Hold'em table

Pocket aces on the button in a 3-handed pot: raise for value to 3x the big blind to build the pot against the two blinds.

J6 offsuit is too weak to continue against a 3bb button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity realization out of position.

94 offsuit is a weak hand against a button 3x raise, and its equity realization out of position is poor despite the pot odds. Fold rather than defend this marginal holding.

Nine-four offsuit is too weak to open profitably against two opponents, even from the button. Folding avoids investing chips with poor equity and playability.

KhTh is a strong hand heads-up against the big blind after the button folds. Raise to 300 for value and to take the initiative.

Heads-up against a small-blind open, Q4s has decent equity and I need only about 33% to call 200 into a 400 pot. Folding is too tight and a 3-bet bluff with this hand is unnecessary.

I have a reasonable middle pair with a strong kicker, but checking out of position keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser act.

Top pair with a weak kicker and a backdoor flush draw on a fairly dry board. Seat 3 checked, so I bet about two-thirds of the pot for value and to deny equity to overcards and draws.

I have a pair of tens with a king kicker and can continue against a single flop bet, especially with some potential improvement on later streets. Raising would isolate me against stronger hands too often.

Bet a modest amount for value and protection against Qx, Tx, and club or straight draws. The paired king can give a Kx hand trips, so I want to keep the pot controlled.

I hold top pair (Qh) on a Qc 2h Tc Ks board with a weak kicker. Facing a 500 bet into 1400, I need about 26% equity. The opponent's check-call then lead line could be a draw or a king, but top pair is still worth a call. Raising would only get called by better hands.

I have two pair and can get called by weaker Kx or Qx, so I’ll make a modest river value bet. Straights are possible, so I’m avoiding a larger sizing.

I hold top pair (Qh with a 4 kicker) on a Q-2-T-K-5 board. Calling 700 into a 3100 pot needs about 18% equity. Seat 3's line (check, call, then bet turn and river) could be a straight or two pair, but it could also be a bluff or a weaker hand, so calling is reasonable and raising isn't.

As the button in a three-handed game, 44 is strong enough to open-raise and can win the blinds or play for set value. A modest raise to 250 keeps the initiative without risking too much.

3c5d is a weak offsuit hand out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act, so folding is best rather than paying 200 more.

A5 suited is a strong semi-bluff three-bet against a button open, blocking premium ace holdings while retaining nut-flush and wheel potential. Raising to 1100 applies pressure and accounts for playing out of position.

With position and a deep stack, calling gives pocket fours a chance to flop a set against the large 3-bet. Folding would be too cautious given the implied odds.

This ace-high paired flop favors my preflop three-betting range, so a small continuation bet applies pressure cheaply. My top pair and backdoor nut-flush draw can also get value from some lower pocket pairs.

With only a small pocket pair on an A-Q-Q flop, I have few clean improvement outs and little showdown value against the preflop 3-bettor’s range. The small bet is not enough to justify continuing.

A6s on the button in a 3-handed game is a strong enough hand to open-raise for value and position; a 3x raise puts pressure on the blinds.

K3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3bb button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a frequently dominated hand out of position.

K6 offsuit has sufficient equity against a button raise to defend at the favorable price, while reraising risks bloating the pot out of position with a marginal hand.

I have only king-high with backdoor heart and runner-runner straight potential. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me respond to the button's action.

Board is J-T-J with an ace-high hand and a backdoor nut flush draw. Seat 3 checked, so a small bet of about half the pot takes the pot against a weak range and gets value from worse hands like small pairs or draws.}

K-high has no immediate draw on this paired board; the backdoor flush and straight possibilities are too unlikely to justify calling the bet.

K9 suited is a strong opening hand on the button in three-handed play. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while preserving positional advantage and postflop playability.

K♦3♥ is a weak offsuit hand out of position against the button’s raise, with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more with poor equity and playability.

A7s in the big blind getting 400-to-150 (about 2.7:1) against a button open of 2.5x is a clear call, with a good suited ace and a small price. A 3-bet with this hand is marginal, so I just call and play postflop.

Ace-high with a backdoor-ish weak holding on a coordinated T-9-2 flop; checking to the preflop raiser in position keeps the pot small while retaining showdown value.}

Second pair with a strong kicker has useful showdown value but is not strong enough to build a large pot on this draw-heavy board. Checking back preserves that value and avoids a difficult check-raise.

Ace-high with a backdoor-less gutshot-free hand (A7 on T-9-2-4) has little showdown value but some. Button checked back the flop, so betting could get called by worse rarely; checking keeps the pot small and realizes equity.

With second pair and a strong kicker, a small turn bet can get calls from weaker pairs and draws while denying free equity to overcards. The opponent's repeated checks make this a reasonable thin-value and protection bet.

Ace-high with a 7 on a Tc 9d 2c 4s board has little showdown value. Seat 2 bet small after checking the flop, but calling 200 into 750 needs about 21% equity. My hand likely has less against a betting range, and I have only a gutshot-type draw at best, so I fold.

A♠9♠ is a strong button hand in a three-handed game, so I’ll open-raise to 2.5 big blinds for value and initiative.

K8o from the small blind facing a button open with the big blind still to act is weak and out of position in a three-way pot. Calling 200 to play a dominated, difficult hand is a marginal spot, so folding is the simplest choice.

J5 offsuit is too weak to defend profitably against a 2.5bb button raise at 100bb depth. Its poor playability and domination risk outweigh the favorable pot odds when playing out of position.