$1/2
$300 effective stacks

I've been playing with V all week. His overall game is very good and he's a local pro. His got a few tricks up his sleeve, but for the most part we stay out of each other's way. He doesn't get too out of line against me. I don't get too out of line against him. He likes to open a lot of pots. I'd put his pre-flop raising range at 55+, AT+, any two big cards, and sometimes suited connectors and suited one gappers. His range seems to be similar from all positions. He's got no problem opening from EP with less than premium holdings. The rest of the table usually plays pretty loose/weak, so it's a profitable strategy.

V opens to $12 from MP
Hero calls from SB with AQ

Flop ($25)
QJ3
Hero checks
V bets $20
Hero calls

Turn ($65)
7
Hero checks
V bets $25
Hero calls

River ($115)
8
V bets $40
Hero calls

Here's my self-analysis after thinking about the hand:

PF: I should have 3-bet pf since AQ plays well against his raising range, it's likely the best hand, and I'm out of position.

Flop: If I'm just going to call pre, I probably should have check-raised the flop. I think I got mubsy worried about running into the top of his range.

Turn: As played, I don't hate the turn call. I should have taken control of the hand at an earlier point though.

River: I should have folded. There's no way he's betting this river against me with a hand worse than AQ.

Thoughts?

3bet pre

Do not c/r flop, don't know what the point of that would be.

Call down as played. Not folding river to this silly sizing.

What would check raising do other than narrow his continuing range on later streets?

Never folding river to bet-sizing and your hand looks underrepped....call river.

the way you played this doesn't make a lot of sense, at least to me. what's your general plan when you look down and see AQ? hope that you flop AAQ and someone bets into you?

you flatted only $12 pre-flop, which i think is a mistake w/ AQ always. if he leads out w/ $40, okay just call, but AQ is a raising hand. if he folds, say thanks for the easy $12 and do it again next time you get AQ. then you NAIL your flop: Q-high, no draws to speak of, only scared of AA, KK, JJ or 33. and still, just calling a pot-sized bet. what are you giving him credit for? you're not trying to get value, b/c then you flat again on a blank turn, and wish you had folded on a flush-making river. i take it given that you say you should've folded that he did make his flush, but it should've never gotten to that point.

you probably have the best hand pre-flop and you make your hand on the flop. get some chips in there and raise.

I would likely have 3! preflop, although from the CO or Btn I might have flatted. However, since you did flat, the rest of the hand seems fine.

+1 all the way

OP, if anything other than this advice seems right to you, it's only because you've seen Villain's hand.

If you have not yet seen his hand, follow the good advice quoted above.