Hold'em table

94o is bottom-tier trash on the button; despite decent pot odds, it plays poorly multiway and I'd often be dominated, so folding is the disciplined choice with no chips invested.

With the button folded, 9-7 offsuit is playable heads-up, but raising out of position is unattractive. Completing the small blind keeps the pot manageable.

Holding strong suited connectors in position against a small blind limp, raising to 400 isolates and builds a pot with an equity and positional advantage.

97 offsuit is too weak to call a 4-big-blind raise out of position.

On the button in a three-handed game, 8-7 offsuit is playable as an opening raise. A 2.5-big-blind raise gives me position without building an unnecessarily large pot.

Folding J6o out of position against a button open is standard given weak equity and poor playability.

I am closing the action with suited T7s, getting over 2.5:1 pot odds against a button open, so calling is profitable despite being out of position.

With middle pair and no heart on a monotone flop, I prefer checking out of position to control the pot and see the button's action rather than building a large pot against a preflop raiser.

A small bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws while denying free cards to overcards with a heart. Position lets me control the pot on later streets.

We have middle pair with a backdoor spade draw, and the small flop bet gives us good pot odds; calling keeps the pot controlled and lets us reevaluate on the turn.

I have a weak pair on a four-heart board with no heart, so checking controls the pot and lets me evaluate the river.

With a weak pair and no heart on a four-heart board, I prefer to check behind and avoid building the pot.

I have a marginal pair of sevens on a four-heart board with no heart, so checking controls the pot and avoids putting chips in against a likely flush.

My hand plays the board, so checking can only split the pot or lose. A modest bet may make another hand without a heart fold while limiting my loss when called.

The board is all hearts and I hold no heart, so my best hand is the board flush. Opponent's river raise likely indicates a heart, which beats my hand, so folding is the safest play.

J9o is playable on the button in 3-handed play, making a standard min-raise profitable to steal the blinds or play in position.

42o is the weakest offsuit hand and faces a button raise; calling 150 more out of position with no equity is a clear fold.

A3 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button min-raise at this price, but is too weak to build a large pot out of position.

With ace-high and a gutshot on a coordinated monotone flop, I prefer to check rather than build the pot out of position.

Flopped a king-high straight on a monotone board; betting for value and protection against diamond flush draws.

A-high with a gutshot and no diamond is too weak to continue out of position against this flop bet.

K7s on the button is strong enough to raise and apply pressure on the blinds rather than just call.

6-5 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a three-big-blind raise, with the big blind still to act.

J4o is far too weak to defend out of position against a 3x open.

Nine-deuce offsuit is too weak to open from the button against two opponents.

Q7o is too weak to comfortably complete or open-raise out of position from the small blind.

Opening standard 2.5bb from the button with A7o in a 3-handed game.

2s9s is a weak offsuit hand out of position against a button raise, so folding avoids playing a dominated hand with poor equity.

Calling 150 more with 6-5 offsuit is a marginal but reasonable big-blind defense against a button open. The hand has some straight potential, and the small blind has folded.

I have an open-ended straight draw, but the preflop raiser has position and a range advantage on this king-high flop. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to their bet.

Middle pair with an ace kicker has good showdown value and works well as a check-back to control pot size and keep the opponent's bluffing range wide.

I have an open-ended straight draw and little showdown value. Betting the turn can win the pot now while leaving eight outs when called.

Holding third pair with top kicker in position after the flop checked through, calling the turn probe bet is standard given pot odds and opponent's wide stabbing range.

Six-high has almost no showdown value. A river bet can fold out missed draws and some weak pairs after the flop checked through.

Facing a 70% pot river bet on a board pairing the Ten, our pair of sevens only beats complete bluffs and loses to any King, Ten, or pocket pair above sevens.