Villain is a regular. Possibly a pro, semi-pro at the very least. He's not all that spectacular, but he plays a crapload. He's certainly a winner, but he definately makes exploitable mistakes regularly enough that I feel Xaston > him. I don't really understand poker tracker numbers, or pay much attention at the table, so I can't really tell you anything too specific even though I've played over 1000 hands with him.

I have $512 and he covers.

Folds to him in the SB and he makes it $16. I call with

The flop is AT7 with two diamonds. He bets $20. I call.

Turn is an offsuit 8. Check Check. (How do we like my check here?)

The river is another A. He checks and I value bet $42. He check raises to $144. I call.

Thoughts?

i heard layne flack give this advice recently. "bet your good hands big and your bluffs small" A small bet makes it seem like you want a call. How many times have you had big bets paid off with marginal hands when they think you are bluffing and how many times do you call a bet or raise thinking "i'm getting 5:1" knowingyou are beat but you take the odds and call and lose more than the odds justify.

He had KQ. MHIG.