Quote Originally Posted by oskar
Betting the flop does not get all worse hands to fold... almost all pairs will peal.
By checking you telegraph the strengh of your hand to your opponent.
IMO checking back here is waving a flag saying you are now ready to get barelled off whatever it is you're holding there.

I'd c-bet half pot. Fold to a raise, unless you have reads that he will c/r bluff Axx boards with air.

It's also betting for protection... and you can all beat me off... betting for protection is legit, yo.
If he want's to bluff you off he has to either c/r this flop which represents a really narrow range. Or he has to c/c, donk turn - which isn't in the playbook of most microstakes players. or c/c c/r turn... all that on a board where he can't really have any draws.
But if you check back he can just mash pot on two streets and he doesn't risk nearly as much.
Checking does not telegraph the strength of your hand. You have a checking range that considers of hands of various strength. Your opponent will not immediately know you have a JJ-like hand by checking.

If you think your opponent will barrel often to a check then you should be checking a wider range of hands.

If you are behind your opponent's continuing range on the flop (which you are here) then your flop bet is worse than checking.

Betting for value dominates betting for protection whenever the bets are large relative to the pot.