Hold'em table

As the button in a three-handed game, 5♦3♦ is playable enough to open-raise; a modest sizing applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Folding Q8s out of position in the small blind against a 2.5bb button open.

94 suited is too weak to continue out of position against a button open; pot odds do not offset poor postflop realization.

T5o is too weak to open from the button even in a 3-handed game.

Button folded, so this is heads-up versus the big blind with QJs. Raising to 300 builds the pot with a strong suited broadway hand and denies a cheap flop.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to defend against the small blind's raise, even with the favorable price.

Three-handed on the button, Q3s is playable enough to open and take the initiative with position rather than flat or fold.

4♥2♥ is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Defending the big blind with J7s against a button 2.5bb raise getting almost 2.7 to 1 immediate pot odds.

I flop a monster combo draw with a flush draw and gutshot straight draw. Checking to the preflop aggressor to check-raise or call depending on bet sizing is standard.

Bottom pair is weak, but as the preflop raiser I can take a small c-bet after the check and fold out many overcards and missed hands.

I hold a flush draw plus gutshot straight draw on a wet board, making this an ideal semi-bluff check-raise to deny equity and build the pot.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker is not strong enough to continue against a flop check-raise, so folding is the lower-variance choice.

8♠3♥ is a weak offsuit hand, and limping invites the blinds to see a flop while raising risks chips with little equity. I fold from the button.

KQo is well ahead of an average BB defense range, so raising to 3bb builds the pot with a significant equity advantage.

A7o has enough equity and position against a single small-blind raise to continue. Calling 200 into 400 is better than folding or bloating the pot with a weak offsuit ace.

C-betting one-third pot with two overcards and a gutshot straight draw to apply pressure OOP.

Ace-high with no pair or draw on Ts-9h-5s is too weak to continue against a preflop raiser who is betting the flop. Folding saves chips for better spots.

54 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

Button folded, so this is heads-up versus the big blind with suited ace-jack. Raising to 300 builds the pot with a strong hand and denies the big blind a cheap flop.

KJo is strong enough to defend the big blind against the small blind’s raise, and calling keeps weaker hands in while avoiding an unnecessary escalation.

Ace-high with two overcards on a dry flop; a small c-bet applies pressure and can win the pot immediately.

Button open with suited connectors; a small raise takes the initiative and can win the blinds or build a pot in position.

K♣3♠ is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting attractive pot odds (150 to win 400) closing the action preflop with a playable suited connector.

I flop bottom pair with a weak kicker out of position against the preflop raiser on a king-jack high board. A check is standard to control the pot size.

I have no pair and only a backdoor club draw on a king-jack flop, so there is little value in betting. Checking keeps the pot small and realizes my free equity.

We have bottom pair with a weak kicker on a connected board. Checking keeps the pot manageable and allows us to realize equity or evaluate river action.

I have middle pair plus a club flush draw and the preflop initiative, while seat_2 has checked both flop and turn. A two-thirds pot bet builds the pot and can fold out better hands that are giving up.

Holding bottom pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board out of position does not warrant calling a turn bet.