v1: likes to put a lot of money into pot, with bluffs, and value hands, but has a tendency to overplay hands and wont fold 2pair+ when obvious draws get there.

v2: plays straight forward, but have seen him make a bluff ( probably would have worked if opponent wasn't so short)

I have $200 (effective stack ) and open for $8 in ep with aj, and get called by v1 in mp, and v2 in lp.

pot 27

flop j 3 t

I bet $16, v1 calls, v2 calls

pot $75

turn t

I check? ( not sure if I should just bet fold this, but v1 could have a ten, v2 not sure ) v1 bets $30, v2 folds, I call )

pot 135

river a

I check? ( I think I made a mistake here, I think I should lead and fold to a raise )

I'm not fond of opening AJ early, but you did, so okay. My thinking is we're oop and even with a flop, we're not sure where we are at.

On the flop you have top pair, top kicker. There is also an up and down potential straight draw. I am betting more, perhaps $25. Make 'em pay.

I can't decide about the turn check. Half of me wants to bet big, maybe $55 - $60, the other half is screaming Check! I think if I bet here I am folding to a raise.

I do not see the River check as a bad play. You showed weakness on the turn, and the only caller you may get here is going to take your chips.

Let me guess. V1 ships it. You run into a boat or random Tx (or possibly KQ)?

Leading river = No good. You have around a pot ($146) behind. There's pretty much no size that isn't either (a) giving V1 fold equity and inviting a shove you intend to fold to, or (b) committing you to paying him off.

But ultimately, this is why most people advocate folding AJo preflop from early position. Yes, the hand looks nice, but it has massive reverse implied odds and often leaves you in the position of paying off big bets with bluff-catchers.

Once you're in the hand, I would bet $20 on the flop and seriously consider checking the turn for pot control and folding to any reasonably-sized bet (he's checking back most straight draws and Js and any other value he called with on the flop now ****s you).