Showdown Hold'em table

King-nine offsuit is within the published optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o+).

Pocket threes meet the optimal preflop 4x raising threshold (33+).

4-2 offsuit is far below the profitable preflop raising range, so retain the option to evaluate the flop.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker on this coordinated two-diamond board is not strong enough to commit the 2x play bet. Checking preserves the option to make a precise river decision after seeing both remaining cards.

My pair of twos is highly vulnerable on this four-diamond, coordinated board, with the dealer frequently holding a flush, straight, or higher pair. The likely win and tie frequency is insufficient to justify the river play bet.

9-6 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range, so checking preserves flexibility for a more informed flop decision.

Bottom pair on this coordinated board is not strong enough to commit the 2x play bet. Checking retains the option to assess the completed board and raise only when the river outcome is favorable.

I have a pair of nines, which has substantial showdown value against the dealer's random holding. Raising is clearly preferable to surrendering the posted ante and blind.

3-2 offsuit is far below the profitable preflop raising range, so preserving the option to evaluate the flop is best.

Bottom pair is too vulnerable on this king-jack board to commit a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to make a cheaper, board-informed river decision.

The pair of deuces is weak, but it still beats the dealer's many unpaired non-qualifying holdings. Calling the final 1x bet is preferable to surrendering the ante and blind.

9-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

The 9-high hand has only a gutshot plus weak pairing and backdoor flush prospects. Checking preserves the option to fold marginal river outcomes rather than committing 2x now.

With only queen-high on a three-heart board and no made hand, the dealer will very often have at least a pair or a heart flush. Folding avoids a poorly favored river call.

Q2 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising range, so preserving the option to evaluate the flop is preferable.

Q-high has insufficient showdown value on this paired board to commit 2x. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable river outcomes.

With only the board pair and a queen kicker, too many dealer holdings make a better two-pair hand, trips, or a stronger kicker. The river call is unprofitable.

Any ace is a profitable preflop 4x raise under the optimal strategy; suited hearts add modest straight-flush potential.

K8 offsuit meets the published optimal preflop 4x raising threshold (K5o+).

9-6 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising thresholds, so I defer and evaluate the flop.

Pair of sixes with an open-ended straight draw is strong enough to commit on the flop; the hand also has two-pair and trip improvement potential.

Q3 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to assess the flop.

I already have a made straight on the flop, a strong hand that is ahead of most dealer holdings. Raising now captures value despite possible higher-straight or flush runouts.

Suited K-2 is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range; the king-high suited hand has sufficient equity and flush potential.

Pocket kings are a premium preflop holding and fall in the optimal 4x raising range.

T8 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

I have a made pair of tens with an eight kicker plus meaningful improvement potential, making the flop raise preferable to deferring.

Any ace is a published optimal preflop 4x raise. Ace-four has sufficient showdown strength and ace-high potential to raise immediately.

Pocket nines are well within the optimal preflop 4x raising range and have strong equity versus a random dealer hand.

King-seven offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o+). Raise for value rather than deferring.

T6 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Flopped a full house (sixes full of tens), an overwhelmingly strong hand that should raise for value immediately.

K2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

K-high with no made hand or meaningful immediate draw is too weak to commit a 2x play bet. Checking preserves the option to evaluate the complete board and fold marginal outcomes.

King-high on this unpaired board is too often beaten by any dealer pair or stronger unpaired hand. The river call is negative EV versus preserving the fixed fold loss.

4-2 offsuit is far below the profitable preflop raising range, so I check and retain the flop/river decision.

Bottom pair with a low flush draw is not strong enough to commit a 2x play bet on this coordinated board. Checking preserves the option to value-bet improved river holdings and fold unfavorable runouts.

My two pair (nines and deuces) is ahead of many dealer holdings on this paired board. The river raise has strongly positive showdown value versus folding.

2-4 offsuit is far below the profitable preflop raising range, so preserving the option to assess the flop and river is best.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker on a king-jack board is too marginal to commit 2x on the flop. Checking preserves the option to make a fully informed river decision.

I have a made pair, which retains sufficient showdown value versus the dealer’s unpaired holdings. Raising also preserves the posted bets rather than surrendering them.

Pocket twos are below the published profitable preflop raise threshold of pocket threes or better, so retain flexibility and evaluate the flop.

The small underpair is too vulnerable on this coordinated board to commit 2x now. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable river runouts or make the smaller 1x decision with complete board information.

Our pair of twos is beaten by most dealer holdings on this coordinated board, while the few wins are generally against non-qualifying high-card hands. The 1x river raise is not profitable.

QJ offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range (Q8o+). Raise for value rather than defer.

Any ace is a published optimal preflop 4x raise holding. Ace-seven offsuit has sufficient showdown strength and equity to raise immediately.

King-five suited is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Its suitedness and high-card strength support taking the maximum early raise.

K9 offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o+).

Jh9h is a suited J9, which falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range.

Any ace is a published optimal preflop 4x raise. Ace-high has sufficient equity and strong pair-making potential.

8-6 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raise thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Flopped trip eights is a very strong made hand with substantial value against the dealer's range. Raise the maximum available on the flop.

K2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

K-high with a weak kicker and only a gutshot draw is not strong enough to commit the larger flop raise. Check and retain the option to make the smaller, fully informed river decision.

I have a pair of deuces with a king kicker; despite the vulnerable board, it has sufficient showdown value versus random dealer holdings to call the final wager.