Went to Casino Morongo to celebrate my friends birthday and sat down at a NL $100 max buy in w/ $1 and $3 blinds.

The first hand I have is on MP1 and I'm dealt . Folds to me so I raise to $12 and MP2 , Button, and BB call me. Great.

Flop comes
Decently good flop for me right? BB checks I lead out for $40 (Maybe too much? I try to stick to the adage of "bet the pot" but I might need to vary when I do so.) MP2 calls, Button and BB fold. Awesome, I love being in this position.

The turn comes
I think for a second and check, MP2 goes all in and has me covered.
Hero....?

I've been in this position many times, where I have TPTK in early position and find myself always folding. It makes me feel as if I'm playing weak tight, but maybe I just suckat this game.

The problem is, you bet too much on the flop. You can bet a lower amount and still find out where you stand. Being oop, I would probably bet around 18-25. If you get raised, you can still get away from the hand and have around 60 to go on, that's if you think you're beat.

Again, what kind of opponents are they? Are they the type that would call a raise with KQ and never let it go? Or are they the type that would only call a raise with pocket pairs because they can take down huge pots if they hit sets. Third, an unlikely scenario though, would they call with a suited connector, like 87 in this case? Personally, if I figured my competition was weak, the more likely I'd want to go for it. When the turn comes a supposed blank for you, why would you check? I only would have checked for two reasons:

1) I will fold, knowing I'm beat.
2) I will call quickly because there is too much money and I think my hand is best.

I would NOT check because I'm not sure where I am in the hand. Since you were like that as it seems, I probably would have just stuck it in and hoped for the best.

How'd it turn out?