Throwing away money on a good hand...top pair heads up faces a big rai

[Cell40k]

First hand at the table i pick up ol' AK....how badly did i mess this one up?

I should have bet the flop......maybe checked the turn and then bet the river?

Let me know what you think! I know i'm not good on the river..

Full Tilt Poker, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
LegoPoker Hand History Converter

SB: $36.05
Hero (BB): $25
UTG: $44.05
MP: $34.05
CO: $25
BTN: $25.80

Pre-Flop: K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds, <font color="red">CO raises to $0.85</font>, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.60

Flop: ($1.80) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 Players)
Hero checks, <font color="red">CO bets $1.25</font>, Hero calls $1.25

Turn: ($4.30) 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 Players)
<font color="red">Hero bets $3</font>, CO calls $3

River: ($10.30) 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 Players)
<font color="red">Hero bets $4</font>, <font color="red">CO raises to $19.90 and is All-In</font>, Hero folds

Results: $18.30 Pot ($0.90 Rake)
CO mucked and WON $17.40 (+$8.30 NET)

[mikechops]

Re-raise from the BB pre-flop.

Your bet on the river is weakish. I'd either bet more or check-call. As played I'd let it go.

[finalboarder]

I would say you have to re-raise preflop. I would also think about re-raising the flop. But I'm not sure because I think that would push off a lot of hands that you beat. I think this hand here looks like an Ax that made two pair. As played I would probably fold.

[choccypie]

3bet preflop and reraise on the flop to see where you're at.

As played I'd probably fold.