Hold'em table

Opening Queen-Ten offsuit from the button in a three-handed game is standard for applying positional pressure.

98s has decent equity and playability against a button raise; calling 120 into a 370 pot needs only ~25% equity, which this hand clears, and I keep a 100bb stack for postflop maneuvering.

I flopped only a gutshot (any jack) with 9-8 on Q-T-5, so I have no made hand worth betting. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me fold cheaply to aggression or see a free turn.

Flopped top two pair on a connected board; betting around half pot for value against draws and single pairs.

I have an open-ended straight draw (any J or 7) with ~31% equity by the river, and calling 250 into a 740 pot is profitable with implied odds against this aggressive opponent. Folding gives up too much equity; raising as a semi-bluff risks more than needed deep-stacked.

We hold top two pair on a relatively dry rainbow board; betting around 70% pot extracts value from single-pair holdings and draws.

I only have an open-ended straight draw (8 outs, ~17%) and need ~29% equity to call 700 into 1690; the direct EV is negative and this opponent has shown strength on every street, so I fold rather than chase.

QJo is a strong button-opening hand in a three-handed game. Raise to 2.5 big blinds for value and initiative.

Queen-five suited is far too weak to call a 2.5x raise out of position with two players still to act behind. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

Getting 2.7 to 1 direct pot odds closing the action preflop, 43s has decent playability and equity realization to defend from the big blind against a button open.

We flopped middle pair with marginal kicker out of position; checking to the preflop aggressor is standard to control the pot.

A small continuation bet can take down the pot or fold out hands with equity, while keeping the risk modest with two overcards. I can check back if called on many turn cards.

We have middle pair and a gutshot straight draw getting attractive pot odds (180 to win 730) against a small continuation bet.

I have weak showdown value with fourth pair and an inside straight draw, so checking out of position to control the pot is standard.

I have an open-ended straight draw but only queen-high, and the 9 may have improved the caller’s range. I’ll take the free card and realize my equity rather than build the pot without a made hand.

I have fourth pair on a connected board, which lacks showdown value to bet for value and has poor bluff properties, so checking is best.

I have a strong queen-high straight and should value-bet after the river checks through. A 600-chip bet targets calls from weaker made hands while keeping the sizing reasonable on this connected board.

Holding bottom pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board with straights and overpairs possible, our hand is at the bottom of our calling range against a river bet.

Ten-eight offsuit is a weak hand even from the button in a 3-max game; folding avoids playing a marginal spot out of position postflop.

Completing from the small blind with T8o to contest the pot against the big blind with favorable pot odds.

Check with this weak offsuit hand and take the free flop rather than inflate the pot.

Check with a gutshot straight draw on a paired board out of position.

A small flop bet can take down the pot against the limper’s checked range, and the paired ace board favors a credible BB stab. I have little showdown value, so I’ll apply modest pressure.

I have ten-high with negligible draw equity on a paired ace board out of position facing a bet.

72s is too weak and disconnected to open profitably even from the button in 3-handed play.

With the button folded, ace-four offsuit is strong enough to raise from the small blind heads-up. A raise to 300 applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable out of position.

8c2c is a very weak hand out of position against a 3x raise; folding loses only the 100 already posted and preserves chips for better spots.

With pocket kings on the button, make a strong raise to build the pot and take the initiative while keeping weaker hands in the range.

JTs suited has good playability and I'm getting roughly 2.8:1 to set-min/see a flop in position against a single raiser. Folding is too tight with a connected suited hand at these odds.

K5o plays poorly multiway and out of position, making it a clear fold despite getting decent direct pot odds.

I missed the flop completely with jack-high and the pot is small; checking keeps the pot cheap and lets me see a free card or fold to aggression.

Bet for value and protection with an overpair on a low, somewhat connected board; a moderate sizing can get calls from worse pairs and draws.

I only have jack-high with a weak backdoor draw against a preflop raiser who continued betting a dry flop; calling 350 into 1050 with no made hand or real equity is losing play.

Nine-three offsuit from the button is far too weak to call even for the cheap 100, with little fold equity against two blinds already invested. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

T7o plays poorly out of position postflop against the big blind, making an easy fold.