Silly question but whats the right way to play this?

Ok on the button or just before i have an A K suited. only 1 person in early position has called before me so i raise say 4/5 times blind and blinds fold round to the 1st caller who again calls my raise.
Down flops say a rainbow of 3 9 J. Knowing that the other player in the hand has called my raise whats he got? Ive missed the flop completly so do i raise and see if he calls and then maybe fold if hand doesnt improve on the turn and he bets or do i check and try and get a free card? But then he will surely raise and take the lead?

Im never sure the best way to play strong starting hands when i miss the flop and theres only a couple of others in the hand. Advice guys? Probably ABC i know :roll:

im only a beginner but i think i can answer this question. I think there's a few factors to consider:

1. Fold equity - is he going to fold TopPairGoodKicker or less, or will be play draws and TPGK. The more likely he is to fold the more you should C-Bet. At low levels C-Bets don't work as well, as people like to call with anything.

2. Keep in mind you have a top drawing hand, and you have 6 outs to make TPTK on the turn/river. So you have an easy decision on the turn, check/fold or bet/call if you hit.

Bet and you might get him to fold 66 type hands. Also unpaired hands miss the flop 2/3 of the time and he will fold here.

So yes, it is good to bet here.

Good question.

The answer is as always, it depends.

Irisheyes covered it. Is your opp tight? Have they shown reasonable skill in terms of calling opp bets etc? Have you been cbetting a great deal (and is your opponent good enough to notice?) on every flop, or have you been mucking your cards the past 3 orbits?