Bet this flop or try to induce a bluff?

[SNOWBALL138]

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 4 handed) converter

SB ($49.05)
BB ($68.75)
UTG ($50)
Hero ($59.48)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $0.25. UTG posts a blind of $0.5.
UTG (poster) checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $2</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, UTG calls $1.50.

Flop: ($4.75) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
UTG checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($4.75) 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">UTG bets $3</font>, Hero calls $3.

River: ($10.75) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">UTG bets $5</font>, Hero calls $5.

Final Pot: $20.75

Villain had just sat down, so I had no read on him at all. It was literally his first hand.
There were very few hands villain could call me with on the flop. Thats why I didn't bet. I didn't want him to fold.If I did bet and got called I would have no idea where I was
The pot was relatively small here, so I thought that giving a free card to a KQ type hand wouldn't be the end of the world.

I thought that by checking I could do two things: lose less when I was behind, and win more when I was ahead.
If I failed to induce a bluff on the turn, and the turn blanked off, I think I could induce a bad call from a showdown type hand like ace high or a small PP.
What do you guys think?

[wideboyuk]

I have a horrible feeling this is a classic $25/$50NL slow played set.
I don't like to play a paired board without trips at least.
Fine checking the flop, but his bet on the turn would cause me to fold this one I think. Villain had A8??

[boondockst]

sneaky = stupid

[ QUOTE ]
Villain had just sat down, so I had no read on him at all. It was literally his first hand

[/ QUOTE ]

So why do you think you can induce a bluff?

[SNOWBALL138]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't like to play a big pot on a paired board without trips at least.


[/ QUOTE ]

fixed your post for you. I think my play here helped me avoid playing a big pot. Afterall, if he has a big hand, and I act weak by checking, why would he bet big? Honestly, I think I have a great calling hand here but a horrible betting hand. Don't you?

The situation would be different if I had AK. Then I would want to end it all on the flop.

[SNOWBALL138]

What's your line on the flop/turn/river?
Bet-check-check?
check-fold?
bet-check-bet?

[lawrence]

bet the flop 100%. it defines your hand, and if he check calls the flop, and check raises on the turn or bets the river (assuming you bet), you have a very easy river fold most of the time.

[wtfsvi]

No reason to give a free card to AK or J10, just bet the flop. You can check behind on the turn and call the river, that will keep the pot small for you.