Learning how to maximize your profit on a set will show up in your overall
bankroll. Sets are one of if not your most profitable hand. You have to play the situation and the player though. Most of the time, you'll probably be calling a pre-flop raise with your PP. If you're 2-handed, I think you want to lead right into the raiser. He's represented a strong hand pre-flop. On an all rag flop, he'll probably think his overpair is good. You lead into him, and he'll raise, he has to, at least ot see where he's at, and when this happens you to move in on him in a dominating position, he'll probably feel pot committed and may not be able to get off the overpair. You DONT want to check-raise here, because that gives him a chance to get away from his hand. Check-call isn't a very good option here either, because that immediatly sets of warning signals to a smart player. If you check-call and lead the turn, he'll fold. If you check the turn hoping to get a check-raise, he'll probably just check behind you.
Now if you turn a set in an unraised pot with 3 or 4 other limpers, position dictates your play. If you're first to act and the board IS draw heavy, I'd check at an aggressive table and then raise, hoping to get only 1 caller, or take the pot down right there. If you get 2 callers you have to be VERY careful on the turn. 3 callers you're probably beat.
If the board ISNT scary and nobody showed any real preflop strength, I'd probably check in early position, as giving a card here probably wont be disastrous. If its checked to me and I'm last to act, I'd fire out a 1/2 pot bet. Reason being is to a lot of players it looks like a position bet, and if they caught a piece of the flop you might get a caller. you cant get greedy in this situation, if nobody's got anything you're just NOT gonna get paid off, nothing magical you can do. You DONT just want to check through, giving free cards that might beat you when you can take the pot down. Play your player and your image. If you've been taking a stab at a lot of pots then go ahead and bet it, represent a
bluff. If you're lucky someone might be thinking this is a good time to put a play on you.