Holdem table

8-6 offsuit is a weak button holding in a 100bb three-handed game and not worth entering with no prior action.

Blind vs blind with J2 suited, a raise to 3bb is a reasonable steal that pressures the big blind. It also avoids playing a weak hand out of position in a limped pot.

Pocket jacks are strong against a small-blind opening range. A three-bet builds the pot and charges weaker hands to continue.

J2s out of position facing a 3-bet to 10bb is too weak to continue profitably, so folding is best.

A7o on the button in 3-handed play is a clear open-raise; a 2.5bb raise pressures both blinds and takes the initiative.

T3 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Defend the big blind with K9 suited against a small button raise; it has adequate equity and playability heads-up.

Check to the preflop raiser with unpaired overcards on a dry low flop; this preserves flexibility and avoids inflating the pot with little immediate equity.

The low dry board favors the button raiser's range. A7o has an overcard, a gutshot to the wheel with a 3, and backdoor potential, so a small c-bet of about a third of the pot is profitable.

King-high with no pair or meaningful draw is too weak to continue versus the flop continuation bet.

Nine-six offsuit is too weak to open from the button against two players with deep stacks.

Q9 suited is a strong heads-up small-blind holding after the button folds. Raising builds the pot with a hand that has solid equity and initiative.

Getting 2:1 in the big blind with position against a small-blind steal range, K2o has enough equity to defend by calling.

A small continuation bet can fold out unpaired broadways without a spade while risking little on this monotone board. I retain some equity with two overcards if called.

Getting 5:1 with the Ks for a second-nut flush draw (9 outs) plus a wheel gutshot, about 12 outs. Calling keeps the pot controlled while realizing strong equity.

This turn strongly favors the caller's flop continuing range, and Q-high without a spade has little credible equity or useful blocking value for a second barrel. Checking preserves the chance to realize our limited showdown value.

I have the wheel plus a redraw to the king-high flush, and the SB checked the turn. I'm betting for value and protection, and I can still improve against made flushes.

We have queen-high with no meaningful draw on a coordinated board, facing a substantial turn bet. Folding preserves chips.

Q4 offsuit is a weak button opening hand in this format and is not worth investing with against two blinds.

AQs is a strong hand for a blind-vs-blind spot, so I'm raising to 3bb for value and to take the initiative out of position.

Pocket fours have enough equity to call the small blind's raise, and I’ll have position postflop.

Heads-up out of position as the preflop raiser on a dry, low 4-9-3 rainbow board; AQ high with overcards and a backdoor heart draw works well as a small continuation bet of about a third of the pot. It can fold out weak hands and keeps range advantage.

Bottom set is very strong on this dry flop. Raising for value builds the pot against overpairs and nine-x hands.

Getting about 3.7:1 on the call, and AQ has two overcards plus backdoor flush and straight draws on a dry, low board. That is enough equity against a BB check-raise range that includes draws and bluffs.

The turn gave me the nut flush draw plus a wheel draw, about 12 outs. Out of position against a flop check-raiser, I'll check and plan to continue against a bet, getting good odds or looking for a check-raise, rather than leading into a range that is often strong.

My set of fours is strong on a turn that adds straight and flush draws. Betting for value also charges those draws to continue.

The nut flush draw plus a wheel gutshot gives about 12 clean outs (~27%), which beats the ~23% equity needed to call. Implied odds add to that. Villain's line looks strong, so a jam has little fold equity.

Our missed ace-high still beats villain's missed straight and flush draws at showdown, and villain's flop raise and turn bet mostly represent made hands that won't fold to a bluff. So check and give up to a big bet.

A set of fours is strong on this river. A 3,500-chip value bet targets calls from overpairs, strong nine-pair hands, and two pair without requiring an all-in call.

Ace-high with a missed flush draw only beats bluffs. Villain raised the flop and then bet big on both the turn and river, which is a value-heavy line. At 27.8% required equity, calling isn't justified.

Q8o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open-raise; a 2.5bb open pressures the blinds.

A small pair has reasonable value against a button open, and calling keeps the pot manageable while giving me a chance to flop a set.

3-6 offsuit is far too weak to defend against a raise and cold call out of position.

With a set of threes, I can check to the preflop raiser and look to raise a bet for value.

This low, connected board favors the small blind's calling range more than my button open. Still, with Qd8h I have a backdoor flush draw and some overcard equity, so a small one-third-pot c-bet should take the pot often enough.

Bottom set is very strong on this low, draw-heavy flop. Raising builds the pot and charges straight and diamond draws.

Qd gives me a flush draw plus a queen overcard. Calling 650 into a 2300 pot needs about 28% equity, and the draw plus implied odds justifies it; a re-raise would bloat the pot against a check-raise range.

My set is strong on this turn, and a substantial bet gets value from queens and overpairs while charging diamond draws.

Top pair beats the underpairs and the many draws (diamonds, A4/A5/45 wraps) in a flop check-raise range, and calling 1800 into 4100 only needs about 30% equity. Raising would mostly get called or shoved on by the sets and straights that crush us, so calling is best.

My set is strong on a river where the diamond draw missed. A 3600-chip bet can get value from queens, overpairs, and weaker made hands.

The call is 3600 into a pot that becomes 13100, so I need about 27.5% equity. The villain's check-raise range on the flop holds many diamond draws and wheel draws that missed on the river. My top pair has enough bluff-catching value to call.

Six-four suited is playable on the button in a three-handed game. I’ll open to 2.5 big blinds and use position postflop.

QJs is a strong, highly playable hand three-handed and performs well as a squeeze versus a button open. Raising applies pressure to the opener and big blind while building a pot with a hand that has strong equity.

95 offsuit facing a raise and 3-bet from the small blind is too weak to continue. The button is still left to act behind me, so folding is clear.

Six-four suited is too weak to continue against the small blind's three-bet, even with position.