Who does the lifting and hauling

[KenProspero]

Hi:

I'm a new player (first post), and was wondering about the play of a hand -- Unfortunately, I'm going from memory, so I hope you'll bear with me on any gaps I have.

Loose Aggressive Game, Play of None of the others inspires me.


I'm BB, dealt A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]K [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

BB+1 calls, MP raises, MP2 call, Dealer Calls, Hero Raises, SB folds, BB+1 Calls, Original Raiser raises capping the betting, everyone calls. (20 small bets after the rake)

Flop: 9 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]4 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

With 5 in the pot, I decide to slow play.

Hero Checks, BB+1 checks, MP (original Raiser) Bets, MP2 Calls, Dealer Raises, Hero Calls, BB+1 Folds, MP raises, MP2 Calls, Dealer Caps, all call (Total Pot is 18 Big Bets)

Turn: 3 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

Here's where my dilemma comes in. Given this hand, I have huge pot equity, my only concern is the possibility of a straight flush, and odds are slim. I'm also worried about driving players out of the pot, since no one else has any better than a Q high flush. Also, MP and Dealer seem to be in a cockfight here, so there's a good chance that there will be a lot of action without my betting, so .....

Hero checks, MP bets, MP2 Calls, Dealer Raises, Hero Checks, MP raises, MP2 Calls, Dealer Raises (capping), all call (total pot 34 big bets)

River 5 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

May make someone's straight, but no threat to me.

Hero checks; MP bets, MP2 calls, Dealer Raises, Hero Raises, All call. (Final Pot 46 Big Bets).

Afterwards, my thought was that I probably was mistaken to bet, even on the river. Although Dealer and MP may have stopped, they likely would have raised to the bitter end, giving me 4 more Big Bets in the pot.

Any thoughts generally.