$10 NLHE 6-max: Top & Bottom pair on the flop: How would you bet the flop?

(Part of my May Challenge)

Is the c/r standard here? Should I have bet-sized differently?

Merge - $0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: $14.77 (VPIP: 26.08, PFR: 19.51, 3Bet Preflop: 4.59, hands: 544)
BTN: $11.59 (VPIP: 19.61, PFR: 16.34, 3Bet Preflop: 5.66, Hands: 316)
Hero (SB): $10.81
BB: $11.21 (VPIP: 25.57, PFR: 21.31, 3Bet Preflop: 11.45, Hands: 317)

Hero posts SB $0.05, BB posts BB $0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.15) Hero has A♣ 9♣

fold, BTN raises to $0.35, Hero calls $0.30, fold

Flop: ($0.80, 2 players) A♥ 9♠ Q♦
Hero checks, BTN bets $0.40, Hero raises to $1.60, fold

Hero wins $1.52

If you donk bet into him onto the flop you look very strong and will mostly get all worse hands to fold. I would check call to show down. If its a good spot and you think you can get value in on the river do so

This is one of those hands that could go either way. AQ I defo checkraise Q9 I defo c/c.

At 100nl I'd c/c as I don't think I could get q9 to stack that often and can expect gutshots to fire several barrels. These two statements are less likely to be true at 10nl so both plays have their merits and both are ev+.

In spots like this we need to think about how profitable stacking is rather than how profitable the checkraise is, which on its own is a marvelous value raise but becomes much thinner on subsequent streets. Seeing as I think the overall plan is thin I would size this smaller.

my standard c/r size would be to $1 so that you can ballance the bluffs but if u don't think he is gonna notice then u can raise bigger but 1.6 seems too much. OOP I prefer c/r, IP I'd consider calling.

I wouldn't check-raise this board, very dry and looks like a monster all time, also only a few hands that can call you, the rest beat you and raise. I would flat call, donk turn/river or check/call turn and donk river usually.