[TJ Eckleburg12]

For the first hand, I agree with pushing or folding based on your read on the flop, for the reason vimes mentioned.

For the second hand... what is this passive crap? Re-raise preflop, or at least check/raise the flop.

When your turn check/raise gets re-raised, that's the villain telling you he ain't skerred of a paired board, so you should probably fold.

And never, ever, ever check/min-raise again please.