[templar999]

You went for the check-raise to clear the field, and unfortunately you missed. Given that bettor is from your left, you should still raise. One of two things will happen. 1. Although you're bloating the pot which may not be good for you on later streets, you get more money in the pot with the best hand. You just have to hope that aces up will be good against three opponents by the river. 2. There's a possibility, though not great, your opponent will three bet and clear the field for you. Getting HU against even a good draw is also a good result for you. If you just call here, you neither get 1 nor 2. It doesn't seem likely you'll get to check-raise the field on 5th street. If the bettor come from your right instead of your left, you might be check-raising on an expensive street with the worst hand. I would just get more money in on 4th. I would also have bet out 4th unless I had a good reason to go for a check-raise. It would have been an absolute disaster to let 4th street get checked through.

All that said...

1. Your likelihood of success of check-raising on 4th to clear the field depends not so much on your board, but the board of your opponents. With buried aces, it's much more likely it would have succeeded. With split aces, it'll be hard for your opponents to improve to a 2nd best hand that they feel confident about betting given that you took the lead on 3rd. You need someone on your right to catch something scary like KJs for your CR to have a good chance of success.

2. The limits always matter. Yes this is a strategy play. But your best strategy is also dependent on the strategy your opponents are employing and can change drastically depending on their skill level. If your opponents at 25c/50c are loose passive and will call down with any pair, there's practically no chance your check-raise will succeed. Bet your hand and hope your aces hold up. If your opponents at 15/30 are aggressive, aware, and familiar with stud play, your opponent may realize what you're doing and help you jam with a very live straight draw, or even KKQJ with three spades provided the pot is big enough. If the opponent with that hand sits on your right is aware, he will bet and try to get HU with you with the worst hand because your driving everyone else out also increases his equity. The probability that a passive opponent at lower limits who does not understand stud will bet that hand for you is much, much lower.