So basically I'm just starting to play NL cash. I'm a fairly experienced limit cash player, successful up to 10/20 and 15/30. But I've been wanting to make the switch, or perhaps just to expand so I'm good with both and can play good games of either type. Was wondering if anyone could offer insight to how better play a huge draw oop when the entire table called. I had only played about 3 hands, and had observed about an orbit.

My initial reads are: all 3 like to limp preflop and had done so most every hand thus far. Also the bb had never bet, only check/call, and that the bets on the table seemed fairly small. I hadn't yet seen even a 3/4+ pot bet at this point, people were betting 1/3 pot into flops etc.

My feeling was that, 1 or 2 of them had a weak ace, the other was chasing something. I didn't think with their shortish stacks I was gonna push everyone out of the pot, and felt I should keep the pot small until/if I hit. But then I see A9 and A7 and wonder if a big check raise on the flop or turn could have taken it down and I played it really weak... or maybe someone will tell me I should have folded/raised preflop, sigh. =p

I don't know, I suck at NL. Please advise

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
4 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $53.50
Button: $48.45
Hero: $100.90
BB: $37.85

Pre-flop: (4 players)Hero is SB with
UTG calls, Button calls, Hero calls, BB checks.

Flop: ($4, 4 players)
Hero bets $3, BB calls, UTG calls, Button calls.

Turn: ($16, 4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG bets $5, Button calls, Hero calls, BB calls.

River: ($36, 4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG bets $10, Button calls, Hero folds, BB folds.

Results:
Final pot: $56
UTG showed 7h Ad
Button showed Ah 9s

There are a couple of different ways to play it. In my mind when you go to play a draw you don't actually want to get to showdown (unless, of course, you hit before you're both all in). Thus, you bet in a way that you think will allow you to be the most aggressive and make your opponent the most likely to fold.

1) Check raise the flop and move in the turn

2) Check-call the flop and check-raise all in on the turn

3) Bet and hope you get raised, afterwhich you 3-bet

The main point about the above 3 scenarios is that you are getting your money in first and putting your opponent to the test while representing a pretty monstrous holding. If your table is loose passive and people aren't throwing pot bets around like candy then you can get away with playing your draws pretty passively while getting great odds (prime example being the turn play in your hand above).