Showdown Hold'em table

Pocket tens are well within the optimal preflop 4x-raise range.

7♠4♠ is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Seven-four has no pair or immediate draw on this flop. Checking preserves the option to make a smaller decision on the river.

My seven-high kicker beats only a small fraction of unpaired dealer hands, while any dealer pair beats me. The chance of a profitable showdown is too low to justify the river bet.

9-3 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Nine-high with no pair or immediate draw is too weak to justify a 2x flop raise. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river.

With only ace-high and a nine kicker, I beat too few possible dealer hands. The extra play bet is not worth the risk compared with folding.

Nine-five offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Queens and nines are already ahead of the dealer’s likely hand. Raising now captures value before the remaining cards can change the board.

Q5 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Q-high on a dry T-6-2 flop has no pair or strong draw. Checking preserves the option to decide with more information on the river.

Queen-high wins against enough unpaired dealer hands to make the 1x raise slightly better than folding.

Any ace is a preflop 4x raise under the optimal strategy; A-5 offsuit qualifies.

T2 offsuit falls below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

The paired board gives me only a weak ten kicker and no immediate draw. Checking preserves the option to fold on an unfavorable river rather than committing a 2x play bet now.

Two pair, kings and tens, beats many dealer holdings. Raising has better expected value than folding.

K6 offsuit is within the recommended preflop 4x-raise range (K5 offsuit or better).

K-T offsuit is within the published optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o or better).

K-2 offsuit falls below the recommended preflop raising range; checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Bottom pair with a king kicker is ahead of many random dealer hands on this low, dry flop. Raising now takes advantage of that likely edge.

9-5 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising range; checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Middle pair on this flop is strong enough to raise rather than wait for a river decision, despite the weak kicker.

J-T suited is in the recommended preflop 4x raising range, with strong straight and flush potential.

A6 suited is in the optimal preflop 4x range; raising now captures its equity against the dealer.

9-8 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

Middle pair on an unpaired flop is strong enough to raise now rather than wait for a river decision.

J7 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Middle pair with a jack kicker is strong enough to raise on the flop, despite the two-spade board.

T8 offsuit is outside the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Ten-eight has no pair or immediate draw on this ace-high flop. Checking avoids committing a 2x raise with a weak hand.

My two pair, aces and tens, is strong enough to justify the river bet despite losing to an ace, a queen, or some stronger holdings.

K-Q offsuit is strong enough for the recommended preflop 4x raise.

9-5 offsuit is too weak for a profitable preflop raise. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

Nine-five has no pair or immediate straight or flush draw on this flop. Checking avoids committing a 2x raise with a weak hand.

The board pair gives me showdown value, and my nine kicker beats some weaker unpaired dealer holdings. A 1x raise has slightly better expected value than folding.

J4 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

With only the board pair and a jack kicker, this hand is too weak to commit a 2x raise on the flop. Checking preserves the option to fold on an unfavorable river.

My jack kicker gives me a reasonable chance to beat the dealer’s hand on this paired board. Raising has better expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

T6 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on the flop or river after seeing more cards.

Ten-high with only a gutshot straight draw is too weak to justify a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river.

A pair of tens on this board is strong enough to beat many dealer holdings, making the river raise preferable to folding.

J-5 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

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

The paired queens give both hands at least a pair, and my jack kicker beats enough possible dealer holdings to make the 1x raise better than folding.

A suited ace is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range; raising now captures its equity against the dealer.

6-5 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Middle pair on the flop is strong enough to raise now rather than wait for a potentially worse river.

A9 suited is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising now captures the value of its ace-high strength and flush potential.

4-5 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

The open-ended straight draw has eight immediate outs and two cards to come, making a 2x raise preferable to waiting for the river.

Q4 suited falls below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Queen-high on a K-9-9 flop is too weak to commit to a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to reassess on the river.

My queen gives me a strong kicker with the board's pair of nines. Against an unknown dealer hand, raising has better expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Q4 suited is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Queen-high has no pair or immediate straight or flush draw on this flop. Checking preserves the option to decide after seeing the full board.

The pair of fours is weak on this connected board, but it beats enough unpaired dealer hands to make the 1x raise slightly better than folding.

8♦2♥ is well below the profitable preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Eight-high has no pair or immediate straight or flush draw on this flop. Checking preserves the option to decide with more information on the river.

My pair of fives has only an eight kicker, so it beats too few possible dealer hands to justify the river bet.

J5 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Jack-high on this flop has no pair or immediate flush or straight draw. Checking preserves the option to decide after seeing the full board.

Jack-high on this board beats too few possible dealer hands to justify the river bet. Folding limits the loss to the ante and blind.