Hold'em table

Q-high has reasonable value as an unopened button hand three-handed, and a small raise can take the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

2s4s is one of the worst hands to defend the small blind against a 2.5x button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding loses the least.

In a 3-handed game defending the big blind against a standard button open, A8o has sufficient equity and pot odds to call.

Checking out of position with second pair top kicker to control the pot size and evaluate button's continuation bet.

I have only queen-high with limited backdoor equity on a connected board that can favor the big blind's calling range. I’ll take the free card rather than bluff without useful blockers.

Holding third pair with top kicker out of position, checking to control the pot and see a river is standard.

The turn check gives me a chance to take the pot with a small stab, and the king favors my preflop raising range. My hand has little showdown value, so I’ll apply modest pressure.

Getting over 3-to-1 pot odds against a delayed turn bet after the flop checked through; 8s with an Ace kicker has sufficient equity and bluff-catching value to continue.

I have showdown value with two pair, Eights and Threes with an Ace kicker. Checking allows me to see a cheap showdown or evaluate a bet from the button.

The river completes the front-door spade draw, giving me a credible value story after my turn bet. With only queen-high, I’ll make a sizable bluff and try to fold out marginal pairs.

I hold two pair with an Ace kicker and unblock both missed heart and spade flush draws, giving adequate pot odds to bluff-catch against a polar river bet.

On the button in 3-max, T6o is a marginal but playable steal-raise; a min-plus open applies pressure on both blinds, and I can release cheaply if defended.

K8o is too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a standard button open.

K♦3♠ is a weak offsuit hand against the button’s raise. The price to call is not enough to justify defending it.

Q7o is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

A2 offsuit is strong enough to complete heads-up from the small blind, but raising risks building a pot with a weak kicker. Calling keeps the pot small and lets me see the flop cheaply.

T2 offsuit is far too weak to raise, but checking as the BB against a limped pot costs nothing and lets me see a free flop where a ten could improve me.

With only ace-high and a backdoor straight draw, checking keeps the pot small out of position and preserves the chance to improve.

T-high has no showdown value, and the SB limped then checked a very wide range on this J-high flop; a small 1.5bb bluff folds out plenty of K/Q-high and unpaired hands, and I retain some equity when called.

A-high has only a gutshot to a wheel, giving too little equity to call the flop bet. I’ll fold rather than bluff-raise into the big blind’s lead.

On the button three-handed, 8-6 offsuit is playable as a wide open-raise; raising puts pressure on the blinds while preserving position postflop.

AJs is strong 3-handed against a button open; I 3-bet for value and fold equity rather than calling OOP, keeping a size that sets up a manageable pot if called.

Folding A5o facing a button open and a small blind 3-bet.

An offsuit 8-6 is too weak to continue against a large small-blind 3-bet, and calling would leave poor postflop prospects.

6s3h is the worst type of hand to play even from the button; calling 100 into a 150 pot with no fold equity and a dominated trash hand has negative expectation. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

Holding Qh5h in the small blind after the button folds, raising to 3bb applies pressure on the big blind and plays well postflop.

T8 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a small blind raise, and calling 200 offers favorable pot odds while keeping the pot manageable.

I have a gutshot straight draw out of position on a coordinated board; checking allows me to control the pot.

With only ten-high and backdoor draws, a bet is unlikely to fold out many better hands. I’ll take the free card and preserve the pot.

I only have a gutshot straight draw with no spades on a three-spade, broadway-heavy board. Checking gives a free look at the river.

With an eight-high flush draw, a half-pot bet can win immediately after two checks or build the pot if a spade arrives. I choose a modest size to limit the risk when called.

Holding Queen-high with only a gutshot on a three-spade board, calling a half-pot bet without spade equity is unprofitable.

Q3o is too weak of an offsuit hand to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

A suited ace is strong enough to raise heads-up and take the initiative, while a modest raise keeps weaker hands in and avoids overcommitting out of position.

73 offsuit is far too weak to call a 3x raise from the small blind out of position; even with generous pot odds my equity and playability are poor, so folding is clearly best.