Quote Originally Posted by The Professor
Do you ever run into situations where you have a monster, but everytime you raise it everyone folds (as they probably should)?
Against anyone who isn't dumping money into the game you must give action to get action. In my last hand this morning I raised 44 UTG, got 5 callers, caught my set and had a guy stack off against me with middle pair. I don't think I get that kind of action if I hadn't stolen the last 4 pots I played in with c-bet and less than stellar starting hands.

Quote Originally Posted by The Professor
Wouldn't the ocassional slow-play be warranted in these situations TO extract some value? Naturally, if the board turns scary you must be careful not to donk it up...
I bet my best hands for value and mix in pure bluffs (I pick spots well enough that these plays are either profitable on their own or cost me very little.) I WANT to get in the money when I have the best of it and keeping people around cheap doesn't accomplish that. When I see guys that don't get value out of their hands, I try to play more hands against them because I know I can showdown and suck-out cheap (and get paid off)against them.