bad low, should I push?

[djr]

7 Card Stud High-Low ($1/$2), Ante $0.25 (hand converter (http://www.geocities.com/greenage22/7StudConverter.hta.txt))

3rd Street

Seat 1: xx xx 6/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___folds
Seat 2: xx xx Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif___folds
Hero: 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif___calls
Seat 4: xx xx 3/images/graemlins/club.gif___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 2/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___bets
Seat 6: xx xx K/images/graemlins/spade.gif___folds
Seat 7: xx xx T/images/graemlins/spade.gif___folds
Seat 8: xx xx 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif___calls

4th Street

Hero: 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif___bets
Seat 4: xx xx 3/images/graemlins/club.gif 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 2/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 9/images/graemlins/spade.gif___calls
Seat 8: xx xx 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif J/images/graemlins/spade.gif___checks___folds

5th Street

Hero: 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___checks
Seat 4: xx xx 3/images/graemlins/club.gif 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif___checks
Seat 5: xx xx 2/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 9/images/graemlins/spade.gif K/images/graemlins/club.gif___checks

6th Street

Hero: 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif___checks___calls
Seat 4: xx xx 3/images/graemlins/club.gif 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif T/images/graemlins/heart.gif___bets
Seat 5: xx xx 2/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 9/images/graemlins/spade.gif K/images/graemlins/club.gif Q/images/graemlins/club.gif___folds

River

Hero: 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif 8/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif 8/images/graemlins/club.gif___checks___calls
Seat 4: xx xx 3/images/graemlins/club.gif 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif T/images/graemlins/heart.gif xx___bets

1) was this too weak a hand for 3rd? Given 3 of my flush were out and it contained a 87 I wasn't sure if I should go for it
2) Although I made my low on 5th, it looked like seat 7 did too. When he checked I figured my low might be good. Picking up the straight draw on 6th made this a call down for me, was that wrong?

[Andy B]

With that many spades gone, folding third can't be far wrong. It's a high ante, and you can get in for the bring-in, so it isn't a terrible call, but folding is probably better. Betting fourth is OK, in my estimation, but if you're afraid of the other low on fifth, why weren't you afraid of him on fourth? I bet fifth myself. Beyond that, calling down is fine. Those Eights just might be good.