Hold'em table

Q3 offsuit is a marginal but playable button open in a three-handed game. A small raise uses position while limiting the risk.

K6o from the small blind facing a 2.5x button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold. It is dominated too often and plays poorly out of position.

Defend the big blind with suited 9-6 against a button min-raise; it has adequate playability for the price.

This paired king-high board favors the preflop raiser, while my hand has limited immediate equity. Checking preserves flexibility and avoids bluffing into a range with many strong kings.

A small continuation bet can fold out enough of the big blind’s weak hands on this paired flop. It limits the cost of bluffing with queen-high.

9-high has very little equity on this paired king-high board and no meaningful direct draw. Folding avoids continuing out of position with a weak bluff-catcher.

T8o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds.

8-4 offsuit is a weak, dominated hand facing an open raise out of position, so folding preserves chips.

The small blind's dead money improves the price, making J4 offsuit worth defending against a button raise.

With bottom pair and no diamond on a two-diamond flop, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser rather than build the pot out of position.

In position with a gutshot, an overcard, and a backdoor flush draw on a board that favors the preflop raiser, a small c-bet semi-bluff wins the pot often and has equity when called.

Bottom pair with a jack kicker has enough equity against a small continuation bet from the button. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in the pot without inflating it.

My bottom pair is weak on the paired turn. Checking controls the pot and lets me reassess if my opponent bets.

With only a gutshot and ten-high against a range that check-called the flop, taking the free card to realize my equity is better than barreling into many 9x and 6x hands.

I have a full house and can get value from nines and other bluff-catchers. A moderate river bet also limits my exposure when the opponent has a six or a stronger full house.

On this double-paired board I'm only playing two pair with a ten kicker, so any pair, ace or king high, or flush beats me. The river lead after the club flush got there is weighted toward value hands, so I'm folding despite the decent price.

K2 offsuit is too weak to profitably defend from the button against two remaining players without prior action.

A-T suited is strong heads-up against the big blind, so I raise for value rather than complete out of position.

QJo in the big blind facing a 3x small-blind open is a clear defend: we get 3:1 on the call and have position, and the SB's range is wide. Calling keeps their weaker hands in rather than 3-betting.

Top pair with the best kicker can get value from worse pairs and charge hands with a single club. A small bet limits exposure on the monotone flop.

We hold a Q-high flush draw plus a gutshot to the straight, and getting 4:1 on a small bet makes this an easy profitable call. Raising would bloat the pot out of position against likely stronger made hands and bigger flush draws.

Top pair with an ace kicker can get value from weaker tens and club draws. A half-pot bet charges draws without overcommitting on a coordinated board.

I have a club flush draw with the Qc plus a gutshot to a 9, about 12 outs or roughly 27% equity. Calling 500 into 1500 needs 25%, and implied odds make it a clear call.

The fourth club makes my top pair a weak value bet; checking avoids building the pot against flushes while leaving a chance to reach showdown.

I have a Q-high flush on a four-club board, which beats most hands the opponent could have after checking the river. A 60% pot bet gets value from lower flushes, straights and trips while risking less against the Ac/Kc and full houses that beat me.

The fourth club completes many of the hands that called the flop and turn. With no club and only two pair, I don't expect to beat this river bet often enough to call.

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is playable as a small open, with position after the flop.

Against a wide button open three-handed, J9s is a good 3-bet candidate from the small blind: it plays well and denies the big blind a cheap look. I'm sizing to 4x to avoid playing a bloated pot out of position.

T3 offsuit is far too weak to defend against a raise and a large reraise, especially out of position in a multiway pot.

Seven-six offsuit plays poorly against a large 3-bet, and calling would commit too much with a weak hand.

A4o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open; with an ace blocker and some playability, a 2.5bb raise to steal the blinds is the right play.

Q3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still behind.

T8 suited is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, but I prefer calling to building a larger pot out of position.

Middle pair on a fairly dry flop is a reasonable hand to check out of position. Betting would risk building a larger pot against stronger hands.

Ace-high with a gutshot (a Q gives Broadway, a K gives a straight too — actually a Q completes AKQJT only with a K, so mainly ace overcard equity) on a board that favors the preflop raiser. A small c-bet in position takes advantage of range advantage and fold equity against the BB's check.

Middle pair is strong enough to continue against a small flop bet. Raising would risk building a large pot with a modest hand.

Middle pair has showdown value, but a turn bet would often get called by better hands and fold out worse ones. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to the button's action.

Semi-bluff with a gutshot to the wheel plus an ace overcard. The bet applies pressure to the weak pairs and draws in the big blind's check-calling range.

Second pair has enough showdown value to call this turn bet against a button range that can include draws and bluffs. Raising would risk too much with a marginal hand.

Middle pair has showdown value, but the river completes a flush and several stronger hands are possible. Checking avoids building the pot with a marginal hand.

The wheel is a strong made hand here. It beats the sets, two pair and top pairs that check-called flop and turn, and my Ad blocks the nut flush. A bet of just over half pot gets value from worse hands while limiting damage against flushes and 64.

Second pair is a bluff-catcher here. The river bet gives me a reasonable price against missed straight draws and other bluffs.

QJs is a strong button opening hand with good playability. A 3bb open applies pressure and builds value against weaker blind ranges.

52 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a three-big-blind button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

83o is too weak to defend against a 3x button open even with 200 to call into 450; it plays poorly out of position and is below the defending range.