Main Villain V1 is a huge whale in the game -- very sticky, 60% VPIP and transparent with his bet sizing. Games form around him.

V2 is a talented player on a super heater (up 3000bb over the past 3 days). A+ image.

Hero has a neutral image.

1/3 match the stack.
V1: $800
V2: $2500
Hero: $2000

V2 straddles $10, V1 calls MP, Hero raises to 40 with K8 in the CO, SB calls, V2 calls, V1 calls.

Flop: 9TK ($160)

V2 checks, V1 checks, Hero bets $65, V2 calls, V1 calls.

Turn: 6 ($355)

V2 checks, V1 checks, Hero checks.

River: T

V2 checks, V1 bets $200, Hero folds, V2 folds.

I know I should size up on wet flops, but K8 is one of the worst hands I would consider betting for value in this spot (along with maybe JT or QT). Thoughts on the entire line?

Raise pre is pretty borderline...I would go $55 to iso whale.

Flop is a check...Diamonds could call us, but there's not really anything worse that can, unless villain has 2 has AQ or AJ, but I'd expect him to 3 bet AQ, and whale to open both.

River is a fold no question with villain 2 to act and I'm honestly folding HU. Villain has so much Tx in his range, better K's that he's over valuing, and QJ, though he'd probably raise flop with QJ. This is a bad bluff catch hand.

My thoughts are that you can find better hands to raise in a straddle pot where you are more likely than normal to get callers. K8s sucks.

Id also rather check the flop than bet $65 into $160 into 3 players with all of those draws.

This is definitely one of the worst hands I would raise pf. I raised because the BTN was on the tighter side, and I wanted to isolate V1 with position. Agree that I should have made it larger pre to encourage the blinds to fold.

Fold pre

I actually don’t mind pre but as you recognized, you have to go bigger if you want a shot at isoing in this scenario.

Flop is a check as played. Yes it’s a wet flop, but re-opening the betting can get you blow off the best hand by a check raise and you’re not likely to get value from worse hands. You certainly aren’t likely to get any draws to fold for that price.

River is tough because based off the line taken you are never strong in this spot. If your read is correct and V is transparent with his bet sizing then this is a trivial fold, no?

fold pre

I did think it's an easy fold on the river based on how many Tx he has here.

My question is mainly about the flop, as I was torn between checking and betting small.

FWIW V2 claims he had Ace high and V1 flashed us the old T5s. So our flop bet wasn't awful, as we were called by worse.

So V2 who is the "talented player" called $40 preflop with Ax? Then he called the flop with a gutshot (AQ or AJ) on a FD board? Sounds pretty terrible to me overall.

Maybe the super heater has gone to his head.

We dont know exactly what he had but some Ax otf are pretty std calls. AdJx, AQ one diamond or AQss that didnt 3b pre, AJss, etc. for all we know he could have had the NFD and just said A high. Or is just lying

Of course.

As for having the NFD, is a talented played calling $40 with some small suited ace? And then not raising this flop when Hero makes a scared looking cbet? Seems pretty bad on both parts to me.

I guess this deep its not terrible. Just not my style.

Calling pre with a suited ace seems perfectly reasonable to me and have the whale come along.

Otf raise can be fine but again with the whale in the hand flatting seems reasonable to me too to keep in his weak hands/FDs and get paid if we hit.