Hold'em table

K3 suited is a standard button open in 3-handed play, since only the two blinds are left to act. A 2.5bb raise steals often and plays fine postflop in position.

J♦5♣ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling a button raise from the small blind leaves me out of position with the big blind still to act. Fold rather than invest more chips.

J6 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button raise to 2.5 big blinds, but is too weak to reraise for value.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but this connected, two-spade flop favors keeping the pot small out of position.

K3 offsite has little equity on a 5-T-6 two-tone board that connects well with the big blind's calling range, and we have no backdoor flush. Checking back keeps the pot small and gives us a free card to hit a king.

Trips are strong enough to bet for value after the flop checked through. A 350-chip bet can get called by tens and draws while charging hands with a spade.

I have only king-high with no spade and no meaningful draw on a paired, spade-heavy board. The price to call is 28% equity and I don't have that, and a bluff-raise is unconvincing here after checking back the flop.

On the button in a three-handed pot, a small open can win the blinds often enough to make this weak hand a profitable steal attempt.

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

Getting 150 to win 400 (27% equity needed) versus a wide button open; 52s has enough playability and equity to defend from the big blind.

52h has a gutshot (needs a 4) plus a backdoor flush draw. Out of position against the preflop raiser, checking and planning to call a reasonable c-bet is the standard line.

I have no pair and no meaningful draw on a connected flop, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into a hand that may have connected.

The button checked back the flop, so its range is capped. I have a heart flush draw, which makes a good semi-bluff that can take the pot now or improve on the river.

Jack-high has little showdown value and no meaningful draw on this paired board. Facing a turn bet, folding is preferable to calling or bluff-raising.

On the button, 7-6 offsuit is playable as an open in this three-handed, no-rake game. A 2.5 big-blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

99 is well ahead of a wide 3-handed button opening range, so 3-betting from the small blind for value and fold equity avoids playing out of position multiway. Sizing to 10bb is appropriate out of position.

Q7 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button raise followed by a substantial small-blind 3-bet. Calling would put in 9 more big blinds out of position with poor playability.

67 offsuit is too weak to call a large three-bet, even with position.

KJo is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to take the initiative and pressure the blinds.

Ace-ten offsuit is strong against a button open in a three-handed game. A substantial three-bet takes initiative and makes the big blind pay to continue, while avoiding a passive multiway pot out of position.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

Three-handed, the small blind's 3-bet range against a button open is wide. KJo has enough equity and playability in position to call 650 into a 1250 pot rather than fold or 4-bet.

Second pair with a strong kicker has reasonable showdown value, but this connected flop favors many hands that can continue against a bet. I’ll check and evaluate the opponent’s action.

We flopped the nut straight with a club draw on a wet board, so we bet for value and protection. The 3-bettor's range has plenty of overpairs, Q-x, and draws that can call.

Middle pair with an ace kicker has enough showdown value and equity against a flop stab to continue at these pot odds. Raising would risk building a large pot against stronger made hands on a very coordinated board.

Top pair with an ace kicker has showdown value, but the connected flop and villain’s preflop raise-call and flop bet-call make a turn lead unattractive. Check to control the pot and evaluate their action.

I have the nut K-high straight. Betting about 73% of the pot gets value from sets, two pair and draws, charges the club draw, and sets up a river shove.

The large turn bet on a connected board strongly represents a straight or better made hand, and my one pair has few ways to improve. I’ll avoid calling without enough equity against that value-heavy range.

T-2 offsuit is too weak to continue from the button facing the big blind; folding avoids investing chips with poor equity and playability.

Completing costs only 50 chips in a heads-up, rake-free pot. T4 offsuit is too weak to raise for value, but can profitably see a flop at this price.

ATo is well ahead of a small-blind limping range, so I raise for value and to take the initiative in position; 4x is a standard iso size.

T4 offsuit is too weak to call a four-big-blind raise, especially when I’ll be out of position postflop.

K2 offsuit is a marginal but playable button open in a three-handed game. A small raise uses position while limiting the cost if a blind fights back.

A6o holds up well against a wide 3-handed button open, and the ace blocker makes it a good 3-bet candidate. Raising takes the initiative rather than flatting out of position with the big blind still to act.

K6 offsuit is far too weak to continue against a large three-bet, especially with the button still to act. Fold and preserve the stack.

K2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large three-bet, even with position.