Hold'em table

Q8 offsuit is strong enough to open from the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure while preserving position postflop.

AJo is strong 3-handed and the button's 2.5bb open is likely wide; 3-betting applies pressure, takes initiative, and denies equity to the big blind.

Folding T6o facing an open-raise and a 3-bet preflop.

Q8 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large small-blind three-bet, even with position.

Q7o on the button in a 3-handed game; raising to apply pressure and take initiative with position.

Q6o is far too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

A-T offsuit is strong enough to defend against a button raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With ace-high and no draw on a dry king-high flop, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser rather than build the pot out of position.

Q-high with minimal equity on a K-high flop; checking behind in position to take a free card and keep the pot small.

Ace-high has some showdown value, and this turn gives me little reason to build the pot out of position.

Opponent has checked both flop and turn on a dry K-high board, and my Q-high has little showdown value. I will bet as a bluff to try to take the pot down now.

The small turn bet gives me a reasonable price to continue with ace-high against a button range that can include missed hands and draws. I can reassess on the river.

The river gives me a pair of tens, but a bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking preserves the chance to catch a bluff.

My Q-high has no showdown value, but the river Tc completes a flush and my line (preflop raise, turn bet) can credibly represent a made flush or strong king. Betting 900 folds out A-high and weak pairs often enough to be profitable.

Top kicker with a rivered pair of tens is a reasonable bluff-catcher. The button checked back the flop, so its river bet can include missed draws and other bluffs.

Q6o is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

With 7h6h heads-up against the big blind, I’ll raise to build the pot with a playable suited connector and give the big blind a chance to fold.

62o is the worst hand in hold'em and has poor playability; even getting 3:1 pot odds, it does not have enough equity against a typical small blind raising range to profitably continue.

On the button, T2 suited is playable as a steal. A 2.5-big-blind raise puts pressure on both blinds while keeping the risk modest.

98o is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act, so folding preserves chips.

Getting favorable pot odds (150 to call into 400) in the big blind against a button open, calling with a pocket pair is standard.

Check to the preflop aggressor with bottom pair/underpair on a high board.

This board connects well with the big blind's calling range, and my hand has little immediate equity. I'll check back rather than bluff into a range likely to continue.

We hold an underpair on a coordinated board with negligible equity, so taking a free card by checking is standard.

T-high has little equity on this board, and a turn bet is unlikely to fold out enough of the big blind's continuing range. I'll take the free river card.

We spiked a set of deuces on the river after the flop and turn checked through. Betting around 60% pot targets calls from marginal pairs and underpairs in villain's range.

The small river bet offers good pot odds. After both players checked the flop and turn, the big blind can be betting missed draws or other weak hands, so my pair is worth a call.

T4o is too weak to continue from the button against a big blind and small blind, even with position, and calling or raising risks chips with poor equity.

In a blind versus blind situation, Q7s is a strong candidate to raise and take initiative against the big blind.

T2 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3× raise, even with position after the flop.

J5s is too weak to profitably open from the button in a standard 3-handed structure.

Completing for 50 chips offers good pot odds heads-up, while T2 offsuit is too weak to raise for value.

With Q5o in the big blind and only the small blind limping, checking is best to see a free flop and use position postflop rather than bloating the pot with a weak offsuit hand.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker is too thin to bet for value. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me assess the big blind's action.

I have top pair (queens) on a draw-heavy board heads-up, and both opponents have shown weakness, so I'll bet for value and protection.

Bottom pair is weak, but heads-up it can still beat a small-blind-versus-big-blind stab. I’ll call once rather than raise and reassess on the turn.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting into the flop caller would mostly get action from stronger hands. Checking keeps the pot small.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a draw-heavy board; betting the turn charges flush and straight draws while getting value from worse pairs.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker is unlikely to be ahead after the big blind bets both streets, and it has little chance to improve against a stronger made hand.