Hold'em table

84 offsuit is too weak to open from the button, even three-handed.

Pocket fives are strong enough to raise heads-up and take the initiative, while keeping the pot manageable out of position.

Getting 2:1 in the big blind against a small-blind open that should be wide, and I'll have position postflop, so K6o is a clear defend. A 3-bet adds little because we'd mostly just fold out worse hands.

With a small pair on a connected, two-club flop, I prefer to check out of position and avoid building a pot against stronger hands and draws.

K-high with a backdoor flush draw on a board that favors the preflop raiser's range; checking back realizes equity cheaply and keeps the pot small out of position against an SB 3x open.

My pocket fives have little value on this connected, three-club turn. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me reassess if my opponent bets.

The opponent has checked twice, so their range looks weak. I'm semi-bluffing with a gutshot (any 7), a low flush draw with the 6c, and a king overcard.

Pocket fives with no club are weak on this connected, three-club turn. Calling 400 is unlikely to be profitable against the big blind's betting range.

On the button, 9-7 offsuit is a marginal but playable steal hand. A modest raise uses position while limiting the risk with a weak holding.

Three-handed button opens are wide; A3o plays poorly as an out-of-position flat call, but the ace blocker makes it a solid 3-bet candidate that can take the pot down immediately.

9♠3♠ is far too weak to continue against a button raise and a substantial small-blind 3-bet. Fold and preserve the remaining stack.

Nine-seven offsuit is too weak to continue against a large small-blind three-bet, even with position.

64o on the button 3-handed is a marginal-to-weak open; folding avoids playing a dominated offsuit hand against two blinds.

A5 offsuit is strong heads-up after the button folds, so I’ll raise for value and initiative from the small blind. A 3BB total raise is a reasonable size out of position.

J8 suited has enough equity to defend against a small-blind 3x raise, especially with position after the flop.

A small continuation bet uses our preflop range advantage and can fold out unpaired hands; the ace-high and backdoor diamond draw provide some equity when called.

Trips are strong on this draw-heavy flop. Raising the small bet gets value from overpairs and draws while charging diamond draws to continue.

The raise to 800 represents substantial strength, and ace-high with only backdoor flush potential is not enough to continue profitably.

AJo is a strong button-opening hand three-handed. Raise to 2.5 big blinds for value and to apply pressure to the blinds.

54 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

QTo in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open in 3-handed play is a clear defend; we're getting 150 to win 400, and calling keeps the hand playable in position-disadvantaged spots without bloating the pot.

Top two pair on a draw-heavy Q-T-5 board; leading for value and protection rather than risking a free card when the button checks behind.

A-high with a gutshot to Broadway has enough equity to continue against this modest flop bet, though raising would be unnecessarily risky.

Top-and-bottom two pair is still strong on this draw-heavy turn. A roughly two-thirds pot bet gets value from Kx, Qx and draws while charging the flush and straight draws.

I have the nut Broadway straight on the turn, so I should raise for value against hands like sets, two pair, or a lower straight while charging possible draws.

Two pair on a coordinated KQT board is strong, but a turn raise often means AJ, sets, or KQ. At 26% pot odds, with full-house outs as a backup, calling beats shoving into a range that is ahead of us when it calls.

Our queens and tens are vulnerable to the button's turn raise range, which is heavy with AJ, KQ, KT and sets. Checking controls the pot size and lets missed spade draws bluff.

I have the Broadway straight, the strongest possible hand on this board unless the opponent also holds A-J and chops. A substantial value bet can get called by two pair, sets, or a lower straight without making an unnecessary shove.

Queens and tens is too weak against a turn raise followed by a large river bet. That line is dominated by AK, KQ, KT, straights and sets, and I don't think it contains enough bluffs to reach the ~30% equity the pot odds require.

T6 offsuit is a marginal but playable button open in three-handed hold’em. A small raise uses position without committing too many chips.

99 is well ahead of a button opening range in 3-handed play, so a 3-bet from the small blind wins value, denies equity, and avoids playing out of position in a multiway pot.

A8 offsuit is too weak to continue against the button open and a large small-blind 3-bet, especially out of position. Calling would commit too much with a hand that performs poorly against the likely range.

T6 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large preflop three-bet, even with position.

Q9s on the button in 3-handed play is a clear open; a standard 2.5bb raise-first-in puts pressure on both blinds.

T7 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

KTo is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, especially with 150 chips to call into a 400-chip pot.

With top pair and a moderate kicker on a dry board, I’ll check to the preflop raiser and keep the pot manageable.

Q9s on K87 gives a gutshot plus a backdoor flush draw, and the board favors my button opening range. A small c-bet of about a third pot works well here.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against a small continuation bet, but raising would often drive out weaker hands and inflate the pot against stronger kings.

Top pair with a ten kicker is worth continuing with, but the jack improves several hands that could have called the flop. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to the button's bet.

An open-ended straight draw (any ten makes a straight) plus fold equity against a capped check-caller makes a turn semi-bluff of about two-thirds pot profitable.

Top pair with a gutshot is strong enough to continue against this turn bet. Raising would risk too much against stronger kings and made hands.

Top pair has showdown value, but the river completes some draws and improves several two-pair hands. Checking avoids a thin value bet out of position and leaves room to evaluate a bet.

Queen-high has no showdown value. The opponent's check-call line looks capped with many medium and weak pairs, so a sizeable river bluff can push those hands out.

Top pair with a ten kicker can beat thinner value bets and missed draws. The call needs to win about 29% of the time, so I prefer calling to folding or raising.