Hold'em table

76 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button even in a 3-handed game.

A7o is strong enough to raise against a lone big blind after the button folded. Raising to 300 applies pressure and builds the pot when I likely have the best hand.

A8 offsuit is strong enough to defend against a small-blind raise, and calling keeps weaker hands in while giving us position postflop.

I raised preflop and this paired flop favors my range, so a half-pot continuation bet can fold out worse ace-highs and small pairs. I can shut down if called or raised.

Ace-high has some showdown value against a small c-bet on this paired board. I’m in position and can reassess on the turn.

I have ace-high with no pair on a paired board; checking controls the pot and avoids bluffing into a caller who likely has a pair or draw.

Ace-high has some showdown value, and betting risks getting called by better hands. I’ll take the free card in position.

My ace-high has little showdown value against the opponent's calling range, which includes many kings, flushes, and pairs. Checking lets me see a free showdown and avoid risking chips as a bluff into a range that rarely folds.

The river heart is a credible bluff card, and my ace of hearts blocks some flushes. After my opponent checked both turn and river, an 850-chip bet can pressure pocket pairs and other marginal hands that beat ace-high.

Ace-high with no pair or draw has almost no showdown value against a river bet, and the pot odds do not justify calling with such a weak holding.

J4o is a weak offsuit hand with poor playability, and calling 100 chips out of position against two players is not profitable. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

With the button folded, J4 offsuit is playable heads-up from the small blind. Completing costs only 50 chips and avoids building a large pot with a weak hand.

Holding 82o in the big blind facing a small blind limp, taking the free flop by checking is optimal.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but it is too weak to build a pot. Checking keeps the pot manageable against the big blind's wide range.

I have eight-high with minimal equity, so taking a free card by checking behind is the best line.

Two pair is strong heads-up, and a 150-chip bet can get value from jacks, nines, and draws while charging them to see the river.

I have eight-high with no draw on the turn and cannot profitably call a bet.

On the button in a three-handed, rake-free game, 8-6 offsuit is a marginal but playable opening hand. A modest raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping position if called.

95o is a very weak unsuited hand out of position facing a button raise; standard fold.

Closing the action with 2.67:1 pot odds, J5o has enough equity against a wide button open to defend, though I will proceed cautiously postflop.

I have bottom pair with a weak kicker out of position; checking to the preflop raiser to control the pot and see a turn card.

Top and bottom two pair is strong on this draw-heavy flop. A substantial bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws while charging them to continue.

Bottom pair with a backdoor straight draw and decent pot odds; calling keeps the pot controlled and lets me reevaluate on the turn. Folding seems too tight against a button continuation bet on this draw-heavy board.

I have bottom pair with a weak kicker on a very wet board and am out of position; checking controls the pot and avoids putting more chips in against a preflop raiser who already bet the flop.

The turn completes both a flush and many 7x straights in the big blind's flop-calling range. I’ll check back my two pair for pot control.

I have a marginal pair of fives on a coordinated board, and the opponent checked back the turn after aggression. Checking keeps the pot controlled and avoids getting raised by better hands while still allowing me to win against missed draws.

Two pair can still get called by weaker pairs. I’m betting small because the river also completes several straights and a flush is possible.

My pair of fives is weak on a coordinated board with straight and flush possibilities, and seat_3's river raise represents a strong value hand. Calling 400 into 1800 is not justified given how often I am beaten.

Opening King-Queen suited from the button with a standard 2.5x open raise.

K2o is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a dominated hand out of position.

Q5 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a 2.5bb button raise at this price, but is too weak to value-raise.

With middle pair and no strong draw, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser and keep the pot manageable.

Check back with two overcards and good equity on a dry T-high board to realize equity in position.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me reassess on the river.

We have two overcards and decent showdown value in position, so checking back the turn lets us realize our equity for free.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but worse hands are unlikely to call a river bet often enough to make it worthwhile.

With King-high on a triple-checked board, turning the hand into a bluff is unlikely to fold out weak pairs, and we retain modest showdown value against missed unpaired hands.

Small pair on the button; calling 100 to set-mine with deep stacks and good implied odds.

Calling 50 more offers good pot odds against a button limp, even with a weak offsuit hand.

Holding QTo in the big blind against two limpers, checking to see a free flop out of position is standard and realizes equity well.

I have no pair and only weak backdoor draws against two opponents. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see whether I improve.

I hit top pair on a wet flop with straight and flush draws available, so betting half pot extracts value and protects against draws.

My pair of threes is below the board's nine and queen, and I'm facing a 150 bet into a 450 pot with only two outs to improve. Folding is the disciplined play.

Ten-six has no pair or immediate straight draw on this flop, and its backdoor draws do not justify calling 150 out of position.

4-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button against two opponents.

Holding 73o in the small blind out of position against the big blind is an easy fold despite getting 3:1 on a completion.