Merge - $0.50 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Villian is a reg but haven't played with him for awhile so no real reads besides that.
BTN: 85.72 BB (VPIP: 25.49, PFR: 7.86, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 466)
SB: 42.62 BB (VPIP: 51.72, PFR: 3.45, 3Bet Preflop: 3.57, Hands: 62)
BB: 103 BB (VPIP: 24.43, PFR: 17.52, 3Bet Preflop: 6.28, Hands: 1,689)
Hero (UTG): 263.54 BB
CO: 243.7 BB (VPIP: 27.58, PFR: 16.64, 3Bet Preflop: 8.30, Hands: 645)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A 9

Hero raises to 3 BB, CO calls 3 BB, fold, fold, fold

Flop: (7.5 BB, 2 players) A A 9
Hero bets 5 BB, CO calls 5 BB

Turn: (17.5 BB, 2 players) 4
Hero bets 11.66 BB, CO calls 11.66 BB

River: (40.82 BB, 2 players) 4
Hero checks, CO bets 20.4 BB, Hero raises to 243.88 BB and is all-in,

Think everything to river is pretty standard although some people check turn as I may get floated on this flop a lot.

River is pretty much the nut best card for me as any Ax looks likes the nuts as it only losses to my hand. Being so deep I think there are a lot of options. I could open shove and go for max against Ax, although possible villain gets away. I could overbet to like 60 which i think Ax calls almost 100%. I could also c/r which lets him fire some air if he has it somehow here.

I decided to go for the c/r which i'm not sure is best but think all the decisions are pretty close in EV. How do you guys play this?

I think betting is going to be far and away better than checking.

I dont mind pre due to the big fish on SB but if other regs 3bet much then I would fold.

I like the x/r otr. All Ax will bet/call but when you make it this big it all depends how villain plays with deep stacks (scared or not) or how he thinks you play with Ax. My std here is to bet big but not too scary for someone that he knows he is only splitting the pot. So maybe something like 100bb but I would like to hear what others say.

Could you elaborate? Is it because we can control the sizing? Dont we get any value from bluffs since all value hands will bet anyway when we check?

Yea we get to set the sizing and can make it on the larger side. I don't think we get compensated enough from checking to let hands bluff.

Plus depending on rake structure and villain competency you may end up paying extra rake for a chop by making the pot bigger so a villain with Ax may not even bet the river (if the cap has been hit this is obviously a moot point).

If we check anywhere I would think prior to the river would make more sense for our whole range.

how do you feel about a turn c/r to let him fire all his flop floats and still get value from Ax? if he x/b we can just bet river then.

I think a turn check makes sense for your whole range if you think you'll be cbetting this flop quite wide.

if he bet/calls an A then it is better to check

defo bet turn, dont want him to think he's good for one street and c/t b/r and you not stack him when a 4 doesnt roll off