99 lost in space

[h0ser]

This hand would have played a lot easier if I had raised pre-flop. villain seems fairly TAG. I'm feeling fairly lost here and the turn stinks. The villain's river bet is either a bluff or a smart play. Should I have put in a blocking bet?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool (http://poker-tools.flopturnriver.com/Hand-Converter.php) from FlopTurnRiver.com (http://www.flopturnriver.com) (Format: 2+2 Forums)

SB ($4.75)
Hero ($25)
UTG ($24.35)
MP ($20)
CO ($7.15)
Button ($5.65)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9/images/graemlins/club.gif, 9/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to $0.75</font>, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, Hero calls $0.50.

Flop: ($1.60) 7/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 3/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 4/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $1.25</font>, <font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to $3</font>, Hero calls $1.75.

Turn: ($7.60) 4/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, UTG checks.

River: ($7.60) 8/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG bets $7</font>, Hero says bad words.

Final Pot: $14.60

[FastPlaySlow]

you mean easier if you had reraised preflop?

I would probably either raise the flop or fold. Against a relatively unknown, I'd fold. This minraise to me seems like a draw, I'd go ahead and repop maybe to around 7.50 or 8$ to charge for a draw or fold to a push and then check fold on the turn.