TPGK Post Flop Play

[EasyT]

Here's where I'm doing something wrong, and gotta get it fixed.

NL $25, $.25/$.50.
Say I'm in middle position and get dealt KJs.
I limp in after one person calls, and and someone behind me makes a minimum raise.
BB plu one other calls, and so do I.
The pot is about $4.00.
Flop: K T 4 rainbow.
So I have top pair with a good kicker.

Usually I'm betting $4 to try to weed out the straight chasers, right?

1.) 1/3 of the time everyone folds, and I net $3.

2.) 1/3 of the time I get called, I'm at a total loss about what to do. If the turn doesn't look like it helps anyone (doesn't pair the board or give 3 to a straight), am I supposed to bet 1/2 the pot ($6)? More? Less? Check?!? I can't see betting the whole pot ($12) with nothing but top pair.

3.) 1/3 of the time I get raised on the flop, I probably fold it readily, putting him on trips, 2 pr or just a better kicker. Is this too easy a lay down? I lose a total of $5.

If I can adjust to win more than half of the 2.)s above, I'll be ahead. Right now I'm losing money with TPGK.

Here's a side question. In this case I estimated the pot to $4.00. What if the pot was really $3.70. Here I usually round it down and just bet the $3. Is this a Giant Tell if I round down every time I hit top pair? Trust me, I'm rounding up to $4 if I made trips or flopped a straight.

[RD Olivaw]

One option is to check, and then see if anyone else bets. If nobody does and an Ace doesn't come on the turn, then bet the pot on the turn. If someone behind you bets, raise them and see where you stand. In LP I would bet the pot on the flop.

In the case that you bet the pot on the flop and get a caller, you should bet about 3/4 the pot to the whole pot on the turn also to see where you are. If you get called again, consider shutting it down. I've been in many hands where someone will make a thin call on the flop and then fold to another bet on the turn when they don't improve.

[dalecooper]

- I would bet a little less on the flop... 2/3 or 3/4 of the pot is enough to signify the strength of your hand, and to make it easier to get away from. On a pot of $4 I'd bet $3.

- If you get flat-called and the turn appears to be of no help to anyone, bet 2/3 of the pot or so there as well. Ditto for the river. Yes it gets expensive, but you'll find you're making more money by putting serious bets out there. When they call you down with a worse hand you'll be happy. When they fold on the river because that flush or straight missed, you'll be happy.

- If your bet is raised on the flop or turn I'd seriously consider throwing the hand away. A jack kicker isn't that great and there's no sense throwing money away on it. However, it would depend on the pre-flop action too. You would think anyone on KQ or AQ would have probably raised pre-flop (not all, but most players would). It would also depend on if you had any particular read on the other player... some players will limp any high card hand and bet on that top pair regardless of kicker. However, most of those same players will just call your bet, not raise you. To me, if you bet 2/3 of the pot or better and get raised, that's usually a sign of strength. And your hand isn't that strong.