1/2 NL, 300 eff stacks

Hero is dealt black AK on the btn.

3 limpers, hero raises to 17, bb flats, rest of limpers call.

Flop Kh8h8s. All check to Hero who bets 40.

I feel like this is a value bet but also wondered if I'm in a WA/WB scenario where checking back is best. Reads on villains in the hand are that they are mostly passive/stationy post flop, with one villain who had bet turn/river with nothing after flop checked through.

I like the bet since you have position on everyone and I think 40 was fine esp with passive players and stations.

I would actually go for a small bet of 20 here on the flop or a check, i think 40 is too big for this texture. Theres already a bunch of money in the pot so you dont have to bet big to get it all in by the river. 5 ways its more likely someone has an 8 as well.

Vs a super passive table 5 ways i prefer check more than bet because they are just going to have so much 8x in range when they are limping stuff as low as 85s and up plus A8o.

Why would you wanna gii by the river with TPTK in a 5 way pot? We started with 150 BB's. If someone calls a hp cbet and a hp turn bet I would happily roll over my hand otr (depending on the runout).

Yes, someone can have an 8 but it shouldn't be a reason to give up the betting or c/f (it wasn't a limped pot, they limp/called 17). Also there are sticky players in the mix who should call with worse or even ace high.

Im not saying i necessarily would want to get it in, my point is just that we wouldn't have to bet big to do it. Say if there was a drooler whos just gonna always stack off w Kx here

Hmmmm....

You're betting around half pot. Seems like opponents' continue ranges are going to be worse KX, 8X, flush draws, and TT/99, assuming none of these guys are limp-flatting pre with QQ/JJ.

I think I'd weight that range heavily towards 8X and flush draws, simply because most people are probably raising 99+ pre, not limping, and most weaker KX are going to fold, not call. Even flush draws - how many FD's can they have, that limp-call pre, and how many of those are going to continue, if they're not the NFD?

If you bet smaller, it keeps your opponents' ranges wider. Middling flush draws can't be sure we didn't flop a boat with KK. 8x can't be sure either, and has to worry about us being on a flush draw if hearts come in.

I think I'd rather bet smaller on flop, like $17 again, and see if anyone check-raises. If not, we can size up on the turn, if it isn't a heart. If we size up on turn, and get called, we can just check-back river if we don't boat up.

Check or bet $20 - $40 is fine. I kind of like checking if there is a player who will try to steal it.