Hold'em table

8-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button, and limping would invite the blinds to see a flop with a poor hand.

T5 suited is playable heads-up, and a small raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

97o is too weak to continue against a 2.5bb open out of position, so folding is the highest-EV option.

KTo is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 big blind raise pressures the blinds without overcommitting.

45 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open for 200 more, especially with the big blind still to act.

Q4 offsuit is weak but has enough equity against a button’s wide opening range, and the price is favorable with the small blind already folded.

I have two pair, but the ace-high flop favors the preflop raiser. Checking keeps my range protected and lets me respond to a bet without building the pot unnecessarily.

The ace-high board favors my preflop raising range, and my gutshot gives me equity if called. A small continuation bet can win the pot now without committing many chips.

I have two pair on a relatively dry flop and the small bet offers a good price. Calling keeps bluffs and weaker one-pair hands in the pot while avoiding an unnecessary escalation against stronger two-pair hands or sets.

Bet 500 for value and protection with two pair; the turn adds a spade draw, and worse Qx or Ax may continue while draws pay to see the river.

King-high with a gutshot has too little equity against a turn lead of 500, and the price is too high to draw to four jacks.

J7 suited is playable on the button in three-handed play, so I open-raise to 2.5bb for position and initiative rather than flat-calling.

8♣4♣ is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act and poor postflop position.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a 2.5-big-blind raise.

As the button in a three-handed pot, 9♦7♦ is playable and benefits from taking the initiative. I open to 2.5 big blinds.

Nine-eight suited plays well at this price with deep stacks, and calling avoids building a large pot out of position.

A7o is too weak to continue out of position against a raise and a call; folding avoids a dominated ace in a bloated multiway pot.

Middle pair has showdown value, but betting out of position into the preflop raiser risks building a pot against stronger hands. Checking keeps weaker hands and bluffs in.

I have a modest pair with a weak kicker and no spade draw. Checking back keeps the pot manageable and preserves showdown value without exposing myself to a check-raise.

My pair of nines has some showdown value, but the ace and third spade make a bet unlikely to get called by worse hands. Checking keeps the pot small.

With a weak pair and the ace of spades completing a possible flush, betting is unlikely to get called by worse. I’ll take the free showdown chance and avoid building the pot.

My pair of nines has showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called often enough by worse hands on this board. Checking also lets the button bluff missed draws.

My pair of nines has reasonable showdown value after the opponent checked every street, but worse hands may not call a bet and better hands can. I’ll take the free showdown.

Pocket fours are a profitable button open three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind raise keeps the investment modest while taking initiative.

T4o is too weak to continue against a button open; folding the small blind is the highest-EV line.

43 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against the button’s raise, despite the pot odds. I avoid putting in more chips with a hand that realizes equity poorly.

Pocket nines are ahead of a random button range in three-handed play, so I open to 3x rather than flat the big blind and give the blinds a cheap flop.

2♣4♥ is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3bb raise, especially out of position.

J5 offsuit is a weak, easily dominated hand to defend out of position against a three-big-blind raise.