I guess he was "protecting."

EIther that, or repping the nuts + freeroll, understanding of course that most players are able to fold the nuts to an extreme overbet which would price them out against a freeroll type hand.

I can't fault his play though. On the river, a shove would be well warranted, might as well give it a try. His play blows though against a freeroll hand though, say you had Ace-King suited in diamonds.

Against offsuit ace, his play his good, against a red suited ax, his play is poor. It all comes down to reading the suits of your cards