Hold'em table

With the button and only two players behind, 8♦2♦ is playable as an open-raise. A modest 2.5× big-blind raise applies pressure while limiting risk with a weak hand.

5h3d is one of the worst hands in hold'em and I'm facing a 2.5x raise out of position with a third player still to act. Folding is clearly the highest-EV play.

T9o plays poorly out of position against a 2.5x button open, making fold the cleaner decision.

King-five offsuit is too weak to open from the button at 100bb with no reads; folding avoids playing a dominated marginal hand out of position postflop.

In a blind-versus-blind spot after the button folds, Q3s has enough equity and playability to attack the big blind with an open-raise.

AhKh is a premium hand, and a 3-bet gets value while taking initiative against the small blind’s likely wide open. I choose a substantial but not excessive size, with position after the flop.

Q3s is too weak to continue against a 3-bet out of position, making an easy fold.

85s is slightly too weak to open profitably from the button in a standard 3-handed structure.

Q8 offsuit is playable heads-up at the small blind price, but raising out of position offers little benefit. I’ll complete and see the flop.

The limper's range is weak, so a small isolation raise with king-high applies pressure and can win the pot immediately or build it with position on the flop.

Calling gets a reasonable price heads-up against a likely wide isolation raise, and Q8 offsuit has enough equity to continue despite being out of position.

I have only queen-high with a weak gutshot and backdoor possibilities, so I’ll check out of position rather than build the pot.

I raised preflop and the flop checked to me; a standard continuation bet of half pot applies pressure with my gutshot and backdoor flush equity while often taking it down now.

I have only a gutshot straight draw and no pair or club; the price to call is too high for the draw alone.

Q6 suited is strong enough to open from the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

5d2d is the worst hand in hold'em and I'm out of position facing a 2.5x raise with 200 to call. Folding is clearly correct.

A5o has sufficient equity getting almost 2.7 to 1 against a wide button opening range in a 3-handed game.

I missed the flop completely on a heavy Broadway texture that strongly favors the preflop raiser, so checking is the standard play.

I have a gutshot but no made hand, and this connected flop can hit the caller’s range. I’ll take the free card and avoid building the pot.

I picked up a low club draw on the turn to go with Ace-high, but checking out of position to see what the button does remains the best line.

The third club completes the flush, and I have no club to block a call. I’ll take the free river rather than bluff into a range that may contain a flush or strong pair.

I have Ace-high with a weak kicker on a heavily connected four-to-a-straight board. Checking allows me to take a cheap showdown if the button checked down air or fold cleanly if facing a bet.

I have a king-high straight and can value-bet against weaker hands that may call. A moderate bet also limits exposure to a flush or a higher straight.

I only have Ace-high with a weak kicker on a heavily coordinated board, making a call unprofitable against a river bet.

K3o has poor playability out of position against the big blind, making it a clear fold.

Opening on the button in 3-handed play with connected cards to steal blinds and realize position.

A♠5 offsuit has enough value to defend the small blind against a min-raise at these pot odds, but calling keeps the pot manageable out of position with the big blind still to act.

42s is far too weak to defend even at 5:1 pot odds against a button raise and a caller; dominated and outkicked too often. Folding preserves 100 chips for better spots.

With ace-high on a connected flop and no immediate draw, checking keeps the pot small and lets the preflop raiser act. I can reassess if they bet.

We flopped an open-ended straight draw with position. A half-pot continuation bet applies pressure on the SB check while allowing us to build the pot or take it down immediately.

A-high has some showdown value against the button’s continuation-bet bluffs, plus overcard and backdoor straight equity. The call price is reasonable, while raising would turn a marginal hand into an unnecessary bluff.

With only ace-high and no meaningful draw, betting risks building a pot against a range that continued on the flop. I’ll take the free card and preserve showdown value.

We hold an open-ended straight draw with 8 outs. Checking behind in position guarantees a free river card to realize our equity without facing a check-raise.

I have ace-high with some showdown value against missed draws, and a river bet is unlikely to fold better hands often enough to justify turning it into a bluff.

We rivered the nut straight on an unpaired board with no flush possible. Value betting 700 into a 1000 pot targeting top or middle pairs.

Ace-high has useful showdown value against missed draws, and the turn check followed by a river bet can represent a bluff. Calling is preferable to turning it into a bluff-raise.