Hold'em table

Q8o on the button 3-handed is a standard open; raising to 2.5bb puts pressure on the blinds.

A3 offsuit has an ace blocker but plays poorly as a call from the small blind. A three-bet pressures the button's opening range and may win the pot preflop.

6♠2♦ is far too weak to continue against a large three-bet, especially with another player still to act.

Q8o is too weak to continue against a 10bb 3-bet from the small blind; calling 750 into 1350 with a dominated offsuit hand is unprofitable, even with position.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button without a read on the blinds.

A♠Q♣ is a strong hand heads-up against the big blind, so I raise for value and initiative to 3 big blinds.

Closing the action in position against a wide small-blind open, I'm getting 3:1, and 75o has enough playability to defend.

I have top pair with the best kicker and should bet for value while charging straight-draw hands. A moderate 400-chip bet keeps worse pairs and draws in the pot.

Bottom pair plus an open-ended straight draw (an 8 makes the nut straight, a 4 makes a straight) against a 400 bet into 600 is an easy call at these pot odds. Calling in position-irrelevant heads-up keeps the SB's weaker bluffs in.

I have top pair with the best kicker and should value-bet while charging draws and weaker pairs. A moderate bet keeps worse hands in while protecting against the heart and straight draws.

We hold a pair of fives with a gutshot to the 8 plus two-pair and trips outs, and we're getting about 3.75:1 on the call. Implied odds and some chance we're already ahead make a call better than folding or raising.

Bet 1,000 for value: ace-queen is strong on this paired river and can get calls from weaker queens or some nines, while keeping the sizing modest after two calls.

Getting 4:1 on the river against a small bet, and missed straight or heart draws plus weak bluffs are plausible. My pair of fives only needs about 20% equity to call.

A3 suited is a strong button-opening hand three-handed; raising applies pressure to the blinds while retaining initiative.

Q9o from the small blind facing a button open is dominated too often and plays poorly out of position with the big blind still to act, so folding is standard.

The button's 2.5-big-blind open gives me a reasonable price to defend the big blind with 97 offsuit.

I have middle pair with a weak kicker on an ace-high flop. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to the button's action.

Make a small value and protection bet with top pair, while keeping weaker hands in and limiting exposure against stronger aces.

Middle pair has enough showdown value to call the small flop bet, but a raise would mainly get action from stronger hands.

With a weak pair on an ace- and queen-high board, I prefer to check and avoid building the pot out of position.

I have top pair but a very weak kicker, and the flop call plus turn check leaves plenty of stronger aces possible. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reach showdown without folding out the hands I beat.

Rivering two pair gives me a value bet against many aces and queens that may check back if I check. I’ll use a moderate size to invite calls from those hands.

Top pair is too strong to fold against a modest river lead, especially after the turn checked through and missed draws may be bluffing. Raising risks isolating against stronger aces and two pair, so I call.

K2o on the button 3-handed is a standard open; stealing the blinds with a small raise is profitable.

Pocket eights are strong against a button opening range. A three-bet pressures the opener and avoids inviting the big blind into a multiway pot.

A♣2♥ is far too weak to continue against a 3-bet with the original raiser still behind. The call price does not compensate for the poor equity and squeeze risk.

K2 offsuit is far too weak to continue against a large 3-bet from the small blind; calling 750 out of position-agnostic ranges is unprofitable.

T9 suited is a profitable button open, with position and strong postflop playability.

5♥2♥ is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Avoid putting more chips into a poor, out-of-position hand.

K9o in the big blind against a 2.5x button open is getting 150 to win 400, so it's a clear defend. Calling beats 3-betting since K9o plays reasonably post-flop and doesn't benefit much from inflating the pot.

K9 with a backdoor flush draw on a paired board plays best as a check to the preflop raiser, keeping the pot small out of position. I can continue against small c-bets with my overcard and backdoor equity.

A small continuation bet can fold out some unpaired hands while keeping the pot manageable with two overcards and backdoor draws.

The small c-bet of 180 into 550 gives us about 3.9:1 odds. K9 with a backdoor flush draw, a gutshot-ish backdoor straight and overcard equity against a wide button range makes this an easy defend.

With K-high and a 9-high flush draw out of position, checking gives a free chance to hit and keeps the pot controlled. I'll decide against any bet once I see its size.

The ace favors my preflop raising range, so I can pressure weaker pairs after the flop call. I still have a gutshot if called.

I only have a 9-high flush draw with about 18% equity, and some of my outs may be dominated or give villain a full house. I need 28% to call, and implied odds don't cover that gap.

J♣T♣ is a strong playable hand from the button in a three-handed game. Raise to 300 to apply pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Q2o from the small blind facing a button open with the big blind still to act is a clear fold; the hand is dominated and out of position.

K2 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 3x button raise, especially with deep stacks and poor postflop playability.