Hold'em table

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

Getting 3:1 pot odds with a marginal hand, calling is profitable enough to see a flop.

With 8-5 offsuit in the big blind against a small-blind limp, I can see the flop for free rather than build the pot with a weak hand.

I have air (8h Js) on a paired ace-high board with no backdoor potential. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free turn; betting into two opponents who could easily hold an ace is not worth it.

A small bet can fold out many unpaired hands on this paired ace-high flop while risking little. If called, I can reassess on the turn.

7h3s is too weak to continue from the button against a full big blind, so I fold.

Calling 50 more lets me see a flop heads-up at a good price with a hand that has some straight potential.

Check my option with A4o in position against the small blind limp to see a free flop.

Bottom pair on a J-T-6 flop is too weak to build a pot out of position. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess after the big blind acts.

With Ace-high and no strong draw on a wet board, taking a free card in position is standard.

After the flop checked through, a small turn bet can protect my pair of sixes against overcards and get value from weaker pairs or draws.

In a limped blind-versus-blind pot, we turn bottom pair with top kicker and hold position; calling a 60% pot bet is profitable against wide turn stabbing ranges.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by worse after the turn call and the ace on the river.

We improved to two pair on the river. Opponent checked after betting the turn, so we value bet against weaker pairs such as Jacks, Tens, or a lower-kicker Ace.

Bottom pair is unlikely to be good often enough against a river bet after the ace arrives, and my eight blocks some missed straight draws that could bluff.

A8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

4s 2s is far too weak to call or 3-bet from the small blind against a button raise.

J4o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise; folding avoids poor postflop playability and domination.

J9s is a strong suited connector on the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb to build a pot in position.

With 4h3d in the small blind facing a button raise and the big blind yet to act, continuing would require putting in 200 chips with very weak equity and bad postflop position.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, but not strong enough to build a large pot out of position.

Out of position with ace-high on a board that favors the preflop raiser, I prefer to check rather than build the pot.

I have top pair with a good kicker on a slightly connected board; betting around half pot gets value and protection from weaker pairs and straight draws.

The small flop bet gives a reasonable price with ace-high against a button opener’s wide range. I can continue selectively on the turn.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this turn does not improve my hand. Checking avoids building the pot out of position.

Check behind with top pair decent kicker to control the pot size and realize showdown value in position.

My pair of sevens has showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called often by worse hands. Checking avoids turning it into a bluff.

I have top pair with a jack kicker on a board where straights and two pairs have completed; checking behind controls the pot and realizes showdown value safely.

J9o on the button is a good spot to raise and take initiative. A raise to 300 can steal the blinds or build a pot with position.

Nine-seven suited is too marginal to call a 3x button raise from the small blind with the big blind still to act.

Holding premium AK suited in the big blind against a button open, standard play is a 3-bet for value to 1100.

J9o is too weak to continue against a big blind 3-bet, even with position and deep stacks; folding avoids paying 800 with a dominated offsuit hand.

J2 suited is playable on the button in a three-handed, no-rake game. A minimum raise contests the blinds while limiting the cost with a marginal hand.

Holding 32o in the small blind facing a button open is an easy fold out of position.

Q2o is too weak to defend against a button raise, even getting 3.5:1, because it is badly dominated and plays poorly out of position. Folding preserves chips for better spots.