9 max SnG 0.5$ hands AJs shallow stacks

I wonder if we could have done anything different postflop. I think for thinking opponents that would be a pretty face up play if we just call OTF coz we would more often raise kings on such a wet board. Still some part of our range (with blockers on straights and fd) could have played by flatting.
Little we know about the opp here but against a fish calling and reevaluating OTT is fine I think coz we are also afraid of Kx hands (which a good opp would be betting bigger in most cases).
Another question, do we ever raise with the second pair here? Given we are 40/60 underdog against his passive call/donk range

we are not allowed to raise here coz we make fold only a very small part of his range.
OTT from the first sight a real scare card comes but the opp checks and we can discount most part of his Kx, 2 pair and set hand which an opp such as he was would continue betting to protect and for info and we actually become better against his most likely second pair or drawing hands - about 50/50. I would argue that we can vb shove OTT against his passive drawing range.

I expect he has a draw very often if he checked the turn. So I would consider a thin value bet and this way we are protecting our hand as well. As played I would bet the river for sure for thin value.
If he had a better hand he would bet the river for sure.

Cheers,
SDK1987

At first I was thinking you played it well, but then realised that betting the river is a mistake as he's never going to check the turn AND river with a better hand

Originally posted by slippyjim
At first I was thinking you played it well, but then realised that betting the river is a mistake as he's never going to check the turn AND river with a better hand

"not betting the river"*- yep, agree, turn as well

For me the turn isn't quite as clear cut as he may have a weak K, so i would often check the turn here, but then that might just be me being too weak and passive