Hold'em table

Pocket sixes on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear open-raise. A 2.5bb open takes the initiative and can win the blinds right away.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend profitably against the button raise out of position.

J4 suited is a reasonable button open three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise gives us a chance to win the blinds while retaining position after the flop.

9-4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially with the big blind still behind.

K9o in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open is getting good pot odds (150 to win 400), and it's well ahead of a wide button range, so a call is the clear defend.

K-high with a backdoor flush draw out of position against the preflop raiser on J-5-3; checking is standard, and I can continue against a small c-bet.

Top pair is worth a modest value and protection bet against draws and weaker pairs after the big blind checks.

Facing a small c-bet of about a third of the pot, I only need roughly 24% equity. My K overcard, backdoor flush draw and backdoor straight potential justify a defend.

K-high with a backdoor heart draw that missed and a gutshot needing a 4; out of position against a button c-bet range, checking keeps the pot small and lets us realize equity or fold to heavy pressure.

Top pair plus an open-ended straight draw is strong enough to bet for value and protection against weaker pairs and heart draws.

King-high with no real draw, since one more heart can't make a flush and there's no straight draw. I'm getting about 28% pot odds against a button that has now bet the flop and the turn, which isn't enough to continue.

Open-raising the button with a suited connected hand that plays well postflop and benefits from initiative.

85o out of the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold. Calling out of position with a weak offsuit hand loses money.

A-T offsuit is strong against a button opening range. A three-bet can win the pot now and builds value against weaker hands.

Facing a large 3-bet after opening, 7-5 suited lacks sufficient equity and playability to continue.

T4s on the button in 3-handed play is a reasonable steal; a small open to 2.5bb puts pressure on the blinds.

Five-four suited has enough playability to defend against a button open at this price. Calling keeps the pot manageable from the small blind.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise and a caller from the big blind.

With no made hand and only backdoor draws on this flop, I’ll check rather than build the pot out of position.

On a dry Q-high flop, the preflop raiser in position can c-bet small with a backdoor straight draw and good equity against a small blind calling range. A bet of one third of the pot pressures the SB's weak holdings.

The small bet gives me a reasonable price to continue with backdoor straight and flush possibilities. I’ll reassess on the turn.

I have no made hand or meaningful draw, and the ace favors the preflop raiser's range. Checking avoids investing more in a weak spot.

The ace turn favors my preflop-raising range, and I have ten-high with no showdown value, so I'm barreling about 65% pot to fold out the Qx, 9x and small pairs that called the flop.

I have only a four-out straight draw against a turn bet. The pot odds don't justify calling.

K8 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed, so I raise to build the pot while keeping the size modest.

Q6 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button open, especially with the big blind still behind.

Getting 400:150 (27%) in the big blind against a button 2.5x open with 64o, which is a playable defend heads-up versus a wide button range.

The QJT two-tone board hits the button's opening range hard, and 64o has no equity, so check and give up unless the turn brings something.

I have an open-ended straight draw and a backdoor club flush draw. Betting 350 builds the pot when I improve and may win it immediately.

64 offsuit has no pair and no draw on a QJT two-tone board that heavily favors the preflop raiser's range. Folding is clearly best.

Q9 suited is a playable button opening hand with positional advantage. I raise to apply pressure and build the pot.

K9o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act, is a marginal hand that plays poorly out of position, so folding is fine. A 3-bet isn't clearly profitable either.

A5 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button open at this price. Calling keeps weaker hands in without building a large pot out of position.

With a weak pair out of position against the preflop raiser, I prefer to check and assess their bet rather than build the pot.

I continuation-bet small to leverage my preflop range advantage while retaining equity from my heart draw and two overcards.

Middle pair with an ace kicker has enough equity to call a small flop bet, especially against a button opener's wide range.

My pair of fives has some showdown value, but this turn also adds draws. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me evaluate a bet.

I’ll continue with a substantial semi-bluff: Q-high with a heart flush draw has equity when called, while the turn T can pressure many weak flop calls.

Bottom pair with an ace kicker can still beat the button’s missed draws and bluffs. Calling 650 keeps those hands in while avoiding an expensive raise against stronger made hands.

My pair of fives has some showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking avoids turning it into a bluff.

The king is a strong scare card after betting flop and turn as the preflop raiser. A substantial river bluff can fold many one-pair hands below a king while avoiding excessive all-in risk.

Bottom pair is unlikely to beat a third barrel on this river. The price to call is too high without evidence that the opponent bluffs often enough.