checking it down to lose another opp?

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Short stak is UTG with about 2000 in chips, blinds are 300/600 at an 8 handed table. Final two tables w/steep payout structure. Its a $25 multi table guaranteed prize money tourny that did not attract enough entrants. 20th-11th pays $65, winner gets almost $2k, 2nd place about half that.

SB has 16K, BB has 18K or so.

UTG goes All In, SB calls, BB Raises All In, SB folds.

BB turns over AA while UTG has 74 offsuit. Flop comes three spades, river is fourth spade giving UTG a winning flush.

SB complains about BB raising? Says he had a higher spade, and if BB had called the All in pre flop, and checked it down, they would have eliminated one more oppponent.

The UTG goes on to win second place.

Does everybody bet their Aces somewhere along the line? Does anybody just check it down to eliminate opponent? And if not, or if, when is it right?

thanks

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