Hold'em table

T-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button, and calling would invite the blinds to see a flop with a poor hand.

Button folded, so I only need 50 more to see a flop heads-up. J8o is weak but the price is good enough to continue rather than raise or surrender the blind.

Checking my option in the big blind with a weak unsuited hand to see a free flop.

I have middle pair with a jack kicker and no strong draw, so checking controls the pot and realizes equity against the big blind.

We have middle pair with a weak kicker on a connected flop; checking behind controls the pot and takes a free card.

Second pair with a jack kicker is too thin to bet into the big blind on this connected turn, so I check and keep the pot small.

I have third pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board. Checking back controls the pot and realizes showdown value.

I have trip eights on a paired river after both players checked down, so I bet pot for value against worse pairs and ace-high while keeping the price callable.

In a limped blind-versus-blind pot checked all the way to the river, a pot-sized bet often polarizes to an eight/ten or a missed draw. Two pair (eights and sevens) is sufficient to bluff-catch at 2:1 odds.

On the button in three-handed, A2o is a standard wide open; raising to 2.5bb takes the initiative and I can fold to a 3-bet.

Holding pocket tens in the small blind against a button open, raising to 1000 builds value and takes the initiative out of position.

K7 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large 3-bet, especially with the button still in the hand.

A2o is too weak to continue against a 4x 3-bet; it is dominated by better aces and has poor equity and playability.

Opening from the button with pocket nines to 2.5bb for value and initiative.

T♦3♦ is too weak to defend out of position against the button’s raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

65s is a playable suited connector and the price to continue from the big blind is attractive against a button open. Calling keeps the hand and realizes equity better than folding or bloating the pot out of position.

I have no pair, no draw, and no showdown value on this flop, so checking is free and better than folding or bluffing into the preflop raiser out of position.

Flopped middle set on a coordinated board with flush and straight draws; betting for value against pairs and draws.

5d6d completely missed this flop with no pair, draw, or backdoor equity worth defending. Calling 300 into 850 is unprofitable against a standard c-bet, so I fold.

On the button three-handed, a small open can win the blinds and I have position if called. 7-5 offsuit is weak, so I’m keeping the raise modest.

Ace-three offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a button open, so folding avoids a dominated spot.

KTs has excellent playability and equity against a button open, and calling 150 chips into a 400 pot offers great direct odds.

Check second pair out of position against the preflop raiser to keep the pot controlled.

I have only a weak backdoor draw and no pair, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the preflop caller.

I have a pair of tens with an inside straight draw; checking allows me to realize my equity and see how the button responds.

A small turn bet can credibly represent a queen or ace after the flop checked through and may fold out weak holdings. I have little showdown value, so I’m using this as a bluff.

Getting nearly 4 to 1 on a call with a gutshot to the nut straight and third pair, which offers plenty of equity and implied odds against a small delayed c-bet.

Holding fourth pair on a wet board, checking to see a cheap showdown or face a river bet is standard.

I have no meaningful showdown value, but a river bluff is unlikely to fold made flushes or many one-pair hands after the opponent called the turn. Checking avoids investing more while preserving a chance to win against missed draws.

Pocket jacks are a premium hand on the button, so I open-raise to 3bb for value rather than limp.

J2o is an unplayable trash hand out of position facing a 3x open raise, making folding the obvious and standard play.

A6 suited has good heads-up equity and playability against a button open, and calling the additional 200 keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With ace-high and no meaningful draw on a king-high, two-spade board, I’ll check and see how the preflop raiser responds.

Pocket jacks are ahead of most of the BB's check-range on K93 with a spade draw, so a small c-bet gets value and denies free equity.

The small flop bet offers favorable pot odds, and ace-high may already be ahead of bluffs with some overcard and runner-runner flush potential. I’ll call and reassess on the turn.

The ace improves me to top pair, but my kicker is weak and the preflop raiser has a strong range. Checking keeps bluffs in and avoids building a large pot against better aces or two pair.

Jacks are an underpair to both the ace and king, so I check back for pot control and showdown value rather than bet into a flop caller.

A small river value bet can be called by Kx or other weaker pairs after the turn checked through, while keeping the risk modest with my weak kicker.

A8s is a premier opening hand on the button in 3-handed play. Standard open raise to 2.5bb.

K♠2♦ is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

T3s is too weak to continue against a button open to 2.5bb after the small blind folds; calling 150 into a 400 pot is not justified.