Hold'em table

Opening Q8s from the button in a 3-handed game is standard for value and position.

6-5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Heads-up in the big blind against a button open, A4o only needs to call 150 into a 400 pot, and the ace gives enough equity to defend despite domination risk.

C-betting small on a dry, paired king-high board where our range has a substantial advantage.

J8 offsuit is a playable button hand in a three-handed game, so I’ll open-raise to apply pressure while keeping the sizing modest.

Holding 83o out of position against a button raise is an easy fold.

Q7o is near the bottom of a button opening range in 3-handed play, but a cheap 3bb open pressures the blinds and can win the pot immediately or build a small edge in position.

T8o is too weak to defend out of position against a 3bb open from the button with the big blind still to act.

T7 offsuit is marginal but has enough potential against a button open, and the pot odds make defending preferable to folding. I’ll call and reassess on the flop.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated, two-spade flop. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser act.

I have a gutshot (any 9 makes a straight) plus fold equity as preflop aggressor against a passive caller who checked; a small c-bet of ~half pot applies pressure while retaining equity when called.

Top pair has enough value to continue against this small bet, though the connected, two-spade board makes raising too risky. I’ll call and reassess on the turn.

I have two pair, but the connected three-spade turn gives my opponent many strong draws and possible made hands. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me respond to their action.

My two pair has reasonable showdown value, but the river king and three-spade board make a value bet risky; worse hands may not call while stronger hands can. I’ll take the free showdown.

Pocket deuces on the button in 3-handed play is a standard opening hand to take the initiative.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable defend against a button min-raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable while I’m out of position.

AQo is a strong 3-handed hand facing a min-raise and a call; I 3-bet for value and to isolate, building a pot while I likely have the best hand.

Holding pocket deuces facing a large squeeze to 7.5bb, the implied odds are marginal and the hand performs poorly postflop when unimproved.

J9 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a substantial 3-bet, especially with another player already in the pot.

On the button, T6 offsuit is marginal but playable three-handed; a small open takes advantage of position and avoids a weak multiway limp.

K2s is too weak to call a 2x raise out of position; folding is the profitable play.

Getting 3.5 to 1 pot odds closing the action against a min-raise on the button, J8s has plenty of equity and playability to defend.

I missed this Ace-high board with just a gutshot straight draw out of position, making a standard check to the preflop raiser the clear play.

With no pair, meaningful draw, or strong backdoor equity, I’ll take the free card in position rather than bluff into the caller’s range.

I picked up an open-ended straight draw on the turn, but with three hearts on the board, checking to see a free river card is standard.

I have a modest pair, but the turn completes the front-door flush draw and can improve many hands. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me reach showdown without getting called mostly by better hands.

I have a pair of jacks with no heart on a four-flush board. Checking has showdown value against busted draws and worse pairs.

I have a modest pair with some showdown value, but the four-heart board makes a value bet risky and a bluff unlikely to improve on checking back.

43 offsuit is one of the weakest hands in hold'em; even on the button it lacks the equity and playability to call a full BB in a 3-handed game where blinds will defend wide.

K8o is a solid hand blind versus blind after the button folded, making an open raise to 300 standard to apply pressure and seize initiative.

A2 offsuit is weak but has sufficient equity against a small-blind raise to continue at these pot odds. Calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

Out of position with King-high and no direct draw on a Ts-6c-2h board, checking is standard to control pot size and see how opponent responds.

I have a weak pair with a strong kicker and can take a free card in position. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves showdown value.

Turned second pair with a king kicker after the flop checked through. Betting around two-thirds pot extracts value from gutshots, straight draws, and weaker pairs.

A pair of deuces is weak but has useful showdown value, and the turn bet is modest after a checked-through flop. I’ll call rather than inflate the pot and reassess on the river.

I have middle pair with a decent kicker on a board where straights completed. Checking to control the pot and realize showdown value is the most prudent line.

My pair of deuces is weak, and betting is unlikely to get called by worse hands. I’ll take the free showdown after the turn call and river check.