If stacks are shallow, fold them.

If stacks are deep, raise them.

If game is loose, passive and soft with average stacks then limp them and make a judgement call if a raise occurs.

If a game is tough and aggro then fold them.

That should cover most game types.

I wouldnt try to bet 33 into a QT4 flop...on the flop OR turn. Mostly Im set mining if I limp 33, but if the flop happens to come QQ6 or something similar, and its less than 5 ways to the flop, Ill take a shot at stealing it.

I guess paired flops are better for stealing. I just randomly generated that other one. Last time I tried stealing in a limped pot like this the board was J33r and flop checked through. I'm like no way anyone has anything right? I pot it on a blank turn and get called in two spots, and I have a squeaky clean image for not bluffing limped pots. I don't even know what they had as I x/folded river and one of the other guys folded.

I'd just way rather be OTB to be stealing in these pots.

Have you noticed a significant difference in success at 1/2 vs 2/5? Here the success rates would be quite different. At 1/2 it's usually going 5 ways if I limp UTG, perhaps more. At 2/5 it might go 3 or 4 ways. And the 2/5 players are much less sticky.

Thanks for all the discussion. Based on my experience in my local casino I lean towards Shai. Mike, I do bet when the board pairs but my experience has been the same as Shai describes.

+1, except I would only raise them in LP.