Hold'em table

K2 offsuit is weak, but on the button three-handed it is worth opening to pressure the blinds and use position. A 2.5-big-blind raise is a standard size.

53o out of position in the small blind against a button open, with the big blind still left to act, is a clear fold.

T5 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button raise to 2.5 big blinds, especially with the small blind folded.

With ten-high and no immediate draw, I’ll check to the preflop raiser rather than build the pot out of position.

A small continuation bet uses my preflop range advantage on this relatively dry flop and can fold out unpaired hands. I also have two overcards and a backdoor diamond draw if called.

T5 suited missed this dry flop and has only weak backdoor possibilities. Calling out of position against the preflop raiser is unlikely to be profitable.

T6 suited is a standard button open in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds and take position.

J8 suited is strong enough to defend against a button open, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

Calling is profitable with pocket sevens at this price, especially with another player already in the pot and deep stacks offering set-mining value. A reraise risks building a large pot out of position with a hand that rarely wants to continue against strong resistance.

With jack-high and little draw potential against two opponents, I prefer to check and avoid building the pot.

I have a strong set on a dry board and should build the pot while charging overpairs and draws. A 500-chip bet is a solid value size into 750 chips multiway.

T6 high has only backdoor straight draws and no pair against a two-thirds-pot lead, and the small blind still acts behind. We need about 29% equity to call, and this hand doesn't have it, so folding is best.

J-high has no immediate draw on this dry flop, and calling a substantial bet out of position is unlikely to be profitable.

J4 suited is playable as an unopened button raise in three-handed hold’em. A 2.5-big-blind open uses position without committing too much.

8♣4♠ is a very weak offsuit hand from the small blind facing a button raise. Calling 200 chips would be an unprofitable defense.

A2o is well ahead of a wide 3-handed button range, and calling 150 into a 400 pot is a good price from the big blind. Calling keeps the pot controlled rather than 3-betting a hand that plays poorly against a 4-bet.

A2 with a backdoor club draw on a paired board plays best as a check to the preflop raiser. It has some showdown value, and leading into the raiser's range advantage on this board gains little.

I have a flush draw and can apply pressure with a small continuation bet on this paired flop.

This is a small c-bet on a paired board, and I only need about 21% equity to call. Ace-high has some showdown value plus a backdoor flush draw, which is enough to continue against the button's wide range.

With just ace high and no real draw, I'll check to control the pot and realize my equity cheaply against the button's likely continuation bet.

The king is a good card to represent after raising preflop, and a bet can pressure sevens and pocket pairs. If called, I still have a flush draw.

Ace-high with no real draw (only three clubs total) facing a double barrel on a K-Q-Q board. Calling needs about 29% equity, and this hand is too weak to continue.

T9 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to take initiative and apply pressure to the blinds.

AKo in the small blind against a button open is a clear 3-bet for value. Sizing to 10bb accounts for being out of position and the big blind still left to act.

8-5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

T9 offsuit is too weak to continue against a sizable small-blind 3-bet; calling would leave me out of position postflop with a dominated hand too often.

Q7o is a standard button open in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds.

J5 suited is often dominated by a button opening range, and calling from the small blind leaves me out of position with the big blind still to act.

AQ suited is strong enough to 3-bet for value against a button raise, and a sizable out-of-position raise builds the pot while applying pressure.

Q7o is too weak to continue against a big-blind 3-bet to 9bb. The pot odds (650 to win 1850) don't justify calling with a dominated hand.

Q6 offsuit is a marginal but playable button open three-handed, especially with no rake. A small raise uses position without committing too many chips.

J♣5♣ is a weak suited hand out of position, and the big blind can still act behind me. The call price does not justify defending here.

Getting 3.8:1 in the big blind against a button 2.25x open; Q3 suited has enough equity and playability to defend by calling.

Q-high with a backdoor straight draw on an A-T-2 board that favors the button's range. Checking to the preflop raiser is standard here; I can fold to a c-bet unless I pick up equity.

This dry ace-high flop favors my preflop raising range. A small continuation bet can fold out some better unpaired hands while risking relatively few chips.

Q3 offsuit has no pair and no real draw on A-T-2. It sits at the bottom of my defending range, so even against a small c-bet it is a clean fold.