Party NL 11 - Trying to get most from big hands

[floppy]

In both cases, I'm the favorite, but I'm not exactly sure what to do:

Hand 1:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t15 (10 handed) internettexasholdem.com (http://www.internettexasholdem.com)

UTG+1 (t975)
UTG+2 (t845)
MP1 (t785)
MP2 (t790)
MP3 (t770)
CO (t815)
Hero (t435)
SB (t1015)
BB (t785)
UTG (t785)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A/images/graemlins/heart.gif, A/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
<font color="#666666">5 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 raises to t55</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t120</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, MP3 calls t65.

Flop: (t262.50) 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 2/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 7/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
MP3 checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t130</font>, MP3 folds.

Final Pot: t392.50

- Should I have just called pre-flop?
- Should I give the free card on the flop?

Hand 2:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (10 handed) internettexasholdem.com (http://www.internettexasholdem.com)

MP2 (t950)
MP3 (t895)
CO (t625)
Button (t975)
SB (t730)
BB (t700)
Hero (t605)
UTG+1 (t1005)
UTG+2 (t815)
MP1 (t700)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, Q/images/graemlins/club.gif.
Hero calls t30, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, MP1 calls t30, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, CO calls t30, Button calls t30, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t180) J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif, A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="#0000FF">(6 players)</font>
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks, MP1 checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets t85</font>, Button calls t85, SB folds, BB folds, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t250</font>, MP1 folds, CO folds, Button folds.

Final Pot: t600

- Is this a WA/WB situation? There's only 4 cards I have to improve (probably less given the action).
- My strength is hidden, should I just call?

first hand, they just didnt hit. if you had a read on the player, and knew this was a likely outcome if he missed, then maybe you could let a free card drop.

second hand, no, you have to define your hand... as there is a chance you're up against a straight. maybe the raise is too large given stack sizes,but you need to define.

In my opinion, hand 1 was played fine. You gotta make sure that it's impractical to draw to a flush. I'm sure you'd be more upset giving away a pot for free than winning a small one.