Hold'em table

As the button in a three-handed game, 8-6 offsuit is a marginal but reasonable steal raise. A modest sizing puts pressure on the blinds while preserving position postflop.

J3s is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially with the big blind left to act.

T8o is weak but the button's 2.5bb open is likely wide in three-handed play, and calling 150 into 400 gives acceptable pot odds to defend the big blind.

I have only a four-out straight draw with no pair and no flush draw, out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking is free and keeps the pot small until I improve.

I have no pair, flush draw, or meaningful immediate straight draw on this coordinated board. Checking back preserves the pot with a weak hand.

I have only a gutshot with no pair or flush draw, so checking realizes my equity for free and keeps the pot small until I improve.

I have no made hand and only a weak gutshot draw, so taking the free river card is preferable to bluffing into the pot.

Ten-eight offsuit has no pair, straight, or flush on this board, so there is no value in betting. Checking is the lowest-variance way to reach showdown after both players checked the flop and turn.

I have no showdown value, so I’ll make a small river bluff after the opponent checked every street. The king and completed flush are credible scare cards and may fold better unpaired hands.

I have ten-high with no pair and no straight on a king-high board, so I lose to any pair or ace. A small river bet is not worth calling with complete air.

Opening on the button with K4s, standard steal spot in 3-handed play.

T2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button raise with the big blind still to act, so folding is the clear choice.

Calling 100 more into a 350-chip pot gives 9-8 offsuit sufficient price to defend from the big blind. I’ll avoid inflating the pot with a marginal hand.

I have an open-ended straight draw but no made hand, so I’ll check and preserve the option to continue based on the opponent’s action.

I missed this flop completely with King-high and a weak backdoor draw, so checking behind to take a free card and realize equity in position is preferable to betting into the big blind's defending range.

I have an open-ended straight draw with eight outs, and a small turn bet can win the pot now while retaining equity when called.

I only have king-high with a weak gutshot straight draw, giving insufficient equity to call a half-pot lead on the turn.

J4o is too weak to open first-in even from the button in three-handed play, and calling would leave me playing a dominated hand. Folding preserves my stack for better spots.

With the button folded, A-2 offsuit is a strong heads-up hand from the small blind. Raise to apply pressure and take initiative against the big blind.

Holding QTs in the big blind facing a small blind open, calling is standard given excellent playability, pot odds, and being in position postflop.

I have a weak pair with a strong kicker, but this board can connect with the caller’s range. I’ll keep the pot small and preserve my options.

We flopped top pair with a good kicker in position. Betting one-third pot extracts value from second pairs and overcards while denying equity.

Bottom pair with the ace kicker has enough showdown value to continue against this small bet, but raising would overplay a marginal hand.

I have two pair and likely lead my opponent’s one-pair hands. A substantial value bet also charges club and straight draws.

Seat 1 check-called the flop and now leads for 650 on the Ace turn. With second pair and no flush draw, our hand has insufficient equity and poor reverse implied odds against an Ace.

A3 suited is a profitable button open in a three-handed game; a modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping weaker hands in the range.

Holding pocket sevens in the small blind against a button open, calling provides favorable pot odds with no rake to set-mine or navigate safe postflop textures.

K4o is too weak to continue against a raise and a call; it is often dominated and plays poorly postflop.

Flopped bottom set on a board with draw potential; checking to the preflop aggressor to let them continuation bet.

With ace-high and no meaningful draw, checking back preserves showdown value and avoids risking chips against a check-raise.

We flopped a set of sevens and the flop checked through. With straight and flush draws now present on the board, we bet for value and protection.

A-high has little showdown value on this connected board and no meaningful draw. The turn bet is large enough that continuing would be unprofitable without a stronger read.

J2o is far too weak to open or play profitably even on the button 3-handed.

T2s is too weak to complete out of position against the big blind after the button folds, so I give up the 50 already posted.

AQs is a strong button open; a 3x raise builds the pot and takes the initiative before the blinds act.

With 3♦2♠ out of position against a button raise and the big blind still to act, this hand is far too weak to continue.

53o is too weak to defend out of position against a 3bb open.