Hold'em table

K5 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise puts pressure on the blinds without committing too much.

Q4 offsuit from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold. It is too weak to call out of position and a poor 3-bet bluff candidate.

A2 offsuit is marginal but has enough equity against a button open at the favorable price. Calling keeps the pot controlled with a hand that plays poorly as a 3-bet.

Top pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but the preflop raiser has an advantage on this ace-high board. Check to control the pot and let them decide whether to bet.

A small bet gets value from weaker pairs and protects my middle pair against overcards and straight draws without building a large pot.

Top pair has enough value to continue against a small flop bet, but my weak kicker makes raising unattractive. Calling keeps bluffs and weaker hands in while controlling the pot.

With top pair and a weak kicker, checking keeps the pot manageable and lets the preflop raiser continue with bluffs or weaker hands.

Second pair has showdown value, but a turn bet is unlikely to get enough value from worse hands after the flop call. Checking controls the pot and lets me reassess on the river.

I have a weak ace and checking preserves showdown value without risking a bet against better aces or other hands that improved. The turn check makes a river bluff less compelling, and worse hands may not call a value bet.

My king makes two pair, but worse hands are unlikely to call a river bet. Checking preserves showdown value against missed draws without paying off an ace.

A6o is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play; a standard 2.5bb raise lets us steal the blinds with position.

KJo is strong enough to 3-bet the button's modest open in a three-handed game. Raising to 900 applies pressure while taking initiative; I can fold to a substantial 4-bet.

8-5 offsuit plays poorly against a large three-bet, especially out of position. Calling 800 chips or four-betting is unlikely to be profitable.

Three-handed, the small blind's 3-bet range is wide. With position and about 34% pot odds, A6o's ace blocker and playability make a call reasonable rather than a fold.

KJ has no pair on an ace-high flop, and the caller can have many aces. Check to avoid putting more chips in with a weak hand and preserve the option to improve.

Top two pair on a dry ace-high board against a 3-bettor's check. Betting for value, since their AK, AQ and pocket pairs can call, and to charge the few straight draws.

I have only two overcards and a backdoor flush draw against a sizable flop bet on an ace-high board. Calling is unlikely to be profitable without a stronger draw or made hand.

As the button in a three-handed game, T6 offsuit is playable as an open raise. A modest raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Q9 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Getting 150 to win 400 (27% equity needed) vs a wide button open in 3-handed play; 96o is a standard BB defend.

The 9-6 offsuit missed this A-T-4 board, leaving me only a gutshot to a 7. The flop heavily favors the preflop raiser, so I'll check to them and give up if they bet.

I have a weak middle pair on an ace-high flop, so checking back controls the pot and preserves showdown value without risking a raise.

We have no showdown value, and the button's check-back on the flop shows weakness. A small probe bet can fold out underpairs and high cards that would beat us at showdown.

Calling is reasonable at the price: my pair of tens can still be ahead of a turn probe or draw, and I can reassess on the river. Raising would risk too much against stronger made hands.

With 9-high I have no showdown value, and the third diamond gives me a credible flush story. A bet of about two-thirds pot should fold out many of the Tx, Jx and weak Ax hands that called the turn.

The river completes the front-door diamond draw, and a sizable bet after the turn lead is likely value-heavy. A lone pair of tens is too weak to call without a stronger read or relevant blocker.

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is playable as an open. A 2.5 big-blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A2o from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still to act is weak out of position; calling is marginal and a 3-bet bluff is risky with the BB behind, so folding is the standard play.

Q9 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a small button raise, and the price is favorable heads-up. Calling keeps weaker hands in without inflating the pot out of position.

I have only queen-high on a paired board, so there is little value in betting; checking keeps the pot small and lets the preflop raiser act.

A small continuation bet can fold out some unpaired hands while keeping the cost of a bluff low. A five gives me a straight draw payoff if called.

The small continuation bet on a paired, relatively dry board offers favorable pot odds. Q-high can still be ahead of some bluffs, so I’ll call once rather than raise without a draw.

The queen gives me top pair, and a moderate turn bet can get value from pocket pairs and weaker Qx while charging draws. A smaller size also limits losses against stronger queens or trips.

The small turn bet gives me a good price, but I have only a gutshot on a paired board. Calling is unlikely to pay off, and this is a poor spot to bluff-raise.

Q8o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open-raise; a 2.5bb open steals the blinds often.

98 offsuit is playable against a button raise in this three-handed pot, and the price is reasonable. I’ll call and see the flop rather than inflate the pot out of position.}

6-2 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a raise and a call; folding avoids a costly multiway pot.

I have no pair or immediate draw on this flop, so I’ll check and avoid building the pot with a weak hand.

Top pair with a weak kicker on a dry board, heads-up and in position. A small bet of about 40% pot gets value from worse queens, pairs and draws, and denies equity to overcards.

With only 9-high and no meaningful draw, calling the flop bet would rely on hitting a pair that may not be clean. I fold to preserve chips.

K♦5♦ is a playable suited hand on the button, and an unopened pot is a good spot to raise and apply pressure to the blinds.

T6 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Getting 400:150 (about 27% equity needed) against a button open, 73s is suited and fine to defend from the big blind at this price. Calling is better than 3-betting, which would bloat the pot with a weak hand.

Middle pair with a weak kicker on an ace-high board, out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking controls the pot and keeps some showdown value; I'll decide on facing a c-bet.

With only king-high and no meaningful backdoor draw, betting has little value after the big blind checks. I check and take the free card.

With a pair of sevens on a paired-ace board, and the button checking back the flop showing weakness, a small bet gets value from worse pairs and denies equity to club and overcard draws.

King-high has no meaningful draw, and this turn lead from the big blind is unlikely to be weak often enough to justify calling the price. I fold rather than continue with little chance to improve.