Hero is in the hijack with t2530, table is 8 handed.

blinds aree 30/60,
UTG limps
Hero raises to t180
BB calls (t2815)
UTG calls (t6555)

flop: Ad Ts 7c

BB checks
UTG checks
Hero checks

Turn: 6d

BB check
UTG ckecks
Hero bets t350
BB raises to t700
UTG folds
Hero calls t350

River: Js (pot is t1970)

BB bets t997
Hero Calls

Showdown:

Hero AsJc for 2 pair
BB Ac8s for TP-T87

So...

Me and my friend were playing this tournament side by side, and m friend's inclination was to bet the flop. But I stopped him and said that I thought it would be better to check because we had a marginal Ace and it would entice weak aces and underpairs to play at the pot.

when the str8 card came off we played it careful figuring we were inducing action from weaker hands and lowballing trap hands.

afterwards, my friend said he thought it would have been better to bet TP because the A-8 was a donkey anywya and would have likely c/r the flop like they did the turn, building a better pot- all subsequent streets would have been played the same.

I couldnt really argue his logic except to say that I felt that a weak Ace very often shuts down if we call their c/r on the flop...so we thought we'd ask the educated populace.

What do you think?