This was my original thought process:

I can probably only get 2 streets of value from Jx, which is my value target.

I can keep villain in with a wider range on the turn.

I want to have a stronger check/back range

I noticed that a lot of villains in my stakes make the mistake of over-valuing top pair. I figured if I check back flop, he might think he’s good and be willing to put more money in the pot than he otherwise would have with top pair.

On the other hand:

It’s probably better to bet flop and turn as that’s where we will get villain to feel the most comfortable putting his money in.

QQ does benefit from protection against free cards as its vulnerable to Kx and Ax hands that villain has in his bb defending range.

….These were the reasons that I came up with for checking the flop.

You’re welcome. I will remember that for the next time I post a hand.

I agree with what you’re saying. After thinking about this hand a lot more, I realize now the flaws in checking the flop. Also, if I am only able to get 2 streets from Jx (which I’m not 100% that’s the case), the flop and turn are possibly the best streets to extract said value as the board will likely get scarier for both my hand and villains range.

Yeah, I see your point but how much of villains Jx range is he going to call 3 streets with? I’d say AJ, and KJ, we block QJ and it’s not as clear to me that he will call flop, turn, and river with that hand. JT I think folds to a 3rd barrel.

Having said all that, what would be a better way to look at this? Let me try to break this question up a little better (bare with me)… Since this is a BB defend, let’s start with how many Jx hands would be in his range. I would say J8o+, and J5s+ (+/- a few suited jacks). Of this Jx range in it’s entirety, what’s the worst Jack that we get villain to fold a river bet/the best Jack we get villain to call a river bet and how do you size all 3 streets?

Yeah, I should have bet all 3 streets. Being so short, I really want to get my stack in here. I could have bet like 175 on the flop, 690 on the turn, and bet a little over pot on the river to GII. I think that would have been fine, although villain may not have called the river because of the king.

I definitely misplayed this. Lesson learned.