Hold'em table

74s is too weak to open profitably even on the button in 3-handed play.

Button folded, so I only need 50 more into a 150 pot. 93s has enough equity versus a random big blind to complete rather than fold out of position.

With a weak offsuit hand and no raise to call, check and see the flop rather than inflate the pot.

I have nine-high with only a backdoor diamond draw on a paired board, so there is no value in betting. Checking keeps the pot small and sees a free card.

A small bet can get value from weaker hands and deny overcards a free turn; my pair of sixes is likely ahead after the check.

Nine-high with no pair and no real draw is too weak to call a flop bet on a paired board. Folding preserves the stack for better spots.

A8s is a standard button open in three-handed play; raising to 3bb builds the pot and takes the initiative before the blinds.

8-2 offsuit is far too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Defending the big blind with T9s getting excellent pot odds (200 to win 450) against a button open.

Flopped top two pair on a dynamic board. Checking to the preflop aggressor to let them continuation-bet, intending to check-raise.

I have ace-high with no pair or draw, but as the preflop raiser in position against a check I can take a small stab to fold out weak hands and win the pot uncontested.

Flopped top two pair on a wet, draw-heavy board; raising for value and protection against draws and one-pair hands.

Ace-high with an open-ender does not have the equity to continue against a flop check-raise; the price is too poor if I only realize the turn.

On the button in a three-handed game, 8♣5♥ is weak but playable as a small open; raising applies pressure and gives me positional advantage postflop.

A6o is too weak to call out of position against a button open with the big blind left to act, making a fold standard.

A7s has enough equity and playability against a button open to continue, but it is too weak to 3-bet for value out of position. Calling 150 keeps the pot small and realizes the suited-ace equity.

Middle pair with an ace kicker is showdown value but vulnerable to the preflop raiser and the two-heart board, so I check to control the pot and see their action.

I have top pair and can get value from weaker pairs while charging overcards and straight or flush draws. A small bet keeps the pot manageable with my weak kicker.

I have middle pair with an ace kicker and only need to call 200 into 750. That price is good enough to continue against a single c-bet rather than fold or inflate the pot.

I have only a pair of sevens with an ace kicker on a jack-high board against the preflop raiser who already bet the flop, so I check and keep the pot small.

A small turn bet can get value from weaker pairs and charge draws while keeping the pot manageable with my weak kicker. The check also caps some of my opponent’s range, though I’ll avoid building a large pot if met with resistance.

Middle pair with an ace kicker is ahead of enough bluffs and weak bets to continue against a small turn bet of 300 into 950.

I have aces and sevens on a dry river and act first, so a half-pot bet gets value from worse aces and one-pair hands without bloating the pot against sets.

The river ace is a poor card for my weak pair, and the check-call/check-call/lead line is likely value-heavy. I fold rather than pay off with a hand that beats few plausible value bets.

Opening pocket sevens on the button for standard value and positional advantage.

KTo has enough equity versus a 2.5bb button open in three-handed play, and calling 200 into 400 is a reasonable price out of position.

Calling 150 into a 600-chip pot with deep stacks offers reasonable set-mining odds, especially with another caller already in.

King-ten high has no pair or draw on a paired flop, and the preflop raiser still has position, so checking is the disciplined play.

With only a small underpair on a paired, multiway flop, betting has little value and risks building the pot against better hands. I’ll take the free card.

In a three-way pot with a paired board, checking back our pocket sevens controls the pot and realizes showdown value safely in position.

King-high with no draw on a paired ace board has little showdown value and poor bluff equity multiway, so I take the free card.

My pocket deuces have some showdown value, but with two opponents and an ace on the turn, a bluff is unlikely to improve my position enough to justify betting.

We hold 77 with third pair and some showdown value. Both opponents checked to us twice, so checking behind controls the pot and lets us see a free river.

King-high has almost no showdown value on a paired Ace-high board, but bluffing into two opponents is poor. Checking is free and avoids putting more chips in with a hand that rarely wins.

My pocket deuces may still beat missed overcards, while a river bet is unlikely to get called by worse and would risk being raised by better hands.

We have modest showdown value with our pocket sevens on a double-paired board structure with an Ace and a Nine. Betting is unlikely to get called by worse, so checking back to see showdown is optimal.

36 offsuit is too weak to open from the button for a full big blind, so I fold and wait for a better hand.

Pocket tens are a strong hand heads-up against the big blind, so I raise for value and to deny a free flop.

Holding 43o facing a 3bb raise from the small blind, this hand is far too weak to defend profitably.

Q7 suited is a profitable button open three-handed. I’ll raise to 2.5 big blinds to apply pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

KTs is a strong hand against a button open in 3-handed play; 3-betting to 10bb takes the initiative and discourages the big blind from entering.

62 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open and a small-blind three-bet to 10bb. Folding preserves the stack for better spots.

Q♦7♦ is too weak to continue against the small blind’s large 3-bet; calling would needlessly commit more chips out of position in a likely dominated spot.