming V1 would in fact cock block).

But, now here we are on the turn. And my trigger finger is itchy. And I am not sure my plan on the flop was solid...

Does this make sense? Am I undervaluing TPTK in this spot? In your experience is a decent (although loose) player ever betting TPGK on this turn? how often?

I would have raised flop. If either of them can beat AQ right now, well, whatever.

As played, not sure I can fold to this guy. You look so weak, and betting is all he can do to win.

Pre-flop seems a bit small with a straddle (I assume to $10) and a caller. I would have made it at least $40, but probably $50, especially with V1 and V2 in the hand.

Allowing V to get a free card and check back a draw on the turn would be bad since it looks like you aren't going to fold, so just shovel it in on the flop. Why can't V shove a dry side pot when he still has equity and can get you out of the pot to play heads up vs a random hand that could be any Q or FD?

OP - why did you only raise to $30 preflop? For villain, that's an easy 2:1 call with position. If he really is playing 50% of his hands + you have a shorter stack wanting to catch you, you should have made it $45 or $50 (as big as they will call).