Hero ($400) who is playing pretty snug is sitting two to LAG's ($400) left. LAG likes to call a lot pre and attack any signs of weakness. Not afraid to make check/raises, other strong plays, etc. A fish ($200) is sitting in between Hero and LAG.

2 history hands with LAG in BB each time:

1) Fish straddles $6, Hero raises $20 with AKo, 2 semi-tight old men call in MP, LAG calls

Flop ($80): 622r
LAG donks out $40, Hero folds, others fold, LAG shows T

2) Fish straddles $6, Hero raises $20 with AQs, LAG and fish call

Flop ($60): 832ss
LAG checks, Fish checks, Hero checks (since it misses my perceived range and LAG could attack)

Turn ($60): 9s
LAG bets $30, fish fold, Hero folds


Although I would sometimes raise in Hand 1 and cbet in Hand 2, I feel it turns me into a spewmonkey pretty fast when those plays don't work.

Immediately after Hand 2, I decided to include strong hands in my check back range otf vs LAG.

OTTH....

Fish straddles $6, Hero raises to $20 with AQs, only LAG in BB calls

Flop ($47): Q72r
LAG checks, Hero checks

Turn ($47): Kr
LAG checks, Hero checks

River ($47): 4x
LAG bets $30, Hero calls

LAG shows K9o....


Balance fail?

So you're trying to balance your flop checking range?! I think getting fat value trumps that, and either way, after he knows you'd check back TPTK, he'd stop paying off in the future. I'm not the most well read on poker theory, but I think balancing a range applies more to pre-flop starters. Post flop, there's too much variation that can happen. Decisions will be dependent on the board, position, and other factors.

As played, I don't mind the line since we're heads up and the board is dry, but again, I'm more inclined to bet, simply for the fat value. Weaker pairs/kickers will call off.

i wouldnt worry too much about balance at 1/3

Don't balance. Play for value. Hope spewy player raises. Profit.

ok if you're seen as somebody who's always checking when he misses i think it's fine to check back q high on that flop.

as played river is a call

Huh?

I'd start off with being able to identify a LAG first before worrying about balancing. In this case, you got a case of Fancy Play Syndrome (FPS) and rationalized it as "balancing." Until you can identify what your opponents are doing and their ranges with doing it, you are just playing sub-optimal poker. Going to guess that the villain had another T with the one he showed you.

Checking some toppair hands otf is wise. But not here, AQ against loose player is hand for 3street valuebet and we cannot miss flop bet.
But we can check some weaker hands, e.g. KQ-.

You said he likes to check raise but didnt give an examples of what he does it with. However, if he likes to check raise the flop, you should be checking behind sometimes instead of C-betting with nothing, but you should not be checking behind with TPTK. You want him to check raise you there. Bet the flop.

Groan at that turn K.

Yeah, I don't like the flop check at all. It's just not clear enough to me that there will be enough volume and attention paid to worry about balance.