A lot of times I have a good hand on the river, but it's not the nuts. What do you do if your opponent has demonstrated some strength?? In both cases I don't have reads, I have less then 50 hands on the opponents.

Hand 1:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (8 handed)

UTG ($65.9)
UTG+1 ($61.5)
MP1 ($50)
MP2 ($54.35)
CO ($61.35)
Button ($45.08)
SB ($44.8)
Hero ($50)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $1, MP1 calls $1, 1 fold, CO calls $1, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.50.

Flop: ($4.25) , , (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $0.5, MP1 folds, CO calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50.

Turn: ($5.75) (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, CO bets $2, Hero raises to $5, UTG+1 folds, CO calls $3.

River: ($15.75) (2 players)
Hero bets $5, CO raises to $20, Hero calls $15.

Final Pot: $55.75

Results in white below:
CO has Jh Jd (one pair, jacks).
Hero has 9s Qs (straight, ten high).
Outcome: Hero wins $55.75.

Hand 2:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

MP2 ($65.5)
MP3 ($49.5)
CO ($53.05)
Button ($48.75)
Hero ($49.75)
BB ($24)
UTG ($56.4)
UTG+1 ($80.97)
MP1 ($55.82)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , . Hero posts a blind of $0.25.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, 4 folds, Hero (poster) completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.50) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP1 bets $1, Hero raises to $3, BB folds, MP1 calls $2.

Turn: ($7.50) (2 players)
Hero bets $4, MP1 raises to $10, Hero calls $6.

River: ($27.50) (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $8, Hero calls $8.

Final Pot: $43.50

Results in white below:
Hero has Jd 7d (flush, jack high).
MP1 has Ks 8s (three of a kind, eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $43.50.

Hand 1: You have a pretty well hidden straight, and on the river, the only thing that beats you is J9... I probably would've raised the turn a little more, even though your straight came out, so did a flush draw... Honestly, I probably would've pushed the river... Like I said, he can only have 1 card that beats you, and I've seen LOTS of people have the 5 here for the low end of the straight... I think AT WORST, your gonna push this, and every once in a great while, you're gonna lose... But I think you're gonna take his stack MUCH more often... BTW... WHO THE HELL SLOWPLAYS Js?????

Hand 2: I would've bet more on the turn, and if he raised, I would've pushed... The last thing you want is some jackass w/ a naked chasing to the river to kill you... You have the 4th nut flush, and the pot on the turn was big enough so that if he folded, I'd be happy...

Hand 1: I don't know if I entirely agree. I don't know how often you will see a five in that situation. Maybe Party's a bit different but I would say in the .5-1 and 1-2 games on NL you would see J9 doing that as often as you'd see a five. I just think if you push the river he's only calling with another 9, J9, and maybe a 5. I think the 5 is about as likely as J9 so that's a push and then you push on a naked nine. At best it's a breakeven move and is likely worse. I agree with MVP about raising more on the turn there though.

Hand 2: I agree almost word for word with MVP. You definitely need to bet more on the turn because you've got a vulnerable hand. If he comes over the top you push. If he calls and no diamond on the river then you pot it or just go all in.

I just looked at the results on hand two, you did get some extra cash the way you played it but I still think you have to be more aggressive with that hand to protect it and possibly get even more cash out of it.

I think you played hand #2 fine. Being out of position doesn't help you...you have no idea what MP has. I don't like a reraise on the turn because if he calls you have to act first on the river.

On the river you can't even think about raising because there is a full house and higher flush beating you.