Showdown Hold'em table

Ten-eight offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Ten-high on this ace-high flop has no pair or immediate straight or flush draw. Checking preserves the option to raise after improving or fold on the river rather than committing twice the ante now.

My only pair is on the board, with ten-eight kickers, and too many dealer holdings beat me. The chance of winning is below the threshold needed to justify the final raise.

Pocket fives fall within the optimal preflop 4x raising range of pocket threes or better. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

8-5 offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

An open-ended straight draw offers potential, but eight-high without a pair is too weak to justify a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the complete board.

The pair of fives beats enough unpaired dealer hands to make the 1x raise more valuable than folding and surrendering both posted bets.

King-nine offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

Nine-three offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

With nine-high, no pair, and no immediate straight or flush draw on this ace-high flop, a 2x raise is too weak. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

A pair of threes beats most unpaired dealer hands, giving enough showdown value to justify the 1x raise rather than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Pocket jacks are a strong preflop favorite and comfortably meet the optimal 4x raising threshold. Raising the maximum maximizes expected value.

Nine-six suited is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop without committing more chips now.

Top pair using a hole card is strong enough to raise against a random dealer hand. The all-club flop creates vulnerability, but the pair still supports committing the 2x play bet.

Q4 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of Q8 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Top pair is strong enough to raise for value against a random dealer hand. The three-diamond flop adds risk, but checking gives up too much value with this made hand.

Ten-three offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Ten-high with no pair or direct straight or flush draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to reassess after the final two community cards.

With only the board’s pair of queens and a ten kicker, too few dealer holdings lose or tie. Calling does not recover enough value to justify the additional bet.

J4 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

With only jack-high, no pair, and a backdoor straight possibility, this hand is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

The board pair with my jack kicker wins against enough unpaired low dealer holdings to justify calling. Including ties, raising has higher expected value than losing the ante and blind by folding.

Unsuited 5-3 is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Five-high with no pair or immediate straight or flush draw is too weak to raise. Checking preserves the option to improve and make the river decision with full information.

My best hand is the board’s pair of eights with K-7-6 kickers, so I cannot beat any dealer holding—only tie or lose. Folding avoids risking another 10 chips with no chance to win.

Ace-queen offsuit is a strong preflop hand and falls within the optimal 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected value against the dealer.

Ten-deuce offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board without committing extra chips now.

The pair of nines is shared, and ten-high with a deuce kicker provides little showdown strength or draw potential. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the complete board.

My pair of nines with a ten kicker wins against only 144 of 990 dealer holdings and ties 45. Raising has an expected loss of about 21.36 chips, worse than the 20-chip loss from folding.

Ace-king offsuit is a strong preflop hand and falls within the optimal 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected value.

6-4 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop without committing more chips now.

Six-high with no pair and only backdoor flush and straight possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

A pair of sixes beats enough dealer holdings to make the 1x raise more valuable than folding, despite the possible straights and flushes.

J5 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold. Check to see the flop before committing a play bet.

Top pair on this dry flop is a strong favorite against a random dealer hand. Raising 2x captures more value than waiting for the river, despite the weak kicker.

A3 offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range, which includes every ace. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chip value.

King-jack offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chip value.

Q6 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of Q8 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

Queen-high with no pair or direct straight or flush draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

The queen kicker gives enough showdown value against the dealer’s random holdings to justify the final bet. Raising has higher expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

T2 offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board without committing extra chips to a weak hand.

The four-card flush draw uses only the deuce of clubs, so even completing it can lose to a higher club. With no pair or strong straight draw, checking preserves the option to fold an unfavorable river.

My ace-high flush beats every dealer holding without a club, winning against 666 of 990 possible holdings (67.3%). Raising is clearly better than folding, with an additional 3:2 blind payout on wins.

Q2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

The pair is on the board, and Q-2 provides neither a strong made hand nor a meaningful draw. Checking preserves the option to make a better-informed river decision without committing an extra two antes now.

My queen kicker plays with the board’s aces and fours, beating many dealer holdings and tying others. Raising has higher expected value than surrendering the ante and blind.

A6 offsuit is a maximum-raise hand under the optimal preflop strategy, which raises 4x with any ace. Raising 40 chips maximizes expected value.

Seven-four suited is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop without committing extra chips now.

With no pair and only low hole cards supporting the flush draw, the draw is not strong enough for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to fold unimproved or raise after completing the flush.

I have an ace-high flush, which beats every non-flush dealer hand on this unpaired board. Raising has strongly positive expected value and preserves the 3:2 blind payout when I win.

Nine-eight offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

I have a made jack-high straight. Despite the three-diamond board and possible flushes, this is strong enough to raise for value now.

Pocket sevens are a clear 4x raise under the optimal preflop strategy. Maximizing the raise captures their advantage against a random dealer hand.

Q7 offsuit falls below the optimal preflop raising threshold of Q8 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

Queen-high with no pair, no flush draw, and only a backdoor straight possibility is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

Queen-high with no pair, straight, or flush wins too rarely against the dealer’s possible holdings. Folding has a higher expected value than making the final 1x raise.

King-queen offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips with this strong starting hand.

Suited 6-5 is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop without committing extra chips now.

The low flush draw and gutshot offer substantial potential, but there is no made hand and little high-card strength. Checking preserves the option to raise after improving or fold an unfavorable river.

I have a queen-high flush, which beats most dealer holdings and earns a 3:2 blind payout when it wins. Raising has substantially higher expected value than folding.

Ten-nine offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after a favorable flop or fold on the river.

Top two pair is strong enough to raise for value despite the monotone flop. It is ahead of most dealer holdings and can improve to a full house if another ten or nine arrives.

Nine-five offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Nine-high with no pair and only a backdoor flush possibility is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise after improving or fold on the river.

My best hand is ace-high with a nine kicker, and the dealer can beat it with any pair or many stronger high-card hands. The limited winning and tying outcomes do not justify the additional river bet.