Hold'em table

Pocket fives play well 3-handed; a standard 3x open from the button builds the pot with position while folding out junk hands.

Out of position in the small blind with the big blind still behind, Q9 offsuit plays poorly and is often dominated against a 3x button raise, so folding preserves chips.

T8 offsuit is a marginal defend, but the big blind is getting a favorable price heads-up against a button raise. Calling keeps the pot manageable without inflating it with a weak hand.

I have only a gutshot to a Broadway straight and no made hand, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the preflop raiser.

My 55 is an underpair to the ace with only a gutshot; checking behind keeps the pot small and avoids bloating against the preflop caller's likely ace.

I have only the board’s pair of aces with a weak kicker, but a nine or king can complete a straight draw. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the river without risking a bluff into the preflop raiser.

My pocket 5s are nearly worthless on this paired ace-high board; with no bet to call, checking keeps the pot small and avoids building a pot with a likely losing hand.

I have only a weak pair of aces with a ten kicker, and the checked-through streets make a thin value bet unlikely to be worthwhile. I’ll take the free showdown rather than risk a bluff or get called by a better hand.

My fives lose at showdown to almost any showdown hand, but seat_3 checked every street, signaling weakness; a modest river bluff can fold out better hands cheaply.

My hand is only a weak pair of aces with a ten kicker, and the river bet can readily represent an ace or a queen/jack for stronger two pair. I need too much equity to call against that value range.

Td3c is a very weak offsuit hand on the button facing a call of 100; folding preserves stack versus dominated ranges.

Calling the remaining 50 is worthwhile with the favorable pot odds against the big blind’s wide range; raising with offsuit 9-6 is unnecessary.

JTo is decent heads-up; I have position on the limper and can build the pot or take it down with a standard raise.

9♣6♥ is a weak offsuit hand and I would be out of position against the big blind's raise. The price does not justify continuing.

A3 suited is a playable button open in a three-handed game; raising puts pressure on the blinds while retaining good postflop potential.

K2s from the SB facing a 2.5x open is too weak to play profitably out of position against a raiser.

84o is too weak and disconnected to defend the big blind out of position against a button raise, despite the small price.

AQ suited-equivalent on the button is a strong opener; standard 3x raise to build pot and isolate.

Q8 suited is strong enough three-handed against a wide button raise, and calling 250 into 450 offers good pot odds despite being out of position.

J-7 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a raise and a caller; calling would needlessly put chips into a likely dominated spot.

Out of position with Q-high, only backdoor flush and straight draws on a low rainbow flop. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me realize equity cheaply versus the preflop raiser.

I raised preflop with A-high and got checked to on a dry low board; a small c-bet takes initiative and can win the pot outright while building value with my overcards.

Q-high with only backdoor flush and straight draws has well under 25% equity against a half-pot c-bet out of position, so calling is unprofitable.

On the button in 3-handed play with a suited one-gapper, raising first in gives fold equity and initiative in position, which is more profitable than limping or folding.

A♣Q♣ is strong enough to 3-bet for value and protection, especially against a button open. A sizable raise also discourages the big blind from calling and leaves us with plenty of room postflop.

75o is far too weak to call 800 more against a 3-bet with two opponents showing strength.

6c4c is too weak to continue against a 9bb 3-bet; calling 650 offers poor equity and implied odds despite position.

J♣T♠ is a strong button hand in a three-handed game, so I’ll raise for value and take initiative. A 300-chip total keeps the open size modest while applying pressure to the blinds.

King-five offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3x button open, out of position with no re-raise equity edge. Folding avoids a marginal spot.

2-5 offsuit has poor equity and playability out of position against a button raise, so folding the big blind is best.