With AA on a paired, rainbow flop we should bet small, on the turn we should raise LJ’s stab, and on the river we should jam over LJ’s value bet.
Flop comes Jh9sJc rainbow, giving us an overpair on a paired, dry board. We’ve got a big range advantage and AA is near the top of our range, so a small c-bet is the go-to: it pressures LJ’s Jx/9x/overpairs and charges any random floats. Checking here is a bit too passive and lets both villains realize their equity for free.
Note: On a paired, rainbow flop where we have a strong range advantage and a big overpair, we should bet small; checking is too passive and gives up value.
Turn is the 5s, adding a spade draw but not changing our hand strength. LJ now leads 3.9BB into 23.3BB, giving us about 6:1 and needing only ~14% equity. AA is still way ahead of LJ’s range and we block some of the strongest hands that can continue, so raising to around 16–17BB is preferred—picks up value from Jx/9x and folds out a lot of air. Calling is fine but leaves money on the table.
Note: Facing LJ’s small turn stab, AA should usually raise for value and to isolate; calling is okay but gives up some value and lets BB continue with weaker hands.
River pairs the 9h, so the board is Jh9sJc5s9h and we still have AA. LJ now bets 14.6BB into 31.1BB, giving us about 3.1:1 and needing ~24% equity. AA has ~95.5% equity versus this range and blocks some of the strongest hands that can value-bet, so jamming is the highest-EV line—LJ can’t fold JJ/9x and we get paid by worse aces and bluffs. Calling is still very good but leaves a bit of value behind.
Note: On the river facing LJ’s value bet, AA should usually shove; calling is good but misses some extra value from worse aces and bluffs.