I agree, I always bet the pot in this situation. If I get callers behind me I may fire again on the turn but this is read dependent. You'll be suprised how many times they fold around.

since you are first to seem to want to take the pot, you have to bet or how will you ever expect to make money on this hand? You won't flop 2 pair or a flush often enough. You have to take a stab at these pots. I agree with ice (although i'm sure he stole the idea from me somehow) to bet the pot and determine what to do by who calls. Hope to get position for the later streets with your bet if you don't take it on the flop.

Agree--BTP (or I prefer about 3/4 pot here). But I think reads are very important here too.

Something that helps me in these situations is to have PT stats up (esp. stats on the guys after me). If there are 5 other guys in the hand, and I can quickly glance at everyone's WtSD stat and know that only 1 of the 5 likes to go to showdown then I feel good that I will get a fold or that I can take it away from them on the turn/river. I feel even better if the 1 guy was one of those that checked.

Contrast that to a table where I see 3-4 guys who love showdowns or they have other calling station tendencies. Well, I'm probably not betting there but I'm also not playing AT in MP either with that kind of table makeup.

Tim

We have a consensus...this is an insta BTP for me. If I'm called then I'll bet 1/2 pot on the turn, and yield to any action...if I'm called again then I'm putting in a blocking bet on the river.