Hold'em table

T8 offsuit is playable on the button in a three-handed game. A standard-sized raise can win the blinds or give me position after the flop.

A2o from the SB against a 3-handed button open plays poorly as a flat call out of position with the BB still to act. It has a blocker to aces, so I'm using it as a 3-bet bluff to 10bb, which makes folding the next best option.

8-4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large 10bb raise with another player still involved.

T8 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large three-bet, even with position.

Three-handed button play calls for a wide opening range, and T6o sits at the edge of a standard button open. A small 2.5bb steal is reasonable against two blinds.

KQo is a strong three-handed hand versus a button open. A 3-bet from the small blind pressures the opener and discourages the big blind from entering cheaply.

K5 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large three-bet with the original raiser still in the hand.

T6o is too weak to continue against a small-blind 3-bet to 9bb, even though we'd have position; the call isn't profitable.

Open-raise the button with an ace-high hand to leverage position and initiative.

K6 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 3.7:1 against a wide button open, so 53o is a reasonable defend with some playability and straight potential.

A gutshot with no pair out of position against the preflop raiser is best played as a check. I can check-raise or fold depending on his bet.

A small continuation bet applies pressure to unpaired hands while risking little with our ace-high and backdoor possibilities.

The small c-bet gives 3.75:1 pot odds. My gutshot to a 6 has good implied odds and can bluff later, so calling beats folding.

I have a double gutshot (any 2 or 6 makes a straight) with no made hand, and the ace favors the preflop raiser. Checking lets me realize my equity cheaply and keeps the option of calling a reasonable bet.

Betting top pair for value and protection against diamond draws and weaker pairs after the turn check.

A gutshot to the 6 is only about 9% equity, well short of the roughly 28% needed to call 600 into 1550. Implied odds don't make up the gap, and bluff-raising into an ace-high turn barrel is too risky.

Q4 suited is strong enough to open on the button three-handed, and a 2.5 BB raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Q5o from the small blind facing a button open with the big blind left to act is a clear fold; it plays poorly out of position and is too weak to 3-bet.

Defend the big blind with a suited connected hand getting favorable closing pot odds against a button open.

This board favors the preflop raiser and my hand has only weak backdoor possibilities. Checking preserves flexibility and avoids inflating the pot with nine-high.

I have a weak pair with some showdown value. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess on the turn.

I will apply pressure after the checked flop with a turn stab, while retaining heart-flush equity if called.

Bottom pair is unlikely to be ahead of a turn lead on this board, and it has few outs against an ace or an eight.

AKo on the button in 3-handed is a premium hand; a standard open to 2.5bb builds the pot while keeping worse hands in.

9d7s is a playable suited connector getting a good price from the small blind against a small button open. Calling preserves implied-odds potential in a three-way pot.

AQ offsuit is strong against a button open and a small-blind call. Raising from the big blind builds the pot and discourages a multiway flop out of position.

AKo is well ahead of a wide three-handed squeezing range and blocks its premium hands. A 4-bet to 2,900 takes the initiative, puts pressure on both opponents, and is sized so I can comfortably get it in against a 5-bet.

9-7 offsuit is far too weak to continue facing a large preflop 4-bet with another player still involved.

AQ offsuit is often dominated by a four-bet range, and calling out of position after this large raise leaves little room to maneuver.

Q2 suited is too weak to open routinely on the button in this short-handed structure; folding avoids entering dominated pots.

With the button folded, completing for 50 chips is inexpensive. T4 offsuit is too weak to raise, but playable heads-up at this price.

43o is weak; checking the option to see a free flop in a limped pot is best.

I have an open-ended straight draw in a heads-up pot. A small bet can win it now while leaving me options if called.

A pair of threes plus an open-ended straight draw (a 2 or 7 completes it) and a backdoor flush draw gives strong equity. Raising builds the pot and wins fold equity against a small lead from the small blind.

I have an open-ended straight draw, and the price to call leaves room to win more if I hit. I’ll continue without building a larger pot while drawing.

I have an open-ended straight draw but only ten-high. After the flop raise was called, checking the turn lets me see whether a free river is available without building a larger pot.

Bottom pair plus an open-ended straight draw (any 2 or 7). The opponent checked after calling the flop raise, so a semi-bluff has fold equity and keeps the initiative.

I have only an open-ended straight draw with one card to come. Calling 800 into a 2050-chip pot does not offer sufficient direct odds, and a turn raise is unlikely to generate enough folds.