Hold'em table

Five-four suited is a reasonable button open three-handed, with position and good postflop potential. A small raise keeps the risk modest.

K2o is a very weak offsuit hand out of position facing a button raise; folding is the standard play.

Closing the action with J8s against a button open, I have enough equity and pot odds to defend the big blind. Calling keeps the pot manageable and avoids bloating it out of position with a marginal suited hand.

I am out of position with only jack-high on a paired board and no strong draw, so checking controls the pot and avoids bluffing into the preflop raiser.

A small continuation bet on this dry paired flop can fold out unpaired hands while keeping the bluff inexpensive.

Opening with A9s on the button in 3-handed play is a standard value raise.

T2o is far too weak to continue against a button raise, especially out of position with only 200 chips to call and poor playability. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

J9 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a 2.5x button raise, especially with the small blind folded.

With second pair on a Q-J-7 rainbow flop, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser and keep the pot manageable.

Checking back with Ace-high and backdoor flush equity to control the pot against the big blind's calling range on a Queen-Jack board.

My jack has showdown value, but betting into a paired board risks building a pot against better hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

Check back on the paired turn with Ace-high showdown value to realize equity and see a free river in position.

After two checked streets, my jack is likely ahead of many weaker pairs. A small river bet can get value from them without risking too much against a stronger hand.

I hold only Ace-high on a board with multiple broadway cards and a pair. The opponent's river lead into a checked-down pot frequently represents at least a pair, so calling with Ace-high is unprofitable.

With button position and a playable J9o, raising applies pressure on the blinds and takes initiative while keeping the pot manageable.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Holding 6-high offsuit out of position against a button raise is a clear and standard fold.

K8 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Folding 42s in the small blind facing a button open as it is too weak to continue profitably out of position.

I’m closing the action with a small pocket pair, getting good pot odds and deep stacks to set-mine against the button’s wide open. A 3-bet would risk too much out of position with a hand that has limited postflop playability.

With pocket threes on a Q-high flop and no made hand, checking controls the pot and avoids building a large pot out of position against the preflop raiser.

King-high has some showdown value, but this flop gives me little immediate equity. Checking in position keeps the pot small and lets me reassess on the turn.

My small pair has not improved on a coordinated high board, and both remaining players checked the flop; checking controls the pot and avoids committing more chips with a marginal hand.

Top pair is likely ahead after the big blind checks twice. A 350-chip bet can get value from weaker pairs and draws while protecting against a free river.

Facing a turn bet with only bottom pair and multiple overcards, my hand has little chance to improve and is likely behind the preflop raiser's range. Pot odds are insufficient, so I fold.

Opening from the button with suited King K7s for standard steal equity and position.

A8s is a decent hand in a 3-handed game, and I'm getting 2:1 pot odds to call. Folding is too tight, and 3-betting out of position with a marginal suited ace risks bloating the pot against a potentially stronger range.

QJo has enough equity to defend the big blind for 150 into a 600-chip pot, but is not strong enough to squeeze against an opener and a caller.

With only an ace-high on a monotone club flop and no club, I prefer checking from the small blind rather than betting into two opponents on this coordinated board.

Top pair is worth continuing with, but on a monotone flop against two opponents, checking avoids building a large pot out of position.

Multiway on a monotone club flop without a club in hand, checking behind to take a free turn card is standard.

I have A-high with a gutshot and no club on a three-flush board; checking controls the pot and avoids bluffing into possible made flushes or strong pairs.

Top pair with an open-ended straight draw is strong enough to value bet and protect against club draws and overcards.

We hold King-high with only a gutshot straight draw on a monotone board, facing a 2/3 pot bet with one player left behind, giving insufficient pot odds to continue.

I have only ace-high with a gutshot that may not even be good against made straights; facing a turn bet on a coordinated board, the pot odds are insufficient for my weak equity, so folding is best.

Three-handed button with A7o is strong enough to open-raise for value and initiative. Raising to 300 pressures the blinds and uses position, while folding or limping would underrealize equity.

Pocket fours can profitably call a 3x button open at 100bb depth, with strong upside when they flop a set. I prefer calling to building a large pot out of position with a small pair.

Holding suited ace A6d in the big blind closing the action, we get 4.5 to 1 pot odds multiway, making this an easy and profitable call.

My underpair has little value on a king-jack flop against two opponents, so I’ll check rather than build the pot.

I have no made hand or draw on this board, so checking to the preflop aggressor is the standard play.

With As7c on a KcJh3c flop, I have only ace-high and no made hand; checking keeps the pot small and avoids bloating it against two opponents who already called preflop.

My pocket fours are weak on this connected, two-flush-draw board, and a bet is unlikely to get called by worse hands. I'll check and avoid building the pot.

With ace-high and no significant draw in a three-way pot, checking to see a free river is the most prudent play.

With ace-high and no draw on a coordinated board, I'll check behind to take a free river card and avoid bloating the pot against two opponents who have already checked twice.

Pocket fours have some showdown value against missed draws, but a bet is unlikely to get called by worse hands. Checking avoids risking more chips.

I hold Ace-high multiway with one player left to act behind me. Bluffing into two opponents is risky, so checking gives a free showdown.

All checked to me on the river; my pair of sevens has modest showdown value but is too weak to value bet, and betting would mostly fold worse hands while getting called by better. Checking preserves the chance to win at showdown.