Hold'em table

Pocket eights on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear opening raise for value. A standard 2.5bb open builds the pot with position.

KQo is a strong hand in 3-handed play, especially from the small blind. 3-betting for value against a wide button open and to take the initiative.

Seven-three suited is too weak to continue against an open and a sizable three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

We hold pocket eights on the button facing a small 3-bet from the small blind; calling 500 chips in position with deep stacks is standard and profitable.

Check behind with third pair and no heart draw on a monotone flop to control the pot and see a turn card for free.

Semi-bluff with flush draw and overcards on a paired board; the flop checked through, indicating weakness, so a bet can take down the pot or build it for when we hit.

Facing a half-pot turn bet on a paired, monotone board where our pocket eights are an underpair with no heart draw, folding is the disciplined and standard play.

With pocket eights on the button, raising builds the pot with a strong hand and takes initiative.

J6 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3x button raise with the big blind still to act.

K7s is well within standard BB defending range against a button open in 3-handed play, getting good pot odds.

Check to the preflop raiser out of position with King-high and backdoor flush draw.

Flopped bottom set with 8c8d on a connected board; betting for value and protection against straight draws.

I have only King-high with backdoors on a wet Q-J-8 board facing a large c-bet.

A2 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while preserving position.

In 3-handed play, KTo has good equity against a wide button open. Calling 200 chips out of the small blind is profitable given the pot odds.

Q5o is a weak hand, especially out of position against a raiser and a caller. Despite getting 4-to-1 pot odds, I risk being dominated and facing difficult postflop decisions with little chance to realize equity.

Check to the preflop aggressor out of position with a gutshot straight draw.

Top pair is worth a modest value and protection bet against queens and diamond draws, while keeping the pot manageable with a weak kicker.

Holding a gutshot straight draw to the nuts on an A-Q-7 board, calling a small continuation bet of 250 into 600 is profitable given pot odds and implied odds.

We hold King-high with a gutshot straight draw on the turn and should check out of position.

Top pair can get value from queens and draws. A modest bet charges those hands without building an oversized pot with a weak kicker.

Holding king-high with only a gutshot straight draw, calling 450 into a 1550 pot offers insufficient pot odds and implied odds out of position.

5s 3c is an unsuited trash hand well below any reasonable button opening range in 3-handed play.

QQ is a very strong hand preflop, and with the button folding, we are heads-up against the big blind. Raising builds the pot for value and discourages weak holdings from seeing a cheap flop.

KQo is strong against a small-blind opening range. A three-bet takes advantage of that range while retaining position postflop.

Pocket queens is a premium hand, and against a 3-bet from the big blind I want to 4-bet for value and denial. Raising to 2500 puts pressure while leaving room for a fold or call.

KQo is frequently dominated by a 4-bet range, and calling 16 more big blinds creates a low-SPR pot with a marginal hand.

Q9 suited on the button is strong enough to open-raise in 3-handed play; a 2.5bb raise pressures the blinds without risking too much.

A8 suited plays well as a three-bet against a wide button opening range. Raising to 1,000 applies pressure while accounting for my position out of the small blind.

Facing an open and a substantial 3-bet to 10bb, J8s is an easy fold from the big blind.

Q9s is too weak to call a large 3-bet from the small blind, and effective stacks are deep with poor implied odds against a strong range.

74 offsuit is too weak to profitably open from the button against two opponents.

Holding 32o out of position against the big blind is the weakest possible starting hand, making folding the standard play.