How do you do this?

Probably the weakest part of my game is the gamble. I rarely like to just throw out the numbers and just hope to hit a card.

In this hand, my opponent not only calls my preflop raise with a suited 89, but then calls the rest of it on a gut shot straight draw. How do you do this?

My guess is, I should have pushed preflop and not just pot raised. But do you think he would have called anyways? Would you call for half your stack with a only a gut shot straight draw?

Full Tilt Poker, $1 + $0.25 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 400/800 Blinds, 7 Players
LeggoPoker Hand History Converter

CO: 5,784
BTN: 7,450
SB: 5,507
BB: 12,853
OhCaptain (UTG): 5,670
UTG+1: 20,780
MP: 9,456

Pre-Flop: (1,200) A K dealt to OhCaptain (UTG)
OhCaptain raises to 2,800, UTG+1 folds, MP calls 2,800, 4 folds

Flop: (6,800) 6 T 5 (2 Players)

OhCaptain bets 2,870 and is All-In, MP calls 2,870

Turn: (12,540) 6 T 5 [ 7 ] (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: (12,540) 6 T 5 7 [ T ] (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 12,540 Pot

OhCaptain showed A K (a pair of Tens) and LOST (-5,670 NET)

MP showed 8 9 (a straight, Ten high) and WON 12,540 (+6,870 NET)