Hold'em table

Q8o on the button in a 3-handed game is a standard open-raise, since it's well ahead of both blinds' ranges. A 2.5x size keeps the risk low while applying pressure.

J7 offsuit is too weak to defend profitably against a button open from the small blind.

Q3 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind against a 2.5× button open at this price, despite being out of position.

This flop favors the preflop raiser. I have a gutshot but little showdown value, so I’ll check and assess their bet.

This A-K-T flop favors the preflop raiser's range, and my gutshot to the nut straight gives the hand backup equity. A small c-bet of about a third of the pot pressures the big blind's many misses cheaply.

The small flop bet gives me a reasonable price to continue with a gutshot to Broadway and a backdoor heart-flush draw. I’ll call rather than inflate the pot with queen-high.

I have a gutshot to Broadway but no made hand. Checking avoids building the pot while leaving me a chance to improve.

With only a gutshot on a board where the big blind's flop call contains plenty of Ax and Kx, taking the free card realizes my equity cheaply. Barreling here would get called by too many better hands.

Queen-high has little showdown value, but a river bluff is unlikely to fold out enough of the opponent’s Ax, Kx, or Tx hands to be profitable.

Queen-high has almost no showdown value against a check-call, check-check range. A 600 bet into 950 can fold out weaker pairs like Tx, 6x and underpairs that are capped after checking twice.

Queen-high has little showdown value, and the missed draw does not justify calling 600 into this river bet.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open from the button in this structure, so folding preserves chips.

With the button folded, 6-5 offsuit is worth completing for 50 chips against the big blind, but not strong enough to build a large pot out of position.

K7o is well ahead of a small blind limping range, and raising to 4x from the big blind blocks with position and can take the pot down immediately. Checking back is fine too, but punishing the limp is slightly better.

Six-five offsuit is too weak to defend against a large raise out of position. Folding avoids investing more in a difficult heads-up pot.

AJo is a strong button hand three-handed, so I raise for value and position.

K7s from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, plays poorly out of position. Calling isn't worth it here, and a 3-bet bluff is marginal, so folding is the disciplined play.

Ten-four offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise from the big blind in this shallow-pot spot.

64o on the button 3-handed is near the bottom of the opening range; folding is fine, though a steal is marginal.

With KQs heads-up from the small blind after the button folds, I raise for value and initiative. A 3bb total sizing pressures the big blind while retaining playability.

K-J suited plays well in position against a small-blind raise. Calling keeps weaker hands in without building a large pot preflop.

I have two overcards plus a king-high flush draw, giving strong equity and fold pressure in this heads-up raised pot. A two-thirds-pot continuation bet can deny equity and build a pot when called.

K-J has only overcards and a backdoor straight possibility on this rainbow flop. Facing a substantial bet, calling is unlikely to be profitable.

Open-raise the button with suited T9, a strong and playable three-handed holding, to take initiative and build a pot in position.

8-4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

A4o in the big blind is getting 150 to win 400 against a button open, so it is an easy defend. Calling keeps the pot controlled while dominated hands are in the button's range.

A4o with no pair and no draw on a J83 two-tone board is out of position against the preflop raiser, so check to them and give up to a bet unless it's small.

A small continuation bet pressures the big blind's unpaired overcards and weaker holdings while retaining a low-cost path to realize our gutshot equity if called.

Facing a small c-bet (about 36% pot), I need only about 21% equity. Ace-high with an overcard and backdoor potential is a standard defend from the big blind.

The turn gave me ace-high with a gutshot to a wheel (a 5 makes A-3-4-5-... no, it needs a 2 as well, so it's really just ace-high and some backdoor value). Checking keeps the pot small against the preflop raiser and lets me take a free card if they check behind.

I have a made J-high straight on this turn and should value-bet against one-pair hands, two-pair, sets, and diamond draws. A substantial sizing also charges flush draws.

Ace-high with no real draw facing a two-thirds-pot turn barrel after calling the flop; the pot odds need about 29% equity and I don't have it.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed, and a small raise uses position without committing too many chips.

T4s from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold because we'd be out of position with a weak hand.

A suited ace is comfortably strong enough to defend the big blind against a button 2.5x open, retaining playability without inflating the pot.

Check to the preflop raiser with top pair and a weak kicker on this coordinated board, keeping their bluffs and worse hands in.

This board favors my preflop raising range, and J9 has a gutshot to Broadway. A small bet can fold out weaker hands without risking much.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against this small flop stab, but the weak kicker and coordinated board make a raise unnecessarily risky.

I have top pair with the strongest kicker and should value-bet against weaker aces, kings, queens, and club draws. A medium sizing builds the pot while retaining calls from those holdings.

I have only a gutshot, and the 450-chip turn bet gives me insufficient odds to chase four outs.