Hold'em table

K5 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the investment modest.

Q4o is far too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a button open.

Closing the action with 150 to call into a 400-chip pot gives good odds, and Ad2s has enough equity against a button open to defend despite being offsuit and out of position.

I flopped top pair with an ace on a draw-heavy board and am first to act, so I'll bet for value and protection against flush and straight draws.

Middle pair has enough showdown value to call this flop bet, but the weak kicker makes raising unattractive.

I have top pair with a weak kicker out of position. The button called my flop bet on an ace-high board, indicating a range with many better aces and sets. Checking controls the pot and avoids getting raised off my hand.

Second pair has showdown value, but betting risks getting called by aces and better kings or raised off the hand. Checking in position keeps weaker hands and draws in the pot.

I have two pair (aces and sixes) on a board unlikely to have made a higher two pair with many hands. Betting 500 targets weaker Ax and Kx hands for value while still allowing a fold to a raise.

The river bet offers a favorable price with two pair. Missed heart draws and weaker hands can bet here often enough to justify a call.

On the button in 3-handed play, A6o is comfortably ahead of folding threshold and makes a standard open raise.

With KJ offsuit and a small button raise, calling is reasonable to see a flop with a decent hand.

Calling 100 closes the preflop action and gives me favorable pot odds, even with a weak hand out of position.

With K-high and no pair or draw on an A-high flop, I prefer to check out of position and see how the preflop raiser and big blind proceed.

With only a gutshot on an ace-high flop, betting into two opponents is unlikely to be profitable. I can check and see whether I get a favorable price to continue.

Flopped two pair on an ace-high board in position; betting half-pot for value against weaker aces and draws.

I have only king-high on an ace-high flop with no pair or draw. Facing a bet from the button after two checks, folding is the disciplined play.

I have only a gutshot and weak overcard prospects. Calling out of position against the flop bet is unlikely to be profitable.

T6o is a weak offsuit hand with poor playability, and calling or raising from the button risks chips without a strong enough edge. Folding preserves stack in this marginal spot.

Q9 offsuit is strong enough to raise against the big blind after the button folds. Raising to 300 gives me a chance to win the pot now while keeping the pot manageable if called.

96o is too weak to defend against a 3bb small blind open.

Seven-six offsuit is playable on the button three-handed. A modest raise can win the blinds or let me play in position.

A2o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise.

Closing the preflop action for 150 more with Q9o is reasonable given the pot odds and the button's likely wide 3-handed opening range.

I am first to act on a paired flop with only queen-high and no strong draw; checking controls the pot and avoids building a large pot out of position against the preflop raiser.

A small continuation bet can fold out unpaired hands while keeping the cost modest. If called, I still have a gutshot and position.

Opponent's small flop bet gives me over 4:1 pot odds, and Q9o has enough equity against a wide button range to continue; I'll reassess on the turn.

I have top two pair (queens and eights) on a draw-heavy board; betting for value and to charge flush/straight draws.

I have only a four-out gutshot and little showdown value. Calling 600 is too expensive for a one-card draw, and the turn lead makes a bluff raise unattractive.

Q8o is on the fringe of the button opening range in 3-max; folding avoids playing a weak offsuit hand postflop.

Closing the preflop action for 50 more gives excellent pot odds with 98o, and I prefer to see a cheap flop rather than bloat the pot out of position.

With 6-2 offsuit against a small-blind limp, I can see the flop for free rather than build a pot out of position with a weak hand.

I have only 9-high with minimal equity on this flop, and the big blind can easily have a pair or better. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free turn card.

With position and a gutshot straight draw, a small bet can win the pot now while keeping the cost of a bluff modest.

I have 9-high with no pair or meaningful draw and face a bet on the flop; folding avoids putting more chips in as a clear underdog.

K5s on the button is a standard open in 3-handed play; raising applies pressure and uses position.

T6 suited is too weak to call a 3x button raise from the small blind with the big blind still to act.

73s is too weak to defend against a 3bb button open.