Regarding your first hand, I'm curious what the more experienced posters will think of this: Raise third, charging the low draws, since you are the only one obviously playing for the high half, diamonds are dead, and many low cards are spent already, making the deck heavy in high cards.

Also: Double-bet fourth. If seat seven folds and seat one is smart, he will re-raise. Since he didn't, I think you can expect both seat one and seat two to call, and you make money when two low draws put more money in the pot. You have a terrific hand, but you should still consider getting a straight draw to pay extra to draw out on you if you don't fill up.

If this game doesn't allow a double-bet, then never mind the second query.

Am I suggesting a worse play with either of these suggestions?