10 NL: TT line check

Hi, I cannot figure out how to play this hand.
Villain was 35/25 over 20 hands

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP1 ($10.57)
MP2 ($14.91)
MP3 ($10.25)
CO ($14.88)
Button ($2)
SB ($11.80)
Hero (BB) ($11.72)
UTG ($4.20)
UTG+1 ($4)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 10, 10
2 folds, MP1 bets $0.35, 5 folds, Hero raises to $1.30, MP1 calls $0.95

Flop: ($2.65) J, 9, 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $2, MP1 calls $2

Turn: ($6.65) 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $4.40, Hero raises to $8.42 (All-In), MP1 calls $2.87 (All-In)

River: ($21.19) 6 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $21.19 | Rake: $1.41


I 3bet preflop for
a. value, I think he will call with worse holdings a lot of the time
b. to protect my hand because I do not want to see a flop OOP

On the flop, I elect to bet because I feel I will get called by worse and also to protect my hand.

The turn brings a blank but I decide to slow down because his call on the flop indicates strength. I think he is calling the flop with all his Js, 9s, club draws, and two overs.
I raise all in because I do not feel he is betting a 9 that strongly and I think more often than not he is bluffing with a worse hand.

Can you please help me improve my line of thought in thinking through the hand?
Thanks

Betting "for protection" is not sufficient reason to make a bet or raise in big bet games like it is in limit games when the pot is large compared to the bets going in. Because the bets are so large compared to the pot, the EV aspect of protection is very much overshadowed by your equity against his calling range and what this sets up on future streets.

In response to your 3-bet preflop being for value, I don't think you have sufficient reads or stats on your opponent to conclude that this is +EV compared to calling. Even if we suppose he's calling with 10% of total hands preflop, you're going to be between 51% and 53% ahead preflop, which seems like an edge but it's really not because of the rake and being OOP.

I would like to see you put your opponent on a range on the flop, decide what hands he would bet (or check behind) if you check, and decide what hands he would call (or raise) if you bet, and the same on the turn. I made an awesome picture to help you remember how important this is, which I have put at the top of this message.

Best of luck, and if you have any trouble with this feel free to come by the IRC channel (link in my signature) and we'll help you out.

While your pre-flop action isn't completely out of line, protecting your hand is only a truly good reason if you believe the opening bettor will fold quite often. If not, then it's pot-building rather than protection. You could bet more to widen his folding range, but that's on the precarious side with a mid pair OOP.

Did you consider and weigh the reasons for other possible actions, both re-and post-flop? Or did you just find reasons to semi-justify the way you wanted to play the hand in the first place due to reasons like table feel?

Originally Posted by Arjonius

While your pre-flop action isn't completely out of line, protecting your hand is only a truly good reason if you believe the opening bettor will fold quite often.

Would you like to elaborate on why you feel this is true?