Since looking at my stats in PT and finding I need to ramp up my aggression this is the type of poker I've been trying to play (it is working!) but I have a few questions.

1) When do you determine whether to take the free card in a flush draw. Say on the flop you have 4 to your flush and you are in the last position and it is checked to you. Do I bet here if I have 2+ opponents (pot equity edge?). What if you are in early position? Do you just check/call fearing a raise?

2) Board is J 8 4 and you hold something dumb like 8 3. Are you pulling off a bet/raise here to protect your hand? I seem to lack the balls to play the middle pair bet/raise to protect since people just seem to call it anyways. It's a little easier if I hold an overcard though.