100NL: Top set, lots of draws, lots of players

[RobAtticus]

I don't have the hand history, but I'll relay the action as best I can.

I'm on the button with KK, and when it gets to me, 5 people have limped in for $1. I want to thin the field, so I make it $5 to go (should this be $6 or $7?). The SB folds, BB calls, and 4 of the 5 limpers call so there is about $25 in the pot on the flop.

Flop:

5d - 6d - Kc

I do not have a diamond in my hand, and it gets checked to me. What is the best course of action here? Is betting the pot best in this case to get draws out (diamond draws, straight draws, combo draws), or is there a better way to make money with some a big, but vulnerable, hand?

[SABR42]

Raise to like $8-10 pre-flop. With a $5 raise everyone will call.

That's a dream flop. Bet like $20.

[RobAtticus]

I think $8-$10 would've folded everyone out (it was a relatively tight table besides this hand), but I think $6-7 would have been better ($5 was too low).

I bet $25 and everyone folded out, guess thats just unlucky.

[MrFister]

unlucky woulda been if somebody drew out on you and yu wouldna made you FH... but its more more likely to happen if you keep everybody around.
as sabr42 poited out, you should raise more preflop for protection AND value. you want to play a heads-up pot
then bet potsize on the flop

[jhill3535]

[ QUOTE ]
Is betting the pot best in this case to get draws out (diamond draws, straight draws, combo draws

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't want to get draws out you want to charge them an amount that it is a mistake for them to call.

A straight flush draw is the biggest possible draw, but isn't very likely, I would bet enough to charge a flush draw more than enough that their call is a mistake. The flush is going to hit like 20% of the time on the turn so you need to give them worse than 4-1 odds, 1/3 of the pot is enough to make their call breakeven if you don't consider Implied Odds. If you bet 1/2 it is a clear mistake for them.

A bigger bet should only be made if you think they will call the larger bet incorrectly, or to cut down on implied odds. You didn't give stack sizes or effective stacks so it is hard to tell how much more you would need to bet. If you the effective stacks are 200bb deep you probably need to bet around the size of the pot, if they are 100bb, then 3/4 pot should be plenty.

If you don't account for implied odds in your flop bet sizing then you have to make sure you don't pay them off if they hit. If you bet enough to cut down their implied odds, you should go ahead and push the turn regardless of what comes out.