Hold'em table

Pocket aces are the strongest starting hand; opening to 2.5 big blinds builds the pot while allowing weaker hands to continue. We also retain position against either blind postflop.

3c6s offsuit is a trash hand facing a button raise from the small blind out of position; folding is clearly correct.

In the big blind getting 2.67:1 against a button open, Jh Ts has sufficient equity and playability to defend.

I check to the preflop aggressor holding a gutshot straight draw to the nuts and two overcards.

Bet for value against weaker pairs and draws while charging hands with substantial equity on this connected, two-club board. A roughly two-thirds-pot sizing builds value without overcommitting against the big blind’s stronger holdings.

We have two overcards and a gutshot to the nut straight on a coordinated board, getting sufficient implied odds to call the flop continuation bet.

I turned top pair with a Jack kicker and a gutshot straight draw, but out of position checking to the flop aggressor is standard to control the pot size and catch bluffs.

The ten creates a four-card straight board that strongly connects with the big blind’s flop-calling range. Checking preserves showdown value with aces and avoids a costly check-raise while allowing a river reassessment.

I have top pair with a jack kicker, but the board is coordinated with possible straights and flushes. Checking to realize showdown value is the best line.

Aces retain showdown value, but the four-to-a-straight board and completed club flush make a value bet too thin. Checking avoids paying better hands when relatively few worse hands can comfortably call.

7-3 offsuit is one of the weakest starting hands; even on the button in a 3-handed game it is unprofitable to open or call with no invested chips.

84s is too weak to profitably open or complete out of position against the big blind.

T3o is too weak to open from the button even in 3-handed play, making an easy fold.

J8 offsuit is strong enough to complete for 50 chips in this blind-versus-blind spot. Calling takes the 3-to-1 pot odds while keeping the pot small with a marginal hand out of position.

Q6o in the big blind facing a small blind limp; checking takes a free flop heads-up in position rather than bloating the pot with a marginal hand.

J-eight has little showdown value and only a remote backdoor straight draw. Checking keeps the pot small out of position without investing in a low-equity bluff.

Top pair with a weak kicker on a dry board heads-up after SB limped and checked; a small bet for value and protection is standard, as the opponent's limp-check range is weak and we're likely ahead.

J-high has no pair or immediate draw against a three-quarter-pot bet. With poor equity realization out of position and no compelling bluff-raise blockers, folding is best.

AQ offsuit is a strong opening hand three-handed on the button. Raising to 2.5 big blinds builds value against weaker hands while leveraging position and putting pressure on the blinds.

76o in the small blind facing a 2.5x button open is a standard fold; it plays poorly out of position against two opponents and 3-betting as a bluff with it is marginal.

Getting favorable pot odds (150 to win 400) in the big blind against a button open, Q7s has sufficient equity and playability to defend.

Middle pair with a good kicker has solid showdown value; check to the preflop aggressor.

Ace-queen has showdown value and two overcards, but no backdoor flush draw on a low board that connects well with the big blind's range. Checking preserves equity and avoids an awkward check-raise.

We hold third pair on an Ace turn after the flop checked through. Checking is standard to control the pot size out of position.

Top pair with a strong kicker merits a value bet after the big blind checks twice. This sizing can get calls from weaker aces, some lower pairs, and straight draws while building the pot for river value.

Holding third pair with no additional draw on an Ace turn, calling a substantial delayed bet out of position is unprofitable.

6-3 offsuit on the button is a clear fold against two players still to act; it is far outside a profitable opening range even in a 3-handed game.

Opening with T9o blind-vs-blind after the button folded to attack the big blind.

Calling costs 200 to contest a 600-chip pot, requiring 33.3% equity. T3 suited is a reasonable defense against a small-blind opening range, especially with position postflop and no rake.

As the preflop aggressor, the Ace-King high flop strongly favors my range, making a small continuation bet profitable with a gutshot straight draw.

Ten-high with only a backdoor flush draw has too little equity to continue reliably, even against this small bet. The ace-king board favors the preflop raiser, making a bluff raise unattractive.

53s is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

94 offsuit is weak and realizes equity poorly out of position. Without evidence that the big blind folds excessively, neither completing nor raising is attractive.