AA in a huge multiway pot

[setzf]

Game is live, 6-12, 9 handed, with a typical mixture of small stakes opponnents. Here is SB with A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].

Pre-Flop: 1 fold, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, 1 fold, MP2 calls, MP3 raises, Button calls, Hero 3-bets, BB calls, 5 calls.

Flop (21 SB): 8 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]7 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]5 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
Hero bets, BB raises, 4 cold-calls, Hero calls.

Turn (17.5 BB): Q [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
Hero bets, BB raises, 2 folds, 2 cold-calls, Hero calls.

River (25.5 BB): Q [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
Hero checks, BB bets, MP3 calls, Button raises, hero folds.

I hated how I played the hand but felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. Any advice is appreciated.

[sy_or_bust]

BB did some great things for you, but this pot was way too large for anyone to fold a legitimate draw. The stop n go (calling flop raise and leading turn) worked great, but you have to push your likely equity edge further and reraise on the relatively blank turn card. You're right to fold the river - Button likely has a flush, and MP3/BB might have trips or even a full house.

[Malachii]

Wow, this is a weird hand.

Flop is a very tough one for me. I actually like your play, I think just calling and then betting a safe card on the turn (and hoping the BB raises) is the best way to protect your hand.

On the turn, I'm 3 betting. The queen is a pretty good card for your hand, and now it's time to get maximum value and make them pay to draw against me. There's no reason to think you're behind here.

On the river, I make the crying call personally, but you're probably beat with the spade and board pairing.

[nepenthe]

You played it well. Although a turn check/raise is a consideration, I personally prefer the sng in this spot. The flop bet/call is good. River is a routine fold when facing 2 bets.

[aK13]

Am I missing something? Why are we stop-n-go on the turn?

[nepenthe]

Part of it depends on BB's aggression level. 4 cold-calls behind him on the flop indicates collective looseness, monsters, marginal holdings, draws, or any combination of the above. If you're ahead on the turn, and you may well be, letting this turn get checked through is a disaster, especially if BB was trying to isolate the flop with a marginal holding and got scared by the cold-calls into checking the turn. The best way to protect your hand may be to sng, or to check hoping to raise a late bet. If neither seems particularly likely, you should bet the turn for value anyway.

[aK13]

What are we protecting against?

[setzf]

I've played alot with the BB and she is fairly loose and not overly aggressive. there is almost no chance that she is raising me with just a draw but rather trying to protect a made hand. my read on her influenced my stop and go mentality. with me 3 betting pre flop oop im very sure she wouldn't raise the turn with just one pair, thats why i didn't 3-bet.

[setzf]

Results in white below:
<font color="white"> BB called and MP3 3-bet, then Button capped, BB and MP3 called. BB had flopped a straight with 69, MP3 had pocket eights and button had the nut flush. </font>

[Malachii]

Good thing you didn't make the crying call [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]