straight vs. straight hand

[SlyAK]

Not much point to this post, I just found this hand to be a little interesting, especially my opponents river play. I played this hand earlier today at 50 NL, (.25/.50) blinds at TGC. The table had become very tight for once and I was being the aggressor with frequent blind steals, usually uncalled. I get 8d 7s on the Button. All fold to me and I make it 2.50, SB folds but BB calls. I was hoping to win the BIG 75 cents uncontested, oh well.. $5.25 in the pot. Opponent in this hand has $30 after calling my raise. I have him covered with about $65.

Flop: Jd 5c 3d... Not much there for me. Opponent checks, I check behind. He check-raised me earlier when I tried to bluff and I dont want to make that mistake again.

Turn: 4s.... Hmm.. well, I guess I have a gutshot, but nothing else. Opponent checks again, I decide to check behind hoping to hit the gutshot on the river.

River: 6c... I have the nuts now. Opponent bets out $5, I think and make it $25, leaving him a few dollars left over if he calls. I have been trying this move of leaving the opponent with a few dollars, and I think players are more likely to call or raise if you dont quite push them in. Does anyone else do this??

In any case, he raises the last 5 dollars and I call. He flips over the Ad 2d for the sucker end of the straight, (which he had on the turn), and the flopped nut flush draw.
I dont know why he didnt bet the turn, or why he pushed in with the low end of the straight on the river, but I guess that's NL 50!
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Sly

[crockpot]

if you didn't intend to bet on the flop, you shouldn't have raised preflop in the first place. raising 2.50 to win 75 cents should only be done when you're planning to steal the pot on the flop if you are called. your opponent is an underdog to have improved, so go for the bet.

checking on the turn is better than checking on the flop. now at least you will not be run off a draw with nut outs if you are raised. since you have nothing on the flop, you basically lose nothing by folding, and folding after taking one shot at the pot is not a tragedy.