Hammond Horseshoe NL 1/2
Pretty passive game with one aggro player. If I hit a set against him I could stack him pretty easily. He had 1200 when I sat down and now has 400 after 1 hour. Hero has $240 and is doing okay so far. On the button, Hero has 88
UTG limps--OMC
UTG+1 limps--Hero's friend who thinks Hero is a wild man.
MP Aggro Villian 35 yo BG who raises to $12
folds to Hero in button who calls with 88.
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls.
Question 1. Should this be a 3! with 8s. I honestly never do that ever. Should I? Would I improve my game by doing this? I need guidance.
Question 2
Pot $40
Flop (this same hand)
41010
UTG+1 checks, Aggro Villain checks (which he never does)
Hero bets for $20 on flop. Bad move?
UTG+1 said later to Hero after showdown about the flop bet, "I had to call your bluff."
To me, I wasn't bluffing. I thought I had the best hand and it was a good bet. Am I "bluffing" with 8s here or is my friend just a nit?

I think our position changed three times in the space of one post

Not 3 betting 88 OOP against a v who "if I hit a set against him I could stack him pretty easily." If he was likely to call pre and play fit-or-fold post, I could get behind it.

How does V check OTF before SB (Hero) bets? I am confused.

Reread that and changed "leads" to "bet". Not sure what else you're referring to. I changed SB to button makes sense now.

If you are SB, how did you bet after UTG+1 and MP Villain checked?

OKay i see my mistake I was button and just called it. Should I 3! on button.

OK i fixed it, apologize for mistake. I was button for that hand and the flop would have been 41 bucks.

Question 1:
I mix with 8s OTB. some factors to consider already got listed above, just in case, or to reiterate: you want to think about how often vil 4! calls and folds (would prefer mostly folds I suppose) you also want to think about what caliber of a player they are postflop. I'm much more likely to iso fish w 88 than decent regs who find good flop and turn xr's.

Question 2:
The flop bet is near 100% imo. idk how he ran you down, but it sounds like the dude is dumb and also it doesn't really matter if he did as long as you either got him to fold equity or call with worse

no you're arent bluffing with 8s. to me it sounds like everyone that listens to your friend gets dumber afterward

He's MUBSY for sure. He's a former limit player. He's the guy who told me my pocket KKs full of 444 was no good and I should have know the other guy had the case 4 three months ago!

88 is like a 50/50 mix in a HU game with villain opening 80%, so that should tell you how far down it is as a value 3!. In a 1/2NL game with the chance to play the button with a bunch of bozo limpers, it seems especially unnecessary.