Hold'em table

94o is far too weak to open from the button, even in 3-handed play.

Getting 3:1 pot odds and closing the action for 50 more, 7-9 offsuit has enough equity against a random big blind to continue. Raising is less attractive because the big blind will call very wide with only 100 more to call.

JTs plays well heads-up and is strong enough to raise for value against a small-blind limp. I’ll have position postflop.

7-9 offsuit is too weak to call a 300 chip raise out of position; folding is the disciplined play.

With a speculative hand on the button, I raise to steal the blinds and take control of the pot.

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

Holding T7s in the big blind facing a button open, we have sufficient pot odds (getting 2.25:1) and playability to defend.

Check top pair with no heart on a monotone board to control the pot out of position.

I flopped middle pair with 7s on a monotone board. The BB checked to me, so I'll make a value/protection bet around 60% pot to charge flush draws and get called by worse pairs or draws.

We hold top pair on a low monotone board against a standard button continuation bet; calling 400 into 1050 getting almost 3:1 is standard.

With second pair and no heart on a four-flush board, checking is the clear standard line out of position.

The board has five hearts, so we are playing the board flush without a heart; checking is best to realize our chop equity.

The board is all hearts, giving me only the board flush (K-high) with no heart in hand; any bet would only be called by a better flush, so checking maximizes showdown value and avoids losing more.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Holding 4d 2h in the small blind facing a button open is an easy fold with unplayable trash.

Getting 150 to call into a 400 pot with an ace-high hand against a likely wide button raise; calling keeps the pot manageable and realizes equity with position disadvantage.

I have A-high with a gutshot to Broadway, but the monotone flop favors the preflop raiser; checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a turn card.

I have a king-high straight, so I’m betting for value against pairs and draws while charging hands with a diamond.

Ace-high with no diamond on a monotone broadway board is weak and out of position. Facing a bet with tainted outs and poor pot odds, folding is the best chip-preserving play.

K7s is well within the standard 3-handed button opening range, so raising to 2.5x to steal or play in position.

5-6 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a dominated, out-of-position hand.

J4 offsuit is weak, but calling 150 from the big blind against a button raise is reasonable with the small blind's dead money in the pot.

I have middle pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to the opponent's action.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a wet board; checking back controls the pot and lets me realize showdown value in position.

My weak pair has limited value on this high-card, draw-heavy board. Checking controls the pot and avoids betting into the preflop raiser's stronger range.

We hold second pair with a weak kicker on an Ace-high board; checking back controls the pot and realizes showdown value.

My pair of jacks has some showdown value, but worse hands are unlikely to call a river bet on this board. Checking avoids turning it into a bluff.

I have a pair of kings which has solid showdown value after the hand checked through. Betting is unlikely to get called by worse, so checking behind is optimal.

2s9c is a very weak offsuit hand with poor playability, and calling 100 chips out of position relative to the blinds is not profitable. Folding avoids unnecessary risk early in the match.

With the button folded, Q7 offsuit is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind. A 2.5 big-blind open applies pressure without committing too much.

T3s is too weak to defend profitably against a 2.5bb small blind open raise.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Folding 92s in the small blind against a button open raise as it is too weak to continue with out of position.

Closing the action with 150 to call into a 400 pot gives good odds; 65o has enough equity versus a likely button steal range to see a flop.

I have an open-ended straight draw but no made hand and am out of position; checking controls the pot and lets me see a free turn or call a bet with good implied odds.

A small bet with middle pair gets value from weaker pairs and charges overcards and straight draws while keeping the pot manageable.

I have an open-ended straight draw (3 or 8) and am getting good pot odds to call 180 into 730. Raising risks bloating the pot against a likely king, so I prefer a controlled call.

I have an open-ended straight draw and no showdown value, so I'm semi-bluffing the turn to fold out the preflop raiser's air and build the pot if I hit.

The small turn bet offers a reasonable price with a pair and an ace overcard. I can use position to reassess on the river.

Our 6-high missed the straight draw and has no showdown value; checking allows us to fold to a bet and avoid bloating the pot.

My pair of sevens has showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands after the turn lead. Checking avoids paying more against a king or ten.