1/2, 9 handed

Villain is a pretty good, winning player. Opens wide. Always raises to 10, unless there are limpers, where he adds close to $2/ limper. Rarely ever limps in. Definitely capable of bluffing. Capable of making decent folds.

Villain raises utg to $10 ($400)
Folds to hero who calls on button with AQ ($325)
Rec fish in bb calls ($200)

Flop $31
AKK

Villain bets $20, hero calls, fold

Turn $71
AKK9

Villain checks, hero checks

River $71
AKK9Q

Villain bets $65, hero? I was planning on snapping off any bet here, but its the worst river in the deck.

Reasons for calling: Im at the top of my range, i think, since I probably bet a king on the turn. But maybe I shouldnt? Anyways, an ace is most of my range, if not all of it. My hand is face up, so maybe hes trying to bluff me off a chop. I block KQ, AK, QQ (though queens probly check flop). If i dont call here, i guess im folding my whole range.

Reasons for folding: its a big bet. I chop with any ace. He might be checking his aces here, not sure. A king could make sense, like KJ, KT-K9 suited, IF he checks the turn with these. Probly not much air in his range, or any at all with the fish in the hand on the flop, and not many hands with equity vs top pair. So very little air.

Thoughts?

I think we have to call here, the way this action has gone we are at the top of our range with aq. Yes most of villans value range is beating us here, but a decent villan should recognise this a decent bluff spot. It's a big bet and if I know villan is never bluffing I can fold, but If I feel like villan can bluff this spot then I can call.
I mean what can villan have here that checks the turn, no k checks turn, he isn't raising jt from utg surely?

I hate calling when I'm just hoping for a chop at best but this is such a great spot for villain to bet any chops, any K and throw in some bluffs. Villain could check a king on the turn, particularly AK, because there isn't much villain is afraid of on river and he could figure another bet is likely to fold out your weaker hands.

This really comes down to a read at the table.

Did you consider a 3bet preflop? You described villain as opening wide. With AQs, you're likely ahead of his range here, even when he opens UTG.

As played, call. He's not checking a K on the turn. And he likely knows that you're not either. Call expecting to chop most of the time, but occasionally snap off a bluff.

I don't see much value in checking the turn. Maybe against AJ. Your flop calling range is too strong, villain should shut down unimproved, so might as well take it down on the turn.

River is tough. Stupid JT got there. Could have AK I suppose.

Fold.
If it's a chop, you're calling 65 to win 30.
Once in a while, you win whole pot. More often, you lose or at best, chop.

You have an easier decision if you 3 bet pre flop. AQs on the button is a good 3 bet situation against this player. It's OK to try to trap, too, though.
You have an easier decision if you raise the flop. He bet 20, raise to 45.
You have an easier decision if you bet the turn.

I'd wait for a better spot.

Alternatively, you can raise and try to get him off a chop. That's a bold move, he's going to have trouble calling unless he has a huge hand. But that's potentially high variance.

Best play: fold. Worst play: call. Bold play: raise.

Inexperienced players in this thread telling you to call. Experienced players say fold.

Wisdom trumps theory.

Fold.

he has one AA combo, one QQ, 4 AK, 4 JTs, and one KQs. i guess he could have 9s, but it's pretty unlikely he takes this line with any of AA, AK, QQ or 99. that's it for his value range. folding is out of the question without a solid live read if the profile is accurate. if he just has an ace, it's kind of an odd bet for him that doesn't get any value from worse while always gets called by better, esp with that sizing, and we could very well be sandbagging with AK, etc., which also means raising has less value imo.