Top pair that improves to two pair is a strong value bet when villain’s turn check caps their range away from flushes.
Flop comes Qd Kd 3c in a 3-way limped pot, we’ve got top pair with a shaky kicker and no diamond. On this dynamic texture multiway, checking our whole range is very reasonable; leading big with a hand that can easily be dominated by KQ/sets on such a wet board would be overplaying it.
BU folds and we’re heads-up; MP fires 2.5 into 3.5 on Qd Kd 3c and we hold top pair. At this SPR and vs a sizing that represents a lot of worse Kx/Qx and draws, calling is the natural play. Raising would bloat the pot versus a range that has us in rough shape when it continues.
Turn 9d gives us K9 two pair but also completes the front-door diamond draw. Checking keeps our range protected and avoids getting blown off a strong but non-nut hand when MP has a flush or jams draws; when MP checks back, their range is now capped away from most strong flushes.
River 8h bricks the board; flushes still win but MP’s turn check means they’re weighted toward one-pair Kx/Qx and some give-ups. Firing 6.5 into 8.4 as a chunky value bet makes sense with two pair, though a slightly smaller size might get even more crying calls from worse kings and queens.