Hold'em table

Q8o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open-raise; 2.5x puts pressure on the blinds.

A3o has an ace blocker and enough equity against a button open to justify calling the small raise, though I remain cautious out of position.

6-2 offsuit is far too weak to defend against an open and a caller from the big blind.

Top pair with a weak kicker is worth a modest bet to protect against flush draws and extract value from worse hands.

Second pair facing a half-pot donk bet getting 4:1 (300 into 900). Calling keeps the SB's bluffs and weaker draws in, and folding would be too tight at this price.

Second pair on a board that is now three-flush with the ace out, facing a flop leader who checked the turn. That fallback check likely doesn't signal weakness. Checking behind controls the pot and keeps showdown value against the ace and flush hands that beat me.

The river board shows four clubs, making my pair of aces vulnerable to a flush. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids value-betting into a likely better hand.

Second pair on a four-club board with a possible wheel has some showdown value, but it is too weak to value-bet. Any club, ace, or five beats us, so I'll check behind and take the free showdown.

T3o is too weak to continue against the big blind's raise, especially out of position after the flop. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

AQ suited is a strong heads-up holding; raising builds value and denies the big blind a free flop.

Getting 2:1 in position against a wide small-blind open, 75o has enough equity and playability to defend by calling.

This low connected flop favors the big blind's calling range, while ace-high has some showdown value. Checking preserves equity and avoids inflating the pot out of position.

Bottom pair plus an open-ended straight draw (any 8 or 4) on a board that favors the BB's calling range; a two-thirds pot bet when checked to gets folds from overcards and builds the pot with plenty of equity.

With only ace-high on a connected low board facing a substantial flop lead, continuing is unlikely to be profitable.

A3 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed, with nut-flush potential and positional advantage. I raise to build initiative and pressure the blinds.

Q9o from the small blind facing a button open to 3bb, with the big blind still to act behind, is a marginal hand that plays poorly out of position. Folding is standard, though a 3-bet bluff is occasionally fine.

9-7 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a 3x raise, even with decent pot odds. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

On the button in 3-handed play, K2 offsuit is a standard open-raise against two blinds; a 2.5bb open steals often.

A2 offsuit has sufficient equity to defend the big blind against a button min-to-2.5x open, while avoiding bloating the pot out of position.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this flop connects strongly with the preflop raiser's range. Checking keeps the pot controlled and allows a response to their sizing.

Small c-bet in position on a board that favors the preflop raiser. K2 has a gutshot to broadway, an overcard, and a backdoor draw, so betting 200 into 550 is a cheap semi-bluff.

I have a gutshot to Broadway plus occasional ace-high showdown value against a small continuation bet. Calling preserves position and keeps weaker hands in.

The turn check from the preflop raiser after being called on the flop shows substantial weakness. A half-pot probe credibly represents a jack or queen and can fold out many ace-high and pocket-pair holdings.

King-high with no real draw facing a turn lead from a player who check-called the flop; three outs don't justify 25% pot odds. A bluff-raise is unlikely to get enough folds from this range.

On the button with a suited connector, I can open to 2.5bb to pressure the blinds and take the dead money, while still having a playable hand if called.

5-high suited with a two-gap low kicker is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially with the big blind still behind.

K9o in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open is getting 150 into 400 (about 27% equity needed), which makes it a clear defend. It's better as a call than a 3-bet against a wide button range.

K9 with a backdoor flush draw on a paired board is weak against a button raiser who holds many overcards and pairs, so checking to the preflop aggressor is standard. I can call a small c-bet.

C-bet with a gutshot and backdoor flush draw; opponent checked, so I can take the pot now or build equity if called.

Against a small c-bet I only need about 26% equity. King-high with backdoor flush and straight draws, plus the chance to float against a wide button range, makes this a reasonable call.

I only have king-high with a club flush draw, out of position on a paired board after the ace landed. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize my equity; I'll decide on the river after seeing any bet.

I have only a gutshot straight draw and no made hand, so I take the free card on the turn rather than risk more chips.

King-high has almost no showdown value. Villain checked back the turn when the flush arrived, which caps their range, so a two-thirds pot bluff repping a club or a 7 can fold out their medium pairs.

I have only ten-high with no pair or draw on a board that pairs sevens and brings a flush. Calling 750 into 1900 is not profitable against a river bet representing value.

JTs is a strong, highly playable button hand three-handed. I raise to apply pressure and build a pot in position.

Q2 offsuit from the small blind facing a button open is a clear fold. We'd be out of position with the big blind still to act behind us.

K2o is weak but I'm getting good pot odds to defend the big blind against a button open, and calling keeps the pot manageable while seeing a flop.

I flopped top two pair, so I want to bet for value and protect against overcards. A roughly half-pot bet can get called by worse kings and draws.

We have a strong club flush draw plus a gutshot and position, giving sufficient equity to continue against the donk bet. Calling keeps weaker hands in and preserves flexibility on later streets.

I have top pair with a weak kicker and a flush draw. Checking lets me see the river cheaply and control the pot, while I can call a bet if needed.

I have a pair of tens and can value/protect against heart draws and weaker pairs after the turn check. A moderate bet keeps worse hands in while avoiding excessive exposure to a king.