Hold'em table

K5o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open; a raise to 2.5bb steals the blinds with a reasonable hand.

Q4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

A2 offsuit has enough equity and playability to defend the big blind against a button open, while calling keeps weaker hands in and avoids bloating the pot out of position.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated flop, so checking keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser act.

Second pair with a backdoor heart draw on an A-K board, which favors the preflop raiser. A small c-bet gets value from worse Kx and pairs, and denies equity to overcards and draws.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against this small flop bet, but my weak kicker and the two-heart board make a raise unnecessarily risky.

I have top pair but a weak kicker, and the preflop raiser’s flop bet-call range can contain stronger aces. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to a river bet.

Second pair with a weak kicker has showdown value but gets called mostly by aces; checking back controls the pot and avoids a check-raise.

A small river bet can get thin calls from Kx or weaker pairs after the turn checked through, while keeping the cost modest. I’ll fold to a raise because better aces and trips are plausible.

We hold second pair with a king on a paired board, and villain's small river lead of 200 into 910 gives us better than 5:1 on a call. That price makes calling clearly profitable against a range that includes weaker kings, missed draws and bluffs.

A6 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

KJo is strong enough to defend against a button open, but calling avoids building a large pot out of position while the big blind is still to act.

I'm getting 4:1 (150 to win 600) with 85o in a multiway pot, which is a reasonable defend with some implied odds despite being out of position. Squeezing is poor against two players.

King-high has no pair on this ace-high flop, and two opponents saw the flop. Check rather than bluff into a multiway pot.

A gutshot on an ace-high board in a three-way pot with the preflop raiser still to act behind is best played by checking. I can realize my equity cheaply and reassess on the turn.

Top and bottom pair is strong on this dry flop. I’m betting for value against weaker aces and draws.

K-high has no pair or meaningful draw on an ace-high board, and calling risks another player behind continuing. The price is not sufficient for this weak hand in a multiway pot.

The gutshot to a 7, plus backdoor draws and good implied odds from a disguised straight, justifies calling 450 into a pot of 1200 heads-up. Check-raising into the button's strong ace-heavy range is less attractive.

The turn gave me a pair of eights plus a gutshot to the 7. That is decent showdown value but it is behind any ace. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser bluff; I can decide on a call once I see their bet size.

Top and bottom pair is strong enough to value-bet against weaker aces while charging draws. A 1,100-chip bet leaves room to respond if raised.

Second pair plus a gutshot and redraws to two pair or trips give enough equity against a button range that includes barreling bluffs. Calling 1100 into 2750 needs about 29% equity, and implied odds help.

Our second pair with a weak kicker has showdown value but can't bet for value against a button that has barreled flop and turn. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets their bluffs keep betting.

Top and bottom pair is strong on this dry board. A 2500-chip bet can get value from weaker aces while leaving room to reassess if raised.

Third pair facing a large triple barrel on an ace-high board is a bluff-catcher that is too weak. Button's range is heavily weighted toward Ax and better, so I fold.

As the button in a three-handed game, I can open a wide range and try to take the blinds. A small raise keeps pressure on the blinds without committing much with a weak offsuit hand.

Three-handed, the button's opening range is wide, and Q9o plays poorly as a flat call out of position with the big blind still to act. A 3-bet to 10bb takes the initiative, can win the pot right away, and has decent equity when called.

9♦6♠ is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

T6 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large 3-bet; calling would put in more chips with poor equity and playability.

3-handed button with 76o is a standard open; a small raise to 2.5bb steals blinds and plays well in position.

A2 offsuit blocks strong ace hands and can pressure a wide button opening range. Raising also avoids a difficult multiway pot from the small blind.

Q9 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open and a sizable small-blind 3-bet, especially out of position.

76 offsuit plays poorly against a small-blind 3-bet to 9.5bb, even in position. Folding is the disciplined choice.

Q8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

98 offsuit is a weak, awkward hand to play out of position against the button's raise, with the big blind still to act. I fold rather than invest more in a marginal defense.

The price is 150 into a pot of 550, so I need about 27% equity, but 62o plays badly out of position against a button open. Folding is standard.

K5 suited is a profitable button open three-handed. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping weaker hands in the pot.

T6s from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act, is a weak holding out of position; folding is standard (3-betting as a bluff is possible but marginal).

7♠3♠ is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5 big-blind raise.