Hold'em table

J2s is too weak to call a raise from the big blind in a three-handed pot, and I prefer to preserve chips rather than defend with a dominated hand out of position.

A5 offsuit is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind, despite being out of position.

Ace-nine suited is a playable hand with good equity against a small blind's wide raise, and I'm getting a good price for the extra 200 chips.

This low, disconnected flop favors the big blind's calling range, and ace-five high has little immediate equity. Checking avoids building the pot out of position.

With a pair of nines and an ace kicker, checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me see whether seat_2 bets again.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but betting into the big blind's range is unlikely to get many better hands to fold. I’ll take the free card.

With a pair of nines and an ace kicker on a paired board, I have medium strength and the preflop raiser has already checked twice, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids facing a large raise from a stronger hand.

Ace-high gives me two pair with an ace kicker on this double-paired board. Worse hands are unlikely to call a bet, so I’ll take the free showdown.

I hold two pair on a paired board, but checking keeps the pot small against a full house and the opponent has checked every street, so I take the free showdown.

QJo is a profitable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Ace-four suited is a playable hand, and calling 200 to see a flop in a three-way pot is reasonable from the small blind.

Closing the action with decent pot odds and a suited two-gapper; raising into two live players with a weak holding out of position is unnecessary.

I have ace-high with a three-diamond flush draw and no bet to call, so checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the turn for free.

With 8-high and no pair or strong draw on a coordinated board, checking in the big blind is best to control the pot and see a free turn.

I have an open-ended straight draw and position. Betting about 60% of the pot can win it now while building a pot when I improve.

I hold a flush draw with ace-high and need about 27% equity to call 450 into a 1200 pot, which the roughly 35% flush-draw equity exceeds.

I have 8-high with no pair or draw on a coordinated board, facing a bet and a call; folding is clearly best.

Pair of fours on a T-9-4-3 board is a weak made hand facing a flop raise, so checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me see whether the button bets again.

I have an open-ended straight draw and position. Checking takes the free river card without risking more chips against a range that called the flop.

I have two pair (nines and fours with an ace kicker), but the seat_2 turn check suggests they may hold a strong hand or a bluff, so I'd rather check and keep the pot manageable than risk a larger bet.

Queen-high is unlikely to win at showdown. After my opponent checked the turn and river, a river bet can make ace-high and weak pairs fold.

I hold only a pair of fours with an ace kicker on a board with paired nines and a Ten, and facing an 1100 river bet I need about 28% equity to call, which this hand lacks against likely nine or Ten holdings.

2-6 offsuit is one of the weakest hands in hold'em, and I'm only facing a 100-chip call from the button, so folding avoids a marginal, dominated investment.

With K8o in the small blind facing only a 50-chip call into a 150 pot, I get 3:1 odds and close the action cheaply; calling keeps the pot small with a marginal hand rather than bloating it with a raise.

6-3 offsuit is too weak to raise for value, and checking takes a free flop against the small blind's limp.

I have an open-ended straight draw plus an overcard, so betting applies pressure and builds the pot with good equity.

I have middle pair and a gutshot straight draw. Calling the small bet keeps weaker hands and bluffs in without building a large pot with a vulnerable hand.

I have an open-ended straight draw with an overcard and can apply pressure out of position; a bet can fold out weaker pairs and draws while preserving equity if called.

I have a pair and a gutshot against a modest turn bet. The small-blind limper can still be betting draws or weaker hands, so I’ll call and reassess on the river.

I have only king-high on a coordinated board and my opponent called raises on both flop and turn, so I have no value in betting and will avoid putting more chips in.

Two pair can get value from a jack or a stubborn seven. I’ll bet small because the river also completes a straight for any hand with a four.

I have only king-high on a coordinated board and seat_2 has called two streets then bet the river, so my hand has no showdown value against their range.

On the button in a 3-handed pot, raising with T7o can pick up the blinds and gives me initiative with position. Folding is too tight, and calling invites a cheap multiway pot with a weak offsuit hand.

Q4 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3x button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 2.25 to 1 on a 200 call from the big blind heads up against a button raise, and J5 offsuit has enough playability to continue.

I have J-high with a weak three-heart board, so checking is free and keeps the pot small while I see the turn.

I have middle pair with a backdoor flush draw; checking controls the pot and avoids getting raised by a K while realizing equity.

I have J-high with a weak backdoor flush draw and no pair, so a free check keeps the pot small and avoids bloating it against a range that likely has more made hands.

I have two pair (tens and sevens) on a draw-heavy board, so betting for value and protection is best after the turn check.

I have J-high with only 8 river outs to a straight (about 17%), facing 450 to win a 1100 pot (about 29% needed), so folding is the better play.

On the button in a three-handed game, 6-3 suited is playable as a small open. Position and the chance to win the blinds justify raising rather than limping.

Two-king offsuit is a weak hand from the small blind against a button raise, and calling 200 more into a multiway pot doesn't give enough equity to justify it.

Getting 150 to call into a 400 pot with 89o, I have enough equity and implied odds against a button open to defend the big blind.

I flopped two pair and should bet for value and protection on a board with straight and flush draws.

With 6-3 on 8-9-2, I have no pair or immediate draw. Calling 400 against a flop bet is unlikely to be profitable.

Pocket eights on the button in a 3-handed game is a strong hand to raise for value and to take the initiative against the blinds, and 300 is a standard sizing with a reasonable pot-building size.

J6o is too weak to continue out of position against a Button raise; folding avoids playing a dominated hand with poor implied odds.

A6 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button raise, but it does not need to build a larger pot out of position.

With the nut flush draw and ace-high on a paired board, I can check to the preflop raiser and decide how to continue based on their bet.

I hold a pair of eights, which is an underpair to the king on the board, so I have little showdown value. Checking is free and keeps the pot small.

Ace-high has some showdown value, and the nut flush draw gives me a strong river opportunity. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to a bet.

I hold a pair of eights on a king-high board with a possible flush draw from the hearts. Checking is free and keeps the pot small, and seat_2 has already checked the turn, so I can see the river without risking chips.

My ace gives me the best kicker to the three kings, so I beat missed draws and tie many other ace-high hands. Betting is unlikely to get called by worse hands, while a queen or pocket pair makes a full house.

Holding a pair of eights on a board with three kings, I have a weak showdown hand, so I take the free check rather than bluff into a player who has checked every street.