Hold'em table

On the button three-handed, T3 suited is wide enough to steal with position and suited playability; a small open pressures the blinds.

9-2 offsuit is far too weak to continue against a button raise, especially out of position with the big blind still to act.

A6o in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open: the price is 150 to win 400, so I need only about 27% equity. Ace-high has enough equity against a wide button range and I get position-less but cheap odds, so I call rather than 3-bet.

Ace-high on a paired 4-Q-4 flop is a weak showdown hand, and I'm out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see what they do.

In position with a spade flush draw on a paired queen board, a semi-bluff bet can win the pot now and still has nine outs if called.

Ace-high with a backdoor on a paired 4-4-Q board has decent equity and showdown value against a button's wide c-bet range. Calling 300 into 850 is a fair price, so I call rather than fold or raise.

Ace-high on a paired 4-4-Q-3 board has some showdown value and a backdoor-ish wheel draw (A,3,4 needs a 2 and 5 — actually only a gutshot-like with 6 giving 3-4-6, needing 5 plus A/2). Checking to the aggressive button controls the pot size and keeps bluff-catching options.}

We have two pair plus a flush draw in position. Checking takes a free card and preserves showdown value, while a semi-bluff would likely need more fold equity than a flop caller who checked the turn will give.

Ace-high on a paired board is weak, but it can beat a missed draw or a float. The button checked back the turn, so a thin bet would mostly be called by better hands, and a check preserves showdown value.

Our two pair of 4s and 3s beats missed draws but loses to any Q, 4, or higher pocket pair, which are unlikely to fold and unlikely to be outcalled by worse. Checking preserves showdown value in position.

On the button, K2 offsuit is weak but playable as an unopened hand; a small raise can win the blinds and takes advantage of position.

J4 offsuit is a weak hand out of position in the small blind facing a button raise to 250 with the big blind still to act behind me. Calling 200 more is not worth it.

3c7h is a very weak offsuit hand facing a button raise to 2.5bb from the big blind; calling out of position has negative expectation.

K4 offsuit is a weak hand, and out of position postflop against two opponents it plays poorly even from the button, so I'll fold rather than pay 100 to see a flop.

J7 suited has good equity heads-up against the big blind's wide range and only needs 25% to complete, so limping to see a cheap flop out of position is preferable to building a larger pot.

Q4 suited is playable but not strong enough to build a pot out of position against the small blind's limp. Check and realize its equity cheaply.

J-high with only a gutshot and backdoor hearts has little equity against a big-blind range on K-9-8; checking keeps the pot small and realizes the draw cheaply.

The limped pot and the small blind’s check give me a chance to take it down with a modest stab. I also have a backdoor heart draw and some straight potential if called.

With J-high and only a gutshot to a ten plus backdoor hearts, I lack the roughly 25% equity needed to call 100 into 300 against a likely king or pair. Folding preserves stack for better spots.

4-2 suited is below a profitable button opening range against two blinds, with poor equity when called, so folding preserves chips.

With the button folded, A4 offsuit is a reasonable blind-versus-blind open. Raising puts pressure on the big blind while retaining a strong ace if called.

J9 offsuit in the big blind getting 2:1 (200 to call into a pot of 400) against a small blind raise of 3x is a reasonable defend, and the small blind's range is wide, so calling is better than folding or 3-betting.

I have a strong combination draw: an open-ended straight draw and a draw to the flush. A moderate flop bet builds the pot while applying pressure.

Jd9h on 5h6h3h has no pair and only a backdoor straight draw, but the price is good (250 to call into 850, about 23% equity needed). Calling keeps the hand cheap against a possibly wide small-blind c-bet in a 3-handed pot; a raise would bloat the pot with weak equity and no flush draw.

I have a strong combo draw: a heart can make a flush, and a 2 or 7 can complete a straight. A substantial turn bet adds fold equity while building the pot when I improve.

I have top pair (9s) on a 5h6h3h9d board, with a backdoor straight draw (needs 7-8 or 7-4). The pot odds are 1800+700=2500 to call 700, about 22% equity needed, and villain's betting range includes bluffs and draws. A call is reasonable, and a raise would be too risky against a possible flush.</br>

I have only ace-high, and my opponent called both the flop and turn barrels on a monotone board. A river bluff is unlikely to fold enough of that continuing range, so I’ll take the free showdown.

I have a pair of nines (middle pair) on a three-heart board, and the opponent showed strength by betting the flop and turn before checking the river. My hand is a decent bluff-catcher, so I check to get to showdown cheaply and avoid a raise that would only be called by better hands.

5♦3♠ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling or opening risks chips with poor playability. Fold from the button.

A7o is a decent hand heads-up from the small blind against the big blind, since the button folded. Raising to 3bb for value and to take initiative is better than limping or folding.

T5 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a 3bb small-blind raise, even heads-up in position; its equity and playability do not justify calling.

K9o on the button in a 3-handed game is a strong enough hand to open for a raise. It plays well against two blinds, and a raise can win the pot immediately.

8-4 offsuit is very weak facing a button raise to 2.5bb from the small blind; calling out of position would lose chips long term.

Q7 offsuit is marginal, but the button’s raise is wide heads-up and the 150-chip call offers favorable pot odds. Calling is preferable to turning this hand into a 3-bet bluff out of position.

Q-high has little showdown value and only a backdoor club possibility on an ace-high flop. Check and avoid building a pot without a meaningful draw.

Top pair with a decent kicker on a dry A-5-2 board, in position against a big blind who checked. A bet of about half the pot gets value from weaker aces and draws and denies equity to hands like 6x and pocket pairs.

Q-high has no pair and only a weak backdoor draw on this board, so it lacks enough equity to continue against the flop bet.