Hold'em table

78o is a borderline but playable button open in three-handed poker, and raising is better than limping or folding with position. A 2.5bb open keeps the pot small while taking the initiative.

53s is too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a 2.5bb button open.

Q8 suited is a reasonable big-blind defend against a 2.5x button raise, and calling keeps weaker hands in the pot without inflating it out of position.

Top pair with a modest kicker is strong enough to continue, but checking out of position keeps the pot manageable and lets the preflop raiser bluff or bet weaker hands.

I have an open-ended straight draw on a checked flop, so a small continuation bet gets fold equity and builds the pot when I improve.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against the small flop bet, while calling keeps bluffs and weaker queens in the pot without inflating it on a draw-heavy board.

I have trips and can get value from pocket pairs or heart draws with a small turn bet. The modest sizing also limits exposure if my weak kicker is behind a better queen.

I have a flush draw plus an open-ended straight draw, about 16 outs, giving roughly 35% equity against the 21% needed to call 350 into 1300. Calling realizes that equity without bloating the pot against a turn lead that likely has a made hand.

I have trips with a reasonable board kicker, and a small river bet can get calls from weaker pairs without risking too much against a better queen.

I have 7-8 with no pair and no draw on a queen-paired board, so I lose to any made hand. Calling 550 with no showdown value is unprofitable.

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

J3 offsuit is weak, but the big blind’s limp gives a favorable price to complete rather than invest more with a raise.

T9o is playable but not strong enough to raise a completed small blind for value. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize equity in position postflop.

I have no pair or immediate draw on this ace-high flop, so I’ll take the free option rather than bluff into the big blind.

I have middle pair with a ten kicker on an ace-king board. With position and no bet facing me, checking controls the pot and realizes equity cheaply.

I have only jack-high with no meaningful draw, and the opponent has shown no aggression. Checking keeps the pot small and gives me a chance to improve on the river.

I have bottom pair on an ace-king board and the pot is small, so checking behind keeps the hand cheap and sees a free river.

With only jack-high, I have little showdown value. A small river bluff targets the opponent’s checked-through weak hands while risking only half the pot.

I have two pair, nines and sixes, and only need 25% equity against a minimum river bet. The opponent's check-check-min-bet line includes enough bluffs and weaker hands to make calling profitable.

J-4 offsuit is too weak to continue from the button facing the big blind, even at this price.

Button folded, so I only need 50 more with suited connectors. Completing is better than folding a hand that can flop equity, and raising out of position is unnecessary.

Holding 98 suited in the big blind against a small blind limp, checking to see a free flop with strong playability in position.

I have a flush draw plus a gutshot on a low board, so a small semi-bluff builds the pot and can win it immediately while I am out of position.

We have nine-high with no direct draw or backdoor flush draw on a 5-3-2 two-tone board, making this an easy fold against a 3/4 pot lead.

AQo is a premium button hand; a 2.5bb open builds the pot and applies pressure before the blinds.

Holding 52 offsuit out of position against a button open is an easy fold.

Calling 150 more gives a reasonable price to defend the big blind with a suited, connected hand against a button raise.

With 7♠6♠ on an ace-high flop, I have no made hand and only backdoor draw potential. I’ll check rather than donk into the preflop raiser.

I have top pair with the best kicker on a dry flop and the big blind checked. A half-pot bet builds the pot and charges weaker aces and draws.

I have no pair, flush draw, or meaningful immediate draw on this board. Calling 300 would needlessly invest against the flop raise.

6s 3c is too weak to play profitably even from the button. Folding is standard.

With 9-7 offsuit heads-up from the small blind, completing costs only 50 into a 150-chip pot. Calling keeps the pot small with a playable hand.

K4o is too weak to raise for value against the small blind's limp, and checking keeps the pot small with a marginal hand.

A small flop bet can take down the pot against a missed hand, and I have a gutshot plus a backdoor flush draw if called.

King-high with no pair and no draw has too little equity to call a half-pot flop bet heads-up.

A4 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. Raise to 250 to apply pressure while keeping the sizing modest.

K3 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open in the small blind, so folding is the highest-EV option.

A9o is well ahead of a wide button opening range and gets favorable pot odds (150 to win 400) closing the action preflop.

Flopped top pair top kicker; checking to the preflop aggressor out of position to control the pot and induce bluffs.

A small continuation bet can fold out overcards and weak hands while giving my ace-high hand protection. I also have a gutshot to a wheel if a three comes.

We flop top pair top kicker on a dry board against a small continuation bet, making a call optimal to keep their bluffing range wide.

I have top pair top kicker on a paired board and should continue to check to the preflop and flop aggressor out of position.

I have ace-high with a gutshot to a wheel and some chance to improve on the river. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize that equity after my opponent called the flop bet.

I have top pair top kicker on a paired board. Checking allows opponent to bluff missed draws or bet worse hands, while keeping the pot controlled.

I have a five-high straight and can value-bet against one-pair hands and weaker holdings. A modest bet targets calls while limiting losses if the opponent has a six-high straight or a full house.

I hold top pair, top kicker on a relatively dry runout, and the river bet is only about a third of the pot, offering excellent pot odds to call.