I hesitate very long here and think about what I'm going to do, look long at the player, play with my chips, examine the board then make it 600. He might fold 6h8h, but he's never folding any set--and that's exactly what you want.

To ice: Why can't you shove? This is no limit, and it's ridiculous to miss an opportunity this deep vs. a set. Middle set is auto-call, you're new to the table, and no one is even laying down bottom set here either. If you raise to 250, you give 86 or hearts the opportunity to stack you on the turn.

Ok, so he had 2 pair and folded. Not a problem at all. At 300 BB deep, it's well worth the shove to stack an underset and possibly fold a draw that has odds if you make it anything less.

Table also doesn't see what you have and may think you ridiculously overplay AK.

people dont really raise draws often at 1/2 live. I mean obv good players exist at that game that will do that, but they're few and far between. Again, pot commiting raise and shove the turn.

Two tactics act super confident or very nervous whatever is your style if you're young and taking a shot at a new game nervous works.

Nice discussion...thank you all for the replies. This was my first day playing live NLHE cash. I like it a lot better than online games because of the interaction and it is kinda like fishing with dynamite.
What is a good/decent hourly rate for a live 1/2 game?