Hold'em table

K-high has useful high-card and top-pair value, and from the button it is a reasonable open-raise against the blinds. A modest sizing applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Q4 offsuit from the small blind facing a button open is a clear fold: it plays poorly out of position with the big blind still to act behind me.

A2 offsuit has enough equity against a button opening range to defend the big blind for 150 chips, but it is too weak to value-raise.

With a weak kicker against the preflop raiser, I’ll check and keep the pot manageable.

A small flop bet can get value and protection from worse pairs and draws while keeping the pot manageable with my weak-kicker second pair.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against a small flop bet, but my weak kicker makes raising unattractive.

Top pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but leading risks building a pot against stronger aces. Checking keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while controlling the pot.

I have a weak one-pair hand on an ace-high board, and the opponent’s flop call could indicate an ace or a stronger king. Checking keeps the pot controlled while preserving my showdown value.

My ace is ahead of kings and smaller pairs, which may call a modest river bet. The turn check makes a strong hand less likely.

The small river bet gives favorable pot odds, and my two pair is a strong bluff-catcher against missed heart draws and weaker hands. I can lose to an ace or a six, but folding here is too cautious.

A6o is a clear open from the button in a 3-handed game. Raising to 2.5bb puts pressure on both blinds.

KJo is strong enough to three-bet against a button open in three-handed play. Raising gives me a chance to win preflop and avoids inviting the big blind into a cheap multiway pot.

8♣5♥ is a weak hand facing a substantial three-bet, and calling 850 chips out of position is not worthwhile.

In position against a likely wide 3-handed SB 3-bet, I'm getting about 2.9:1. A6o has enough equity and playability to continue by calling rather than folding or turning it into a 4-bet bluff.

This dry ace-high flop favors my three-betting range. A small continuation bet can fold out weaker unpaired hands without committing much of my stack.

Top and bottom two pair on a dry A-6-4 board is well ahead of the 3-bettor's AK, AQ and AJ range, and those hands will call a raise. Raising to 1700 builds the pot for value; only AA, 66 and 44 beat me.

KJ has no pair or meaningful draw on this ace-high flop, and the raise gives too poor a price to continue.

T6 offsuit is a weak, easily dominated button hand. With no reads on the blinds, folding avoids a marginal spot.

Q9 offsuit is a marginal hand out of position, but the price is favorable and calling keeps the pot small against the big blind.

96o is a marginal hand against a small-blind limp. Checking to see a free flop in position is fine, and raising doesn't gain much.

With Q-high and no meaningful draw on an ace-high flop, checking keeps the pot small and avoids bluffing into the big blind's range.

I have nine-high with only a weak gutshot on an ace-high board in a limped pot, so I'll check. I can realize my equity for free, and a bluff is unlikely to fold out aces or tens.

I have an open-ended straight draw with eight river outs, and the checked-through flop gives me a chance to take down the pot with a small turn bet.

Holding 9-high with no pair and no real draw on A-J-T-4, the price of 100 into 300 isn't justified by my equity. A bluff raise in this limped pot is also risky, since an ace or a straight draw is likely in the small blind's range.

As the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is a reasonable wide open. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Three-handed, the button opens wide, and A2o has an ace blocker, so it works as a 3-bet bluff from the small blind. Flatting out of position with the big blind still to act would be weak, so I raise for fold equity.

Q9 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large small-blind three-bet, especially with the button still in the hand.

6♦7♠ is too weak to continue against a substantial small-blind 3-bet, especially with 800 chips to call.

Q8o is a standard button open in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to take the initiative against the two blinds.

9-8 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

2♦6♣ is a very weak offsuit hand against a button raise, and calling 150 more offers poor prospects even with the dead small blind in the pot.

K5 suited is a profitable button open three-handed, with position and reasonable playability.

T6 suited is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act and poor positional prospects.

Getting about 3.7:1 in the big blind against a wide button open, and 73s has enough playability to defend by calling.

Middle pair on an ace-high board, out of position against the preflop raiser, who will c-bet often. Checking controls the pot, and I can call a small bet.

A small continuation bet uses my preflop range advantage on this ace-high board and can fold out hands with equity against king-high.

Middle pair with a backdoor spade draw is getting 180 into 730 (about 20% equity needed) against a small c-bet from a wide button range. Calling is clearly profitable, and raising would mostly fold out worse hands.

Our second pair of sevens is on a paired ace board, so it has showdown value but is weak. Checking controls the pot and lets the button bluff; I plan to call a reasonable bet.

King-high has some showdown value against missed draws. After the big blind called the flop bet, a turn bet is unlikely to fold enough better hands to justify a bluff.

Aces-and-sevens with a weak kicker has showdown value but gets called mostly by better hands on this flush-completing river, so check.

King-high has some showdown value against missed draws. With no club blocker, a river bluff is less attractive on the completed flush board.