1/2 FR

[9d] MP1
I open for a raise, MP2 cold calls as he has done 4x already in about 30 hands, Button (37/13/44) cold-calls, BB (17/13/64 showdown muppet) 3-bets, I call as do the 2 others

[9s][8s] Pot 13 SB
SB leads, I call, MP2 calls, Button calls
Didn't raise because this is one scary ass flop for a set. There are sooo many bad turn cards here if I'm even ahead right here. A raise here is getting no decent drawing hand to fold. Ok to wait for a safe turn?

Pot 8.5 BB
SB checks, I check, MP2 bets, Button calls, SB calls, I call
Yeah, when I said safe turn card, this wasn't what I meant. Should I still be betting here or are you just check/calling too and praying for the board to pair?

Pot 12.5 BB
SB bets, I ????

Well, let's see. There are still a number of boats better than mine here. The only hand I'm legitimately worried about here is QQ from SB. SB could have quads too, but I can't worry bout that. Slight chance one of the cold-callers has QJs? That said, do I want to raise here or go for the overcall?
Merits: Save a bet when SB has QQ and also possibly pick up 2 more bets if I'm best.
Faults: MP2 and Button could fold and I get just the one bet on the river when I'm good.
If I raise, I probably ensure at least 1 more bet from SB if I'm good. I also lose 2 extra bets if someone 3-bets me and I'm no good.

With that many players in the pot I raise the flop and try to drive some players out. You much rather play this hand HU. You want the weak draws and gutshot people out.

The turn is a crap card. Check calling is fine.

The river is a good card for you. You might be beat by a better full, but more likely you're up against straights or flushes. Calling is good because you WANT the overcalls. If it gets raised call.

I'm not sure I would have gotten even a gutshot to fold that flop getting immediate 8-1 odds. Anyway, I went for the river raise probably incorrectly thinking at the time that if someone had a flush they were probably going to call 2 bets getting 15-1 and I'd get at least one more from SB worst case, but if I had more time to think I would have just called for the reasons everyone stated and if I was 3-bet I'd probably slam my head against a wall.

So SB did in fact 3-bet, I called and he turned over [Qs]

But look at this, holy crap almost the exact same scenario and cards
UTG 18/12/35 and very tight in EP (over 300 hands vs).

I have [9h] again OTB this time.
UTG raises, MP1 cold calls, I cold call, BB calls

[9s][Qd] Pot 8.5 SB
BB checks, UTG checks (???), MP1 checks, I bet, BB folds, UTG raises (???), MP1 folds, I call

Pot 6.25 BB
UTG bets, I ???

So what the hell kind of hand does a TAG UTG player preflop raise and then go for a c/r on that flop?