Hold'em table

Pocket eights on the button are strong enough to raise for value and to take initiative preflop.

KQ offsuit is strong enough to reraise a button open, and raising reduces the chance of playing a three-way pot out of position.

Holding 7c 3c in the big blind facing an open and a 3-bet is an easy fold.

88 has enough equity against a typical SB 3-bet range, and I have position, so calling is better than folding or raising.

On this monotone flop, I have a heart draw, a gutshot, and two overcards. Checking preserves the option to continue against a reasonable bet without building the pot out of position.

Flop is wet and 88 is vulnerable; checking back controls the pot and gives a free card, using position to evaluate the turn.

The flop checked through, and I have a flush draw, a gutshot, and a king overcard. A half-pot turn bet can win the pot now while leaving me outs when called.

I have pocket eights on a paired, coordinated board. Villain's 3-bet pre-flop and turn bet indicate strength, and calling with only two outs is unprofitable.

Pocket eights are a strong button opening hand three-handed. Raising to 250 pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

J6s is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

K7s has enough equity against a wide button open in 3-max, and getting 2.67:1 pot odds makes calling profitable despite being out of position.

We have a weak backdoor draw (gutshot and backdoor flush) and are out of position against a preflop raiser. Checking lets us see a free turn and avoid building a pot with a marginal hand.

Bottom set is a strong value hand on this draw-heavy flop. Betting 400 builds the pot while charging straight draws and weaker made hands.

In 3-handed play, opening any Ace from the button is standard to apply pressure and capture the blinds with position.

KTo has decent equity against a button open, and we're getting 2.33:1 pot odds to call. Folding is too tight, and 3-betting out of position with a marginal hand is risky.

Calling 100 closes the preflop action and gives me favorable pot odds with Q5 offsuit, despite playing out of position.

I have a gutshot straight draw with Ts Kc on an As Qd 7d board, out of position against two opponents. Checking is the standard play to see how the action develops without investing more with a weak draw.

Middle pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but betting into two opponents on an ace-high, draw-heavy flop risks building a large pot against stronger hands.

I hold top pair with a weak kicker multiway on an ace-high board, so checking back controls the pot size and preserves showdown value.

We have a weak gutshot straight draw with only 4 outs and are out of position. Betting would only build a pot when likely behind, so checking to see a free river is prudent.

Second pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but betting into two opponents risks getting called by better hands. Checking controls the pot and lets me assess the button's action.

I have top pair with a weak kicker in a three-way pot. Checking back controls the pot size and realizes showdown value without risking a check-raise.

I have ten high with no pair and no draw, but the pot was checked through on flop and turn, showing weakness from both opponents. A small bet can win the pot if they have nothing, and I'll fold to any resistance.

Second pair is strong enough to call a 300-chip river bet after both opponents checked the flop and turn. Raising would risk getting called mainly by better hands.

I hold top pair on a board that was checked through both flop and turn. Getting 4:1 pot odds, calling 300 into 1200 easily shows a profit against hands like second pair or missed draws stabbing/calling.

Holding 53o, a trash hand, and facing an unraised pot, folding is the standard and profitable play from any position.

Pocket queens are a strong heads-up hand. Raising to 400 builds the pot and charges the big blind to continue.

KQo is well ahead of a standard blind-versus-blind opening range and plays effectively in position; calling 300 chips provides good pot odds without unnecessarily bloating the pot against a 4x raise.

QQ is an overpair on a dry J-high flop. A modest bet gets value from jacks and smaller pairs while keeping weaker hands in.

Holding two overcards with position in a blind-versus-blind pot, calling the half-pot c-bet is profitable with good implied odds and floating potential.

Queens are an overpair on a dry turn. Betting for value can get calls from jacks and weaker pairs while charging draws.

I have King-high with no made hand and no direct draw facing a substantial second barrel on the turn. Folding is clear.

Q9 suited is a profitable button open three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

A8s is a prime hand to 3-bet from the small blind against a button open in 3-handed play to isolate and seize initiative.

J8s is a marginal hand facing a 3-bet from the small blind, and I'm out of position against both opponents. The pot odds are decent but not enough to overcome the reverse implied odds and positional disadvantage.

Q9 suited is marginal against a four-times 3-bet. Calling 750 chips risks playing a large pot with a frequently dominated hand.

74o is too weak to open raise or play even from the button in 3-handed play. Folding is clear.

32o is the worst possible hand, and I'm out of position; folding is the best option to minimize losses.