Hold'em table

With pocket aces on the button, raise for value and build the pot while keeping weaker hands in the range. A 300-chip open is a standard size here.

Three-handed, the button opens a wide range, and QJo plays well as a 3-bet from the small blind. Raising takes the initiative and avoids playing a multiway pot out of position with the big blind still to act.

KTo is too weak to cold-call a substantial small-blind three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act. Folding avoids a dominated hand in a large pot.

With pocket aces against the small blind’s 3-bet, make a value 4-bet while keeping the sizing reasonable in position.

QJo 3-bet as a light bluff doesn't hold up against a button 4-bet range of QQ+/AK. Calling out of position with poor equity realization isn't profitable despite the price.

62o is too weak to open from the button in 3-handed play against two blinds; folding is the low-variance, +EV choice.

With the button folded, T9 offsuit is a reasonable blind-versus-blind opening hand. Raising to 3 big blinds pressures the big blind while retaining decent postflop playability if called.

A 3♦4♥ is too weak to continue out of position against the small blind’s raise, even with the partial blind already invested.

Six-three offsuit is too weak to open profitably on the button without evidence that the blinds overfold. Folding avoids investing in a hand with poor equity and playability.

With the button folded, this is heads-up and I’m getting favorable pot odds to complete the small blind. 5-4 offsuit is weak, so I’ll avoid building the pot preflop.

A6s plays well against a small-blind limp range, so raising to 4x builds the pot in position with a strong hand. It also wins outright when the limper folds.

5♠4♣ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling a sizable raise from the small blind would leave me out of position with poor equity.

9♠4♦ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling from the button invites the blinds to see a flop with little equity to defend. Fold rather than invest further.

In a blind-vs-blind spot, K8s is a solid raising hand from the small blind. A 3x open builds the pot and lets me take the initiative.

QJs plays well in position against a small-blind opening range, and calling costs 200 to contest a 600-chip pot. Calling preserves weaker hands in the opponent's range while avoiding an unnecessary preflop escalation.

As the preflop raiser, a small c-bet with a king overcard, backdoor flush and backdoor straight equity applies pressure cheaply and can win the pot now.

Top pair with a queen kicker and backdoor straight and flush potential is comfortably strong enough to call this small bet. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding inflating the pot against stronger hands.

Nut-ish flush draw plus a gutshot to Broadway gives about 12 outs, so semi-bluffing for value and fold equity on the ace turn is strong. The bet is roughly two-thirds of the pot.

Second pair with a gutshot is strong enough to continue against a small-blind opener's wide turn-barreling range. Calling preserves showdown value and position without isolating us against stronger hands.

King-high has almost no showdown value after the busted draws. A bet of about 70% pot can fold out the Jx, Tx and weak aces in a capped calling range, and my king blocks KQ straights.

Calling needs about 29% equity against this blind-versus-blind triple barrel. QJ blocks strong value such as KQ and AJ while holding no clubs, leaving the opponent's missed club draws available as bluffs.

K8o on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear opening hand; a standard 2.5bb open steals the blinds often and plays well in position.

KQo is strong against a three-handed button opening range and blocks several premium hands. A substantial three-bet pressures the big blind to fold and compensates for playing out of position.

J♦6♦ is far too weak to continue against a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act. Fold and preserve the stack.

K8o opened on the button is too weak to continue against a large SB 3-bet to 11bb, even though we would be in position. Calling 850 out of position-adjusted equity would lose money against a strong 3-bet range.

Opening 87 offsuit from the button applies pressure to the blinds and gives us position if called. The small sizing keeps the steal inexpensive with a marginal but playable hand.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

AKo in the big blind facing a button open is a clear 3-bet for value. Sizing to 9bb keeps it standard out of position.

87 offsuit is too weak to continue profitably against a four-times-open three-bet, even in position. With no evidence of excessive bluffing, folding preserves chips.