Hold'em table

Jack-Ten suited is a premier opening hand on the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb builds the pot with position and equity.

T3 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open, especially out of position. Folding avoids putting more chips in with a dominated, unconnected hand.

A5 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button open, and the price is favorable. Calling keeps weaker hands in and avoids inflating the pot with a hand that plays poorly against a 3-bet call.

With ace-high and only backdoor draws on this paired, low board, checking keeps the pot small and lets the preflop raiser act.

Check behind on a paired low board to realize equity with two overcards and backdoor equity, controlling pot size in position.

I have only ace-high, and the king is more likely to help the preflop raiser than me. I’ll take the free card and preserve showdown value.

The King is an excellent scare card that favors my preflop raising range. Since opponent checked twice, a delayed c-bet bluff has high fold equity against missed flops and weak pairs.

The call is getting a favorable price, and my ace-high may already be ahead of a turn stab after the flop checked through. I also have a gutshot to a wheel straight for additional equity.

I have ace-high with some showdown value, and the turn call makes a river bluff-raise unattractive. I’ll check and avoid putting more chips in without a pair.

I paired my Jack on the river giving me reasonable showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by worse hands.

76o is too weak to call or open from the button against two live blinds; folding preserves the full stack.

A3 offsuit has enough value to complete from the small blind heads-up, but it is not strong enough to build a larger pot out of position.

With A5s in the big blind against an SB limp, we have position and a strong hand to isolate for value and initiative.

A3 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a sizable raise, and calling would leave a poor postflop situation.

As the button, I can open a wide range and have position postflop. A modest raise applies pressure while keeping the sizing controlled with this weak suited hand.

97 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a button open with the big blind left to act.

K8 offsuit is too weak to call a button open out of position; folding avoids a dominated, hard-to-play hand.

K9o is well within standard button opening range in 3-handed play. Opening to 2.5bb to apply positional pressure.

KTs is strong enough to 3-bet the button open from the small blind, building the pot and applying pressure before the big blind acts.

A2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open and a large small-blind 3-bet, especially with 8 big blinds to call.

K9o is too weak to continue against a 3-bet from the small blind.

A2o is too weak to open from the button into two live blinds; folding avoids dominated ace spots and a poor kicker.

The button has folded, and completing costs only 50 chips to contest a 150-chip pot. Although 5-2 offsuit is weak, the price justifies seeing a flop rather than raising.

I have a weak holding in the big blind and the small blind limped; checking to see a free flop is the standard play.

My hand has virtually no showdown value and only a weak backdoor draw. I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the big blind’s range.

I have complete air with six-high on a paired queen-high board, so taking a free turn card is standard.

A small turn bluff may fold unpaired hands after the flop checked through, while risking only half the pot. My hand has little showdown value if I check.

Holding six-high with no draw on a paired board facing a bet on the turn, folding is standard.

A5 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game; raising applies pressure to the blinds while retaining initiative.

Holding 8d 5s offsuit in the small blind against a button raise is an easy standard fold.

3-7 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open; folding is the clear choice.