Hold'em table

K5 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the investment modest.

Q4 offsuit out of the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still left to act, is a clear fold. Calling out of position with a dominated hand loses money.

A2 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button raise, and the price is favorable. Calling keeps the pot manageable while avoiding an unnecessary 3-bet out of position.

Top pair is strong enough to continue, but the weak kicker and two-heart board favor checking out of position rather than leading into the preflop raiser.

Second pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but a bet is unlikely to get much action from worse hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

Bet small for value and protection with top pair, while keeping weaker kings and draws in the pot. The checked-through flop makes a modest turn lead sensible.

Second pair is strong enough to continue against a small turn bet, but raising would risk building a large pot against an ace. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while retaining position on the river.

A small river value bet can get calls from worse hands such as Kx, while keeping the price manageable against a range that may include a six or a stronger hand.

Top pair with a king is strong enough to call this small river bet. Raising would mostly get called by better hands.

A6o is a clear opening hand on the button in 3-handed play, so I'll raise to 2.5bb to take the initiative and have position postflop.

K♣J♠ is strong enough to continue against a button open, and the price is reasonable. Calling avoids inflating the pot out of position while the big blind is still to act.

8-5 offsuit is unlikely to realize enough equity in a three-way raised pot, even at this price.

Check out of position on an ace-high flop that strongly favors the preflop raiser. K♣J♠ has little immediate equity and no reason to build the pot.

Top two pair on a dry A-6-4 board versus a small blind who checked; I'm betting for value to get called by Ax and draws. A 2/3-pot sizing keeps worse aces and wheel draws in.

K-high has no pair or meaningful draw on this ace-high flop, and the 400-chip bet is too costly to continue against.

As the button in a three-handed game, T6 offsuit is playable as an open-raise with position and a chance to take the blinds. A modest raise to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure without overcommitting.

Q9 offsuit is a marginal hand to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting 150 to win 400 (27% equity needed) in the BB against a button open, and 96o has enough equity and playability to defend.

With 96o I only have a weak gutshot (needs a 7 for 6-10) on an ace-high board that favors the button's raising range. Checking to the preflop raiser and giving up to significant pressure is the standard play.

With a modest pair on an ace-high board, checking back preserves showdown value and avoids building a pot against stronger hands. It also keeps weaker holdings in the hand.

The button checked back an ace-high flop, which caps their range and makes it weak. With zero showdown value, a turn probe can fold out a lot of their hands.

The turn bet is modest relative to the pot, and my pair of tens plus a diamond draw can have enough equity against a delayed stab or drawing hands. Raising would risk too much with a weak kicker.

Nine-high has no showdown value. The river completes the diamonds, so a bet represents a flush, and villain's flop check-back makes their range weaker and more likely to fold medium hands.

The river completes the front-door diamond draw, and the turn-then-river betting line represents substantial value. My pair of tens is a weak bluff-catcher, so I fold rather than pay the river bet.

On the button, 7-6 offsuit is a marginal but playable open with position and no rake. A 2.5-big-blind raise gives it a chance to win the blinds without committing too much.

A2 offsuit from the small blind facing a 2.5bb button open, with the big blind still to act, is a marginal hand that plays poorly out of position. Folding is standard here, though a 3-bet bluff is an occasional option.

Q9 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend heads-up against a small button raise, and the pot odds favor calling rather than folding or 3-betting.

With queen-high and no meaningful draw on a paired, low flop, checking keeps the pot small and preserves the option to respond to the button's action.

A small continuation bet pressures the big blind’s unpaired hands while keeping the pot manageable with a gutshot and limited showdown value.

Q-high has little equity on this paired, two-club flop and no useful backdoor flush draw. The small bet could be a bluff, but calling out of position with only unreliable overcard outs is not worthwhile.

Q8o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open, since only the two blinds are left to act. A 2.5bb raise applies pressure while keeping the risk small.

98 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5x button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5-big-blind raise.

K5 suited is a profitable button open in a three-handed game; a modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

T6 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5 big blind raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 3.7:1 in the big blind against a wide 3-handed button open, 73s has enough equity and playability to defend. Calling is standard here, and a 3-bet would bloat the pot with a weak hand.

Middle pair with a backdoor spade draw on an ace-high board that favors the button's range; checking to the raiser controls the pot and keeps the showdown value.

A small continuation bet can pressure the big blind on this ace-high flop after their check. K-high has little showdown value, so I’ll use a modest size rather than build a large pot.

Middle pair with a backdoor spade draw is getting great odds against a small c-bet (150 into 550), so calling is clearly profitable and raising would only fold out worse hands.

We hold second pair (sevens) on a paired-ace board, which has showdown value but is weak against any ace. Checking keeps the pot small and lets the button's range bluff into us.

The ace on the turn favors the preflop raiser, and K-high has little showdown value. A small bluff puts pressure on weaker hands without risking much of the pot.

Getting about 4.8:1 with second pair on a paired board, facing a small barrel that includes plenty of club draws and air. Calling is profitable here, while raising would only fold out worse hands.

We hold a medium-strength two pair (aces and sevens), and the river completed the club flush. Checking gives us a cheap showdown and lets us decide whether to call a bet rather than betting into hands that beat us.

With only king high, a river bluff is unlikely to fold the hands that called both flop and turn, especially now that club draws have completed. Checking preserves chips and allows a chance to win against missed draws or weaker holdings.