Hold'em table

On the button, I can open this marginal hand and use position after the flop. A 2.5-big-blind raise puts pressure on the blinds without committing too many chips.

AKs is a premium hand in a 3-handed pot, so I'm 3-betting for value and to apply pressure on the button raiser.

Holding 7h 3c in the big blind facing an open and a 3-bet is an easy fold.

7-5 offsuit plays poorly against a small blind three-bet, and calling 550 more is unlikely to be profitable despite having position.

T8s on the button has good steal equity and postflop playability; a 3x raise pressures the blinds and takes initiative.

A3 offsuit is too weak to call or 3-bet out of position against a 3bb button open.

6-4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 3× button raise.

J7o is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

With 8-7 offsuit in the small blind, completing for 50 chips keeps the pot manageable while preserving a playable hand heads-up.

With 3h5c out of position, checking sees a free flop and avoids bloating the pot with a weak hand.

Top pair is likely ahead of the big blind’s wide checking range. A modest bet gets value from weaker hands and charges draws.

I have an open-ended straight draw and position. Raising applies pressure, builds the pot if I hit, and can take it down if opponent is weak.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against this modest raise, which can include draws and weaker pairs. Calling keeps the pot manageable with a weak kicker.

My pair of eights has showdown value but is vulnerable after the flop raise. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me assess a turn bet.

My pair of eights has showdown value, but the flop raise makes a value bet thin. Checking avoids building a larger pot against stronger hands.

With no rake and position on both blinds, 9-7 offsuit is playable as a button open. A 2.5 big blind raise keeps the investment modest.

7c2h is a very weak offsuit hand out of position, and calling a button raise would be unprofitable. Folding avoids further investment with poor equity and playability.

T7o is too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

KhQh is a strong button hand in a 3-handed game; raising applies pressure and builds the pot with position.

Pocket treys play poorly out of position facing a 3bb open with the big blind still to act.

Q6 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a three-big-blind open, so I’ll give up the blind.

K8s is well within standard 3-handed button opening range; raising to 2.5bb to steal or play in position.

7-5 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act.

Closing the action with 2.67:1 pot odds; the button's raise is likely wide in a 3-handed game, so J6o is worth a cheap call despite being out of position.

My J6o has no pair and only backdoor straight potential on a Q-high flop. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids putting chips in with a weak hand out of position.

With a gutshot straight draw, backdoor spade flush draw, and an overcard on a board that hits the big blind's calling range, checking behind allows us to realize equity in position without risking a check-raise.

I have an open-ended straight draw and the opponent checked back the flop, so a semi-bluff can fold out better hands and build the pot if I hit.

We only have a gutshot straight draw with four outs to a Jack, offering insufficient direct pot odds (calling 350 to win 900) and poor implied odds on a four-to-a-straight river.