Hold'em table

With 4-2 offsuit on the button, this hand is too weak to continue against the blinds.

Q5 offsuit is playable heads-up against the big blind, but raising out of position would build a larger pot with a marginal hand. Completing costs only 50 chips.

ATo is well ahead of a small blind limping range, so I raise for value and to take the initiative while in position.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to call a 4bb raise out of position.

Six-deuce offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button at this stack depth.

Blind vs blind, 85o is a reasonable open-raise from the SB at 3x to pressure the big blind; it has decent playability and fold equity.

A2 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind open, and calling keeps weaker hands in while avoiding an unnecessary large pot out of position.

The dry, paired, ace-high board favors my preflop raising range, so a small one-third-pot c-bet should win often. My 8-high has almost no showdown value if I check.

My two pair is strong, but a raise risks isolating me against a jack while folding out bluffs and weaker hands. Calling keeps those hands in and lets me evaluate the turn.

With 8-high and no draw on JJAQ, I have no showdown value, and BB called the flop cbet, so they likely have a pair or better. Checking to give up cheaply beats a second barrel on a board that hits a calling range.

I have a strong but vulnerable two-pair hand, so a modest turn bet can get value from worse aces or queens while charging straight draws. A smaller sizing limits losses against a jack or a stronger two pair.

I have 8-high with no draw on a J-J-A-Q board, facing a turn bet from a player who called both preflop and the flop. Bluffing again into that line is unlikely to get folds, so I give up.

Pocket queens on the button in 3-handed play is a strong value open, so I'm raising to 2.5bb.

A♠? AKo is a premium hand and merits a strong three-bet from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act. Raising to 900 applies pressure while keeping the sizing reasonable.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a large three-bet, especially with the button still able to act.

QQ is well ahead of a small blind 3-bet range in 3-handed play, so I'm 4-betting for value. I'm keeping it to 22bb so worse pairs and Ax hands can continue.

AK offsuit is strong enough to continue against the 4-bet, but shoving 100 big blinds risks too much against a tight 4-bet range. Calling preserves the pot and lets me evaluate the flop.

With top pair/top kicker on a two-spade flop, checking out of position keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop aggressor continuation-bet their range.

On a K-high board in a low-SPR 4-bet pot, QQ is a bluff-catcher against a range heavy in AK, KK, and AA. Checking back controls the pot, keeps weaker pairs and AQ in, and avoids facing a jam.

I have trip kings with the best kicker and should extract value from overpairs and draws while charging equity. A modest bet keeps worse hands in and avoids overcommitting against the opponent’s strong preflop range.

QQ still beats JJ/TT and some bluffs; a third-pot bet gives a good price, but raising only gets called by Kx/AA, so calling and controlling the pot is best.

I have trip kings and can target calls from strong overpairs or a weaker king. A roughly 40% pot bet offers value without needlessly risking my remaining stack.

As the button in a three-handed game, 7♥4♥ is playable as an open; a modest raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

5-2 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Q6o is a standard big blind defend against a 2.5x button open: I'm getting 400:150 odds and have enough equity against a wide stealing range.

Queen-high with a backdoor straight draw on a paired low board that hits the button's range. Checking to the raiser keeps the pot small and leaves room to check-raise or float.

A small continuation bet can fold out overcards while building the pot with my open-ended straight draw and backdoor flush draw.

Getting 730:180 odds with Q-high, a gutshot to a 4 on a paired low board where the small c-bet is wide, so calling is profitable. Raising as a bluff is also possible, but a call keeps it simple.

The 4d turn gives me an open-ended straight draw (a 2 or 7 completes it) plus a queen overcard, and it favors my big-blind range, so a lead of about 60% pot works as a semi-bluff. It can fold out the button's overcards and still has equity when called.

The turn lead on a paired board after check-calling the flop is likely value-heavy, and my hand has only a weak two-pair structure with a gutshot. The price is not attractive against trips or stronger two-pair hands.

On the button in a three-handed game, K2 offsuit is a marginal but playable open. A small raise uses position while limiting the investment.

95o in the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold; it plays poorly out of position.

Q♥T♥ is a strong enough hand to defend the big blind against a small button raise, and calling keeps weaker hands in the pot while avoiding an unnecessary out-of-position 3-bet.

Q-high has a gutshot to Broadway and backdoor heart-flush potential, but no made hand; check and realize equity rather than donk into the preflop raiser.

A small continuation bet uses my positional and range advantage on this ace-high flop and can fold out hands that beat my king-high.

Q♥T♥ has only a gutshot to a king and no backdoor flush draw. The price is not enough to continue against the flop bet, especially out of position.

Three-handed on the button, Q3o is a marginal but acceptable steal against only the two blinds. A 2.5bb open keeps the risk small.

2♥8♠ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling 200 from the small blind would put more chips in out of position against a raise.

The button can open a wide range, and the price is reasonable for defending the big blind with a suited hand.

With ten-high and only a backdoor flush draw on this dry paired flop, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser.

A dry paired board favors the preflop raiser, so a small c-bet with Q-high has plenty of fold equity and some overcard equity. Betting about a third of the pot is cheap and still pressures BB's many misses.

T-high has little immediate equity on this paired flop, and the backdoor flush draw is too weak to justify calling out of position.