Hold'em table

Q3 offsuit is weak, but on the button three-handed it can be opened profitably with position and a small raise. I choose 2.5 big blinds to apply pressure to the blinds.

Nine-eight offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind with the big blind still to act.

67s has good playability postflop and sufficient pot odds to call a button raise. Raising would inflate the pot out of position without strong showdown value.

I check to the preflop raiser with two pair on a paired board; my hand is vulnerable and I want to control the pot while seeing how the button proceeds.

With only queen-high and no useful backdoor draws, checking preserves the pot and lets me realize my showdown equity rather than bluffing into a paired board.

We have a weak pair of sixes and a gutshot straight draw; checking controls the pot and avoids being forced to fold if raised.

Q-high has some showdown value, and a bet is unlikely to fold out the opponent’s pocket pairs or pair-plus hands. I’ll take the free river rather than turn this weak hand into a bluff.

I have a marginal pair of sixes that can win at showdown if opponent has air. Checking avoids inflating the pot and allows a possible free showdown.

Q-high has some showdown value on this paired, checked-through board. A river bet is unlikely to improve my result enough to justify risking chips against a calling range.

K7 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 BB raise puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

K4o is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially being out of position postflop.

T2 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 2.5x button raise, especially out of position; the price does not compensate for its poor postflop playability.

2h4h is a very weak hand and I am first to act preflop, so folding is the best way to avoid losing chips.

I’m getting favorable pot odds to complete from the small blind with a suited hand, so I’ll see a flop rather than fold.

With 9-2 offsuit against a small-blind limp, I can see the flop for free rather than inflate the pot with a weak hand.

Make a small semi-bluff with the nut-flush draw, taking advantage of the big blind’s check while keeping the cost controlled if called.

Middle pair is strong enough to continue against a small flop bet, and raising would risk building a large pot with a weak kicker.

I have a flush draw but only one card remains, so I’ll take the free river rather than bluff into the player who called the flop bet.

My pair of nines has some showdown value, but it is too weak to bet for value on this turn. Checking keeps the pot small.

I have no meaningful showdown value, but the opponent called the flop and may still have a pair that will not fold to a river bluff. I’ll take the free showdown rather than risk chips.

My pair of nines has showdown value, but few worse made hands would call a river bet. Checking avoids turning it into a bluff.

K9 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. Raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Six-four suited is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind with the big blind still to act.

67s is a playable hand with good implied odds, and calling 150 into a 400 pot offers decent equity against a button open.

I have an open-ended straight draw and backdoor flush draw. Checking allows me to see a free card and keep the pot small while I'm out of position.

I have two overcards and a backdoor club draw, but this low, connected flop favors the big blind's calling range. Checking back preserves my equity without inflating the pot.

We have a flush draw plus a gutshot straight draw (11 outs). Betting here as a semi-bluff to build the pot and apply pressure, hoping to win immediately or improve on the river.

Top pair with a flush draw is strong enough to continue against this modest turn bet, but raising risks isolating against stronger made hands.

We have a 7-high flush, a decent but vulnerable hand. Betting could get called by worse but also risks getting raised by higher flushes. Checking keeps the pot small and may induce a bluff from missed draws or a value bet from a worse hand that we can call. Given the deep stacks, pot control is prudent.

I have a decent one-pair showdown hand, but the low connected board and turn bet leave plausible straights and stronger kings. Checking takes the free showdown without risking a thin value bet.

T8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

T8 offsuit is too weak to call or raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act behind.

K♠4♠ is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button raise, and the price is favorable with no other player left to act.

Check with king-high and no immediate draw; the ace-high flop favors the preflop raiser, and I can reassess after their action.

A small continuation bet gets value from draws and weaker pairs while denying free cards. Position lets me control the pot if called.

King-high has no meaningful draw on this ace-high, two-club flop, so calling the bet is not worthwhile.

97o is playable on the button 3-handed; raising pressures the blinds and keeps initiative with position.

Q6 suited is too weak to continue out of position against the button's raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Fold rather than invest more in a marginal hand.

With no rake and 150 more to call, 7-5 offsuit has enough value to defend the big blind against a button open, though I'll be cautious out of position.

I have a weak top pair on a coordinated flop. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me assess the button's action.

We have a flush draw (7d on a two-diamond flop) and position; a small c-bet as a semi-bluff can fold out weaker hands or build the pot if we hit.

Bottom pair has enough showdown value against a button continuation bet, and calling 300 to contest the 850-chip pot is preferable to raising.

Two pair is strong here, but the board has straight and flush draws. A turn bet gets value from pairs and draws while making free river cards less likely.

Middle pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated, draw-heavy board facing a donk bet from the big blind, who likely has a stronger made hand or a draw with good equity. The pot odds are insufficient to call given only 5 outs to improve and minimal bluff-catching value, and raising would overcommit with a marginal hand.