230 effective to start

AQo in EP in straddle pot. i open to 16, one rec, kinda aggro MP calleer. Flop is A-rag-rag rainbow. i check/call a bet of 30 (almost pot). i figure a bet is going in if he has an A whether i bet or check and i give him a chance to hit a pair on the turn and pay off a bet or two if he doesn't have an ace, rather than just folding the flop. thoughts?

turn is Q. i check again, figuring he would barrel since i believe his flop bet = Ace. also, if i was wrong and he was stabbing, i give him chance to continue to do so. but... since i think he has an Ace and he's a rec player, should i c/r assuming he won't be able to fold? i was passive and check called a bet of 45.

river is Q. i have the nuts now. i decided to lead for 80 into the pot of 180 figuring that he might be more inclined to check back an Ace now that the board paired Q's. he folded. thoughts?

I'd raise to $16 to $18 pre trying to isolate straddler. Bet flop and try to get value from worse As. The problem with checking is you give him a free card if he has a PP. 2 outs doesn't sound like much but it's a spot where you get stacked in a spot where he won't give you action with a small PP unless he has you beat.
Another big issue is even if he turns a pair, you won't win much. Even if he has KQ and turns a king, is he really stacking off with the ace out there???

Now if he is prone to bluffing then check call

I like opening to $20 in a straddled $1 $2 pot, but that might be nitpicky. I think we're better off continuing our pre-flop lead with a 2/3 or so size flop bet, rather than turn over the keys to the car and hope Villain bluffs or has an Ace and will bet. Kind of a thin wish list I'd think. Probably more likely a V might put you on air and float just to see what you do OTT. I'd stick to basics here and just bet.

I'd rather set the price and not give free cards hoping V decides to spew. To me, this line is essentially turning a strong hand into a bluff catcher, with the hope that V decides to bluff. Again, a little thin.

Here I'd bet 2/3 pot or so again. Reason why is most rec V's will not fold top pair. If V does have top pair he'll have a hard time folding, we should keep the lead and bet.

As played there's not much we can do other than adjust our betsize to target an Ace V can't fold because now he has 2 pair. This would be your judgement based on what you've observed of V, but minimum $120 all the way up to pot for the betsize OTR.

Same theme though - I'd recommend betting all streets here.

By the way, a rec player may not know it, but regardless the line of check call, check call, lead river screams strength. Your hand is tougher to read if you just stick with the basics here and bet / bet / bet. GL.

This line is pretty cool, maybe open ripping river could work better, since he may hero you down with something, thinking youre making a play at it with a busted str8 or flush draw. Our size on the river is telegraphing atleast the nut ace.

Also considering possibly leading the turn, If youre going to lead a street it should probably be the turn cause not many 1/2 guys just fire 3 barrels with peach fuzz on these runouts. A turn bet looks a bit fos and can get shoved on by any sort of picked up turn equity.