Not getting maximum value from big hand

[QUADS4444]

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (6 max, 6 handed) converter

Hero ($300)
UTG ($740)
MP ($207.1)
CO ($887.45)
Button :#A500AF(villain)/ ($284.35)
SB ($1195.35)

Preflop: Hero is BB with T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $3.
UTG calls $6, MP calls $6, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Button :#A500AF(villain)/ calls $6, SB (poster) completes, Hero checks.

Flop: ($30) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(5 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $18</font>, UTG calls $18, MP calls $18, <font color="#CC3333">villain raises to $36</font>, SB folds, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $96</font>, UTG folds, MP folds, villain calls $60.

Turn: ($258) K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $125</font>, villain folds.

Final Pot: $383



I feel that I didn't maximize the value of my hand. I flopped the nuts. Should I have just called villain's mini-raise on the flop allowing more callers? Should I have bet less on the turn? What could I have done differently? Or do we just accept the fact that protecting our hands (with raises and big bets) often results in smaller pots than otherwise? And that's just the nature of the beast.

[mgsimpleton]

bet more on the turn... the hands that are gonna call 125 are sets and flush draws because you're giving them odds to outdraw you. sets will call for a lot more than 125, and you want the flush draws out. two pair might come along for the ride for cheaper, but any donk with a crappy two pair probably isn't folding for more either. just accept that they either have a hand or they don't and bet more than half the pot.

barring that, your play is fine. sucks he didn't have enough of a hand to call you with.

[barongreenback]

I play the same except I bet a bit more on the flop. $6 or so extra may not seem much but it increases future bet sizes and soon mounts up.

Definately don't bet less on turn. With his stack sizes I'd probably just get him all in. If you're going to get his money in then now is the time. If you were both deeper then I'd still bet more to stop a flush or set from calling profitably.

I don't find flopped flushes and straights simple to play correctly but I think that is because often picking up the pot is the best you can do.

James