Hold'em table

K5 offsuit on the button three-handed is a standard open; a 2.5x raise attacks the blinds.

Q4 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

A2 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise at this price. Calling keeps the pot manageable while avoiding a fold with a hand that has reasonable heads-up equity.

I have top pair but a weak kicker, so I’ll check to control the pot and see how the preflop raiser acts.

On an A-K-high board that favors the preflop raiser's range, a small c-bet with second pair, a backdoor flush draw, and position gets thin value and denies equity. It also keeps the pot manageable.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against a small flop bet, but the weak kicker makes raising unattractive.

With top pair and a weak kicker, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser rather than build a large pot out of position.

Second pair with a weak kicker has showdown value but little to gain from betting into a flop check-caller, who often holds an ace. Checking back controls the pot and gives a free river.

My ace has showdown value, but most opposing aces beat my kicker. Checking avoids a thin value bet and lets the opponent bluff with weaker hands.

Kings and sixes has showdown value, but a bet would mostly get called by Ax or better-kicker Kx, while missed draws fold. Checking back realizes that showdown value.

A6 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to take initiative while applying pressure to the blinds.

KJo is strong enough to three-bet against a button open in a three-handed game, and raising avoids playing a multiway pot out of position.

85o facing an open and a 3-bet out of position is a clear fold; calling 900 into a multiway 3-bet pot has no profitable equity.

A6 offsuit is dominated too often against the small blind’s large 3-bet, and calling 7.5 big blinds out of position would be unprofitable.

On the button in a three-handed pot, T6 offsuit is a marginal but playable steal. I’m opening to pressure the blinds while retaining position postflop.

Q9o from the small blind against a button open is dominated too often and plays poorly out of position with the big blind still to act. Folding is standard here.

I’m getting a favorable price in the big blind against a button open, and 9-6 offsuit has enough equity to defend by calling. Raising would be too loose with this hand.

With 9-high and no meaningful draw on this ace-high flop, checking avoids investing chips with little equity.

A small bet with middle pair can get value from weaker pairs and deny equity to unpaired hands without building a large pot.

I have only 9-high with no pair or meaningful draw on this ace-high flop, so calling the bet is not justified.

76o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open; a small raise to 2.5bb puts pressure on the blinds.

A2 offsuit is strong enough to defend the small blind against a button open at this price, but calling keeps weaker hands in and avoids building a large pot out of position.

Calling 150 into a 600-chip pot gives Q9 offsuit sufficient pot odds to defend the big blind, though I’ll play cautiously postflop in the multiway pot.

Ace-high has some showdown value and a backdoor nut-flush draw, but this three-way paired board is not a good spot to inflate the pot without a stronger draw or made hand.

With only queen-high and no club on a paired, two-club flop, betting into two opponents is unlikely to be profitable. I’ll check and evaluate their actions.

Paired, dry board checked to me in position, so a small c-bet should fold out overcards. I also have a gutshot plus backdoor equity with 76, which gives the bet some backup when called.

The small bet gives good pot odds, and ace-high can be ahead of a continuation-betting bluff. I’ll call once with backdoor straight and flush possibilities, while keeping the pot controlled.

With two opponents in the pot, Q9 offsuit has little chance of improving to the best hand on this paired flop. The small bet offers a good price, but realizing that equity out of position will be difficult.

With only ace-high and no strong draw, leading the turn risks building a pot against a range that can continue. I’ll check and reassess if the button bets.

The queen fits my preflop-raising range, and my 7-high has no showdown value. I'm betting 800 into 1250 as a semibluff with a gutshot to fold out the small pairs and clubs that called the flop.

A-high has little equity against a sizable turn bet after the flop call; there is no meaningful draw to continue with.

Q8 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A small raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping weaker hands in the pot.

Nine-eight offsuit is a marginal defend against a button raise, especially from the small blind with the big blind still to act.

62o is at the very bottom of the big blind's defending range against a 2.5x button open. Out of position, it realizes too little of its equity to justify calling 150 into 550.

K5 suited is a reasonable button open in three-handed play. Raising to 2.5 big blinds gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

T6s from the small blind facing a 2.5x button open, with the big blind still left to act, is too weak to call profitably out of position. A 3-bet bluff isn't well suited to this hand either, so folding is best.

7♠3♠ is weak, but as the big blind it has enough equity and position-adjusted pot odds to defend against the button’s small open. Calling keeps the pot manageable.

I have a weak middle pair on an ace-high, two-club flop and no strong draw. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser act.

As the preflop raiser, I can make a small continuation bet on this ace-high board. K-high has limited showdown value, and this sizing may fold out some better unpaired hands.

I have second pair and need roughly 20% equity to call. Folding seems too tight against a small flop bet, while raising would isolate me against stronger hands.

I have a modest showdown hand—two pair with a weak kicker—and checking keeps the pot controlled while allowing the preflop raiser to act.

King-high has some showdown value, and a turn bet is unlikely to fold out an ace or many sevens and club draws. I’ll take the free river card in position.

My pair of sevens has some showdown value, but the river completes the club draw and a bet is unlikely to fold better hands. I’ll take the free showdown.

King-high is unlikely to win at showdown. The river club lets me credibly represent a flush and may fold out weak pairs that called the small flop bet.

The river completes the club flush draw, and the button’s line credibly represents a flush or stronger made hand. With no club blocker and only two pair with a weak kicker, calling needs too many bluffs.