Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed game, K4 offsuit is a reasonable open-raise candidate; a small raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the risk controlled.

Holding 9s 4d out of position facing an open raise is an easy standard fold.

T8 suited has enough playability and equity to continue against a button open in a three-handed pot, and calling keeps the price reasonable without bloating the pot out of position.

I have middle pair with a gutshot on a connected flop, out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see how the button continues.

I have an open-ended straight draw, but this connected flop hits the big blind’s calling range well. I’ll take the free card rather than risk a check-raise with a weak made hand.

I have only a pair of tens on a very connected Q-J-T board, so I check to control the pot and see the river rather than bet into the preflop raiser.

I have a weak pair with some showdown value, and checking keeps the pot small while letting me realize my equity in position.

I have only a weak pair of tens on a connected QJT board, and both streets were checked through. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids betting into a range that often has me beat.

My pair of fours has modest showdown value, and after the opponent checked through the earlier streets, a bet is unlikely to be called by enough worse hands. I’ll take the free showdown.

54 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

Q2o is too weak to complete or raise from the small blind after the button folds, so I give up the 50 already posted rather than play a dominated hand out of position.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to call or open from the button; folding avoids dominated spots and poor playability.

Q4 offsuit is weak, but closing the action for 50 into a 150-chip pot gives favorable pot odds heads-up. I'll complete and see the flop.

Checking my option in the big blind with Q4o to see a free flop against SB's limp.

I have no pair and only limited backdoor equity. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves my option to continue if I improve.

I have queen-high with no draw on a disconnected flop in a limped blind-versus-blind pot, so checking behind to see a free turn is best.

I have only queen-high with no meaningful draw, so betting would risk chips without much fold equity. I’ll take the free river card.

I have Queen-high with no draw, so checking behind to realize equity for free is the lowest-risk line.

Q-high has some showdown value on this checked-through board, and a river bluff is unlikely to fold better hands often enough to justify the risk.

The pot was checked all the way down, meaning Seat 1 has an extremely weak and capped range. Queen-high rarely wins at showdown, so a small bet can fold out King-high and Ace-high.

The river completes the club flush, and the bet can also represent trips or a stronger made hand. My pair of eights with a queen kicker is not strong enough to call confidently.

J7 offsuit is a reasonable open from the button three-handed. I raise to 2.5 big blinds to apply pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

A4o plays poorly out of position against a button open with the big blind still to act, making a fold the cleanest play.

K4o is too weak and disconnected to continue out of position against a button raise; the price is not good enough to offset poor playability and domination risk.

Holding 32o on the button, this is the absolute bottom of any opening range and a clear fold even in 3-handed play.

43 offsuit is too weak to complete from the small blind even heads-up; folding saves the extra half-blind.

J8o is too weak and dominated to open from the button in three-handed play, and limping is worse than folding.

Q♣2♣ is weak but suited, and with the button folded the small additional call is worthwhile heads-up from the small blind.

I have 85o in the big blind facing a limp from the small blind; checking to see a free flop is standard.

I have only queen-high with no immediate draw on a connected flop, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the big blind’s range.

I have middle pair and a gutshot straight draw in position, making a check back ideal for pot control and realizing equity.

My pair of twos has some showdown value, but it is weak on this connected board. I’ll check and avoid building a pot against stronger hands.

I have middle pair with an inside straight draw, so checking behind controls the pot and realizes showdown equity.

I have only a weak pair of twos, and the river ace makes betting unlikely to get called by worse hands. I’ll take the free showdown.

I have modest showdown value with a pair of fives after both players checked through every street, making a check the lowest-risk option.