Hold'em table

T8 offsuit is a playable button open three-handed, with positional advantage and fold equity. I raise to a standard 2.5bb sizing.

A2 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 3.7:1 against a wide button open, 84o has enough equity to defend from the big blind as a call.

I flopped a straight, but this wet board could still pair or complete a higher run. Leading about two-thirds pot builds the pot now and charges draws, instead of risking the button checking behind.

With an open-ended straight draw on this connected flop, calling the modest lead has sufficient direct equity and preserves position for later streets.

I hold a made straight (4-8) on a paired board, so I'm betting about two-thirds pot for value against overpairs, fives and draws while charging them to continue.

With only an open-ended straight draw and a paired board, calling the turn bet lacks the required immediate odds and carries full-house risk.

T6 offsuit is a marginal but playable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds uses position while keeping the investment modest.

KQo is well ahead of a wide 3-handed button opening range, and 3-betting from the small blind avoids playing out of position in a multiway pot. Raising to 1000 applies pressure and can take the pot preflop.

K5 offsuit is too weak to continue facing a 10bb 3-bet from the big blind, especially with the opener still behind.

T6 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, even in position.

A2o on the button in 3-handed play is a clear open; raising to 2.5bb puts pressure on the blinds.

K6 offsuit is a reasonable blind defense against a button 2.5bb open with favorable pot odds, despite the big blind still acting behind.

5-3 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a raise and a call. The price isn't enough to justify defending.

Check the king-high diamond draw on this coordinated flop, retaining flexibility against the preflop raiser while avoiding inflating the pot out of position.

A2o has ace-high, a gutshot to the wheel and a backdoor, so a small c-bet heads-up in position on this dynamic board takes down the pot often while keeping our equity.

I have a strong combo draw with a king-high diamond flush draw plus straight possibilities, giving sufficient equity at this small flop sizing. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding an unnecessary large pot out of position.

The ace is a credible scare card for my range, while my king and diamond blocker give this bluff some useful equity. A medium-sized turn bet can fold out many weaker pairs and missed hands.

Top pair with a weak kicker is too strong to fold to a 60% pot lead, since the lead includes draws, worse pairs and bluffs. Calling needs only about 27% equity, while raising mostly gets called by better aces and two pair.

Check back with marginal showdown value; the turn-call range contains many aces and stronger pairs that will not fold often enough to justify a river bluff.

Top pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but a bet would mostly get called by better aces and straights and fold out worse hands. Checking back realizes that equity cheaply.

Q4 suited has reasonable button equity three-handed and benefits from applying pressure to the blinds. A 3x open is a standard sizing.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a three-big-blind raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

96s in the big blind facing a 3x button open gets good pot odds (200 to win 650) and plays well postflop, so defending by calling is standard.

Out of position with a weak 9-high hand on a paired board that favors the preflop raiser, checking to the button is standard. I'll look at the size of any c-bet before deciding whether to continue with the backdoor draws.

I have bottom pair with a strong kicker on a paired board. A small continuation bet can gain value from worse pairs and draws while denying equity to overcards.

Getting about 4:1 against a small c-bet on a paired board, 9-high with backdoor straight and flush draws has enough equity and playability to continue by calling.

I have 9-high with no pair and a weak backdoor draw, and the ace on the turn favors the button's opening range. I'll check and give up if they bet.

With only a weak pair of fours on an paired ace-high board, checking back controls the pot and preserves showdown value. A turn bet is unlikely to get better hands to fold often enough.

Nine-high has no showdown value. The opponent checked back the turn, which caps their range with many weak pairs and missed overcards, so a medium river bet can fold out better hands.

Our pair of fours is too weak to call this river lead on an ace-high paired board; the opponent's value range contains many aces, eights, and better pairs.

Ace-king offsuit is a strong button hand three-handed. Raising to 300 builds the pot while applying pressure to the blinds.

97o from the small blind facing a 3x button open, with the big blind still left to act, is a clear fold: out of position with a weak offsuit hand.

AQ offsuit is a strong heads-up big blind defense versus a button open and benefits from value/protection as a 3-bet. I use a substantial out-of-position sizing.

AK offsuit is strong enough to four-bet against the big blind's three-bet. Raising to 2300 applies pressure while keeping the sizing reasonable in position.

AQo is strong enough to continue against a button 4-bet in this short-handed configuration, and calling preserves their potential bluffs while keeping the pot manageable.

This low connected two-heart flop favors the caller's range more than my unpaired AQ. Checking preserves equity and avoids inflating a large 4-bet pot with ace-high.

With ace-high and no heart on a connected, two-heart flop, I prefer to check back and realize my equity rather than build a large pot against the big blind's strong preflop range.

Checking keeps the pot controlled with one-pair value in a large 3-bet pot and lets the opponent continue with missed overcards or draws. We can evaluate a river bet or showdown value after their action.

Top pair with a king kicker is strong against the opponent’s likely preflop calling range. A modest turn bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws without committing the whole stack.

Top pair with a strong kicker is too strong to fold to this modest turn sizing after the flop checks through. Calling keeps weaker bluffs and worse one-pair hands in while avoiding overcommitting against a flush.

With four hearts on board and no heart in hand, my pair of aces is too vulnerable to value bet. Checking preserves showdown value and avoids being raised by flushes.

Top pair has showdown value, but with four hearts on board and no heart in my hand, a bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands.

In 3-handed play on the button, Q2s is a reasonable steal hand against two blinds. I'm opening to 2.5bb.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

43 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, and the price does not justify defending it.