Walk me thru this hand please

I'll save the result for later, but this was a critical hand for me having a good day versus another down day. I'm flying blind here as this is only my 2nd hand at this table and my HUD wasn't up yet.

No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.15/$0.25
9 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $17.50
UTG+1: $20.10
MP1: $19.75
MP2: $30.80
MP3: $22.26
CO: $19
Button: $24.90
SB: $24.85
Hero: $24.75

Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is BB with A A
UTG calls, 5 folds, Button calls, SB raises to $0.5, Hero raises to $1.5, UTG folds, Button calls, SB calls.

Ok-- should've raised to $2.25. Mistake #1. Not HU but ok.

Flop: 9 7 J ($4.75, 3 players)

Not a bad flop for us, but slightly drawy. T8 unlikey to call a PFR. QT is drawing. AJ/KJ/QJ/JT is possible with no reads. Can't be scared of a set yet. Combo gutshot draw/pair J8 seems unlikely (or am I mistaken?). Too many cards make this uncomfortable for us with 2pair and straights possible. Pot it-- maybe we shake the draws and a weak J out.

SB checks, Hero bets $4.55, Button calls, SB folds.

Lost one, good, but a full stack wants to stay in. Still drawing with position? J8/JT gets lost here, right? Some ragged J7/J9 hand stays in of course.

Turn: 6 ($13.85, 2 players)

Good card misses any draw. Nice sized pot, but reaching critical mass. A push moves inferior hands off. I should bet 1/2 pot, right? [yes, I wussed and only did slightly more than 1/3 pot. I was thinking that a set would raise me so I could get away. But is it better to bet $7 and leave $11 behind and make the river decision easier? Do you get away from a push here if so, or are we committed to our overpair for this hand and are going to call a river push?].

Hero bets $5, Button calls.

Shit. Am I being setted? I'd have raised the flop or turn if I had a set in this spot-- especially a 1/3 pot bet to build it up, but not everyone does.

River: J ($23.85, 2 players)

Crap. Here's where I'm wondering about proper thinking (that probably should have started before I bet the turn). Big pot, only $13 behind (instead of a pot of $28 and $11 behind if I had bet $7). I can bet here and a missed straight draw will fold. Check and let him try and bluff his missed draw or block-bet/call a raise? If I check and he goes AI that could easily be a missed draw repping the runner-runner flush, trips, or FH (I tend to discount runner runner flushes somewhat. Mistake?) and I'd be getting ~3.1:1 on my money. Is that good enough to cry and call? And if he's truly stubbornly clung to his J to the river, just curse my luck again and reload?

bet river fold to a raise.

I think he has a jack often here considering he miniraised preflop and then called down. I might have pushed the turn at these stakes because opp has a hand (and prob doesnt have us beat as he cant slow play on that flop) and also like most small stakes players is likely to call too much.

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

bet river fold to a raise.

I think he has a jack often here considering he miniraised preflop and then called down.

Actually the SB is the one who minraised PF. Button limp/called. Does that change your thinking?

Originally Posted by drtofu66

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

bet river fold to a raise.

I think he has a jack often here considering he miniraised preflop and then called down.

Actually the SB is the one who minraised PF. Button limp/called. Does that change your thinking?

makes me a donkey

I think you prob got called down by a jack still but certainly that puts something like QQ into opps range.

Id have made it $2 or $2.5 preflop as well but thats me.

You cannot play AA scared that is what leads to so many bad beat stories. Sure sometimes you will have them cracked which will likely cost you your stack but thats poker. you win more playing them strong in the long run.

So i Push the turn... I don't think you have enough behind to do much else.... or chk and give up the hand there. $5 bet was awful.

Originally Posted by thnwkd

You cannot play AA scared that is what leads to so many bad beat stories. Sure sometimes you will have them cracked which will likely cost you your stack but thats poker. you win more playing them strong in the long run.

So i Push the turn... I don't think you have enough behind to do much else.... or chk and give up the hand there. $5 bet was awful.

i agree, bet more on the turn ..2/3 the pot atleast ...

Turns out he had Q8o which blew my mind.

It just got me thinking about checking a scary board that gives the other guy carte blanche to bluff into it. I kind of wanted a cheap SD but he didn't oblige. Luckily the money was shallow enough that I could bring myself to call this one.

if hero bets 2/3-ish on turn and the river is really ugly what then? how should hero react to a raise on the turn(which would likely put him AI)?

Yea, that turn bet is terrible. You have him perfect implied odds for the OESD.