Hold'em table

Q6 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button here, and calling would invite a multiway pot with poor playability.

With the button folded, J8 offsuit is strong enough to raise heads-up from the small blind and put pressure on the big blind.

In the big blind facing a small-blind raise to 2.5bb, I'm getting about 3.3:1 and will have position on every later street. 85o is a standard defend against a wide SB range.

A small continuation bet applies pressure on this ace-paired flop and can fold out hands that currently beat jack-high without risking much.

We are getting over 5:1 against a small c-bet, and 8-high with a backdoor diamond draw and a gutshot-style wheel draw has enough equity against a wide SB range to continue. We may also be able to take the pot away later on a good turn.

The turn gives me two pair. A modest bet can get value from weaker pairs and diamond draws without building too large a pot against an ace.

I hold 8-high with no pair and no draw (just a backdoor diamond that missed) on A-A-J-2, facing a second barrel. Pot odds make calling unprofitable, and bluff-raising into this double-barrel line is unlikely to get folds.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to profitably enter the pot from the button.

In a blind-vs-blind spot, 86o is a reasonable small-blind open against the big blind, and raising keeps the initiative rather than limping out of position.

A4 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind open, and calling preserves weaker hands in the opponent’s range without inflating the pot.

Bottom pair out of position on a connected J-T board that favors the BB's calling range; checking keeps the pot small and lets us realize our showdown value.

I have only ace-high on a connected flop, with limited backdoor potential. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves my showdown value.}

A weak pair of sixes out of position has showdown value but gets little value from betting, so I'll check and control the pot.

My pair of fours is weak on a connected board, and betting is unlikely to get called by worse often enough. I’ll take the free river and preserve pot control.

A pair of sixes has some showdown value against a big blind who checked back twice, and a bet would mostly get called by better Jx/Tx/Ax hands. I'll check and take the showdown.

I have two pair (aces and fours) and the opponent has checked every street, so a small river bet can get value from weaker pairs without risking too much against a slow-played hand.

Getting 5:1 against a small river bet, our pair of sixes beats the many missed draws and weak hands that check through, so we only need about 20% equity.

A8o is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play; a standard 2.5bb raise works well against the blinds.

4♠2♠ is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

J4 offsuit is easily dominated and plays poorly out of position against a button raise. Calling another 150 chips is unlikely to be profitable.

J9 suited is a playable button hand in a three-handed pot, so opening for value and initiative is preferable to limping. A 3x raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

43 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a three-big-blind open, especially with the big blind still to act.

A7o in the big blind facing a 3x button open in 3-handed play is getting good odds (200 to win 650) and is well ahead of a wide button range, so calling is profitable. Three-betting is also viable, but calling keeps dominated hands in.

Out of position with ace-high and a backdoor draw on a board that favors the preflop raiser, so checking to the raiser is standard. I'll decide how to continue after seeing the button's action.

Bet for value and protection with top pair; worse pairs and straight draws can continue, while a modest size limits exposure on a connected board.

Against a small c-bet we only need about 24% equity. Ace-high with an overcard and backdoor straight draws has enough equity and playability to defend.

Ace-high with no real draw on the turn. Check to see a cheap river or showdown rather than bluff into a preflop raiser who c-bet.

Bet 450 for value and protection with top pair, targeting weaker 9x, 8x, and straight or flush draws while keeping the pot manageable.

The small turn bet only requires about 21% equity. Ace-high has some showdown value against a wide button range and can improve with an ace or a seven, so a call is reasonable.

Third pair with an ace kicker has showdown value but can't bet for value against a range that barreled small, so I'll check and consider bluff-catching a small bet.

My pair of nines has reasonable showdown value, but the river completes several straight draws and the opponent has called twice. I’ll take the free showdown rather than risk a thin value bet into a stronger hand.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

97s in the small blind against a button open to 2.5bb, with the big blind still to act behind. Calling out of position is marginal and 3-betting as a bluff is thin, so I fold.

AK suited is a premium hand against a button open. 3-bet to 900 for value while applying pressure out of position.

J9 offsuit is too weak to call a 3-bet to 900, even in position.

Three-handed on the button, J2 suited is within a wide stealing range, so I'm opening to 2.5bb to pressure the blinds.

3♥2♠ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling from the small blind would leave me out of position against a raise with the big blind still to act.

Q2 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a 2.5 big-blind button raise. Calling is unlikely to realize enough equity to justify the extra 150 chips.