Hold'em table

In a 3-max no-rake game on the button, 87o is playable as an open to put pressure on the blinds from position.

T5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting 350 to 100 pot odds (3.5:1) with a pair of threes against a button min-raise; calling to see a flop and try to set-mine is good, while a 3-bet with 33 is marginal.

I have a low pair, 33, on an A-T-4 flop, so it's a weak showdown hand. I'm out of position against the preflop raiser, who likely has an ace. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see what the button does.

As the preflop raiser, an Ace-high board strongly favors our range. A small one-third pot continuation bet puts pressure on the big blind's weak floats and underpairs.

Pocket threes hold a small pair on an ace-high board. The button's 150 bet into 450 is small, so the price is good (150 to win 600) and I can realize equity or catch a set. Raising would risk too much against a range that beats me.

I hold a pair of threes on a board of Td 4h Ah Kh with three hearts out, and I have no heart. My hand is a weak showdown hand at best, so I check to keep the pot small rather than bet into a possible flush or a better pair.

The turn brings a King and puts three hearts on board, heavily favoring the opponent's flop-calling range while giving us zero equity, making a check-back standard.

Pocket threes are only a weak pair on a board of Td 4h Ah Kh 9d, with ace and king overcards and a possible flush. They rarely win a bluff-catch, and a bet would only be called by better hands. Checking to see a free showdown is best.

We have zero showdown value, but the opponent's flop-calling range contains many weak Aces that will not fold on this river, making a bluff unprofitable.

JTo is a profitable button open three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

6-9 offsuit is weak from the small blind facing a button raise to 250 with the big blind still to act behind. Calling 200 more out of position would lose value over time, so I fold.

K5o is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5bb button raise.

On the button in a 3-handed game, 5-6 offsuit is playable and gets a good price of 100 to call into a 250 pot. Calling to see a flop is better than folding or raising with a marginal hand.

Getting 5:1 pot odds from the small blind with an ace against a button limp, calling is a low-risk, profitable play.

K2 offsuit is too weak to raise out of position against two limpers. Checking lets me see a free flop.

Check out of position in a three-way limped pot with Ace-high and a gutshot straight draw.

King-high has little immediate equity on this three-way flop, and the button has yet to act. Checking avoids building a pot out of position.

I have bottom pair (5s) with a backdoor straight draw, and both opponents checked, so a small bet in position can take the pot or build it with a marginal hand.The sizing is small to limit losses when I get raised.

I hold only Ace-high with no flush draw and weak backdoor potential on a connected board, facing a bet with a player left to act behind.

King-high with no meaningful draw is too weak to continue against the flop bet, especially out of position.

Opening on the button with Q8s to 2.25bb in 3-handed play is standard given position and suited value.

J9 suited plays well against a button open, and the price is reasonable. Calling keeps the pot manageable from the small blind.

T2 offsuit is a weak hand out of position against a raise and a call, and 125 to call into a 550 pot is not worth it with a hand this poor.

I have no made hand on an ace-king flop, and the preflop raiser has the range advantage. Checking keeps the pot small while preserving my backdoor possibilities.

As the preflop aggressor on an Ace-King high board, I have a massive range advantage and can profitably continuation bet small with gutshot and backdoor equity.

J-high has no pair or immediate draw on this A-K-3 flop. Out of position against the preflop raiser, calling offers too little value.

Q7 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A small raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Q7 offsuit is weak from the small blind, out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act. Calling 200 more is not profitable in a 3-handed pot.

Nine-five offsuit is far too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

K5 suited on the button in a 3-handed game is a solid open. A 3x raise takes the initiative and puts pressure on both blinds.

Facing a 3bb open from the button out of position, Q8s is not strong enough to profitably defend or 3-bet with the big blind still behind.

A3 suited is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, but calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With bottom pair and an ace kicker on a dry flop, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser and keep the pot manageable.

Top pair with a weak kicker on a dry K-9-3 board, heads-up and in position after the big blind checked. A bet of about 60% of the pot gets value from worse kings and nines and denies equity to overcards.

Bottom pair with an ace kicker is strong enough to continue against a button continuation bet on this dry flop. Raising would mostly drive out weaker hands.

My pair of threes has showdown value, but betting into the preflop raiser on this paired board is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. I'll check and reassess if they bet.

I have top pair with a king on a 9-K-3-9 board, and the opponent checked twice, which suggests weakness. A bet of about half the pot gets value from worse kings and pushes out hands like small pairs or draws.

The small turn bet gives me a reasonable price to continue with two pair. Raising would be risky against a king or a nine.

My pair of threes has some showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by worse hands. I’ll check rather than turn it into a bluff.

I hold Kd with a king on the board, so top pair with a weak kicker. Seat 2 checked every street and called two bets, so it likely holds a medium-strength hand or a draw that missed. A modest value bet of 1000 into a 2850 pot should get called by worse kings and 9s-type hands, and it risks little if I'm behind.

The river bet gives me a price of about 21% equity. My pair of threes can beat missed draws, so I’ll call rather than raise.