Hold'em table

K5 offsuit is playable as a button open three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Q4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

In the big blind facing a 2.5x button open, I'm getting good pot odds (150 to win 400). A2o has enough equity and playability against a wide button range to defend by calling.

A2 weak top pair out of position against a button raiser whose range hits AK boards well; check to control the pot and bluff-catch.

Middle pair with a weak kicker has showdown value but does not want to build a large pot against an ace. Checking back keeps weaker hands in and controls the pot.

Top pair with a weak kicker after the button checked back the flop; a small bet gets value from weaker aces, kings, and draws while controlling the pot size.

Second pair is strong enough to continue against a 300-chip turn bet into an 850-chip pot. Raising would risk too much with a weak kicker.

With the board's king playing as our kicker, most Ax hands chop with us, so a bet mostly gets called by chops or better hands like AK, trips, or sets. Checking keeps the pot controlled, and I can call a reasonable bet.

My king beats weaker pairs, but an ace or a six beats me, and most other kings tie. Checking takes the showdown without risking a river raise.

A6 offsuit is a profitable button open in a three-handed game. Raising applies pressure to the blinds and avoids playing a weak hand passively out of position postflop.

KJo in the small blind against a button open in 3-handed play is strong enough to 3-bet for value and to take the initiative. That beats flatting out of position with the big blind still to act.

8-5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, particularly with the original raiser still to act.

A6 offsuit is dominated too often by a large small-blind 3-bet, and calling 700 needs substantial equity. Fold rather than invest more out of position against a strong range.

Three-handed on the button, so a wide opening range is correct, and T6o is a marginal but acceptable steal. A small open to 2.5bb attacks the blinds cheaply.

Q9 offsuit is strong enough to occasionally three-bet against a wide button opening range. Raising also avoids playing a marginal hand out of position in a multiway pot.

9♦6♠ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling 850 more against an open and a large re-raise is not worthwhile from the big blind.

T6o is too weak to continue against a large small-blind 3-bet, even with position. Calling 700 into 2000 is not profitable with this dominated, low-equity hand.

On the button, 7-6 offsuit is playable as an open in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

A2 offsuit has enough equity against a wide button opening range to continue at this price, while a three-bet risks more out of position with a weak hand. I’ll call and see the flop.

Getting 150 to win 750 (5:1) in the big blind with Q9o in a 3-way pot, so calling is profitable; squeezing is too loose against a button open and a small-blind flat.

With only ace-high on a paired flop and two opponents in the pot, checking keeps the pot small and avoids bluffing into multiple players.

Queen-high with no pair on a paired board in a three-way pot, with the preflop raiser still to act. Check to see a free card rather than bluff into two opponents.

With 7-6 and no club on a paired, two-club flop, a bet into two opponents is unlikely to get enough folds. Checking in position lets me see the turn without building the pot.

A♠2♣ has little equity on this paired board, and with three players in the pot there is little reason to bluff into two ranges. Check and preserve its modest showdown value.

Top pair of queens on a paired board after the flop checked through is likely best. A bet of about 60% pot gets value from weaker queens, 4x and club draws while charging those draws to continue. --- On a checked-through flop, top pair is likely ahead of both opponents. A ~60% pot bet gets value and protection.

I have only a four-out gutshot on the turn, and the 450-chip bet does not offer sufficient pot odds to call.

A-high has little showdown value here and no meaningful draw. The turn bet can represent a queen or a made hand, so calling risks more chips without enough equity.

Q8 offsuit is a reasonable button-open hand in a three-handed game. A small raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

98o out of the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act, is too weak to call profitably out of position. A 3-bet bluff with this hand is marginal, so folding is the standard play.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a 2.5 big blind raise.

K5 suited is a standard button open in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds with a playable hand.

T6 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5-big-blind raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Calling is justified by the favorable pot odds and the button’s likely wide opening range. The hand is weak, so I avoid a 3-bet and proceed cautiously postflop.

With a weak middle pair and no strong draw, checking keeps the pot manageable and lets the preflop raiser act with their range advantage.

The ace-high dry board favors my button raising range, and K5 has some equity with a backdoor straight draw. A small c-bet of about a third pot should fold out a lot of the big blind's weak hands.}

A small flop bet gives favorable pot odds, and my pair of sevens has enough showdown value against likely overcards and draws to continue. Raising would isolate me against stronger hands.

I have only a weak pair of sevens on an ace-paired board, and the preflop raiser is still in the hand. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me evaluate the river.

The paired ace favors my preflop-raiser range, so a modest barrel can fold out 7x, 2x and small pairs that called the small flop bet. My king-high has little showdown value, which makes it a reasonable bluff candidate.

My pair of sevens is a weak bluff-catcher on a paired-ace board, and the button has continued betting after my flop call. I don’t expect to be ahead often enough to justify calling 400 chips.