Showdown Hold'em table

K-2 offsuit is below the recommended preflop 4x raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Bottom pair with a king kicker is strong enough to bet against a random dealer hand, and the backdoor spade draw adds some upside.

K6 offsuit is within the recommended preflop 4x range (K5 offsuit or better). Raising now captures its value rather than waiting for the flop.

K-2 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Bottom pair with a king kicker has enough showdown value to raise on the flop rather than wait for a smaller river bet.

Any ace is in the recommended preflop 4x range, and A8 offsuit has enough equity against a random dealer hand to raise now.

Any ace is a recommended preflop 4x raise, and suited A-2 also has flush and wheel-straight potential.

Ace-ten offsuit is in the recommended preflop 4x range; raising now captures value from its strong starting equity.

T3 offsuit is below the preflop raising threshold; checking preserves the option to raise on the flop.

The paired board gives me only a weak ten kicker, with no strong draw. Checking preserves the option to decide with the full board rather than committing a 2x raise now.

The board gives me only a pair of sixes with a ten kicker. Too many dealer holdings beat or tie that hand, so a river raise is worse than folding.

7-4 offsuit is too weak for a profitable preflop raise. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker is vulnerable on this king-high, two-club flop. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river rather than committing a 2x play bet now.

My pair of fours beats dealer high-card hands and some weaker pairs. Calling costs only 10 more chips, making it better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Nine-eight offsuit is outside the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Nine-high on an ace-high flop has little immediate showdown value, and the backdoor draws are too weak to justify a 2x raise.

The 8 and 9 make a nine-high straight, which beats most dealer hands. Raising is clearly better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Nine-six offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising range; checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

I have no pair or immediate straight or flush draw on this ace-high flop. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river rather than committing a 2x raise.

With only ace-high and a weak kicker, too many dealer holdings beat me. Calling is worse than taking the fixed fold loss.

7-4 offsuit is too weak for a profitable preflop raise. Checking preserves the option to reassess on the flop.

Middle pair on a rainbow flop is strong enough to raise against a random dealer hand rather than wait for the river.

T7 suited falls below the preflop 4x raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

T-7 has no pair using a hole card and no immediate straight or flush draw. Checking preserves the option to make a smaller decision on the river.

My best hand is the board's two pair, so I cannot win outright, but many dealer holdings also play the board. Those ties occur often enough to make the 1x raise better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

8♠3♠ is below the preflop 4x raising threshold. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

Eight-high with no heart and only a remote straight draw is too weak for a 2x flop raise. Checking preserves the option to fold on the river.

I have only jack-high with an eight kicker. Very few dealer holdings lose to it, so a river raise is worse than folding.

T8 offsuit falls outside the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Pairing the ten gives me a solid made hand on this flop. Raising now captures value against the dealer’s many unpaired holdings.

8-9 offsuit falls below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Nine-high has no pair or immediate straight or flush draw on this high-card flop. Checking preserves the option to fold on the river rather than committing a 2x raise now.

My nine-high hand beats too few dealer holdings to make the river raise profitable. Folding avoids the additional play bet.

7-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Seven-high has little immediate showdown value and only limited ways to improve. Checking avoids committing a 2x raise and preserves the river decision.

My unpaired hand has very little chance of beating the dealer on this board. Calling would risk another 10 chips with too little upside.

8-6 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Eight-high with no immediate draw is too weak to commit a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river.

With 8-6 on a paired board, I beat too few possible dealer hands to justify the river bet.

Q9 offsuit is in the recommended preflop 4x range (Q8 offsuit or better).

Any ace is in the recommended preflop 4x range; ace-seven offsuit has enough equity to raise now.

Any ace is in the published optimal preflop 4x range, including A-2 offsuit.

Any ace is a preflop 4x raise under the published optimal strategy; A8 offsuit has sufficient equity to commit now.

Any ace is a profitable preflop 4x raise under the reference strategy, including A8 offsuit.

J5 suited falls below the recommended preflop 4x raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Jack-high with a gutshot straight draw is too weak to commit a 2x raise on this flop. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river.

My jack makes two pair with the board’s fours, which is strong enough to raise against the dealer’s unknown hand.

J9 suited is in the recommended preflop 4x range. Its straight and flush potential makes raising preferable to waiting.

Q7 offsuit falls below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Top pair on the flop is strong enough to raise now rather than wait for a potentially costly river decision.

8-3 offsuit is too weak for a profitable preflop raise. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

I have no made hand and only weak backdoor draws on this flop. Checking avoids committing a 2x play bet with little chance of being ahead.

A pair of eights is strong enough to continue at the river. Raising has better expected value than surrendering the ante and blind.

The ace-high flush draw has nine flush outs, and the ace can also make a strong pair. Raising now captures those chances at 2x rather than waiting until the river.

Ace-jack suited is a strong preflop hand and falls comfortably within the optimal 4x raising range.

Q9 offsuit is within the recommended preflop 4x raising range (Q8 offsuit or better).

T8 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or make a smaller decision on the river.

The 8-T hole cards give me eight straight outs: a 7 or J completes a straight. That strong draw makes the 2x raise preferable to checking.