Hero - 150k :As :Ac - starting stack 40k, blinds 2/4k ante 400
Open button for 8k, folds to bb who calls, everyone else folds
BB - 45k ~ behind after call
:Qh :6h :8d
BB checks, hero bets 10k, BB calls
:4h
BB checks, Hero bets 15k, BB calls
:Kh
BB shoves 20k
I think for a while, I couldn't put him on a heart, I block so many Ax combos, and I can't imagine what he's cold calling PF, then check calling flop and turn that has an A. Maybe Ah8x, Ah6x. There are a good number of single hearts/sets he could have that have me dead but the whole hand I thought he was weak, and in my experience people dont check call turn then ship river with 8~BB on the turn, unless it was an A or K (obviously blocked) of hearts they thought might get there on the river. Why not just ship the turn?
I make the call.
He shows :Ks :6d
I couldn't make it up.
I actually slapped my AA on the table triumphantly when I saw :Ks, discounting the terrible kicker and no heart, until someone pointed out the 2P. -facepalm-.
I know a set would probably play the same way, but so would a bunch of missed straights, maybe Qx that got scared, or Kx for mega thin value, and I had every intention of checking back the river until he donk shipped it. I also think being shorter stacked tightens up his range PF though I will admit that 2x was probably not an optimal sizing.
I think most of the time I should be folding the river here, but I knew in my gut I was good when he called the turn.
In your experience is it more likely a scared bluff on the river or pure value in this spot?

On a slight tangent, 6 or so hands after this debacle I get KK UTG+1 and raise 12k (still 2/4k blinds) and get called by small and BB. BB has me covered, SB has me covered, I have 85k behind. A 8h Qh rainbow flop. SB checks, BB bets 12k, I call, SB shoves, BB folds. I look at her and tell her I have pockets kings. She smiles, shakes her head and says, what do you want me to say? I think for a while and call. She shows AQo. I think her seeing me call the all in on the 4 heart board influenced her as I look like a ***** calling station at this point. There were so many draws out there and of course the lurking A, I think I should have folded here aswell. Sorry for the wall of text, was a 60$ buy in (I qualified through circuit play, 10k guaranteed for first) and am pretty tilted right now so would sincerely appreciate any opinions or perspectives.

What stack did the SB have in the first hand? With M looking to be about 6 then if the SB has less or similar to the BB I don't see why we're faffing about with minraises (especially with antes giving the BB infinity to one to call) and aren't just shoving pre

On the KK hand you say it was a rainbow flop, but also say both the Q and 8 were hearts. Which was it? And when someone check-raises over a bet and call on AQ8, your KK is toast, throw it away.

On the AA hand, just shove turn, it's just under a pot-sized bet.

Sixfour, I can't imagine why we would jam AA on button with BB with a 13 BB stack in a $60 liveament. We want him in there, he doesn't have implied odds to call. Also we give him a chance to jam if we open to 8 or 9k with weaker hands that he will fold to our jam pre.

Counterpoint - it's a $60 donkament where people will call down with bottom pair, they'll call a lot wider than you think. At least if you're not jamming go 3x minimum so you can think about shoving the flop

I mean, fair, but think the best way to get value from hands like Q9 or KT or 58 sooooted is to open for about 9k. I'm never folding AA to a single opponent with 13 bigs, so I'm fine if they call and we have 44k effective behind, and 24k in the pot or whatever, just betting 12 on flop and shipping turn whatever comes, or betting bigger/jamming on flop if it is a 3-straight or 3-flush that we don't have.

There's 22k in the pot on the flop. Size up on the flop so you can shove the turn, this board isn't going to run out nicely a lot of the time. Even with your small sizing on the flop you could have easily shoved the turn, so why didn't you?

What Kelvis said.

Also raise bigger pre, about 10k - 11K. That sets you up to shove the flop.

Depending on the SB stack size in the AA hand, you might shove preflop.

I think you could find arguments for shoving the flop for 2x pot, but betting smaller might be better. Even if you make it only half pot as you did, there's 40k in the pot and 35k behind on the turn. Not shoving there is a huge mistake.

River is meh because you get 4.5:1 but beat nothing but a bluff.

Shove AA pre or open bigger than 2x. Your range is wide on the BTN and could get a call from K- or A-high. If you don't get called, you just increased your stack by a lot. AP, snap folding river.