Hold'em table

Q3 offsuit is a weak button opening hand in this short-handed configuration; folding avoids entering with a dominated, low-playability holding.

With the button folded, K6 offsuit is strong enough to open heads-up against the big blind. A modest raise applies pressure without building an oversized pot out of position.

Getting 350:150 odds in position against a small-blind raise, and 96s plays well postflop, so calling is clearly profitable versus a wide SB range.

Top pair is likely ahead of many big-blind calls. A small bet gets value from pocket pairs and diamond draws while keeping the pot manageable with a weak kicker.

Facing a small 35% pot bet, we need only about 21% equity. 9-high with a runner-runner straight draw has enough equity against a wide SB c-betting range to defend at this price.

I have top pair, but the third diamond completes flush draws and my kicker is weak. Checking keeps the pot manageable while preserving showdown value.

Second pair on a board with three diamonds, and I hold no diamond. My hand has showdown value but gets check-raised by better hands, so I'll check back to keep the pot small.

My king has showdown value, but the ace makes a value bet unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking avoids building a pot against stronger kings, aces, flushes, or trips.

Our nines-and-eights is a bluff-catcher with showdown value. Few worse hands would call a bet on this A-K board, so checking behind is best.

T8 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise uses position without committing too much.

84o from the small blind facing a button open is too weak to continue, and the big blind is still left to act behind me.

J4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise at this size, especially out of position.

K2o sits within a standard button opening range three-handed with only the blinds left to act, so a small open to 2.5bb applies pressure on them profitably.}

AdTd is a strong suited Broadway hand and plays well as a 3-bet from the small blind. Raising applies pressure to the button opener and builds initiative.

QJo is often dominated by a small-blind three-bet range, and the button can still act. Calling 7bb here is unlikely to be profitable.

K2o plays poorly against a small-blind 3-bet to 8bb: it is often dominated and has weak playability, so folding beats calling 550 or 4-bet bluffing.

Open-raise the button with a playable suitedness-independent connected hand to leverage position and realize its equity.

J9 suited plays well against a button opening range. Calling costs 170 chips and keeps the pot manageable from the small blind.

Calling 120 into a 540 pot needs only about 18% equity. T3o has roughly 27% raw equity against two wide button and small-blind ranges, so a cheap defend is marginally fine despite being out of position multiway.

I have an open-ended straight draw, but leading into two opponents from out of position is unlikely to generate enough folds. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to their bets.

Top pair on a draw-heavy board in a 3-way pot; a small bet gets value from worse pairs and draws and denies equity rather than letting both opponents realize it cheaply.

We have an open-ended straight draw on this rainbow flop and are getting a small price with implied odds. Calling keeps the pot manageable multiway.

I have an open-ended straight draw and a backdoor flush draw. Calling 220 into a 1,100-chip pot offers good odds without inflating a multiway pot out of position.

I have an open-ended straight draw but no made hand. Checking keeps the pot manageable in this multiway pot and lets me assess the action before committing more chips.

Top pair with the worst kicker on a paired board, and two opponents called the flop. Checking controls the pot size and keeps my hand as a bluff-catcher rather than betting into better tens or overpairs.

Betting the paired board can fold out unpaired overcards and weaker draws while retaining strong open-ended straight-draw equity when called.

The open-ended straight draw has only one card to come, and the 700-chip bet does not offer sufficient direct odds. With another player still to act and a paired board, calling is unlikely to be profitable.

Top pair with a weak kicker on a paired board is a good bluff-catcher, and 700 to win 2020 (about 26% equity needed) is a cheap price. Raising would only get called by hands that beat me, so I'll call.

Top pair with the worst kicker plays as a bluff-catcher. Most worse hands won't call a bet, and better Tx or overpairs will, so I'll check and plan to call a reasonable bet, since missed draws are in the button's range.

Our seven-high kicker on the paired board has no value-bet merit, and the turn call indicates opponent often holds an 8 or ten. Checking preserves our showdown chance against missed draws.

A4 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Q3o in the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still left to act, is too weak to call or 3-bet profitably out of position.

Defend the big blind against the button's small 2.5bb open with suited T8, which has adequate equity and playability heads-up.

Check to the preflop raiser with top pair and a modest kicker, keeping their c-bets and bluffs in range while controlling the pot.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this flop connects well with the big blind's calling range. Checking in position keeps the pot small and lets me evaluate the turn.

Betting top pair for value while charging draws and weaker Jx or pocket pairs on this coordinated board.

The turn lead can include draws and weaker hands after the flop checked through. In position, I can call with ace-high and a gutshot rather than inflate the pot with a raise.

With only a pair of tens on a three-diamond board, a thin value bet is unlikely to be called by worse and risks facing stronger made hands. Checking realizes showdown value.

I have a five-high straight, and the ace of diamonds blocks some flushes. A moderate river bet can get value from jacks and other weaker made hands.

Our pair of tens is too weak against a river bet after the opponent called the turn; their line contains many jacks, overpairs, and diamond holdings. The price does not justify a bluff-catch.

QJ suited is a strong opening hand on the button in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to take the initiative.

5-2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still behind.

8-3 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a 2.5bb button raise, especially out of position.