AA ugly multiway hand

[smizmiatch]

My play of AA in this hand is questionable on every street.
Should I have just bet out on the flop rather than going for a check-raise? The turn is also ugly -- hate to give free cards.
After it was checked through though, I felt I could safely bet the river. But then when it's raised and re-raised, should I spend the $8 more on the slim chance I have the best hand? The pot is large, but I'm not sure if it's worth the money.

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, A/images/graemlins/club.gif.
<font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP2 calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, CO calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, SB calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>.

Flop: (9 SB) 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 6/images/graemlins/heart.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP2 bets</font>, CO calls, SB calls, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP2 3-bets</font>, CO calls, SB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (10.50 BB) 3/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, Hero checks, MP2 checks, CO checks.

River: (10.50 BB) Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP2 raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">CO 3-bets</font>, SB folds, Hero calls, MP2 calls.

Final Pot: 19.50 BB

[jordanx]

Bet the flop.

3-bet if raised.

Lead the turn if three bet is not capped. Slow down if turn is raised or flop is capped.

[bakku]

I'd just bet out on the flop. I'd also fold on the river, your hand is almost never good here.

[spamuell]

Wow this is my first post in SS for literally months. And unfortunately it's not because I've moved to mid-high.

So, yeah, bet the flop rather than check-raising, there's no reason to think anyone will bet, although it was nice that MP2 did bet for you. Once that happened I would have just trapped everyone for the cap, but I don't think it's wrong to go for the turn check-raise. I haven't played party 2/4 for ages though, do people frequently bet-3bet for a free card?

I have no idea what is going on at the river but I'd fold.

[Nick Royale]

[ QUOTE ]
Bet the flop.

3-bet if raised.

Lead the turn if three bet is not capped. Slow down if turn is raised or flop is capped.

[/ QUOTE ]
My thoughts exactly.