Hold'em table

J5 offsuit is a marginal button open, but position and the chance to win the blinds make a small raise reasonable.

7-2 offsuit is far too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Against a small 2.2x button open in a 3-handed game, 85o has enough equity versus a wide range to defend at roughly 4:1 pot odds while closing the action.

I have 8-high with no draw on K-J-2, a board that favors the preflop raiser, so I'll check and likely fold to a bet.

A small continuation bet can get value from draws and protect my middle pair against overcards.

Holding 8-high with no pair and only a weak backdoor draw on K-J-2, I can't continue profitably against a small c-bet, even though the price is good. Folding is fine here.

K3 offsuit is too weak to profitably open from the button in this setup, so I fold rather than invest further.

72o is the worst hand in the SB against the BB, and playing it out of position is unprofitable even at a cheap price. Folding and giving up the 50-chip small blind is the standard play.

Q3o is below a solid 3-handed button opening range at 100bb, and it plays poorly against both blinds.

With the button folded, A7 offsuit is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind.

JTs is a strong, highly playable heads-up big-blind defense against a small blind min-raise, with excellent postflop realization.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but this coordinated flop favors the big blind’s calling range. Checking avoids building a large pot with a vulnerable hand.

I have the flopped nut straight on a very coordinated board. A modest bet builds the pot while retaining calls from pairs, draws, and smaller made hands.

Bottom pair has few clean outs on this coordinated flop. Facing a large bet out of position, calling is unlikely to be profitable.

J8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

9-4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially with the big blind still behind.

K8s in the big blind against a button open to 2.5bb is getting good odds (150 to win 400), and the hand plays well suited. Calling beats folding, and 3-betting would bloat the pot with a hand that is dominated fairly often.

This board strongly favors the button's preflop raising range, and I'm out of position. My open-ended straight draw with an overcard plays well as a check, and I can check-raise or call a continuation bet.

Middle pair and a gutshot have useful showdown value, but this connected flop hits the big blind's calling range. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess on the turn.

We have an open-ended straight draw (any A or 9) plus a king overcard. Villain checked back the flop, which caps his range, so a semi-bluff lead of about two-thirds pot applies pressure while keeping our equity.

Middle pair with a gutshot has enough equity to call this turn bet, especially after the flop checked through. Position lets me reassess on the river.

The 9 makes our K-high straight, which only AK beats and K8 ties. Betting about two-thirds pot gets value from the button's Qx, Jx, two pairs, sets and lower straights.

I have a queen-high straight. A king beats me, but the pot odds justify calling against weaker value hands, ties, and bluffs.

Pocket tens are a strong button opening hand three-handed. Raising to 3bb builds value while retaining maneuverability against the blinds.

J4 offsuit from the small blind facing a button open to 3bb, with the big blind still to act, is too weak to call or 3-bet profitably. Folding is the standard play.

J2 suited is too weak to defend out of position against a 3x button raise.

K9o is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to pick up the blinds or play in position.

J3 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

A4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise from the big blind, especially out of position.