Showdown Hold'em table

Pocket tens are well above the published preflop 4x threshold of 33+, so raising 4x maximizes expected value.

Seven-four suited is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Seven-four has no pair and only weak backdoor draws on this flop. Checking preserves the option to fold on the river rather than committing a 2x raise now.

My king-high hand beats very few possible dealer holdings. The small chance of winning does not justify the additional play bet.

9-3 offsuit is too weak for a profitable preflop raise; checking preserves the option to act after seeing the flop.

Nine-three has no pair and only a runner-runner straight draw on this flop. Checking avoids committing a 2x play bet with a weak hand.

My nine-high kicker leaves me with a weak high-card hand. Too many dealer holdings beat or pair the board for a 1x raise to be worthwhile.

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

Queens and nines is a strong made hand on this flop. Raising now captures value before later cards can weaken it.

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

Queen-five has no pair or strong draw on this flop. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river rather than committing a 2x raise now.

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

Any ace is a profitable preflop 4x raise under the reference strategy, including A-5 offsuit.

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

The paired king board leaves me with only a weak ten kicker and no meaningful draw. Checking preserves the option to decide after seeing the full board.

Two pair, kings and tens, beats most dealer holdings on this board. Raising has much better expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

K6 offsuit is within the published optimal preflop 4x range (K5 offsuit or better).

KTo is within the recommended preflop 4x raising range (K5o or better). Raising now captures its value rather than waiting for a later street.

K-2 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

Bottom pair with a king kicker is strong enough to raise on this low, unpaired flop rather than wait until the river.

Nine-five offsuit is too weak for a preflop raise. 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 river decision.

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

A suited ace is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range, making the larger raise the strongest expected-value choice.

Offsuit 9-8 is outside the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

A pair of eights on this flop is strong enough to raise 2x rather than wait for a river decision.

J7 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

I have a pair of sevens using a hole card. A made pair is strong enough to raise on this flop rather than wait for the river.

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

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

Aces and tens should beat enough dealer holdings to make the river raise profitable, despite losing to an ace, a queen, or a flush.

K-Q offsuit is strong enough for the published optimal preflop 4x range.

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

Nine-high has no pair or immediate draw on this K-J-8 flop. Checking preserves the option to make the smaller river bet if the hand improves.

A pair of threes with a nine kicker loses to many possible dealer hands, and the chance of winning is too low to justify the river raise.

J-4 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

The paired board gives me only a pair of sixes with a jack kicker. That is too vulnerable to stronger kickers and made hands to commit a 2x raise now, so I’ll wait for the river.

My jack kicker can beat enough dealer holdings that calling is better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

T6 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Ten-high with a gutshot straight draw is not strong enough to commit a 2x raise on this flop. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river.

Top pair on this unpaired board beats many dealer holdings, making the river raise more valuable than folding.

J-5 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

J-high has no pair or meaningful draw on this flop. Checking preserves the option to decide with more information on the river.

The paired board lets jack-high beat enough dealer holdings with lower kickers. Raising has better expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

A suited ace is in the recommended preflop 4x range and has strong equity against a random dealer hand.

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

Middle pair on the flop is strong enough to raise now rather than risk facing a harder river decision.

A9 suited is in the optimal preflop 4x range; raising now captures its strong equity and flush potential.

Unsuited 5-4 is outside the profitable preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

The open-ended straight draw is promising, but with no pair and low hole cards, I prefer to see the remaining board before committing a 2x raise.

My hole cards do not improve the paired board. The dealer will beat the board with most holdings, so folding saves the play bet.

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

On the paired K-9-9 flop, Q-4 has only a weak kicker and a backdoor flush draw. Checking preserves the option to decide after seeing the turn and river.

My queen improves the board’s pair of nines, giving me a reasonable chance against the dealer’s unknown cards. Raising is better than surrendering the ante and blind.

Q4 suited is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Queen-high has no pair or immediate straight or flush draw on this flop. Checking preserves the option to make a better-informed river decision.

My pair of fours beats the dealer’s unpaired hands and some lower pairs. Raising has slightly better expected value than folding.

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

With no pair or immediate straight or flush draw, this hand is too weak to commit a 2x raise on the flop.

I have only the board's pair of fives with an eight kicker. Too few dealer holdings lose to this hand to justify the river bet.

J5 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Jack-high with no flush draw or immediate straight draw is too weak to commit a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river.

With only jack-high on this board, too few dealer holdings lose to justify the river bet. Folding has the higher expected value.

K7 offsuit is within the recommended preflop 4x-raise range of K5 offsuit or better.