Hold'em table

Q3 offsuit is too weak to open from the button facing the big blind; folding avoids investing more with a dominated hand.

With the button folded, 9-8 offsuit is playable heads-up against the big blind. A modest raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable out of position.

With 76s in the big blind against a small blind raise, calling 150 keeps the pot manageable and uses our positional advantage postflop. The hand has good playability and we are deep enough to see a flop.

With a gutshot and limited showdown value on this paired board, I’ll check rather than build the pot out of position.

I have a weak pair with no kicker. Since the preflop aggressor checked, I'm betting to take down the pot now, representing a ten. If called, I'll likely give up on later streets.

I have only a gutshot, and pairing an eight or nine may still leave me behind. Calling 300 out of position against a 300-chip bet is unlikely to realize enough equity.

K7 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while preserving room to play postflop in position.

K4o is too weak to play out of position against a button raise; folding preserves my stack for better spots.

T2 offsuit is a very weak hand and will struggle to realize enough equity out of position against the button’s raise. I fold rather than pay to continue with poor postflop prospects.

Button with weak suited 2-4 can try to steal the blinds for cheap; I raise to 2bb to pressure both blinds, and if called I have position postflop.

6♣2♣ is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Nine-deuce offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, even at the discounted call price.

K9 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed; raising applies pressure and avoids giving both blinds a cheap flop.

Six-four suited is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

67s has good implied odds and playability from the big blind against a button open; calling 150 to win 400 with deep stacks is profitable.

I have 6c7c for a flush draw plus gutshot straight draw (12 outs) on a 5c3d2c board. By betting 300 into a 550 pot, I apply pressure as a semi-bluff, hoping to win the pot immediately or build it for when I hit.

K-high has little showdown value on this coordinated low board and only a backdoor flush draw. The sizable bet makes a call unattractive without a pair or stronger draw.

T8 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed, and a small raise gives me position without committing too many chips.

T8 offsuit from the small blind is too weak to call or raise against a button open out of position.

K4 suited has enough equity and playability to defend the big blind against a button raise at this price. Calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With king-high and only backdoor flush and straight potential, I have little value or fold equity to build a pot out of position. I’ll take the free card opportunity.

Middle pair with a weak kicker has showdown value, but betting risks building a pot against an ace or a stronger ten. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable.

With only king-high and no meaningful draw, a turn bluff risks chips against a range that can continue with many pairs. I’ll take the free card and keep the pot small.

Middle pair has showdown value, but the third club makes a value bet less attractive. Checking keeps the pot manageable in position.

The four-club board makes a bluff risky, and I have no club blocker to discourage a call. Checking keeps the pot small and may let my king-high beat missed hands.

Two pair has showdown value, but with four clubs on the board and no club in my hand, worse hands are unlikely to call a river bet often enough.

In 3-handed play, 7d9h on the button is a standard open to 2.5x, putting pressure on the blinds and leveraging postflop position.

Q6 suited is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act. Calling would leave me out of position in a likely multiway pot.

75 offsuit is a marginal defend against a 2.5 big-blind raise. Out of position, it is unlikely to realize enough equity to justify calling.