77 first hand ($5.50).

This was the first hand so no reads on anybody. Is there a better way to play this? I thought I may still be ahead on the turn so I called the 70 bet. I was thinking of raising, but I wanted to keep the pot small this early. I hate the 9 on the river as almost any hand that would raise pre-flop, now beats me. After he checks the river, do I check behind and effectively give up the pot, or do I try and steal it? I called the turn bet so I could maybe check the hand down on the river, but now I most likely can't win the pot this way.

Big Blind is t20 (10 handed)

UTG (t1200)
UTG+1 (t1200)
MP1 (t1200)
Hero (t1200)
MP3 (t1200)
MP4 (t1200)
CO (t1200)
Button (t1200)
SB (t1200)
BB (t1200)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 7 Spade

, 7

.
UTG raises to t53, 2 folds, Hero calls t53, 2 folds, CO calls t53, 3 folds

Flop: (t189) J Spade

, J

, 9

(3 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks, CO checks

Turn: (t189) 2 Club

(3 players)
UTG bets t70, Hero calls t70, 1 fold

River: (t329) 9 Spade

(2 players)
UTG checks, Hero ??

Preflop is fine, you have odds to play for set value so that's what I'd do.

I probably play this super weak/tight and fold the turn - if the flop came JJ4 instead of JJ9 I would probably call the turn bet however.

As played, definitely do not bet the river. You are beat by so many hands, A high calls you here so your bluff won't be particularly effective, it's a recipe for burning chips.

Meh it's semi close. A biggish bet wouldn't be bad here at all imo. You obviously don't rep a J too much but a 9 on the other hand...

agree, I think it's a tough call for an ace if you put 250 in there on the river.

I'd probably just bet the flop, you may win it, you may get a free river.