Top pair on Q-T-9 is strong enough to continue, but once the Ace hits and SB barrels again, folding is reasonable given the price and how much SB’s range improves.
Flop Qh-9d-Ts is very favorable for us—top pair with a strong kicker and a gutshot to the nuts. SB leads small into two players, and with this hand we’re happy to continue. Solver prefers a mix of call and raise, but calling is the main line: we keep our range protected, realize our equity, and avoid isolating ourselves against SB’s strongest hands.
The Ad on the turn is a big card for SB’s range—pairs like AA/KK/QQ, AQ, and AT all improve, while our hand drops to second pair with a gutshot. SB bets 7 into 21.5, giving us about 3.1:1 and needing ~25% equity. Solver likes a mix of call and raise here, but folding is reasonable: we’re up against a range that’s now very strong and we don’t have a clear river plan. The raise line is more about leveraging our equity and fold equity versus weaker pairs and draws rather than value.