Hold'em table

J8o on the button in a 3-handed game is a standard open; a small raise to 2.5bb applies pressure on the blinds.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Ace-king offsuit is strong against a button opening range. A substantial three-bet from the big blind builds the pot and applies pressure out of position.

J8o is too weak to continue against a large BB 3-bet to 10.5bb. We would be calling 800 into 2150 with poor equity and bad playability.

A♠-K offsuit is a premium hand on the button, so raise for value and initiative. A 300-chip total is a standard open size with both blinds still to act.

7-5 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a three-big-blind button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

QJo in the big blind facing a 3x button open in a 3-handed game is well ahead of the button's wide range, and the pot odds (200 to win 650) make this a clear defend. Calling keeps the button's weaker hands in the pot rather than 3-betting out of position.

Out of position with QJ gutshot plus backdoor spades on a K-high board that favors the button's range, so checking to the preflop raiser is standard; I can continue against a small c-bet.

Bet 250 for value with top pair and top kicker while charging spade draws and protecting against overcards. This sizing keeps worse kings and other marginal hands in the pot.

Getting about 4.6:1 against a small c-bet, Q-high with backdoor flush and straight draws, plus overcard outs, has enough equity to defend. Raising would turn the hand into a bluff with little fold equity.

QJ high with a gutshot (a ten gives Broadway) is weak, and the turn 6 bricked, so I check and keep the pot small. I can decide on the river after seeing the button's action.

Bet for value with top pair/top kicker while charging spade draws and weaker pairs. A moderate sizing keeps worse hands in while building the pot.

Queen-high with no pair and no real draw after the turn bricked; the price of 26% equity is not justified against a double-barrel.

Nine-five suited is playable as a button open three-handed. Raising gives me a chance to win the blinds or play in position.

82s from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still left to act, is a clear fold; we'd be out of position with a weak hand.

Calling 150 more gets a favorable price with a suited hand in the big blind against a button raise. I’ll proceed cautiously postflop with this weak holding.

I have a weak flush draw on a queen-high flop, so checking preserves options without inflating the pot. I can respond to the button’s continuation bet based on its size.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but it is too weak to build a pot on this board. Checking keeps the pot manageable and preserves position for the turn.

I have a flush draw and the flop checked through, so a modest turn bet can win the pot now while retaining equity when called. A larger sizing is unnecessary in this small pot.

Bottom pair and a flush draw give me enough equity to call the 250-chip bet. I can use position to reassess on the river.

My hand has no showdown value, so I’ll make a small river bluff representing a queen and targeting marginal pairs. A modest size limits the cost if called.

My queens and fives can beat missed draws and some thin bets. Calling 350 into a 1,400-chip pot needs relatively little showdown equity.

54o on the button in 3-handed is a reasonable steal candidate; a small open pressures the blinds, and the hand has decent playability when called.

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

K2 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button raise to 250, especially with no rake and the small blind folded.

I have bottom pair on a connected board against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to their bet.

5-high with almost no equity on a J-T-2 board that connects well with the big blind's calling range; checking back keeps the pot small. It also leaves room to bluff on a good turn card.

I have a weak pair and eight straight outs. Checking controls the pot and preserves the chance to improve on the river.

With 5-4 and zero showdown value, a turn stab after two checks from the big blind can take down the pot. A 350 bet into 550 only needs to work about 39% of the time.

The small turn bet gives me a reasonable price with a pair and eight straight outs. Calling keeps the opponent's bluffs in the pot without risking a large raise.

I have two pair, but the board puts a four-card straight out and better two-pair hands are possible. Checking preserves showdown value without risking more chips.

Five-high can never win at showdown, and the king completes a lot of straights that I can credibly represent after betting the turn. A bet of about 72% of the pot should fold out many of the one-pair hands that called the turn.

My two pair is a bluff-catcher on a board where any ace or nine makes a straight. The sizable river bet after a preflop raise makes a call unattractive.

K7 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Nine-six offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

A3o in the big blind against a button 2.5x open is getting good odds (150 to win 400), so calling is profitable. It also has some 3-bet bluff value, but a flat call is fine.

Top two pair out of position against the preflop raiser, who will c-bet this ace-high board often; checking lets me check-raise for value and protection against the flush and wheel draws.

With king-high and no meaningful immediate draw, I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into a board that can connect with the big blind’s range.

We hold aces full of threes, which is nearly the nuts, and villain checked back the flop showing weakness. A small value bet can get calls from fives, diamond draws and weak pairs.

I have only king-high with no meaningful draw, and the turn bet is not worth calling against the likely ace or pocket-pair value range.

A8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

K3s from the small blind facing a 2.5x button open with the big blind still to act plays poorly out of position. A 3-bet bluff is possible but marginal, so folding is fine.

K7 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button min-to-2.5x open, and the price is favorable. I’ll call and play postflop.

I have trip sevens with a strong kicker on a relatively dry board. Checking lets the preflop raiser continue with weaker hands and gives me room to raise if they bet.

A small continuation bet on this dry paired board can fold out some overcards while keeping the pot manageable when called.

I have strong trips on a relatively dry paired board. Calling keeps bluffs and weaker made hands in the pot without forcing them to fold to a raise.

I have strong trips, and checking lets the flop aggressor continue bluffing or value-bet worse hands on the ace turn. I can respond to their action while avoiding folding out hands I currently beat.

The ace gives me top pair. A half-pot bet can get value from tens and club draws while charging them to see the river.

I have a very strong full house and should raise for value against the opponent’s likely ace-x holdings and draws. A moderate raise builds the pot while leaving room to respond on the river.

Top pair with a weak kicker fares poorly against a turn check-raise on this paired board. The price is not attractive enough if the raise is usually trips or better.