Hold'em table

Opening from the button with K3o applies pressure on the blinds and leverages position; I can fold to a 3-bet and otherwise play a small pot in position.

J2s is too weak to defend out of position against a 3bb button open.

AQ offsuit is strong against a button opening range. I raise from the big blind to build the pot and avoid playing out of position without initiative.

K3o is too weak to continue against a large 3-bet from the big blind, especially with the small blind already folded. Folding avoids investing more chips with a dominated offsuit hand.

63 offsuit is too weak to open even from the button in a 3-handed game.

AJs is a strong heads-up hand against the big blind. Raising builds the pot for value and discourages a free flop.

A4o is a weak offsuit ace that is often dominated against a 3.5x small blind raise. With only 250 to call but poor implied odds and potential reverse implied odds, folding is the safer play to preserve chips early in the match.

J8 offsuit is strong enough to open from the button three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise uses position while keeping the pot manageable.

With A6s in the small blind, calling the button's 2.5bb raise keeps the pot manageable and lets me see a flop with a suited ace. I can fold if the big blind squeezes or proceed cautiously out of position.

I hold JTs in the big blind facing a button open and small blind call. Getting 4-to-1 pot odds, calling to see a flop multiway is clearly positive EV.

With ace-high and only backdoor draws on a dry flop, checking from the small blind keeps the pot controlled and avoids building a pot out of position against two players.

Check to the preflop aggressor on the button with two overcards and a backdoor flush draw in a multiway pot.

Top pair with a jack kicker is worth a value and protection bet after both opponents check. A modest sizing can get called by weaker pairs and draws.

I have ace-high with a gutshot straight draw on a dry flop, getting 2.9:1 pot odds. Calling is reasonable to see a turn card, though folding is also defensible with just ace-high.

With only two overcards and a backdoor flush draw facing both a bet and a call on an 8-high board, folding is the clear plus-EV play.

I have a strong draw (nut flush draw and gutshot straight draw) but no made hand. Checking controls the pot and allows me to see a free or cheap river card.

Top pair with a jack kicker can get value from weaker pairs and draws. Betting also charges the new spade and straight draws.

I have the nut flush draw plus a gutshot straight draw (12 clean outs), and the pot odds are close to break-even with strong implied odds if I hit. Calling keeps the pot manageable and allows me to extract value on the river when I improve.

I have the nut flush on the river and should bet for value. A bet of 2500 into 3250 targets calls from sets, two pair, and lower flushes without overbetting too large.

Middle pair is too weak to call this large river lead. The flush draw completed, and the opponent’s flop and turn calls followed by a river bet suggest a value-heavy range.

Ad Jc is a strong starting hand on the button; raising to 300 builds the pot and applies pressure on the blinds.

J5o is a very weak offsuit hand that cannot profitably call or 3-bet out of position against a button raise.

8-3 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a three-big-blind button raise.

Holding 52 offsuit on the button is a clear fold preflop.

A8 offsuit is strong heads-up against the big blind, so I raise to build the pot and apply pressure.

Calling 200 into 400 with ace-high, getting 3:1 pot odds and position postflop; hand is marginal but worth seeing a flop.

This dry king-high flop favors my preflop raising range. A small bet can fold out some better ace-high hands and weaker holdings without risking much.

I have middle pair with an ace kicker and am getting 5:1 pot odds on a small flop bet. Calling keeps the pot controlled while allowing me to evaluate later streets.

Ace-high has some showdown value and a gutshot to a wheel. Checking avoids building a larger pot against the opponent’s flop-calling range.

I have a weak pair with a gutshot straight draw and position. Checking back controls the pot and lets me realize equity, since a bet would likely only get called by better hands.

My ace makes a wheel. A modest river bet can get called by a king or other made hand while limiting losses when the opponent has a six.

I have a wheel straight (A-2-3-4-5), but the board is highly coordinated and the opponent could easily have a 6 for a higher straight. Calling closes the action and avoids getting raised by a better hand while still collecting value from bluffs.

K2 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A small raise uses position while limiting the cost if challenged.

9s4c is a weak offsuit hand out of position facing a button raise; folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity.

Defending the big blind with QJo getting 3 to 1 pot odds against a button open.

I missed the flop completely with Queen-high on an Ace-high paired board, so checking to the preflop aggressor is standard.

The paired ace-high flop favors my preflop raising range. A small continuation bet can fold out unpaired hands while keeping the cost of a bluff low.

I have queen-high with no significant draws on an Ace-high paired board, making this an easy fold against the continuation bet.