Hold'em table

42o is too weak to open raise from the button, making fold the standard play.

With the button folded, Q5 offsuit is playable heads-up, but it is too marginal to build a large pot out of position. Completing the small blind keeps the investment modest.

With AT offsuit in the big blind and only the small blind limping in, I have a strong enough hand to raise for value and take control. A raise to 400 isolates the limper and builds the pot while I have position postflop.

Q5 offsuit is weak and dominated often. Calling a sizable raise out of position is unlikely to be profitable.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button against two live blinds.

Button folded, so I'm heads-up against the big blind getting 3:1 pot odds. With 85o I have enough equity to call the extra 50 and see a flop, despite being out of position.

We have an unsuited weak ace in position. Taking the free flop to realize equity is standard and effective.

With 5h8c on a J-J-A flop, I have no pair and little equity. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me fold to further aggression.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a paired flop. Checking back controls the pot size and allows opponent to bluff or call on later streets.

I have no pair or draw on a dangerous J-J-A-Q board, so checking controls the pot and avoids bluffing into an opponent who likely has at least some showdown value.

I have two pair with Aces and Jacks with a weak kicker on a coordinated board; checking behind exercises pot control and realizes showdown value.

I have no showdown value with 5-high on a paired board, so I'll make a small river bet to try to fold out better high-card hands and take the pot.

I have two pair, Aces and Jacks with a Queen kicker, after checking down flop and turn. Getting 3-to-1 pot odds against a single 100-chip river stab, calling is clearly profitable.

Holding QQ on the button in a 3-handed game, I raise for value and to take initiative, sizing to 3x the big blind.

3-betting Ah Kd out of position for value against a button open.

Six-deuce offsuit is too weak to continue against a raise and a substantial reraise.

I have QQ on the button and face a small-blind 3-bet after my open. A 4-bet to 2600 applies pressure and gets value from worse pairs and broadway hands while keeping my range strong.

In 3-handed play, AKo is a premier hand facing a button 4-bet. Jamming all-in maximizes fold equity, denies position disadvantage, and has strong equity when called.

With QQ and only 7400 to call into a 12700 pot, I am well ahead of a typical 3-handed shoving range that includes AK, JJ, and TT. The pot odds require only about 37% equity, so calling is clearly profitable.

74s is too weak to open profitably even on the button in 3-handed play.

With 5-2 offsuit, I’m out of position against the big blind. Completing is unlikely to realize enough equity to justify the extra chips.

K2 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A small raise uses position without committing much of the stack.

9d5h is a weak offsuit hand out of position against a button raise, and calling 200 more would leave me dominated too often. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

QhTh is a strong suited broadway with excellent playability postflop, getting over 2.6:1 direct pot odds closing preflop action against a button open.

Checking out of position to the preflop raiser with a gutshot straight draw.

A small continuation bet can fold out weaker hands and deny equity while keeping the risk modest with king-high.

We hold QhTh for an unsuited gutshot on an AsJs5d board without a spade blocker, which does not offer sufficient direct or implied odds to call the c-bet.

Q3o is too weak to continue from the button in a three-handed pot, especially with only 100 chips to call but poor postflop playability. Folding avoids unnecessary risk and preserves chips.

Holding trash hand 82o out of position against the big blind, folding is the standard and highest EV play.