Hold'em table

Three-handed on the button, Q6o sits inside a standard wide opening range, so a 2.5bb steal is profitable against the two blinds.

J8 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind with the big blind still to act.

The price is reasonable against a button raise, and defending the big blind with this hand can preserve enough equity to continue.

I have only eight-high with no meaningful draw on this paired ace board, so I check and avoid inflating the pot.

On a dry paired ace board where we hold range advantage, a small c-bet works well, and Qd gives us a backdoor flush draw and some equity. The BB will fold many hands to it.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on the paired ace-high flop, so calling the bet is unlikely to be profitable.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to open from the button three-handed.

Completing costs only 50 chips into a 150-chip pot, and 8-6 offsuit has enough equity against the big blind’s wide range to see a flop.

A4o is well ahead of a small-blind limping range, so raising to 4x isolates the limper and builds the pot while I'm in position. It also lets me take the pot down immediately when the limper folds.

8-6 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against the big blind’s raise, even with the small blind already invested.

A8 offsuit is strong enough to open from the button in a three-handed game. A 3x raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

42s from the small blind facing a button open to 3bb, with the big blind still to act, is too weak to call out of position or to 3-bet profitably.

J4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 3x button raise.

J9 suited is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to take the initiative.

43 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, and calling risks a squeeze from the big blind.

A7 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button min-raise, and the price is favorable. Calling keeps weaker hands in while avoiding an unnecessary three-bet with a dominated ace.

With ace-high and no meaningful immediate draw on this dry flop, checking preserves showdown value without inflating the pot against the preflop raiser.

Top pair with a decent kicker and a gutshot on a dry-ish board, heads-up in position after a check. A small c-bet gets value from worse 8x/9x and draws while protecting against overcards.

A-high retains reasonable equity against a small continuation bet, and the price is favorable enough to call once despite having no strong draw.

I have only ace-high with little chance to improve, and the opponent called the flop bet. Checking avoids putting more chips in without a strong reason to bet.

Top pair with a decent kicker on a draw-heavy board. Betting about 64% of the pot gets value from weaker 9s, 8x and draws, and charges the straight and flush draws.

A-high has little showdown value on this low, connected board, and the large turn bet makes a call unprofitable without a strong read that the opponent is bluffing.

J9 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. Raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure while preserving positional advantage.

97 suited has enough equity to defend the small blind against a button open at this price, despite playing out of position.

AKs in the big blind facing a button open and a small blind flat is a clear squeeze for value and initiative. 12bb is a solid size against two players, since the pot is 6bb and I'd be out of position.

J9 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large squeeze, especially with the small blind still in the hand.

A 9.5bb call with 9♦7♦ is too costly against the big blind’s large 3-bet, and the hand is often dominated. Fold and preserve the remaining stack.

J2 suited is a reasonable button open three-handed, with position and fold equity making a small raise preferable to limping or folding.

32o from the small blind facing a button open with the big blind still to act is a clear fold.

Q2 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise and is often dominated. Calling the extra 150 chips is unlikely to be profitable.