$1/$2 Live Game at the Mirage: Advice

First off, brand new here. Apologies for anything stupid I may do. And I played this hand poorly, regardless of results which I won't mention. Already know that, so help me play it better next time! EDIT: First newbie mistake...did not see the thread specifically for cash game hand analysis. My bad...Please move if possible.

Second, last weekend, I was in Vegas and played about 3 hours of the $1/$2 cash game at the Mirage. I've played poker for years, but almost exclusively in a monthly home game tournament setting. Looking to improve, so appreciate advice.

Late in my session, I was up about $100 ($400 stack) and knew it was almost time to leave. (wife on way back from spa...drat) Game had started VERY passive, but had loosened up in the last hour. My image was likely tight aggressive with up and down results. (while no way near LAG, I was def more aggresive than most)

Villain 1 was very ABC oriented - had won a pot off him earlier w my AQ v his KQ. Fairly easy to read. About $300 behind him. Villain 2 was closest thing to a LAG at table, mixed it up well, but had been up and down. $350 behind him.

Villain 1 opens pot to a table standard of $12. I call on the button w . Villain 2 calls from BB. My pre-flop read on V1 is two big cards or a sizable pair (non Aces, table was limping and trying to win the bad beat w Aces). V2 has a wide range here.
POT = $35

Flop =

Villain 2 checks, Villain 1 leads out for $20. My action.
On a single suit board with a set, what is your play and why?

I'll post more later, but wanted to start with the first big decision...thanks in advance.

You could raise flop to $80-$90.
What position is Villain 1 in? Raise flop for value,Vil 1 and Vil2 will call Ax (especially with Ks).

Raise/gii. He can overplay a naked A to try and protect from flush draw, he stacks with 33, Also like AxTc+ probs try and get stacks in. You crush a large part of his range he will gii with.

Villain 2 was in the BB. Was the only real threat to me in this spot since suited connectors are in his range. That said, thinking like that was being afraid of monsters. He'd given no reason to believe he had anything to fear - and either one of them could have a spade, much less the Ks.

So, I played defensive, scared poker with a flopped (but vulnerable) monster of my own. Sigh. I simply called the bet.

I won't continue to the other streets, because it just becomes an "alien" problem - one you (or I) shouldn't face.

Anyway, my hand held up and I won a pretty decent size pot, but I was more disappointed in how I played this hand than hands where I lost a decent amount earlier in the session.

Moral of the story for me is I should have raised to around $80 and been willing to play for stacks. Even if someone hit bingo and hit the flush (on flop for V2 or the turn for V1 w AxKs) I had my redraw to fill up as insurance.

Anyone disagree? I hate making big mistakes. (and feel like I lost $$ on the hand since I didn't stack V1)

*AxTs+

And obv get it in here OP

When I went to vegas tried a few live tables around the strip including rio, riveria , and mgm. The mgm was by far the most lucrative I ended up losing 100 pretty quick and then decided to grind and get as many free drinks as I could. With some liquid courage in me, well a lot of liquid courage in me I was able to turn next 100 into 900 stack. So my advice I spose is take advantage of the complimentary drinks and you will be a winner no matter what.

Def raise next time. Dont give free cards. Ks may call your raise which is not bad cause your favorite to win pot

Exactly right. Unfortunately, since I was near the end of my session, I think I shifted into "protect" mode. In retrospect, if I want to do that, I should get up and leave the table! In my head at the time, I was thinking "call, see what V2 does, and fade the spade on the turn". Grrr! Hate making mistakes.

Btw, I've been reading "Decide to Play Great Poker" this week. Wish I had read it last week, would definitely have played this hand differently.

let me know how the book goes

I'm about half way through it and really like it so far. Has given me much to think about. Duke/Vorhaus really rail against suited connectors in multi-way pots for example.

Anyway, I like books/articles/etc that make me think about my game. Definitely want to improve, which is why I appreciate the feedback on this thread.