nl$50 FR, QQ oop (line check)

Villian of the piece is unknown to be, but is showing off his gold star badge.

poker stars, $0.25/$0.50 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
Hand History Converter by Stoxpoker

MP3: $64.55 (129.1 bb)
CO: $49.75 (99.5 bb)
BTN: $49.25 (98.5 bb)
SB: $32.35 (64.7 bb)
Hero (BB): $55.10 (110.2 bb)
UTG+1: $42.30 (84.6 bb)
MP1: $47.45 (94.9 bb)
MP2: $52.90 (105.8 bb)

Pre-Flop: Hero is BB with Q Q
5 folds, BTN raises to $2, SB folds, Hero raises to $6, BTN calls $4

Flop: ($12.25) K 9 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $8, Hero calls $8

Turn: ($28.25) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $22, Hero folds

Results: $28.25 pot ($1.35 rake)
BTN mucked and won $26.90 ($12.90 net)

You included results.

Looks fine to me, although OOP I'll donk the flop about 1/2 the time in this situation and just fold to any resistance.

Can't help but feel you have to give yourself a chance to win it post-flop somewhere.

Either leading the flop (admittedly pretty transparent on that board), or check-calling flop and betting turn (a line I like). Though you're not getting anything to fold that you beat or getting called by much you don't so it's pretty pointless to do even that.

Actually despite the fact his range is huge, this is a situation where he probably wins it by virtue of position more than anything else.

Talked myself into agreeing with you I think

Vs. unknowns I bet the flop (to get value out of JJ, TT, etc) and usually shut down when called as it's rare that I get two streets of value on a K-high flop vs A9. If he makes a halfpot or less bet on the turn after I check, I can call and check/fold the river if he bets again (because very few people dare to run a two-street bluff on a dry board like this). I think by checking the flop you're inviting bluffs too often. But if you do check the flop, I think check/folding the turn is good.

Why is leading the flop transparent? We 3-bet preflop and now we bet the K-high dry flop. Wouldn't (shouldn't?) we bet almost our entire range here?

Why call the flop bet then check/fold the turn? It just seems like with that line you are begging to have the pot taken away from you even if he is holding AJ as it is so passive? Admittedly you are not looking to build a big pot but might not a half-2/3 pot bet be your best chance on the turn to take it down, depending on your reads. Or is that to transparent at this level as Rex said you are turning your cards face up with a line like that?

F Paulsson said:

Why is leading the flop transparent? We 3-bet preflop and now we bet the K-high dry flop. Wouldn't (shouldn't?) we bet almost our entire range here?

Click to expand...

Yep, transparent is probably the wrong word. Vulnerable maybe? Yes I agree we're betting our whole range here and he's probably aware of that, which makes it easy to float/reraise.

Though versus an unknown probably not worth thinking too hard and send out a flop bet.

As you can tell I have few strong feelings about this situation

Lead flop, yayayayaya. Cheap showdowns do not exist out of position.