Hold'em table

Q8 offsuit on the button in a 3-handed pot is marginal, but the blinds still have to act behind and I'd often be dominated or out of position postflop. Folding costs nothing and avoids a marginal spot.

Holding AJo in the small blind after the button folds, raising for value is standard blind-versus-blind strategy.

T6 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise, especially with position after the flop.

As the preflop aggressor on a King-high board that favors my opening range, I make a standard one-third pot continuation bet.

T-high has little showdown value on this K-high flop, and the backdoor draws are too weak to justify calling.

Q7 offsuit is too weak to profitably open from the button, even in 3-handed play. Folding preserves chips.

With the button folded, Q6 offsuit is strong enough to open against the big blind. A 2.5 BB raise can win the pot immediately and gives me the initiative if called.

ATo is a solid hand against a small-blind open to 2.5bb, and calling 150 more from the big blind gets a good price while keeping the pot manageable out of position.

With queen-six on a dry king-high flop, I have little equity or useful backdoor potential. Checking avoids investing more in a weak hand.

Top pair with an ace kicker on a dry K-8-2 board, heads-up after the small blind checked. A bet of about 60% of the pot gets value from weaker kings and worse pairs and protects against overcards.

With no pair or meaningful draw on this dry flop, calling the bet is unlikely to be profitable.

Q6 offsuit is playable as a button open in three-handed hold’em. A small raise pressures the blinds while keeping the investment modest.

6h7h is a suited connector with good playability at 100bb deep. Calling 200 more into a 400 pot gets about 3-to-1, though I am out of position against a button open and a big blind still to act.

6s 2d has virtually no playability or equity multiway out of position against a button raise and small blind call.

I have 7-high with an open-ended straight draw (8-9 completes 6-7-8-9-T? no: needs 8 and 9 for a straight with T-J-Q board, so only a gutshot-ish backdoor). The board is very connected and the button raiser likely has a strong range, so checking to control the pot is best.

Top pair can get value from weaker pairs and charge straight draws. A small bet limits the pot on this connected board.

6h7h on T-J-Q rainbow-ish board (Th, Js, Qc) has a gutshot-plus... actually 6-7 needs 8-9 for a straight, so only backdoor draws; but the pot odds are 800+200 into 200 call (5 to 1) and the button's small c-bet range is wide, so a call is reasonable to see a turn with backdoor heart flush equity and possible 8/9 outs. Overall a cheap call beats folding or bluff-raising. .

I have a pair of sixes plus a flush draw and a gutshot-ish combo (6-7 with T-J-Q gives an open-ended-ish draw needing 8-9 for a straight only via 9), so I have decent equity but only marginal showdown value. Checking out of position keeps the pot small against a button who c-bet the flop, and lets me realize equity cheaply.}

Two pair is strong enough to bet for value and protection against draws and weaker made hands. A 650-chip bet also limits the price of a river card.

Open-ended straight draw (8 or 9 makes a straight, 6 pair too) with good odds: call 650 to win 1650+650 pot.

The board is Th Js Qc 6c Kd, and my 6h 7h gives me only a pair of sixes. Any ace or nine makes a straight for the opponent, who bet the flop and turn, so a bluff is unlikely to work. I'll check and take the free showdown.

The river completes a four-card straight, and two pair is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking preserves showdown value.

2c Tc is a weak offsuit hand, and out of position against two players after the button it is not worth paying 100 to see a flop. Folding is the disciplined choice.

Completing the small blind with 98o gives good pot odds to see a flop heads-up against the big blind.

With pocket deuces against a small-blind limp, I can see the flop for free and play in position without building a pot with a weak pair.

We hold third pair on a coordinated K-J-8 board out of position. Checking to control the pot size is the standard play.

My pocket deuces have little chance to improve on this coordinated flop, but they still have some showdown value. Checking keeps the pot small.

I have modest showdown value with third pair on a double-broadway board. Checking keeps the pot small and allows me to see the river cheaply.

After two checks from the small blind, a small turn bet can fold out unpaired hands with live overcards while keeping the risk modest.

Third pair with a weak kicker and very few improving outs on a disconnected board cannot profitably call a bet out of position.

T4o is too weak to open even on the button in 3-handed play. Easy fold.

Q7 suited is strong enough to raise against the lone big blind, building the pot while putting pressure on weaker hands.

T2 offsuit is a weak hand, and calling 200 to win a pot of 400 out of position against a small blind raise isn't worth it. A fold is the simplest choice.

J5 suited is playable as a button open in three-handed hold’em, with position and some flush potential.

T2 offsuit is a weak hand out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act, so folding is best.

Q5o is too weak to defend against a 2.5bb raise from the button, even getting good pot odds in the big blind.