Hold'em table

Opening with pocket Queens from the button to build the pot and gain positional advantage.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still behind.

A3 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a 2.5bb button open, and calling keeps weaker hands in.

With bottom pair and an ace kicker, I have some showdown value but little reason to build the pot out of position against the preflop raiser.

Value betting our overpair on a dry board where the opponent can call with top pair or mid pocket pairs.

Bottom pair with an ace kicker has enough showdown value to continue against a small flop bet on this dry board.

My low pair has showdown value, but betting into the preflop raiser on a paired board is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. I’ll check and reassess if they bet.

The second Jack reduces the likelihood opponent has one, but checking back controls the pot size and allows us to comfortably call or value bet safe river cards.

My two pair has some showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. I’ll check.

Queens have solid showdown value on this runout, but betting risks getting called mainly by Kings or Jacks while folding out worse pairs. Checking back secures the pot safely.

Open-raise premium queens on the button for value and initiative, using a standard 2.5bb sizing.

Q8 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Defending BB with pocket threes getting great pot odds against a button open.

Check to the preflop aggressor out of position with an underpair on a paired King-high flop.

A small continuation bet extracts value from pocket pairs and ace-high while protecting QQ against free overcards. The paired king board makes a large bet unnecessary.

Holding an underpair to the board out of position with virtually no redraws makes continuing unprofitable even against a small c-bet.

K4 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the risk modest.

86o is too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

T9 offsuit has sufficient playability and pot odds to defend the big blind against a button min-raise heads-up.

I have middle pair plus an open-ended straight draw on a very coordinated board. A medium lead charges club draws and weaker made hands while building value.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against the flop bet, but the coordinated board and weak kicker make raising unattractive. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while preserving position.

I have two pair on a highly connected board and should bet for value and protection against draws and weaker made hands.

Top pair with a weak kicker is vulnerable on this connected turn. The big blind’s second bet represents enough straights and stronger made hands that calling 850 is unattractive.

Q4o is too weak to open from the button even in 3-handed play, making fold the standard play.

With the button folded, 87 offsuit is a reasonable heads-up small-blind steal candidate. Raising applies pressure to the big blind while retaining playability if called.

J2 offsuit plays poorly against a 3x raise, even with position after the flop. Folding avoids investing more with a weak, easily dominated hand.

5d2d is a very weak button holding and not worth entering against both blinds.

King-four offsuit is strong enough to raise against a big blind holding a wide range. A modest raise can win the pot now while keeping the risk controlled.

Holding 63s facing a 2.5bb raise from the small blind, this hand is slightly too weak to defend profitably despite having position.

Four-deuce offsuit is too weak to profitably enter the pot, even on the button.

Holding T3 offsuit in the small blind is too weak to complete or raise; a fold is standard.