spoonit, read those linked threads. you should never bet just for the sake of betting. if you bet the flop it is not to protect your hand (villain is most likely not on a draw), it is not to bluff (you have a decent hand), and it is not to build the pot because you know you're ahead. it is a bet for no reason other than to make hands that are way behind fold and hands that are way ahead call/raise. so you check the flop, and you're not certain where you're at....so be it! this is poker, and part of poker is making correct tough decisions sometimes. if you never want to be in a tough decision then you should short-stack. the point is that yes, you could win the pot on the flop with a bet, but if you're willing to play some poker with villain then you will make more in the longrun checking.