Preflop and flop are standard, and once we turn trips we should bet for value—our sizing is fine, though a slightly more coherent turn size is ideal.
Flop Analysis
Checking back third pair with backdoor potential after CO checks is right in line with strategy — this hand is strong enough to realize equity and too weak to value-bet confidently yet.
**Ranges:** CO retains all strong Tx/overpairs/sets that check sometimes, and our range has a lot of medium pairs and draws; betting mostly wants to come from stronger made hands and high-equity draws rather than marginal showdown.
**Board:** The two-tone, connected texture generates many strong draws (J8, 87, QJ, heart draws), so when equity runs big for draws, marginal pairs like our hand protect EV by controlling pot size IP.
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> **Takeaway:** With marginal made hands and decent backdoors on wet textures, lean to checking back and using position to realize equity instead of thinly stabbing.
Turn Analysis
Once we turn trips and CO checks again, betting is mandatory for value; our slightly-less-than-half-pot sizing is reasonable, though theory prefers cleaner splits between ~33% and ~66% pot.
**Ranges:** After CO check-checks, their range skews toward underpairs, weak Tx/9x, and draws, while we now sit at the very top of range with trips and heavily favored versus their continuing region (Tx, 9x, straights/draws).
**Board:** This turn card drastically boosts our equity but also completes several straights; we still have a strong value edge, but need to be ready for raises that represent those straights and for rivers where more straight/flush cards arrive.
**Sizing:** Solver leans to a small 33% pot bet as the main size with some 66% usage; our ~50% pot bet sits between these and still extracts solid value from Tx/9x and draws, though standardizing to one of the two sizes simplifies our strategy.
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> **Takeaway:** When a check-through board pairs our card and gives us trips, treat it as a clear value bet, using a coherent small or medium size to target top pairs, second pairs, and draws.