Hold'em table

Q8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A3o is well ahead of a wide 3-handed button opening range, and the ace blocker makes it a good candidate to 3-bet from the small blind rather than flat out of position with the big blind still to act.

6♠2♦ is an extremely weak hand, and calling 9.5 big blinds against a large preflop re-raise is not worthwhile.

Q8 offsuit is too weak to continue against this large three-bet, even in position.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button in 3-handed play against two blinds. Folding is standard here.

A♠Q♣ is a strong hand heads-up against the big blind, so raise for value and to deny equity rather than just complete the small blind.

Against a small-blind open, 7-5 offsuit is marginal but playable from the big blind with position and a 200-chip call into a 400-chip pot.

With ace-high and two overcards, I have useful showdown value but no made hand. This low, connected flop can favor the caller, so I’ll take the free card rather than build the pot.

Bottom pair with a gutshot has showdown value and room to improve. Checking keeps the pot manageable against the preflop raiser.

The queen gives me top pair with the best kicker, and the checked-through flop leaves plenty of worse pairs and draws that can call a modest turn bet. 400 into 600 gets value while limiting the cost if I face a raise.

Bottom pair and a gutshot give me enough equity to call this modest turn bet in position. I can reassess on the river.

Make a modest river value bet: top two pair is ahead of many Qx and 9x hands that may call, while keeping the wager small in case the opponent has a straight.

My two pair beats missed draws and unpaired bluffs. The 500-chip bet into a 1,900-chip pot gives me enough odds to call, though many value hands beat me.

A suited ace is a strong button-opening hand three-handed. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to take initiative while keeping the open size modest.

Q9 offsuit has enough equity to defend against a button open at this price, though playing out of position favors calling over building a larger pot.

Closing the action in the big blind and getting 4:1 in a multiway pot, 97o has enough playability to call.

With middle pair on an ace-high flop against two opponents, I prefer to check and keep the pot manageable.

Middle pair on an ace-high board in a three-way pot with the preflop raiser still to act is a pot-control hand, so I check and plan to call a small bet.

Top pair is likely ahead after both opponents checked. A modest 300-chip bet gets value from weaker hands and offers protection without inflating the pot excessively.

Middle pair with a queen kicker has enough showdown value to continue against a small flop bet. Raising would risk too much on an ace-high board, especially with another player still in the hand.

Our middle pair with a weak kicker faces a c-bet and a cold call on an ace-high board. Our equity is likely poor against a range heavy in aces and better nines, and we are out of position with reverse implied odds, so folding is slightly better than taking the 18% price.

Turning two pair gives me a strong value hand. I’ll bet into the preflop raiser to get called by aces and draws rather than risk a check-through.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against a turn lead, though the weak kicker makes raising unattractive. Calling preserves the pot and keeps bluffs and weaker hands in.

Two pair is ahead of many Ax and Qx hands that called the turn. A moderate river bet seeks value without overcommitting against stronger hands.

A3 is only a weak top pair, and the turn lead followed by a river bet is a value-heavy line. The pot odds are tempting, but there are few worse hands likely to take this line.

On the button in a three-handed game, K2 offsuit is playable as a small open-raise. Raising to 200 gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the risk modest.

88 is well ahead of a button min-raise range in 3-handed play. A 3-bet from the small blind takes the initiative and makes it hard for the big blind to call behind, rather than playing out of position in a multiway pot.</br>The size, 850 into a min-raise, keeps the pot manageable if the button 4-bets.</br>

A2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a substantial 3-bet, especially with the button still involved. Fold and preserve the stack.

K2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large three-bet, even with position.

T9s on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear opening hand, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to take the initiative and put pressure on the blinds.

5h2h is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

K9 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise to 250, especially with 150 to call into a 400-chip pot.

With king-high on a paired flop, I prefer to check out of position and avoid building the pot without a made hand.

On a 677 two-tone board, T9h gives me an open-ended straight draw (8 makes the nut straight) plus overcard equity, and I'm in position against a BB check. A small c-bet uses my range advantage and adds fold equity.

The small flop bet gives me a reasonable price with king-high, two overcards to the six, and some backdoor straight possibilities.

I have a flush draw, but the paired board makes a lead less attractive. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me see how the button responds.

With only a weak draw to the 8s and the ace of clubs completing many of BB's flop-calling flush draws, a bluff is unlikely to get enough folds. Checking takes a free card.

King-high has some showdown value against missed draws. On this river, a bet is unlikely to fold out enough better hands to justify bluffing.

Ten-high has almost no showdown value. After two checks, villain's range is capped and full of weak pairs and missed draws, so a bet of about two-thirds pot can make them fold.

King-high has little showdown value on this paired, three-club board. Facing a 650-chip river bet, folding is preferable to calling or attempting a costly bluff raise.

J♣T♣ is a strong button-opening hand in a three-handed game. Raise to 250 to apply pressure to the blinds while keeping the sizing modest.

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

K2o is a standard big blind defend against a 2.5x button open. Calling 150 into a 400 pot needs only about 27% equity, and I have position-closing odds.

Bottom two pair on a dry K52 board. Checking to the preflop raiser invites a c-bet, which I can then check-raise for value; leading out would fold out their weaker hands.

A small continuation bet applies pressure on this dry king-high board, where the preflop raiser has a range advantage. J-T also has useful backdoor straight and flush potential if called.

Bottom two pair on a dry K-5-2 board is strong, so I check-raise for value and protection against the button's many Kx and overpair hands that will continue.' ,

J♣T♣ has only a weak backdoor flush possibility and no meaningful immediate draw on K♦5♥2♣. Facing a check-raise, calling 520 is not justified without stronger equity.