Well... yeah. lol
However, as played, I don't know how I thought but I can guess.
Villain is the one competent player at the table. I don't really want to play a hand out of position against him. At the same time I somehow think he knows I'm strong since I don't get in a confrontation with him oop with button having >3 blinds. But in that scenario we could just put 2.5 with any two to steal the blinds?
However, he flats and when he checks this flop it means one of two things to me.
1. He's trapping, and given stacks and icm pressure plans stacking me off when I c-bet.
2. He didn't connect.
My reasoning is to keep the pot small since I have showdown value and check and see what turn brings.
I simply would hate the times I c-bet say 40-45k and he shoves.
The J is a wonderful turn, so same principle goes through my head but if I check now I might induce a bluff if the river bricks.
The river is the 8 and he bets for value, I call him down.
I'm not saying this is correct in any way, but I believe this is how I was thinking,
*goes back to my box of shame*