Hold'em table

Ad8d is a strong suited ace on the button in a 3-handed game. Raising to 3bb applies pressure and builds the pot with position.

T3o is too weak to continue out of position against a button open; calling 2.5bb with poor equity and bad postflop position is -EV.

I have a pocket pair in position and can isolate the opener with a min-raise. This keeps my bluff frequency credible while building the pot if I hit a set.

A suited ace has good equity against a small 3-bet, and calling closes the preflop action in position with favorable pot odds.

I have a set of sixes on a 7-6-T flop, which is a strong hand. Since I can check, I'll control the pot and avoid scaring away the button's likely continuation bet.

With A-high and a gutshot on a coordinated board, checking behind in position controls the pot and takes a free card; betting into a preflop 3-bettor risks a check-raise.

Board is coordinated with a straight draw; checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me see the river cheaply with middle pair. I can still raise if the opponent bets aggressively.

Board is paired with a flush draw but I hold a set of sixes; checking back lets me control pot size and avoid scaring out value while still getting paid if they bluff.

I have a marginal made hand (pair of eights, ace kicker) and the opponent has shown no postflop aggression; checking behind realizes showdown value and avoids value-cutting myself against a strong 3-betting range.

With Tc2s I have almost no equity against the big blind's 100-chip investment, and the small blind limped 50. Folding avoids throwing chips into a weak hand with two opponents.

I hold Qh3d, a weak offsuit hand that is dominated by the blinds' positions. Folding preflop preserves my stack against likely stronger holdings.

I have pocket aces and want to build the pot preflop against the big blind; raising to 300 is a standard value raise that keeps weaker hands in.

A4o is a marginal but playable button hand in a 3-handed game; raising applies pressure and takes initiative with position.

86s is a suited connector with enough equity to defend from the small blind at these pot odds, and calling keeps the pot manageable while out of position.

With 3s Kc offsuit from the big blind, I have little equity against a button raise and the small blind has called, making a bluff risky. Folding preserves my stack for better spots.

I flopped two pair and the turn queen doesn't change that, so I lead for value and protection against draws and worse made hands.

KK is a premium hand; raise to build the pot and isolate the blinds.

I hold Jc7c, a weak suited hand that is unlikely to dominate the raiser's range. Facing a 300 raise with only 250 to call, folding preserves my stack for better spots.

I have 2s8d, a very weak offsuit hand facing a button raise; folding avoids playing a dominated trash hand out of position.

I hold 9c4h, a weak offsuit hand with little playability. The small blind has already committed 50 and the big blind 100, so I'm facing a 100 call to continue with a speculative hand out of position. Folding preserves my 10,000-chip stack for better opportunities.

Button folded, leaving me heads-up against the big blind with JJ. Raising to 300 builds the pot with a premium pair and puts pressure on the BB.

I'm getting 2-to-1 pot odds with a decent ace, and A4o has enough equity against a small-blind raise to continue in position postflop.

Jacks are an underpair on a K-Q-6 board, and the big blind's preflop calling range connects with this flop. Checking controls the pot and avoids getting raised off my showdown value.

With JJ on a K-Q high board and no river bet, checking preserves showdown value against missed draws and weaker pairs; betting would only get called by better hands.

I have a weak pair of fours with top kicker, but my opponent raised preflop and checked all streets, so checking preserves my showdown value against a wider range. Betting would likely only get called by better hands and fold worse ones.