Hold'em table

Pocket deuces are playable on the button three-handed. A small raise can win the blinds or build a pot while retaining position.

65 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5bb button raise. Poor equity realization out of position and the big blind still to act make folding preferable.

A7o with an ace blocker is strong enough to defend the big blind heads-up against a 2.5bb button open, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

Bottom pair with ace kicker on a K-Q-7 board is too weak to lead into the preflop raiser; check to control the pot and evaluate his bet.

My pocket deuces have little chance to improve on this K-Q-7 flop. I'll take the free card rather than build the pot against the big blind's continuing range.

Pair of 7s plus nut flush draw may currently be best after the preflop raiser checked the flop; a modest turn bet can win the pot now and still leaves many outs if called.

Pocket deuces have little chance to improve and lose to any pair. Calling the turn bet would rely too heavily on the opponent bluffing.

98 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed, with position and straight potential. Raising to 2.5 big blinds gives us a chance to steal the blinds while keeping the investment modest.

J7 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise out of position in the small blind; equity realization will be poor despite pot odds.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5-big-blind button raise.

Q7o is playable on the button in 3-handed play; raising applies pressure to the blinds and takes initiative rather than limping or folding.

AQ suited is strong against a button opening range. Raising from the small blind builds value and puts pressure on the big blind.

T3 suited is too weak to continue against a large small-blind three-bet with the original raiser still to act. Its poor equity realization and lack of useful blockers make both calling and four-betting unprofitable.

Q7 offsuit is dominated by a small-blind 3-bet range and lacks the equity needed to call 850 into 1450, so folding preserves stack.

Six-five suited plays well in position, so I’m opening the button for a standard small raise.

Q6 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5bb button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Its poor playability and domination risk make folding preferable to calling or bluff-raising.

T7 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise, with poor equity realization postflop despite the small call.

J2 offsuit is too weak for a standard button open with two players behind. Its poor playability and domination risk make folding preferable without evidence that the blinds overfold.

76o is connected and playable heads-up in the small blind versus the big blind; calling 50 cheaply realizes equity in position postflop.

With 8-4 offsuit, I’ll take the free flop rather than build the pot.

Out of position in a limped pot with 7-high and only backdoor straight potential on a dry 9-2-4 board, checking preserves chips and lets me realize equity for free.

Bottom pair is often ahead of a small-blind limping range. A small bet gets value from weaker hands and charges overcards.

With 7-6 on a 9-2-4 board I have no pair and no real straight or flush draw, so calling 100 lacks the equity needed against the big blind's bet.

QTo on the button in 3-handed play is well ahead of blind ranges; raising applies pressure and builds pot in position.

A6 suited is strong enough to contest a button open three-handed. Raising applies pressure and avoids playing a multiway pot out of position.

Ten-nine offsuit is too weak to cold-call a substantial small-blind three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act. It also lacks useful blockers for a four-bet bluff.

QTo is dominated by a large SB 3-bet range and needs about 35% equity to call 700, which it likely lacks despite position. Folding preserves stack versus risking a large pot outmatched preflop.