Hold'em table

Q6 offsuit is marginal, but on the button three-handed it is playable as an open-raise; a modest raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

J8 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

In the big blind against a 2.5x button open, I'm getting about 3.7:1 (150 to win 550), and 85o is a standard defend in 3-handed play. A call keeps the pot small with a hand that plays fine postflop.

Weak holding with a backdoor diamond draw on a board that strongly favors the preflop raiser, so checking out of position is best and I can fold to a bet.

A small continuation bet applies pressure on this ace-high paired board, where my preflop range has an advantage. I also have backdoor diamond potential and a queen overcard.

Facing a quarter-pot bet, I need only about 19% equity. Calling is reasonable because 8-high has some showdown value, a backdoor diamond draw and a backdoor wheel draw, and I have to defend wide against small bets.

The only thing I have is 8-high with no draw, and the board of A-A-J makes a bluff hard to get through against a button raiser who c-bet. Checking takes a free river and keeps the pot small.

With only queen-high, the jack turn improves many hands that called the flop, making a second barrel unattractive. I’ll take the free card and preserve my showdown chance.

My hand has no showdown value, and the button capped their range by checking back the turn. The river Kd completes a backdoor flush, so a bet of about 70% pot can credibly represent a flush or an ace and fold out weak pairs and air.

My queen improves the board-only ace-pair hand to strong kickers, and I need only about 23% equity to call. The river lead can be thin value or a bluff, so folding this bluff-catcher is too cautious.

Seven-three offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button.

Blind vs blind, 86o is a reasonable open from the SB; a 3x raise applies pressure, and completing would leave us out of position with a weak hand.

A♠ has useful blocker value, and the price is reasonable for defending the big blind heads-up. Calling keeps the pot manageable with a weak offsuit hand.

Bottom pair with a gutshot on a connected J-T board that heavily favors the big blind's calling range; out of position, so I check to control the pot and see a cheap turn, taking a free card if it checks through.

I have no pair or immediate draw, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into a pot-sized range.

Bottom pair with no real draw, out of position; checking to control the pot and keep some showdown value.

I have only a weak pair of fours on a connected board. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me reach showdown without exposing myself to a raise.

Bottom pair has some showdown value against a range that checked back twice, so turning it into a bluff is unappealing. Checking keeps the pot small and lets the opponent bluff.

My two pair is strong after the opponent checked every street, and a small river bet can get called by weaker aces or pairs while limiting losses to stronger hands.

The call is 200 to win 800, so I need about 20% equity. After two checked streets, this small bet includes plenty of busted draws and weak hands that my pair of sixes can beat.

A8o on the button in 3-handed play is a clear open-raise; 2.5bb is a standard sizing.

4♠2♠ is a very weak hand from the small blind, and calling a 2.5× raise leaves me out of position with the big blind still to act.

J4 offsuit is a weak, easily dominated hand to defend out of position against a 2.5-big-blind raise.

J♦9♦ is a strong enough hand to open from the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

4-3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

A7o is well ahead of a 3-handed button opening range, and with pot odds of 150 into 400 a big-blind defend is clearly profitable. Calling keeps the button's weaker hands in, though 3-betting is also reasonable.

A7o with an ace overcard and a backdoor straight draw is out of position against the button raiser on a board that favors the raiser, so checking is the standard play. I'll plan to check-call a small c-bet.

I have top pair with a reasonable kicker and a backdoor flush draw. A small value/protection bet can get calls from weaker pairs and draws while limiting risk.

Getting 730:180 (about 20% equity needed), A7o has an ace overcard plus a gutshot (6 for the straight), easily enough to continue against a small c-bet. Raising turns the hand into a bluff unnecessarily.

I have only ace-high with no real draw on this board, so the pot-control check is best, and I can re-evaluate if villain bets.

Bet for value and protection against 8x and draws while charging the newly available spade draws. Keep it modest with only a pair of nines and a vulnerable kicker.

Villain's small bet gives me about 4.6:1 odds. Ace-high has some showdown value against a wide small-sizing range, and I have about three clean ace outs.

A7 rivered a middle pair with good showdown value but is vulnerable to 9x and straights. Checking lets villain bluff with missed draws while keeping the pot controlled.

The river 7 completes several straight draws, and my one pair is not strong enough to value-bet after two calls. I’ll take the free showdown rather than risk being raised or called by better.

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

97s is a good suited, connected hand to 3-bet as a bluff from the small blind against a wide 3-handed button open. It has fold equity and playability, and flatting out of position with the big blind still to act is weaker.

AK suited is strong enough to 4-bet for value and to take initiative against the squeeze. A raise to 2500 applies pressure while keeping the sizing controlled at 25 big blinds.

J9 offsuit is too weak to continue against a 3-bet and a further large 4-bet, especially with the 3-bettor still to act.

97s is too weak to continue out of position against a BB 4-bet range. A call would leave a low SPR where we realize our equity poorly, and a jam would get called by too much of their range.

Three-handed on the button, J2 suited is within a wide opening range, so I'll steal with a standard raise to 2.5bb.

3♥2♠ is an extremely weak offsuit hand, and calling 200 more from the small blind leaves the big blind yet to act. Fold rather than invest further.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5bb button raise.