Hold'em table

Qd 6s is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

J8 offsuit is strong enough to open heads-up against the big blind. A small raise can win the pot immediately without committing much of the stack.

5s8d is a weak offsuit hand that plays poorly against a small-blind raise, and calling 150 more out of position is not profitable enough. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two blinds.

With a weak hand and good pot odds (3:1), calling the small blind to see a cheap flop is preferable to folding or raising out of position.

We hold an offsuit weak ace in the big blind facing an SB limp; checking allows us to see a free flop in position.

I have bottom pair on a coordinated flop and am out of position against the big blind; checking controls the pot and keeps my showdown value intact.

We hold Ace-high on a connected board with little direct equity, so checking behind to see a free turn card is standard.

I have only bottom pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board, and there is no need to build a pot out of position against the big blind. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me evaluate the river.

I turn bottom pair with top kicker in position after the small blind checks twice. Checking behind controls the pot and realizes showdown value safely against their checking range.

With bottom pair on a scary board and no betting yet, checking controls the pot and may induce a bluff from missed draws. Betting risks folding out worse hands and getting called by better.

I rivered top two pair in a limped blind-versus-blind pot that was checked all the way down, so I am betting for thin value from weaker pairs or an ace.

Opponent checked flop and turn, then bet the river ace, a classic bluff line. Our pair of sixes beats missed draws, and we only need about 30% equity to call profitably.

A8o on the button in a 3-handed game is strong enough to raise for value and take initiative. A raise to 300 applies pressure and builds the pot with position.

4s2s is too weak to call a 3bb open from the button out of position with the big blind left to act.

J4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise to 3 big blinds.

Opening J9s from the button with a standard 2.5bb raise.

43 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Closing the action with A7o against a button open, I'm getting good pot odds and can see a flop without further preflop risk.

I have only ace-high on a dry flop and I am first to act against the preflop raiser, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids building a bluff into strength.

Betting 220 chips for value and protection with top pair decent kicker on a connected board against the big blind's check.

A high has sufficient equity against a small c-bet, and calling keeps the pot manageable while allowing us to evaluate the turn.

I have ace-high with no pair and the board is dry; checking to control the pot and see a free river.

Check back top pair with a good kicker to control the pot and realize showdown value, keeping opponent's bluff range intact for the river.

With a marginal pair of sevens and the opponent showing turn weakness, checking controls the pot and realizes showdown value without risking a raise into stronger hands.

I have top pair with a good kicker, which has solid showdown value against missed draws and weaker pairs, but a bet on a four-straight board risks getting raised or called mainly by better hands.

J9 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

97s has good playability and I'm getting 2:1 immediate odds; calling keeps the pot manageable and I can fold to a squeeze from the big blind.

Squeezing with premium suited broadway As Ks from the big blind for value against the button open and small blind call.

J9 offsuit plays poorly against a large big-blind squeeze, especially with the small blind still to act. Calling 950 more is not worth the risk.

Facing a large 3-bet from the big blind with 97s out of position, the hand has marginal equity and poor playability given the low SPR; folding preserves chips.

J2s is too weak to open from the button in a 3-handed pot, and calling would invite raises from the blinds. Folding avoids playing a dominated hand out of position postflop.

Holding 32o in the small blind, this is the weakest possible starting hand and a standard fold even blind versus blind.