Hold'em table

J8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

My hole cards 8c 2s are extremely weak and unsuited, making it unlikely to win against a preflop raise. Folding preserves my remaining stack for better opportunities.

Q3 offsuit is weak. The button opened to 250 and I would be out of position, so I need 150 more to win a 400 pot. That is about 27% equity required, and Q3o is unlikely to realize it, so I fold.

I have a weak suited connector in late position with two opponents already invested; the pot odds don't justify a speculative call, so I'll preserve my stack for better spots.

Small blind heads-up against the big blind with a pocket pair (44), which is strong enough to raise for value and to take the initiative.

Q-T suited plays well heads-up in position. Calling keeps the pot manageable while preserving its postflop potential.

Heads-up on a dry 2s9dQs flop, I hold a pocket pair (44) that is likely ahead of many hands but vulnerable to overcards. I'm first to act out of position, so a bet of about 2/3 pot builds the pot and charges flush draws and overcards.

Top pair with a medium kicker is strong enough to continue against this flop bet. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in without building a large pot against stronger queens.

I hold a small pocket pair (44) on a 2-9-Q-8 board, which is marginal. The opponent called a flop bet, so I'll check and see the river cheaply rather than bloat the pot with a weak hand.

Top pair with a diamond flush draw and a gutshot is strong enough to bet for value and protection after the turn check.

Pair of fours on Q-9-8-2 needs 28% equity to call 900 into 3200, and it is mostly behind a range that called the flop and now bets the turn. Only two outs to a set, so folding is the better play.

Pocket sixes on the button in a 3-handed game is a strong hand, so I raise to 3bb for value and to take position and initiative.

Nine-four offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a three-big-blind raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

My hand (Tc5s) is weak and out of position. The button raised to 300, and I only have 100 big blinds; calling would commit me with poor odds and little equity. Folding preserves my stack.

Q8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

4d 3c is a weak hand that cannot withstand a raise from the button. Folding preserves my stack against a likely strong range.

A9o in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open in 3-handed play is a clear defend: pot odds are 150 to win 400, and the hand has good equity against a wide button range. Calling keeps the pot small out of position.

Ace-high on a dry Q-2-7 flop is a decent bluff-catcher with a backdoor flush draw, and I am out of position against a button raiser. A small bet of about 36% of the pot gets value from worse hands and folds out hands like 8x and 9x, which the check would let see a free card.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against this small flop bet. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding a large pot with a modest kicker.

Ace-high with a gutshot (A-9 on Q-8-7-2 needs a 10 for a straight, plus 6 for a 9-8-7... actually 10 gives J? no) is a marginal hand out of position against a flop caller. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the river cheaply.

Top two pair is strong against the big blind's range. A 750-chip bet gets value from weaker pairs and charges diamond and straight draws.

I hold ace-high with no real draw, and I need about 31% equity to call 750 into 1700. The button's turn bet after calling the flop likely represents a pair or a draw that beats me, so I fold.

7c2c is a weak hand with poor playability and no equity edge against two opponents. Folding saves chips and avoids a difficult postflop situation.

KJs is a strong hand heads-up from the small blind against the big blind, so a 3x raise builds the pot with a hand that plays well.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind 3x raise, but not strong enough to build a large pot out of position.

Heads-up on A-T-6 with a king-high flush draw and a backdoor straight draw. I act first, so a bet of about 2/3 pot uses fold equity, builds the pot, and still leaves me with a good draw if called.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against this flop bet, but the weak kicker and club draw make raising unattractive.

I hold king-high with a gutshot straight draw (K-J on A-T-Q gives a broadway draw, needing a nine... actually any Q-J-T-K-A needs a 9? no, K-J-Q-T-A is already made). Ks Js with Ad Tc 6c Qh makes A-K-Q-J-T, a broadway straight, the nuts. I'll check to induce action from the opponent who called the flop, since checking keeps weaker hands in and lets them bluff.}

Top pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but the queen improves some of the opponent’s range. Checking controls the pot and lets me reassess on the river.

Board is Ad Tc 6c Qh 6d and I hold Ks Js for a Broadway straight (A-K-Q-J-T), which is the nuts or close to it. Seat_1 checked the turn and called the flop, so the best way to get value may be to bet. But I'm first to act on the river and checking risks missing value, so I should bet rather than check.

My ace has showdown value, but the paired board makes many other aces a chop. A river bet is unlikely to get enough calls from worse hands, so I’ll check.

5d6d is a suited connector on the button in a 3-handed pot. Calling 100 to win a 250 pot gets a good price and the hand has solid playability.

Completing costs 50 into a 250-chip pot. Q6 offsuit is weak, but the price is good enough to see a flop without building the pot out of position.

I have a speculative 7-9 suited-ish hand with no action to call, so I'll see a free flop to keep my stack efficient and avoid bloating the pot out of position.

With queen-high on a paired ace-high flop against two opponents, I have little reason to build the pot out of position.

The board is paired with two hearts, and my 7h9c has backdoor flush and gutshot potential. Since the pot is unopened on the flop, checking keeps the hand live and avoids building a big pot with a mediocre holding.

The board is Th Ad Td and I hold 5d6d, which gives a flush draw plus a backdoor straight draw. Both opponents checked, so a small bet of about 2/3 pot can win the pot now and still gives me equity if called. It is a reasonable semi-bluff in a three-way pot.

Queen-high has little chance of winning against a flop bet on an ace-and-ten paired board, and the backdoor draws do not justify a call.

I have a gutshot straight draw to a king on a paired board, giving me decent equity. Calling 200 keeps me in the hand without overcommitting on a wet board where the button likely has a strong hand.

The board is paired with two Tens and an Ace, and my 7-9 is a weak hand that likely does not improve enough to justify a bet. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids building a bigger pot with a marginal holding.

I have a flush draw plus a gutshot (8d-9d would give a straight flush, 7 gives a straight) on a paired-ten, ace-high board. The opponent has checked twice and says they want free cards, so a small bet gets fold equity and builds the pot while I still have a lot of outs if called.

I have a gutshot straight draw to an 8, giving me 4 outs on the turn. Calling 400 into a 1100 pot offers sufficient implied odds if I hit, and folding would waste my equity. I'll see the river and decide then.

The board is paired with a King and two Tens, and my 7-9 is likely behind both opponents. Since the action is on me and there's no bet to call, checking is the safest play to avoid bloating the pot with a weak hand.

I have a made flush with A-K-T-6-5 of diamonds. Seat 2 has checked every street and called bets, so a bet of about half the pot should get value from weaker hands like trips, two pair, or a lower flush.

I hold 7h 9c, which is a weak high-card hand with no pair or draw on this board. Calling 800 into a 2300 pot with such a marginal hand is a clear fold.