Maximizing profits with trips heads up?

I had pocket 9's. It was folded around to me at a $.10/.25 table. I raised it to .50, BB called, and here's the hand.

***** Hand History for Game 3320086591 *****
$25 NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, January 05, 17:42:58 EDT 2006
Table Table 80439 (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Matroskin66 ( $27.83 )
Seat 2: woolfyb ( $27.50 )
Seat 4: makuro ( $26.13 )
Seat 5: fladdermusen ( $23.10 )
Seat 6: Edard ( $8.95 )
Seat 3: johnnyBuz ( $35.79 )
johnnyBuz posts small blind [$0.10].
makuro posts big blind [$0.25].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to johnnyBuz [ 9s 9c ]
fladdermusen folds.
Edard folds.
Matroskin66 folds.
woolfyb folds.
johnnyBuz raises [$0.40].
makuro calls [$0.25].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5h, 9d, 3d ]
johnnyBuz checks.
makuro bets [$0.50].
johnnyBuz calls [$0.50].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jd ]
johnnyBuz bets [$1].
makuro calls [$1].
** Dealing River ** [ Th ]
johnnyBuz bets [$5].
makuro calls [$5].
johnnyBuz shows [ 9s, 9c ] three of a kind, nines.
makuro doesn't show [ Tc, 5c ] two pairs, tens and fives.
johnnyBuz wins $13.30 from the main pot with three of a kind, nines.

If I bet the flop, I am almost positive he would have folded his pair of 5s with 10 kicker. The turn gave him 2 pair, I should have bet more then $1 there right? Something in the 2-3 range to gauge where he was at? I didn't put him on the flush draw so I was thinking maybe 2 pair or an overpair. How much more do you think I could have won here?

The RIVER gave him 2-pair. You actually got lucky he caught his kicker there... I think you played it fine... how much more is he going to call on the turn with 3rd pair on a 4 diamond board.

Raise more preflop.

Lead the flop.

Stronger bet on the turn.

Try to get some value on the river, unless villain commonly makes terrible calls on the river facing a > pot size bet.

As played, it's not terribly difficult to understand your sig.

Party Poker hates me.

Bet more on the river. This player is acting loose passive. Was there any way for you to know this earlier? This increases your potential for big time value. Here's a hand I was in...

Had 86s in the BB with an aggressive image against an opponent who was starting to pay back at me (oops I meant play). He was in the SB and called. I bumped it up to $8 (4xBB @ $200 NL). The flop came Q 9 7. He checked to me, and with an open ended straight draw I made it $12 to go. He check raised me to $24. I smooth called and the turn brought a 5 to complete my nut straight. The opponent bet out another $24. I raised him $58 more to $60 total. He instantly called me. The river was a 2. He checked to me and I pushed for my last $130. He called (with two pair Q9), and I raked in a pot over $400 large. Why did I raise 86s in this spot? Because I knew if I hit hard, I would get payed well. I also knew when he called $60 on the turn, he would likely call $130 on the river if the river card was friendly.

When deciding on value, think about all the factors. What is your image? How deceptive is your hand? How loose is the opponent? How strong is their hand?

The fact is the river card of T in your hand was unlikely to reduce your value. In that spot I assume he has jacks or better and I make a large bet.

OK, none of this makes sense unless his image or your image is maniac or he is a calling station. None of that was stated.

Originally Posted by Lukie

Raise more preflop.

He'll fold.

Originally Posted by Lukie

Lead the flop.

He'll fold, especially after a higher preflop raise. I think a min-raise may net you a little more money in the end.

Originally Posted by Lukie

Stronger bet on the turn.

The guy only has a pair of 5's and if you raised earlier streets, he seriously can't be expected to call more.

Originally Posted by Lukie

Try to get some value on the river, unless villain commonly makes terrible calls on the river facing a > pot size bet.

Besides a min-raise on the flop, I don't see him calling more than pot, especially with the flush draw on the board.

I think you played it fine, maybe left $2-4 behind at most. And why is a flush draw not considered? He's in the big blind. There are cases where you can entice an overbet call on the river, but this doesn't seem like the spot.