Hold'em table

Q8 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Against a wide three-handed button open, A3o works well as a 3-bet: the ace blocks strong hands and the bet gains fold equity, whereas calling out of position with the big blind still to act is weak.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

Q8 offsuit is too weak to continue against the small blind’s sizable preflop 3-bet, especially with substantial action still to come postflop.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open even from the button in 3-handed play at 100bb, so folding is the lowest-loss option.

AQ offsuit is strong heads-up against the big blind. Raising for value also puts pressure on their wide range.

7♦5♣ is a weak offsuit hand with poor playability out of position against a sizable raise. The pot odds are not enough to justify calling given the likely equity realization disadvantage.

A3 suited is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Q9 offsuit is a marginal defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Fold rather than enter a difficult, out-of-position pot.

Facing a 2.5x button open in 3-handed play from the BB, I'm getting 150 to win 400 (27% equity needed). 97o is a comfortable defend against a wide button range.

Middle pair with a weak kicker on an ace-high board, out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking controls the pot and keeps my bluff-catching range intact.

I have top pair on a dry flop. A small bet gets value from weaker hands while keeping the pot manageable with my weak kicker.

Middle pair with a gutshot-ish backdoor against a small c-bet (200 into 550) gives great pot odds, so I call rather than fold. Raising would turn the hand into a bluff.

Middle pair (nines) out of position against a button c-bettor on an ace-queen board. Checking controls the pot and keeps my showdown value; I can decide against a bet on the next action.

My top pair has a weak kicker, and the queen improves some hands that called the flop. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess on the river.

Two pair (nines and sevens) is strong on the river after villain checked back the turn, and it beats the many Ax and Qx hands likely in their range. A roughly 60% pot bet should get called by worse hands.

Top pair is strong enough to call this river bet. The turn checked through, and the opponent can bet weaker pairs or missed draws.

On the button in a three-handed game, K2 offsuit is weak but playable as a small open to pressure the blinds. I choose a modest raise rather than commit more with a marginal hand.

88 is strong against a wide button open in 3-handed play; a 3-bet from the small blind for value and fold equity avoids playing out of position multiway with the big blind behind.

A2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large small-blind three-bet with the button still in the hand.

K♦2♠ is far too weak to continue against a large small-blind 3-bet. Calling would pay too much with poor equity and domination risk.

T9s on the button in 3-handed play is a clear opening hand; a standard 2.5bb open pressures the blinds.

Five-deuce suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

K9 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button raise, and the price is favorable. I’ll call rather than inflate the pot with a marginal hand.

Check with king-high and no made hand; preserve the pot and see whether the button bets before investing more.

On a paired, connected board our gutshot plus backdoor flush draw has decent equity and fold equity, so a small c-bet in position is standard and applies pressure to the BB's wide range.

The small flop bet gives a favorable price, and K-high with an overcard plus backdoor straight and flush possibilities has enough equity to continue. Raising would be unnecessary with no made hand.

I have only king-high with a nine-high flush draw, and the ace turn strengthens many hands that could have called or bet the flop. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me evaluate the river or a bet.

T9 has only a gutshot and no club, and the Ac completes the many club draws in the BB's calling range, so a barrel has little fold equity. Checking back takes a free card to hit the straight.

K-high has some showdown value against the missed club draws and other bluffs. A river bluff is unlikely to fold many ace or seven holdings, so I’ll take the free showdown.

Ten-high has almost no showdown value, and the opponent checked twice, which caps their range. A roughly 2/3-pot bluff can fold out their weak pairs and 6x hands.

K-high only plays as a weak bluff-catcher on this paired, ace-high board. The river bet can be value from an ace, a pocket pair, or a made draw, so I fold rather than pay off with limited showdown strength.

J-T suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise builds the pot while keeping the risk modest.

Q♦2♥ is a very weak offsuit hand from the small blind, and calling a button raise leaves the big blind to act as well. Fold rather than invest more out of position.

Getting about 3.7:1 against a wide 3-handed button open, K2o has enough equity to defend from the big blind. Calling is better than folding, and 3-betting with it would be too loose.

Two pair on a dry K-5-2 board. Checking to the preflop raiser invites a c-bet, which I can then check-raise, while giving away little on a board that has few draws.

This dry king-high flop favors my preflop raising range. A small continuation bet can win the pot now while risking relatively few chips.

Top two pair on a dry K-5-2 board is very strong against a small c-bet. A check-raise builds the pot and gets value from Kx, 5x and draws.

J-high has little immediate equity on this dry flop, and calling the check-raise would require too much equity from backdoor draws and uncertain pair outs.