[TripleH68]

Many of the better players on these boards have said it over and over...you need to not only understand what the better play is, but also understand why it is the better play.

I play online and live low limit - adjusting to the loose/passives in the live games is very important. They call. They like calling. Trying to make them fold is usually not a winning play.

In your hand example:

Preflop: Raise is fine. Value with a hand that plays well multiway. Get the money in.

Flop: I am not saying it is wrong to bet here. Just realize that when you do any pair and any gutshot is getting odds to call. And in the type of game you described you will not know where you stand because TP is likely not raising.

Turn: Pot is big yes. Whether to bet depends on how many callers are in and what your read is on these players.
I usually give up on these hands and take the free look at the river.

Betting the turn and the river UI is a bad case of wishful thinking.

Edit: to say that I remember starting out when it felt very funny to raise preflop and then quit on the hand. Especially live people will criticize you and such. Get used to it.