Hold'em table

Pocket queens are a strong preflop hand on the button, so I raise for value.

Q5o is too weak to continue against an open raise from the small blind out of position.

A3 offsuit is comfortably strong enough to defend the big blind against a button 3x open heads-up, retaining equity while avoiding an unnecessarily large pot.

Check to the preflop raiser with bottom pair and an ace kicker, keeping their continuation-bet range wide while avoiding unnecessary pot inflation out of position.

Queens are an overpair on a dry J-3-2 rainbow flop. A small bet gets value from jacks and weaker pairs while keeping worse hands in.

Bottom pair with an ace kicker is worth continuing against this small heads-up continuation bet, while keeping weaker hands and bluffs in range.

We have a strong two-pair hand on this paired board after calling the flop bet. A substantial value bet targets worse pairs and draws while charging a jack.

Queens are strong enough to continue against this turn lead, but raising would often drive out weaker hands while building a large pot against a jack. Calling keeps bluffs in and lets me use position on the river.

Our pair of threes has some showdown value against missed overcards, while a river bluff is unlikely to fold out the king or jack-heavy range that called the turn.

Queens have good showdown value, but a river bet is more likely to be called by a king or jack than by a weaker hand.

I have pocket Queens on the button, an elite premium holding in 3-handed play. A standard open raise to 2.5 big blinds builds the pot and extracts value.

Q8 offsuit is a weak small-blind holding versus a button open, and playing it out of position is not worth the call.

Pocket threes can profitably defend the big blind against a small button raise, with a favorable price and deep stacks.

With a small pocket pair on a paired king-high flop, I can preserve its showdown value and assess the button's action before committing more chips.

I have a strong second pair on a dry, paired board where I hold a massive range advantage as the preflop raiser; a small continuation bet extracts value from pocket pairs and floats while denying equity.

The small flop bet offers a good price with a pocket pair against a button range that can contain many unpaired hands. I’ll call and reassess on the turn.

My pocket threes have limited showdown value, but betting into the preflop raiser on this paired board is unlikely to get enough better hands to fold. I’ll check and reassess if they bet.

I hold second pair on a paired board with showdown value, so checking back controls the pot and protects my checking range.

Pocket threes have some showdown value, and a river bluff is unlikely to fold out many better hands after the turn checked through.

I have two pair, Kings and Queens. Checking behind realizes showdown value safely against missed draws and weak pairs without risking a check-raise.

K4 offsuit is a weak button holding and does not justify entering against both blinds at this stack depth.

With 8-6 offsuit in the small blind, completing for 50 chips is inexpensive after the button folds. The hand has enough potential to see a flop, but not enough strength to raise out of position.

Taking a free flop in position with T9o after the small blind completes.

I have no made hand or immediate draw on this wet flop, so I’ll check rather than build the pot.

I have bottom pair and a gutshot straight draw in position in a limped pot. Checking back controls the pot and takes a free card safely.

I have no made hand and only a narrow path to a winning straight. With no bet to call, checking avoids investing more chips.

The board is four to a straight with any Queen making a straight; checking behind with two pair controls the pot and realizes showdown value safely.

Eight-high has little showdown value. A small river bet can fold out missed hands and some weak pairs after the turn checked through.

We hold two pair (tens and nines) after the hand was checked down to the river. Getting better than 3.5 to 1 pot odds, we can comfortably call against rivered one-pair bets and missed club draw bluffs.

Q4 offsuit is a marginal but playable button open three-handed. A small raise uses position while limiting the cost if either blind fights back.

87 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position from the small blind facing a button open.

J2 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button open at this depth.

52s is too weak to open from the button even in 3-handed play, making an easy fold.

K4 offsuit is a marginal, dominated holding from the small blind; folding avoids playing a weak hand out of position.

2h4d offsuit is far too weak to profitably enter from the button against two blinds at this stack depth.

Completing costs only 50 chips in a heads-up pot. T3 offsuit is weak, so I’ll keep the pot small and play cautiously out of position.

We hold 96s in the big blind facing a small blind completion; checking allows us to see a free flop in position with reasonable suited connectivity.

With ten-high and a gutshot straight draw, checking keeps the pot small while preserving the chance to improve.

I have middle pair with a weak kicker in position in a limped pot; checking back controls the pot size and realizes my equity.

My hand has little showdown value, but an eight would complete a straight. Checking keeps the pot small and gives me a chance to improve for free.

We have second pair with a weak kicker on a paired board; checking behind keeps the pot controlled and realizes our showdown value.

My hand has little showdown value, but a river bluff is unlikely to fold out enough better hands on this paired board. Checking avoids risking more chips.

I have two pair, Jacks and Nines, which has solid showdown value in an unraised pot checked all the way down, making a check behind the safest option.