betting when i am chasing and want to check

I have detected a side to my game that i am unsure if i need to correct

hands such as 6A if 578 flop i tend to bet on - sometimes i bet big as a semi bluff which i think is fair enough but sometimes i will bet small say less than 1/2 pot when i am chasing. I do this in the hopes that if they have nothing or a hand like j10 they will fold and that a hand like 8A or 79 will consider calling rather than betting a size that forces me to fold.

I am unsure whether its become a possible leak in my game where rather than call bets i know i should fold i am betting them myself and am almost chasing every bit as much as if i checked and called. The deception factor of this play means against good opposition (rare at the low $ levels i play -10$ max) i will get more from them when they have or catch a lesser hand. Sometimes I will still check first with that kind of hand but would be interested on feedback.

I play those hands very similar to you. With A6, I will analyze my position and opponents first. If I am late in the hand with no real action I will play as you did and raise at least 1/2 the pot. If I get at least two bets in front of me, I may just call and take a chance on the river. If I am early in the hand, I will play my opponents more than anything. Depending on the player I may raise big or may play conservative depending on the type of opponent that you are facing. As with other hands, I always look at my hands by playing to a certain extent as if I have a better hand then I actually hold. I play aggressive before the flop on most hands I plan to play and determine my strategy based on the flop and the opponents remaining in the hand.

I hate playing hands like that some how it you end up not hitting at the end and your left with no pairs and a high card ace But If its cheap enuff I'll chase it down.. No point stealing the pot if someone hits a pair and your left with Ace High