Doing this one from memory, I have AQJ9ss in MP and limp (should've raised, as I think that would have won me this pot, but for some reason I didn't). Aggro player to my left, with $140 or so in chips raises to $6 or so. Several limpers call, as do I.

Flop comes A98 with two clubs which are not my suit. Now, the player to my right bets $10 into the pot of around $24. I flat call, as does LAG-ish raiser and even EP.

Here's my intention: I think I'm probably ahead here, but I'd like to see a safe turn with a hand that has few redraws against flush or straight.

Anyhow, turn is an offsuit 8, checked to me, I make a very lame half-pot bluff, then LAG raiser raises me pot. All fold including me. I think this was a pretty bad bluff spot, actually, since the way I played this hand, I just wasn't repping a set, and LAG raiser could easily have called on the flop with 98 or for that matter any pair on the board at all--outside chance of a slowplayed AA, but I think he would've probably pushed that one on the flop.

Aside from this particular hand, my real question is how to play top 2 if there's a bet into you. Fold? call? raise? I know this depends a lot on reads. So, let's say that there's about a 50-50 chance that this player is on a draw (given the board and reads). I think it's a fold if you give your opponent credit for any set.

How about if you pretty much "know" your opponent is drawing (as in the case of the above hand), but you don't know just how strong the draw is? Call with the intention of pushing a safe turn?

Yeah, that's probably a better play here (and in general on a sub-pot bet). It's also likely to force the LP raiser out of hiding. I'd say he'd probably push JT98 as well as AA, but if I get called by anyone except the passive bettor, I'm not in great shape barring another A. LP raiser also would surely lay down a 98 with only a gutshot at that point (although he's awfully LAGgy).