Hold'em table

Pocket threes are a strong button opening hand three-handed; raising builds value while retaining initiative.

AKo in the small blind facing a button open is a clear 3-bet for value. Sizing to about 4x is appropriate out of position with the big blind still to act.

Q4 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a 12bb three-bet with the original raiser still to act.

Pocket threes have sufficient set-mining value in position against the small blind's 3-bet with deep effective stacks.

As the 3-bettor I hold a strong range on the Q-T-3 two-heart flop, and AK has a gutshot to Broadway, the nut-flush-draw blocker Ah, and two overcards. A small c-bet of about a third of the pot keeps pressure on the caller while building the pot.

I have bottom set on a very wet board in a 3-bet pot. Raising builds value against overpairs, top pair, and numerous strong draws while charging heart and straight equity.

With the nut flush draw, a gutshot to broadway and two overcards, we have huge equity even against sets. Shoving adds fold equity, and the effective stacks are shallow relative to the pot.

We have bottom set and are getting excellent pot odds against the all-in. This is a clear call despite the coordinated board.

K4o on the button three-handed is a standard open; a small raise steals the blinds often.

T8 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

A6 offsuit has sufficient equity to defend the big blind against a button min-raise, especially heads-up after the small blind folds.

Check back with ace-high and the nut-diamond blocker on this coordinated flop, preserving showdown value and avoiding unnecessary pressure against the preflop raiser.

On a dry J72 two-tone board, I have K-high with a backdoor flush draw. That makes a good small c-bet from position against a BB check, so I'll bet about a third of the pot.

Call with the nut diamond draw and overcard, preserving flexibility against this small continuation bet.

With ace-high on a paired board after calling the flop, checking preserves showdown value and avoids bluffing into a range that likely contains pairs.

King-high has little fold equity against a range that called the flop, which is likely full of Jx, 7x and diamond draws. Checking back keeps the pot small, and my hand still has some showdown value against busted draws.

Checking back preserves showdown value with two pair. Worse 7x hands can call a bet while Jx and stronger holdings beat us, making a value bet unattractive.

King-high has some showdown value against busted draws in the big blind's check-call range. A bluff is unlikely to fold out the many weak pairs that range contains, so I take the free showdown.

K8 suited is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

K2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still behind.

JTo in the big blind facing a 2.5bb button open is getting 150 into a 400 pot, and it plays well postflop, so defending by calling is clearly profitable. A 3-bet is less necessary with this hand.

Out of position with an open-ended straight draw (a 9 makes the nut straight) plus two overcards. Checking to the preflop raiser is standard; I plan to check-call or check-raise against a c-bet.

Top pair with a strong kicker is likely ahead of the big blind's calling range. A moderate bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws while denying free cards to overcards.

With JT on 7-8-2 I have a gutshot to the nut straight plus two overcards, and I'm getting about 3.8:1 on a small c-bet. That makes a call profitable, and it keeps the pot controlled.

With only a gutshot and two overcards and no showdown value, I'm checking to the preflop raiser to see a cheap river or respond to his bet.

Top pair with a strong kicker can get value from weaker pairs and draws. Betting also charges diamond and straight draws on this turn.

The bet is small: calling 650 into a 1,800 pot needs about 26.5% equity. My gutshot to the nine, plus overcards and some showdown value against a wide button barreling range, gets close to that, and implied odds make up the rest.

Jack-high has almost no showdown value after missing the gutshot. The Q river fits a check-call line, so a roughly 70% pot bluff can fold out the button's small-bet air and weak pairs.

My pair of eights beats missed diamond draws and other bluffs. The river bet gives me enough pot odds to bluff-catch.

A2 suited is a strong enough button opening hand in three-handed play, with nut-flush potential and an ace blocker. I raise to apply pressure and build initiative.

53o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is too weak to call or 3-bet profitably.

7-4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 2.5-big-blind button raise.

Three-handed on the button, Q2 suited is a reasonable steal hand. A 2.5bb open pressures both blinds.

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

AdKd is a premium heads-up blind defense hand. I 3-bet for value and to deny equity against the button's opening range.

Q2s is too weak to continue against a big blind 3-bet to 8bb out of position-adjusted ranges; calling 550 into 1100 with a dominated hand is unprofitable.

A3 offsuit is a profitable button open in a three-handed game. Raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

6c5h offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still behind.

Getting about 3.7:1 against a wide 3-handed button open, Q4o has enough equity to defend the big blind by calling.

Bottom pair on an ace-high board that favors the button raiser, so I check to control the pot and plan to call a small c-bet.

I have top pair and a gutshot. A small bet gets value from weaker hands while charging draws without building a large pot against better aces.

Getting 730:180, over 4:1, with bottom pair and some wheel equity on a dry ace-high board against a small c-bet from a wide button range, so calling is clearly profitable. Raising would only get called by better hands.

A pair of fours is weak on this A-2-3-4 board, where any 5 makes a straight. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see what the button does.

Top and bottom two pair is strong enough to bet for value against weaker aces and draws. A moderate bet also charges hands with a 5 or club draw without overcommitting on a four-card straight board.

Our pair of fours is weak on A-4-3-2: any ace or 5 already beats us, and a 5 on the river would just give everyone the board's straight. Against a larger turn barrel we lack the roughly 27% equity needed to call.