Hero is TAG, he has only been at the table for 45 minutes. No bluffs shown down. Villian one is a lady regular, but used to play 3-6. None of the villians behind Villian one stand out, they seem passive.

My cards are 8,8

Hero has $200, Villian has $150.

Preflop: Villian raises to $7 UTG, MP calls $7, MP2 calls $7, LP1 calls $7, Hero raises to $45.

Is this too aggressive? Should we be set mining and just flatting this bet?

This isn't a good spot in a live game. You have a semi shortstacked villain raising UTG and a bunch of callers inbetween. This is an excellent spot to flat call preflop and try and win a big pot.

yea, its a tough spot because i see villian as a weak tight player. These $7 dollar raises are just so weak though and sometimes i attack them aggressively. I like just calling here to hit a set too but i was wondering if anyone else attacks these weak raises similarily.

That's not really weak, it's just not the 1/2 live standard of 15+. 7 is a fairly standard opening bet at 1/2 NL online, so the kid may be an online player. And no, I don't like to attack here with 88 when you can call behind and win a big pot on the right flop.

I agree with the latter. I guess my first instinct when i see this opening raise is either they have a low pocket pair, or A10.

Agreed with Acid, this is a great spot to try to flop a set against a likely strong hand. By calling in late position (I think you're in late position), you're most likely closing the betting. You're only investing $7 to see a flop, hit a set and take down a huge pot.

I disagree with the idea that open-raising UTG is a small pair or A10. I tend to put most UTG raisers in the TT-AA, AK, AQ range.

This is good feedback. In hindsight and for future use, its probably not +EV to attempt these squeezes, even it means they might be successful. I think this is more a tournament move than a cash game move, sometimes i get my aggression levels mixed up between the two.

Yeah, i agree with Acid and everyone. I think you need to flat call and see what happens from there. Pray for the 8.

Oh, I can definitely see how this is a tourny move more than a cash game.

are we in a blind or before the button?
I think I just call, because I'm sure someone is ready to go to war with their hand.
We shouldn't be anxious to go to war PF with 88 unless we know something.

once again... turning your medium strength hand into a bluff... it makes zero sense... you're just trying to win pots... stop doing that... you're in this game to win MONEY... it doesn't matter how many pots you drag in that time