Hold'em table

2-4 offsuit is too weak to profitably enter from the button against two blinds at this stack depth.

In a blind-vs-blind spot, Q5o is strong enough to open-raise from the small blind; a 3x raise applies pressure and avoids playing out of position in a limped pot.

I have a decent offsuit ace and am getting good pot odds to call the small raise, so I'll see the flop in position relative to the raiser. Folding would be too weak and raising would likely isolate against a stronger range.

Middle pair is decent showdown value but vulnerable out of position on a board that connects well with the big blind's wide defending range. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me decide against a bet.

I have A-T with no pair on a J-high flop. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free turn in position, while avoiding value for the opponent's likely stronger range.

After the flop checked through, the big blind's range is capped and full of weaker hands and draws. A small bet with middle pair and a queen kicker gets thin value and denies equity to overcards and heart draws.

62o is too weak to open from the button in 3-handed play against two blinds, so folding is the standard play.

Calling 50 completes the small blind with good pot odds against the big blind's random hand, and 8-5 offsuit is playable heads-up for one small bet. Folding would forfeit a cheap chance to see a flop in a 3-to-1 pot.

Raise the limping small blind with an ace-high hand to isolate and take initiative while out of position.

5-8 offsuit is too weak to continue against a raise to 400, especially out of position. Folding preserves chips for a better spot.

Queens are a premium hand, so I raise to build the pot and isolate the blinds while keeping the sizing reasonable.

Ah-Kd is a premium hand; 3-betting for value builds the pot and applies pressure to the button opener.

62o is far too weak to continue against a button open and a small-blind 3-bet, even with the price on offer. Folding the big blind is clearly best.

Queens are strong enough to 4-bet for value against the small blind's 3-bet, and this sizing puts pressure while keeping room to continue.

The min-sized 4-bet gives excellent immediate pot odds with AKo. Calling keeps in weaker 4-bet ranges and preserves flexibility postflop rather than overcommitting 100bb preflop.

With top pair and top kicker at a low SPR in this 4-bet pot, I want to build the pot while charging spade draws and pocket pairs.

7h4h is a weak button hand for a full 100bb three-handed game; folding avoids entering a marginal pot.

52 offsuit is one of the weakest hands to play from the small blind out of position against the big blind. Folding loses only the 50-chip blind, which should cost less than playing it.

Three-handed on the button, K2o is a standard steal. Only the two blinds are left to act, so I raise to 2.5bb to pick up the pot often, with a king-high hand that has decent equity when called."}

9-5 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise, and calling 200 more with such a marginal hand has poor expected value. Folding preserves my stack for better spots.

QTs is a strong, suited defending hand against a button min-raise, with good postflop playability and only 150 chips to call.

Check to the preflop raiser on an ace-high board that favors their range, while retaining our gutshot to Broadway.

This A-J-5 two-tone board strongly favors my button opening range, and my king blocker gives this small c-bet some backdoor equity. A third-pot bet should fold out much of the big blind's checking range.

Call the small continuation bet with a gutshot to Broadway and some implied-odds potential against the button's broad opening range.

I have the nut straight on a coordinated board. A medium value bet targets Ax/Kx, two pair, sets, and spade draws while building the pot.

K2 with no spade is weak against a check-call then turn lead on a four-to-broadway, three-spade board. Villain's range there is full of Ax, better kings, flushes and QT, and we face reverse implied odds on the river.

Q3o is a weak offsuit hand with poor equity against two blinds, and calling or raising would risk chips with significant reverse implied odds. Folding preserves the stack for better spots.

8-2 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against the big blind without a compelling reason to continue.