Hold'em table

Pocket deuces are worth opening on the button three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

6-5 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind out of position with the big blind still to act.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button open, needing only 27.3% equity at this price. Calling keeps the pot manageable out of position and avoids inflating it against stronger aces.

Bottom pair has showdown value, but this king-queen-high flop favors the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot controlled out of position and preserves the option to defend against a small bet.

Pocket deuces have little equity or useful backdoor potential on this K-Q-7 flop. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids investing more against a range that often connects with the board.

Our pair of sevens has showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands or fold out better pairs. Checking keeps the pot manageable and allows the button to bluff.

Pocket deuces have little equity when called, and this turn gives me no useful bluffing blockers. I’ll take the free card.

Our sevens have showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get enough calls from worse hands. Checking keeps the pot controlled and allows missed draws to bluff.

My pocket deuces have some showdown value against missed hands. A river bet is unlikely to get enough better hands to fold, so I’ll take the free showdown.

On the button in a 3-handed game, 9-8 offsuit is a playable connector with position. Raising to 2.5bb takes initiative and can win the blinds outright.

J7 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 2.5bb button raise from the small blind. Playing out of position with the big blind still to act makes calling unattractive, and this hand is a poor three-bet candidate.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5-big-blind raise.

Q7 offsuit is a marginal but reasonable button open three-handed. A small raise pressures the blinds while limiting investment and preserving positional advantage if called.

A-Q suited is strong against a button open. Reraising from the small blind builds the pot and puts pressure on the big blind.

T3 suited is far too weak to call a 3-bet to 900 from the big blind; folding preserves stack.

Q7 offsuit is too weak to continue against a sizable small-blind three-bet, even in position. It has poor equity realization and is not a good four-bet bluff candidate.

Six-five suited is a reasonable button open three-handed, with position and good postflop playability.

Q6 offsuit is weak and dominated, facing a button raise from out of position with the big blind still to act; folding avoids a marginal, hard-to-play spot.

Calling costs 150 to contest a 550-chip pot, giving favorable odds against a typical wide button opening range. T7 offsuit is a marginal but reasonable big-blind defense with no rake.

Check to the preflop raiser with a ten-high flush draw and no pair. Leading would build the pot out of position with a vulnerable draw; checking preserves flexibility against their bet sizing.

I have only a gutshot straight draw and no spade on a three-spade flop. Taking the free card preserves chips and gives me a chance to improve.

With little showdown value but an open-ended straight draw and a ten-high flush draw, this is a strong semi-bluff candidate. A two-thirds-pot probe pressures the button's checked-back range while retaining equity when called.

I have an eight-out straight draw and position. Calling keeps the cost modest and gives me a chance to win more if I hit on the river.

My hand has almost no showdown value, while the button's flop check and turn call leave many missed draws and marginal pairs. A three-quarter-pot bluff credibly represents flushes or trips and pressures that weaker range.

Six-high has no showdown value, and calling 975 requires too much equity against a river betting range that often contains made hands.

J2 offsuit is a very weak hand even on the button in 3-handed play; calling or raising risks chips with poor equity and playability.

Completing the small blind costs only 50 into a 150-chip pot. With connected cards against the big blind's unrestricted range, limping is preferable to folding or building a larger pot out of position.

8-4 offsuit is too weak to raise for value. Checking takes a free flop in position against the small blind.

With seven-high and only backdoor straight potential, this is a weak bluff candidate out of position. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves the option to improve for free.

Bottom pair is vulnerable to overcards. A small bet can get value from weaker hands and protect against free cards.

Seven-high has no immediate straight or flush draw, only weak backdoor potential. Facing a half-pot bet out of position, this hand is too weak to continue profitably.

QTo is a clear button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while preserving positional advantage if called.

A6 suited is a reasonable three-bet against a button open. Raising also avoids playing a multiway pot out of position.

T9o in the big blind is too weak to call a small-blind 3-bet to 1000 over a button open; folding preserves stack against a strong range.

QTo is too weak to continue profitably against a sizable small-blind three-bet without evidence of excessive aggression. Position helps, but domination risk and poor equity realization favor folding.