Showdown Hold'em table

T8 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves flexibility for a flop decision.

With only a gutshot straight draw and no made pair on an ace-high flop, the 2x raise is too aggressive. Checking retains the option to raise only on favorable river improvements.

My unpaired hand has only the board’s pair of fives, and too many dealer holdings improve to an ace, two pair, trips, or a better kicker. The river raise does not have sufficient winning equity.

Pocket fives meet the optimal preflop 4x raising threshold (33+), providing sufficient showdown value to commit immediately.

8-5 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raise thresholds, so preserving the option to evaluate the flop is best.

Open-ended straight draw with eight clean straight outs and additional pair/two-pair improvement potential is strong enough to raise on the flop.

K9 offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o+).

9-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

This weak 9-high hand has no made pair and only limited runner-runner improvement prospects. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable river runouts.

I have a pair of threes, which is often ahead of the dealer's unpaired holdings on this dry board. The river call is clearly preferable to folding.

Pocket jacks are a premium preflop holding and fall within the optimal 4x raising range.

9♥6♥ is below the stated preflop raising range; retaining the option to evaluate the flop and river is preferable.

A weak pair on a monotone, connected flop is not strong enough to commit a 2x play bet. Checking preserves the option to make a more informed river decision.

My pair of sixes has substantial showdown value against the dealer's many missed holdings. Raising is clearly preferable to surrendering the ante and blind.

Q4 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Top pair is vulnerable on a three-diamond board with no diamond in hand. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable runouts or make a smaller value raise on the river.

Top pair is strong enough to continue despite the four-diamond board. The dealer can make a flush with any diamond, but many non-diamond holdings remain behind or unpaired.

T3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range. Check to see the flop and retain the option to fold or make a better-informed river decision.

With only ten-high on this coordinated flop and no meaningful made hand or strong draw, preserving the option to fold or make a river decision is preferable to committing 2x.

With only a paired board and a ten kicker, the dealer too often has a better kicker, two pair, trips, or a spade flush. The river raise is not worth the additional risk.

J4 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves the option to make a more informed flop or river decision.

This is a weak unpaired hand with no made draw of sufficient strength to justify the 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to fold or make a better-informed river decision.

Our pair of queens with jack-ten kickers retains enough showdown equity against random dealer holdings to justify the river call rather than surrendering the posted bets.

3-5 offsuit is too weak for a profitable preflop raise, so I will retain the option to evaluate the flop.

With only 3-high and no made hand or strong immediate draw on this flop, preserving the option to evaluate the full board at the river is preferable.

I have an eight-high straight, which beats the dealer's common paired and trip holdings. Only relatively narrow higher straights, flushes, or full houses can beat it.

Ace-queen offsuit is a strong preflop holding and falls within the optimal 4x raising range.

T2 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

This is only a weak paired-board hand with a ten kicker and little immediate showdown value. Checking preserves the option to fold river misses or raise only when the final board improves the situation.

My pair of nines has a weak kicker and is beaten by most dealer holdings that pair the board, make two pair, or hold an overcard. The limited winning and tying combinations do not justify the river play bet.

Ace-king is a premium preflop holding and qualifies for the maximum 4x raise.

4♦6♣ offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves flexibility to evaluate the flop.

With 4-6 high on Q-J-3, I have no made hand and only thin runner-runner straight possibilities. Checking preserves the option to fold unimproved or raise only after meaningful improvement.

A pair of sixes has substantial showdown value here, especially against the dealer's many unpaired holdings that do not qualify. Raising is preferable to surrendering the ante and blind.

J5 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Top pair on a dry flop has substantial showdown value and enough equity to commit at the larger flop raise size.

Any ace is a preflop 4x raise under the optimal starting-hand strategy. Ace-high has sufficient showdown value and improvement potential.

KJo is within the published optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o+).

Q6 offsuit is below the listed profitable preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Queen-high with no made hand and only weak backdoor potential is not strong enough to commit a 2x play bet on this flop. Check and retain the river decision.

My queen kicker plays with the paired board and should beat a meaningful share of unpaired dealer holdings. The river raise is preferable to folding given the likely showdown equity.

T2 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

I have a made king-high flush on the flop, a very strong hand with substantial showdown and blind-bonus value. Raising maximizes value versus the dealer's many non-club holdings.

Q2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

The paired ace board leaves my queen kicker vulnerable to many dealer holdings, so checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable river runouts.

The board gives me two pair with a queen kicker, which will beat many dealer holdings that miss an ace, four, six, pocket pair, or higher kicker. Raising is preferable to surrendering the posted ante and blind.

Any ace is a preflop 4x raise under the optimal starting-hand guidelines; top-pair potential and ace-high equity justify maximum early action.

7-4 suited is well below the profitable preflop raising range, so preserving the option to evaluate the flop is best.

The low flush draw has meaningful showdown potential but is too vulnerable to higher clubs and does not justify committing 2x on the flop. Checking preserves the option to raise only on favorable river runouts.

I have an ace-high flush, a very strong made hand that should beat most qualifying dealer holdings and earns the flush blind payout when it wins.

8♠9♣ offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves flexibility to evaluate the flop.

I have a made jack-high straight on the flop, a strong hand worthy of committing at the 2x decision despite the coordinated diamond board.

Pocket sevens are in the optimal preflop 4x raising range (33+). Raise for maximum value.

Q7 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves flexibility for a more informed flop decision.

With only queen-high and no meaningful immediate draw, this hand is not strong enough to commit the 2x play bet on the flop. Checking preserves the option to make a precise river decision.

Queen-high has little showdown value on this unpaired board; dealer pairs, flushes, and higher unpaired holdings dominate too often to justify the river play bet.

KQ offsuit is comfortably within the optimal preflop 4x raising range.

Suited 5-6 is below the listed profitable preflop raise thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Four spades plus a gutshot gives strong two-card drawing equity, with meaningful flush, straight, and straight-flush upside. Raising now captures value rather than relying on a later river decision.

Ten-nine offsuit is below the published profitable preflop raise thresholds, so retain flexibility by checking to the flop.

Top two pair on the flop is a strong made hand with substantial equity against the dealer’s range. Raise for value despite the three-heart board.

9-5 offsuit is too weak for a profitable preflop raise, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

With only nine-high and minimal improvement potential on this ace-queen flop, checking preserves the option to fold or make a better-informed river decision.

With only ace-high and no pair on this coordinated board, the dealer will too often make a qualifying pair, stronger high-card hand, or flush. Folding avoids an unfavorable river play bet.