Hold'em table

T9o is a standard open on the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb applies pressure and leverages position.

A5 suited has useful ace-blocker and postflop playability, making it a reasonable 3-bet against a button open. I size up out of position and discourage the big blind from entering cheaply.

J7s is too weak to continue out of position against a button open and a small-blind three-bet; calling 800 more is unprofitable.

Fold T9o facing a 3-bet from the small blind.

As the button, I can open-raise wide with the blinds yet to act; a modest raise gives this hand a chance to win the blinds while limiting the cost if called.

T5s is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button open, especially out of position with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids a dominated, speculative spot.

Getting attractive pot odds (150 to win 400) to defend the big blind with QJo against a button open.

Check to the preflop aggressor out of position with Queen-high on a paired board.

My hand has little immediate value, but a backdoor club draw and an overcard give it some equity. I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the big blind’s paired-board calling range.

We picked up a Queen-high flush draw on the turn and can check to control the pot and see what the button does.

A small turn bet can win the pot after the flop checked through, while my club gives me a draw to improve if called.

Getting better than 4-to-1 pot odds on the turn with the second-nut flush draw after flop checked through, calling the small bet is clearly profitable.

I have two pair (Kings and Fours with a Queen kicker) on a double-paired board; checking to see a cheap showdown or react to villain's action is standard.

I have little showdown value with a J kicker, but the opponent’s turn bet makes a river bluff unattractive; checking avoids risking chips against likely stronger hands.

74o is too weak to call or raise from the button in a three-handed pot; folding preserves chips.

A9o is well ahead of a random BB holding in a blind-versus-blind situation; raising to 3 bb applies pressure and builds the pot with a strong offsuit ace.

Calling costs 200 to contest a pot of 600, and heads-up from the big blind I have position postflop. The suited hand has enough equity and playability to defend against a small-blind raise.

Check out of position on a paired board with Ace-high showdown value.

I have only five-high with no immediate draw, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into a paired board.

I turned two pair with top kicker after the flop checked through. Betting two-thirds pot targets value from lower pocket pairs, 4x, and various drawing hands.

I have only 5-high with no meaningful draw, and the 400-chip turn bet is too expensive to continue against.

Opening Queen-Ten offsuit from the button in 3-handed play is standard for value and positional advantage.

T9 suited is strong enough to defend against a button open, but calling keeps the pot smaller while out of position and avoids risking a 3-bet with a hand that plays well postflop.

K2o is too weak to continue out of position against a raise and a call; folding saves chips.

T-high has little equity on this Q-high, rainbow board, so I’ll avoid building the pot and see whether the preflop raiser checks back.

I have top pair with a decent kicker in position on a relatively dry board. A bet of around 40% pot extracts value from worse pairs and straight draws while maintaining initiative.

The small flop bet gives favorable pot odds, and T9 has backdoor straight and flush potential plus chances to pair on later streets. I’ll call and reassess on the turn.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on this turn, so betting is unlikely to improve my position against the flop bettor. I’ll take the free card and keep the pot small.

I hold top pair with a mediocre kicker on a connected board. Checking back controls the pot size and allows me to comfortably call or value-bet on favorable river runouts.

I have only ten-high, so checking is unlikely to win at showdown. A half-pot river bet credibly represents a jack or better and can fold out missed overcards and weaker one-pair hands.

I hold top pair with a ten kicker, and getting better than 3:1 pot odds makes this a straightforward call against bluffs and worse value bets.

J♣2♣ is a playable button open in a three-handed game; raising applies pressure while retaining a reasonable size.

K6 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button open, especially out of position. Folding avoids a dominated, low-playability hand.

94s is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5bb button raise.

A7s is a strong suited ace on the button in a three-handed game, so I open to 3x rather than flat the big blind.

Folding J4 offsuit from the small blind facing a button open.

J-2 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 3x button raise, despite the pot odds.