It seems that every time I bet out with TPTK or an overpair on the flop (in a raised pot and I did the preflop raising):
* if I get callers I am behind to two pair or a set , or ahead of a determined flush chaser
* if I get no callers I had them beat but win a pittance
If I am called, the following situation tends to arise on the turn (if I don't improve).
If I'm in position:
* if I'm checked to, I'll probably bet the pot (I dare not give a free card)
* if I'm bet into by substantially less than the pot, I'll probably raise (I want to find out where I am for sure) so that the total bet is at least pot-sized
* if someone bets the pot at me, I'll min raise (should I raise more?)
If I'm not in position
* I'll bet the pot (I don't want to give a free card). If I'm raised I give up. If I get called I'm now quite sure my opponent is ahead or is one of these people who'll pay any amount of money because they 'feel' their flush draw is going to complete (which happens with distressing frequency)
I think the basic problem is that I find it tricky when people just call call call. I can't tell whether they're trapping me, drawing on me with implied odds, genuinely playing badly or what. So I tend to bet the pot or raise a lot to try to find out where I am. And I keep getting called with better hands who do not play back at me.
But I can't stop betting, because then I'll be giving free cards!
I need some help in figuring my way past this, as TPTK and overpairs are killing me right now after the flop. They either win a negligible amount or lose a king's ransom.