Showdown Hold'em table

J4 suited is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Jack-high with no made hand and only weak backdoor potential is not strong enough to commit the 2x play bet on the flop. Check and reassess at the river.

With only king-high on this coordinated board, the dealer will very often make a pair or straight and beat us. The small chance of winning unimproved does not justify the river play bet.

9-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range, so retaining flexibility to evaluate the flop is best.

A weak pair of threes on this coordinated flop is not strong enough to commit a 2x play bet. Checking preserves the option to make an informed river decision.

With only a weak ten-high hand and no made pair or draw, the dealer will qualify and beat this hand too often. Folding preserves the extra play bet.

K5 suited is in the published optimal preflop 4x raising range (K2s+). Raise for maximum value rather than delaying.

Jack-ten suited is a published optimal preflop 4x raising hand, with strong straight and flush potential.

K4 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves flexibility to assess the flop.

King-high with no meaningful draw on an ace-high flop is too weak to commit a 2x raise. Check and retain the option to fold or make a better-informed river decision.

My king plays as the kicker on the paired board, producing many wins and some ties; the river raise is marginally favorable over folding.

5-3 offsuit is far below the profitable preflop raising thresholds, so retain flexibility to evaluate the flop.

Bottom pair on an ace-queen board is too vulnerable to commit 2x now. Checking preserves the option to make a better-informed river decision.

My two pair is vulnerable to any dealer ace, queen, jack, stronger pocket pair, or higher kicker with a five. The river call is not profitable given the dealer’s many winning holdings.

9-7 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves flexibility to evaluate the flop.

A weak middle pair on an ace-high flop is not strong enough to commit 2x against the dealer’s range. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable rivers while raising only after improvement.

With a pair of sevens, showdown has enough winning outcomes against unpaired dealer holdings to make the 1x river raise preferable to surrendering the posted ante and blind.

J3 suited is below the published profitable preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

A flopped pair is strong enough to commit at the flop; raising captures value against the dealer's many unpaired holdings.

King-queen offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range.

J6 offsuit is below the strong preflop raising range. Checking retains the option to raise with more board information or fold cheaply.

I have a made pair on the flop with a useful jack kicker. Raising now captures value against the dealer's many unpaired holdings and qualification misses.

T9 offsuit is below the stated preflop 4x raising range, so checking preserves the option to assess the flop before committing.

With only the board pair and modest straight potential, this is not strong enough to commit 2x on the flop. Checking preserves the option to evaluate the completed board at the river.

I have sevens full of nines, a very strong made full house. Only a queen, the last seven, or a higher pocket pair can generally beat it, so raising is strongly profitable.

J6 suited is below the strong preflop raising range, so preserving the option to evaluate the flop is preferable.

This is only a weak shared pair with marginal kickers and little immediate draw value. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable river outcomes or make the smaller river raise when improved.

My queen trips have a jack kicker and beat many dealer holdings that miss an ace, king, fourth queen, four, or pocket pair. The river raise has positive value versus folding.

5-4 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raise range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

This is only a weak pair with an open-ended straight draw; preserving the river fold/1x decision is preferable to committing 2x now.

I hold two pair, fives and fours, which is strong enough against the dealer’s random holding to continue. The paired board means the dealer always qualifies, but this hand retains substantial showdown value.

Pocket aces are an automatic maximum preflop raise and have excellent equity against the dealer.

Any ace is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range; ace-jack has strong showdown value and good equity.

Q5 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to assess the flop.

Raise with the king-high club flush draw; the queen of clubs gives a strong four-flush with additional pair and runner-runner straight potential.

Ace-seven is an any-ace preflop 4x raise under the optimal starting-hand strategy.

8-2 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raise thresholds, so I check and retain the option to assess the flop.

Bottom pair with a very weak kicker on a coordinated two-club board is not strong enough to commit a 2x play bet. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable rivers or raise when the final board improves the hand.

Pair of eights is often best against the dealer’s unpaired holdings, which do not qualify and still pay the play bet when beaten. The equity is comfortably above the very low threshold required versus folding.

8-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves flexibility to evaluate the flop.

This is only an eight-high hand with a gutshot straight draw and little showdown value. Checking preserves the option to raise only when the final board improves favorably.

With only an eight kicker on a paired board, the dealer frequently has a higher kicker, two pair, trips, or a made straight. The win probability is too low to justify the river play bet.

7-5 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range, so preserving the option to evaluate the flop is best.

This low disconnected hand has no made pair and only weak backdoor straight possibilities on a coordinated two-spade flop. Checking preserves the option to make an informed river decision.

We have a paired seven, which has substantial showdown value against random dealer holdings. Raising is clearly preferable to surrendering the posted ante and blind.

Pocket deuces are a marginal preflop pair best played with the smaller 3x raise rather than checking or committing 4x.

J6 suited is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves flexibility for a flop decision.

With only jack-high and a paired low board, this is not strong enough to commit the 2x play bet. Check and retain the option to make a better-informed river decision.

I hold top two pair, jacks and deuces, with a six kicker. This is substantially ahead of most dealer holdings despite the paired board and occasional straight or trips possibilities.

K-3 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raise threshold, so retain flexibility and evaluate the flop.

Top pair kings plus a four-diamond flush draw is a strong flop holding with substantial equity and valuable blind-payout potential.

T9 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raise threshold, so retaining flexibility for the flop is preferable.

With only ten-high on a queen-high flop and no made hand or immediate draw, preserving the option to evaluate the river is preferable to committing 2x.

Pair of tens with a nine kicker has substantial showdown value against random dealer holdings. Raising is clearly preferable to surrendering the posted ante and blind.

King-jack suited is a strong preflop holding within the optimal 4x raising range.

T9 suited has strong connectivity and flush potential, making it a profitable early raise, though not strong enough for the top-tier 4x range.

JTs is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range and has strong straight and flush potential.

J8 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raise threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

I have a made pair of eights with a jack kicker and useful improvement potential on this coordinated board. This is strong enough to commit the 2x play bet rather than defer and risk a costly river fold.

Q2 suited is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Queen-high with a deuce has little current showdown value on this coordinated flop and no meaningful draw. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable river runouts.

My queen only plays as a kicker to the paired board, and most dealer holdings beat it via a higher kicker, two pair, trips, or a flush. Folding avoids a negative river call.

QJo is within the published optimal preflop 4x raising range (Q8o+). Raising maximizes value rather than deferring with this strong broadway hand.