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After the flop I'm doing everything I can to keep the pot small. I check the turn a lot with the intention of calling a river bet. Sure it costs me the pot sometimes, but it saves me chips when I end up in trouble.
Even more important than protecting your hand is only playing big pots when you know where you're at.
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my thinking at the time was that if i'm going to put in one bet on either the turn or the river, it's better to put it in on the turn when draws will pay (or fold - that's ok too).
the only time i really end up saving chips by checking the turn (vs. bet turn, check river) is if the last guy to act bets the turn and someone c/r's, or if there's a bet and raise/call in front of me on the river.
of course, i say that and then wound up calling a bet on the river, so maybe you have a point.
incidentally there's a hand of mine that's being discussed in STT that's very similar - i have a good one pair, bet the flop and get called and have a turn decision - and i
argue check there.