Hold'em table

A suited connector is playable from the button in a three-handed game; opening to 250 applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

K2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

J8s in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open is getting good odds (150 to win 400), and it plays well postflop, so calling is clearly better than folding; a 3-bet is too loose here.

Jack-high with a backdoor diamond draw on a dry paired board, out of position against the button raiser, so checking to the aggressor is standard. I can re-evaluate facing a c-bet.

Make a small continuation bet on a paired flop where my button range has an advantage. The hand also has backdoor heart and straight potential if called.

We're getting 180 to win 730, so we only need about 20% equity. J8 has overcard and backdoor equity against a button c-bet that is likely wide on this paired board, so calling is good and folding is too tight.

J-high with a gutshot to the 6 (five-card straight needs 6-7... actually 8-9 with 5 needs 6,7 — weak draw); checking to control the pot out of position and realize equity cheaply. The button's small c-bet range is wide, so I can re-evaluate on the river.

The turn gives me two pair, and a small value bet can be called by weaker pocket pairs or draws while charging overcards. I can fold to substantial aggression if the opponent has a 9 or better.

J-high with no real draw on a paired board facing a second barrel. Only weak pair outs remain, and they are often dominated, so I fold rather than call and face a tough river.

A9 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise builds the pot while keeping the sizing controlled.

T2 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still left to act behind me.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button raise, and the 150-chip call gets a favorable price without inflating the pot with a marginal hand.

I have a medium-strength pair on a connected flop, and checking out of position keeps the pot manageable while letting the raiser act.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this Q-J-7 flop connects well with the big blind’s calling range. Checking back keeps the pot small and lets me see a turn.

I have a marginal one-pair hand on a paired turn, and the preflop raiser may still have a queen or a better jack. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me evaluate the river.

After the flop checked through, a turn bet can fold out some better ace-high hands and small pairs. My ace also gives me some equity when called.

Middle pair with a reasonable kicker is strong enough to continue against this modest delayed turn bet, while raising would isolate us against stronger hands and folds.

Check to showdown with one pair. A value bet is unlikely to get called by enough worse hands after the turn bet, while checking preserves the chance to win against missed draws or weaker pairs.

Ace-high can beat missed draws at showdown. After the turn call, a river bluff is unlikely to fold enough pairs to justify the risk.

J9o is a standard button open in 3-handed play; a 2.5bb raise takes the initiative and has a good chance of picking up the blinds.

Q5 offsuit is a weak hand out of position against a button raise, with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more in a poor spot.

64 offsuit is a weak, disconnected hand that plays poorly out of position against a button raise.

K8 offsuit is strong enough to open from the button three-handed. A small raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping weaker hands in the pot.

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

Getting 150 to win 400 with a small pair in the big blind against a button open, and deep stacks make set-mining profitable, so calling is clearly better than folding. A 3-bet with 33 is less attractive than just seeing a flop.

A small pair on a Q-high board in a big-blind defense out of position has some showdown value but gets little from betting, so I'll check to the preflop raiser and decide how to respond from there.

K-high has some showdown value and can improve on a king. This board connects with the caller’s range, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into it.

Small pair on a high board that favors the raiser. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves some showdown value against a range that checked back.

Bet small for value and protection with top pair, while keeping weaker pairs and draws in the pot. The opponent has checked twice, making a large bet unnecessary.

The price is small: I need about 21% equity, and a button who checked back the flop has plenty of air and draws that my 33 still beats. I also have 2 outs to a set, so calling beats folding here.

Pocket 3s on a K-Q-9-7-4 board have showdown value only against busted draws. Checking lets villain bluff, and a bet would only get called by better hands.

My pair of kings has reasonable showdown value, but the weak kicker makes a value bet thin after the turn call. Checking avoids value-owning myself while retaining a chance to win against missed draws or weaker pairs.

K7 suited is a profitable button open three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while preserving flexibility postflop.

A8s in the small blind facing a button open 3-handed is a solid 3-bet candidate. Squeezing out of position to 10bb takes the initiative and blocks aces.

QJo is too weak to continue against a large 3-bet with the button still to act; calling risks entering a difficult, likely dominated multiway pot.

K7 suited is often dominated by a small-blind three-bet range, and calling the large raise is unlikely to be profitable despite having position.

A7o on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear opening hand, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds.

Calling is worthwhile with a small pair at this price and deep stacks, especially with set-mining value; a 3-bet would risk too much with a hand that plays poorly when called.

A6 suited has enough equity and playability to defend the big blind for 150 chips against a button raise and small-blind call.

With pocket fours on a king-high, two-club flop in a three-way pot, I have little value in betting and would rather take a free card.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this flop gives me no meaningful draw. Checking is best in a three-way pot with the button still to act.

As the button preflop raiser, a small c-bet into two checks with backdoor nut flush, a gutshot to Broadway (Q-T needed... actually A-high plus backdoors) and an ace overcard is a good semi-bluff that uses range advantage on a K-high board.

The bet is small relative to the pot, and pocket fours retain showdown value against a button stab or missed draw. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding an unnecessary raise with a vulnerable pair.

With only ace-high and no meaningful draw, I'm unlikely to have enough equity against a bet and a call in a three-way pot.

With only a small pocket pair on a king-high board, I have little value in betting and prefer to check and see the river.

Ace-high has little equity and some showdown value against the draws in the SB's flop-calling range, and a second barrel won't fold out many Kx or Jx hands. Checking back realizes equity and hits an ace on some rivers.

With only a low pair on a connected, high-card board, a river bet is unlikely to get called by worse or fold out enough better hands. Check and preserve showdown value.

A bottom pair of sevens with an ace kicker has some showdown value against a check-check line and missed draws. Betting would mostly get called by better Jx/Kx hands and fold out worse ones, so checking back is best.