Hold'em table

Open-raising with ATo on the button to 2.5bb for standard value and position.

I have 5c3h out of position against a button raise; this hand is too weak to continue and calling would only create difficult spots.

K6 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button-sized open at this price, though it is too weak to reraise.

King-high has little immediate showdown value, and betting into the preflop raiser out of position is unlikely to be profitable. Checking preserves the option to respond to their bet.

Check back with Ace-high to control the pot and realize equity in position on a draw-heavy Jack-high board.

The ace favors the preflop raiser's range, and king-high has little equity or reason to build the pot.

Turned top pair with a decent kicker after checking behind on the flop; betting for value and protection against draws and second pairs.

King-high has no meaningful draw, and calling 375 against a turn bet requires more equity than this hand is likely to have.

Suited connector on the button has good playability; raising takes initiative and pressures the blinds with position.

3♥2♦ is too weak to defend the small blind against a three-big-blind open, especially with the big blind still to act.

AQo is well ahead of a button opening range 3-handed. 3-betting to 11bb out of position for value and initiative.

I opened with a suited connector and have position; calling the 3-bet for 800 keeps my range wide and realizes equity well against a likely blind 3-bet.

As the preflop 3-bettor holding top pair second kicker on an Ace-high board, a small continuation bet of roughly one-third pot extracts value and retains range advantage.

I have a gutshot straight draw and backdoor flush draw, and the pot odds plus implied odds justify a call. Folding is too weak against a possible c-bet.

Turn improves us to top two pair on a dynamic board; betting for value and protection against draws and weaker broadway hands.

I have only 8-high with no real draw on this K-A-Q-6 board and face a 1,600 bet; continuing would be unprofitable.

K2 offsuit is too weak to open profitably into two players, despite having position.

In a blind-vs-blind situation, open-raising pocket fours to 3bb applies pressure and captures initiative preflop.

Q2o is at the bottom of blind-vs-blind defense: dominated when it flops a Q and poorly playable out of position, so despite 3:1 pot odds the realized equity falls short of the price.

53s is too weak to consistently turn a profit opening from the button, even in 3-handed play.

With AKs in the small blind after the button folds, I have a strong premium hand and want to raise for value and to take control heads-up against the big blind.

A5 suited is a good three-bet against a small-blind open: it blocks strong ace hands and can make strong draws when called.

4-betting AKs for value and initiative; we block AA/KK and are ahead of a typical 3-bet range from the big blind.

A5 suited has some playability, but calling this 4-bet leaves a shallow pot against a likely strong range. Without evidence that the opponent 4-bets light, folding is preferable.

K4o offsuit is too weak to open in a 3-handed pot and is easily dominated; folding avoids unnecessary risk.

A8 suited is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind and can make strong flushes and top pairs.

Facing a small blind open in a blind-versus-blind battle, KQo is well ahead of a typical wide stealing range. 3-betting to 900 builds the pot with position and equity advantage.

A8 suited is strong enough to defend against this three-bet, and calling keeps the pot manageable while out of position.

With middle pair and a backdoor heart flush draw in a three-bet pot, I’ll check to the preflop aggressor and assess their bet.

The board connects reasonably well with the caller's range; checking behind with two overcards allows us to realize equity and take a free card in position.

Second pair has showdown value, but betting into the preflop 3-bettor on a queen turn risks building a pot against stronger hands. I’ll keep the pot controlled.

Turned top pair with a king kicker after checking back the flop. Betting half pot for value against pocket pairs, pair of nines, or worse queens.

The half-pot turn bet offers a reasonable price with a pair and ace kicker. After the flop checked through, the bettor can also have missed overcards or draws, so I’ll call and reassess the river.

My pair of eights has showdown value, but the preflop three-bettor’s range contains many stronger hands. Checking avoids turning it into a thin value bet.

I have top pair with a king kicker on a board with straight possibilities; checking back realizes showdown value safely against missed draws and weaker made hands without risking a check-raise.

Nine-three offsuit is too weak to open on the button, even three-handed.

KJs is a strong hand in SB vs BB play, so raising to 3bb builds the pot with an equity advantage.

Closing the action with 2:1 pot odds and position against a likely small-blind steal, K6o is good enough to defend cheaply.

The low, connected board heavily favors the big blind's calling range, so checking out of position with two overcards and backdoor equity is standard.

I have middle pair with a king kicker on a draw-heavy board. The preflop raiser checked, so I bet for value and protection.

I completely missed this connected low board out of position with just King-high and no strong draws, making a fold to the flop bet standard.