Obligatory Flop Raise?

[theBruiser500]

The PRF opener is opening a lot preflop and plays slightly crazy postflop. I don't know who the cold callers are. On the flop the pot seems big which dictates a raise, but these guys cold called 3 bets, seems like they have a pocket pair and will 3 bet flop. In fact before this guy led into me I was thinking of checking behind (because I don't think these guys will fold there ever) on the flop to pair up.

Then the turn too... Thoughts?

PokerStars 30/60 Hold'em (5 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A/images/graemlins/club.gif, T/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, Button calls, SB calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG calls.

Flop: (13 SB) 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 3/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 4/images/graemlins/spade.gif <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, Button folds, SB calls $45 (All-In), UTG calls.

Turn: (9.25 BB) 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="#0000FF">(3 players, 1 all-in)</font>
UTG checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG calls.

River: (11.25 BB) Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif <font color="#0000FF">(3 players, 1 all-in)</font>
UTG checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 11.25 BB

[steveyz]

Yes, I think it is an obligatory flop raise unless you want to fold. I think the main reason to raise here is to quell the action so that someone with a pocket pair doesn't make it expensive for you to draw out in this fairly large pot. If you just call, you may see the button or SB raise and UTG 3-bet, which would leave you in a tough spot as you may have as many as 10 outs.

[ggbman]

Given the size of the pot, i know it's temping to raise thwe flop, but the problem is 88 probably isnt folding here, so you really want to improve as cheap as possible or muck. I dont know how loose UTG was, but i think its questionable trying to isolate against him in MP with a hand as weak as A-T.

[theBruiser500]

Flop situation seems kind of complicated. I agree with what both of you guys said but both of you just kind of leave it at "these are the issues at hand here, tough situation." Any more thoughts anyone?

[1800GAMBLER]

Ya. SB calls $45 (All-In)

[theBruiser500]

Button is scarier than SB, button cold calls 3 directly behind me.

[1800GAMBLER]

(All-In)