I read this line yesterday and it got me to thinking about my NL game/thought process. I find myself oftentimes getting a flop to headsup preflop, hitting top pair and then taking the pot down on the flop with a good size bet. My thinking has always been that its better to take down the pot right there then to get in a big pot with an obvious hand. I tend to bet pretty aggro whenever I have a top pair hand that is probably best, but I don't like to mess around in these spots.

But i'm not really stacking too many people this way - Seems like i'm taking more stacks when i play a little SC or a J7 from the SB and flop 2 pair against the guy who thinks his AJ is gold. I'm either taking down the small pot or i'm getting in trouble because when they call the flop i've gotten myself into a big pot with a 1pr hand (when i'm just C-betting, i don't mind often giving up depending on my opponent)

In the example I read it was me having AK with a flop of something like A,9,3. It reccomended check/calling the flop and letting your opponent catch up. you can then bet the turn if opponent won't bluff at it, and if they are acting strong you can try to check/call for reasonable amounts (like whne you are behind)

Just as a general thought process, should I try to slow play TPTK kinda hands more often? Specifically in a heads up post flop decision, not against 3 or 4 players...but maybe its a good idea to slowplay a hand like this against opponents who will make stabs?

The reason i'm wondering is because I find oftentimes lately i'm taking down pots on the flop alot and my big hands aren't getting paid off too much - so maybe i'm being too predictable - I usually get paid off the best when i flop something weird and someone else thinks top pair is gold - or is just the way NL is supposed to go?

sorry if this is too vague -