Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed, rake-free pot, K3 offsuit is playable as a small open. A minimum raise keeps the investment modest while using position.

J2 suited is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act and poor positional prospects.

AQo is well ahead of a button opening range in 3-handed play, so a 3-bet to 850 builds the pot while we're ahead and denies the button its positional advantage.

K3 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large preflop three-bet, even with position.

On the button in a three-handed game, a small open can win the blinds often and keeps the risk modest despite the weak offsuit hand.

AJs is well ahead of a button min-raise range in 3-handed play, so a 3-bet from the small blind wins value and denies equity. Raising avoids playing out of position in a multiway pot.

A4 offsuit is often dominated by the small blind’s large three-bet, and the button can still act behind me.

6♠3♦ is too weak to continue against a substantial three-bet, even with position.

J8o on the button three-handed is a standard open, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds with position.

A6 suited is strong enough to three-bet against a button open in three-handed play, and raising avoids inviting the big blind into a cheap multiway pot.

J♣T♣ is a strong, playable suited hand with good equity against a three-handed 3-bet range. Calling keeps the pot manageable and avoids turning it into a high-variance 4-bet from out of position.

J8o facing a 3-bet and a cold call is dominated and plays poorly multiway out of position in range. Folding the 2.5bb I've already put in is better than calling 7.5bb more.

Ace-high has some showdown value on this dry flop, but little immediate drawing equity. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess after the big blind acts.

With only two overcards and a backdoor club draw on a board that hits the preflop raiser’s range, checking back preserves equity without inflating the pot.

After the flop checked through, I can apply pressure with the nut flush draw, a gutshot straight draw, and an ace overcard.

I have only two overcards and no meaningful draw, so my equity is well below the roughly 28% needed to call. The turn bet is substantial, making a bluff-raise unattractive.

AJo is a strong button opening hand three-handed; a 2.5bb raise builds the pot while keeping the sizing controlled.

J-5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 2.5bb button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act.

83o is out of position against a 2.5x button open, and it plays poorly after the flop. It's a marginal hand at best, so folding the big blind is fine.

2-5 offsuit is too weak to open from the button, and calling the big blind risks a full blind with poor playability.

A8o is a strong hand in a blind-vs-blind spot after the button folds. Raising to 3bb takes the initiative and plays well against the big blind's wide range.

A4 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise. Calling keeps the pot manageable and lets me play in position after the flop.

The dry K-high flop favors my preflop raising range, so a small one-third-pot c-bet with ace-high and backdoor equity should fold out many of BB's hands cheaply.

Bottom pair with an ace kicker and backdoor straight and flush possibilities is strong enough to continue against a small flop bet.

Double-barrel semi-bluff on the turn: we hold a gutshot to the nut wheel (any 5) plus an ace overcard that can improve to top pair. Our range also has plenty of strong Kx here, so we keep pressure on the BB's calling range.

Bottom pair with an ace kicker and a gutshot has enough equity to continue against this turn bet, especially when the bettor can still have bluffs. I can reassess on the river.

The river gives us the wheel (A-2-3-4-5), and only a 6 beats it. Opponent's calling range includes plenty of kings and two pairs, so a roughly two-thirds pot value bet makes sense.

I have an ace-high straight. Calling captures value from bluffs and weaker hands without risking a raise against a six, which makes a higher straight.

Three-handed on the button, K2o is a reasonable steal: the king is a strong card this short-handed, and only the two blinds are left to act. A small open to 2.5bb applies pressure without risking much.

Nine-four offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

QJo is a reasonable defend from the big blind against a button open. Calling gets a favorable price and avoids building a large pot with a hand that can be dominated when 3-bet and called.

Q-J high has no made hand on this paired ace-high flop, and betting into the preflop raiser is unlikely to get better hands to fold. Check and preserve the chance to improve.

This dry A55 board strongly favors the preflop raiser, so a small c-bet is profitable even with K-high. The bet can fold out many of the big blind's hands, and the king gives some backup equity.

The small bet offers favorable pot odds, and QJ has some backdoor improvement potential while retaining equity against the button’s bluffs. Calling is preferable to turning this weak hand into a raise bluff.

I have only a gutshot to a Broadway straight and no made hand, so checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the river for free.

King-high with no real draw, and the villain's check-call range on this ace-high paired board has plenty of aces and fives that won't fold. Checking back takes a free card and keeps the pot small.

My hand plays the board, so I have no meaningful showdown advantage and a bluff is unlikely to fold better hands that checked the turn. Checking preserves the chance to split against missed overcards.

We are playing the board (TT55A), so we chop with any hand that also plays the board. The opponent checked twice but called the flop, so their range is full of aces and medium pairs that are unlikely to fold to a bluff; checking to take the split is best.