Hold'em table

Q8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise can win the blinds while retaining position postflop.

A3o is a weak, dominated hand out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids unnecessary risk and preserves chips.

Holding 6s 2d in the big blind facing an open raise from the button, this hand is far too weak to defend even getting decent pot odds.

T3 offsuit is too weak to call or raise from the button in a 3-handed pot, especially with the small blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a dominated hand out of position.

AQo is a premium holding in a blind vs blind battle, making a standard 3bb open raise optimal for value and initiative.

The small blind can raise a wide range, and calling 200 more with 7-5 offsuit is reasonable in position with no rake.

The board heavily connects with the big blind's calling range, so checking out of position with two overcards is the standard pot-control play.

With a pair and a gutshot against a preflop raiser who checked, a small bet can deny overcards a free card while keeping the pot manageable.

Getting 4 to 1 on a call against a small 1/3 pot stab with two overcards and backdoor equity makes calling standard.

Turned top pair top kicker after check-calling flop; checking to the flop aggressor allows them to continue bluffing or betting worse value hands.

Bottom pair and a gutshot have some showdown value, but a turn bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking in position preserves the option to see the river without building the pot.

We hold top two pair with top kicker (Queens and Sixes with Ace kicker) after opponent checked back the turn. A half-pot value bet targets weaker Queens, 9x, and mid-pairs that can call.

The small river bet gives my two pair reasonable pot odds. The turn check leaves enough missed draws and unpaired overcards in their range to justify a call.

A3s is a standard open-raising hand on the button in 3-handed play.

Q9 offsuit is vulnerable to domination, and calling the button raise from the small blind leaves me out of position with the big blind still to act.

Getting 3.7:1 pot odds and closing the action, 97o has enough equity against a button open to defend profitably. I'll call and evaluate postflop.

With middle pair on an ace-high flop, checking keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser bluff or bet worse hands. Raising would mostly fold out worse and get called by stronger aces or sets.

We flop top pair on a dry Ace-high board where we hold a range and equity advantage as the preflop aggressor, so a standard small one-third pot continuation bet extracts value from second pairs and underpairs while protecting our equity.

I have middle pair with a weak kicker facing a small flop bet. The price is good enough to call and see the turn, while raising risks running into an ace.

I have middle pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board and the opponent has shown aggression preflop and on the flop, so I check to control the pot and avoid bloating it.

I have top pair with a weak kicker, so checking back controls the pot size and realizes showdown value safely.

Rivered two pair (nines and sevens) and opponent checked the turn, so I bet for value against their likely one-pair hands like Ax or Qx.

We checked behind on the turn with top pair weak kicker to control the pot, and our hand is now a solid bluffcatcher against a 2/3 pot river lead getting ~28% pot odds.

K2 offsuit is playable as a button open three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while retaining position if called.

Pocket eights have good equity three-handed and I'm getting 2:1 immediate odds to call the button's raise; set-mining and playing a medium pair in position relative to the raiser is profitable here.

A2o plays poorly multiway out of position with severe reverse implied odds, making folding the standard play despite getting good pot odds.

With 88 on a J-Q-3 flop and two overcards, I prefer checking to control the pot and evaluate the button's action rather than betting into a preflop raiser.

K-high has little immediate equity or useful backdoor potential on this board. Checking in position avoids building a pot with a weak hand.

With a medium pair on a paired board and no clear value from betting into the preflop raiser, checking controls the pot and keeps weaker hands in while avoiding a raise.

King-high has some showdown value, and a turn bet is unlikely to fold out many better hands on this paired board. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me reassess on the river.

With 88 on a paired Q/J board, I have marginal showdown value and the opponent has shown no aggression since preflop. Checking avoids value-cutting worse hands and controls the pot.

King-high has limited showdown value, and the opponent’s checks on every street suggest enough weak hands to make a river bluff worthwhile.

My pocket eights make two pair with the board, which beats missed draws and smaller pairs. Getting roughly 2.5:1 pot odds, I call to catch a river bluff or thin value bet.

T9s on the button in a 3-handed game is strong enough to raise for value and to take initiative. A 3bb raise applies pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

52s is far too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

K9 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button open, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With king-high and no strong draw, I’ll check to the preflop raiser and avoid building the pot.

I raised preflop and have position with overcards, a gutshot, and backdoor hearts. A continuation bet of 300 on this paired low board can take the pot down or set up a turn barrel.

The bet is modest relative to the pot, and my king-high hand has two overcards to the six and potential to make a backdoor flush.

I have a flush draw but only king high, and the ace is favorable for the preflop raiser's range. Checking avoids building a large pot out of position.

Semi-bluffing with a gutshot and position; opponent's turn check after calling flop suggests weakness, and a bet can fold out better hands while I still have outs if called.

The nine-high flush draw has insufficient equity to call 700 against a second barrel, especially when some clubs may not give me the best hand.

JTs is a premium suited connector on the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb for value and position.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Closing the action with 150 to call into a 400 pot gives good pot odds, and K2o has enough equity against a button open to defend, planning to check-fold most flops.

I flopped two pair with Kh2d on a K-high board and am first to act; betting for value protects against draws and builds the pot against the preflop raiser's likely Kx or pair hands.

I hold jack-high with minimal equity or backdoor draws on a King-high dry board facing a lead bet, making folding straightforward.