Hold'em table

AJo on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear open-raise; 2.5bb sizing pressures both blinds.

K7 suited has enough playability to defend against a button raise. Calling keeps the pot manageable with the big blind still to act.

7-2 offsuit is far too weak to defend against a raise and call from the big blind.

With only king-high and a backdoor heart draw on this flop, I prefer to check rather than build the pot out of position.

AJ with the nut flush draw (Ac), a gutshot to a K and overcard equity on Q93 two-tone; a small c-bet in position against a check-caller from the SB is profitable. It can fold out better hands and it builds the pot for when the draw hits.

The small flop bet gives me a good price to continue with a king overcard and backdoor heart possibilities. Raising would be too ambitious without a stronger draw.

I have only king-high and little chance to improve. Checking avoids investing more without a strong reason to bluff.

Ace-high has some showdown value against missed draws and weak pairs are unlikely to fold. Checking back keeps the pot small and gives a free river card.

King-high has limited showdown value. After the preflop raiser checked the turn, a river bet can fold out ace-high and some weak pairs.

Ace high with only a missed gutshot beats just pure bluffs. The small-blind player check-called the flop and checked the turn before leading the river, a line that is mostly weak pairs or better, so ace high should rarely be good.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially with the big blind still behind.

Getting 400:150 odds in the big blind against a button open, and J3 suited is a clear defend. Calling keeps the pot small and lets me realize equity in position-disadvantaged spots with flush potential.

J-high with a gutshot (KQ gives Broadway) and no flush draw on an ace-high board that favors the preflop raiser; checking to the button is standard here.

The ace-high flop favors my preflop raising range. A small continuation bet can win the pot now without committing much with my weak hand.

J-high with no pair and no real draw on an A-T-4 board with two clubs, and I hold no clubs. Even at 20% pot odds, calling this small c-bet isn't justified.

T8 offsuit is a suitable button open in a three-handed game, leveraging position and initiative.

87o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a weak holding out of position; folding is standard.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button open, but calling avoids inflating the pot with a marginal hand.

I missed this flop and have little reason to lead into the preflop raiser. Checking preserves chips and lets me assess their action.

A small continuation bet leverages our preflop initiative on this queen-high board while risking little with some backdoor potential.

The small flop bet offers a reasonable price to continue with ace-high against a button range that can contain missed hands. Raising would overplay this hand, so I’ll call and reassess on the turn.

Ace-high has some showdown value, and the paired turn is not a strong reason to lead after calling the flop. I’ll check and reassess if the button bets.

The paired turn is a strong card to represent a queen or a deuce after betting the flop. A moderate continuation bet can fold out unpaired floats and some weaker one-pair hands.

Ace-high with no club draw is too weak to continue against a second bet on this paired board, especially out of position.

Q4o on the button in 3-handed play is a reasonable steal candidate against two blinds; a small open to 2.5bb puts pressure on weak ranges.

8-2 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

9-high suited with a weak kicker is too weak to defend against a button raise at this sizing.

A-T offsuit is a strong button opening hand three-handed. Raising to 250 builds the pot while leveraging position.

Pocket sevens is well ahead of a typical button opening range and benefits from isolating rather than inviting the big blind in cheaply. I use a standard out-of-position 3-bet size.

85o facing an open and a 3-bet from the small blind is a clear fold; calling 800 out of position with a weak offsuit hand, and the opener still left to act, is unprofitable.

ATo has enough equity to call the small blind's 3-bet at this price, and position helps me realize it.

A small continuation bet leverages our preflop range advantage and can fold out unpaired overcards or small pairs while risking relatively little.

The small flop bet gives me a reasonable price to continue in position with a gutshot to Broadway and some additional ways to improve.

With third pair on a coordinated high-card board after being called on the flop, checking preserves pot control and allows this hand to realize its modest showdown value.

The gutshot has value if a jack comes, but ace-high is too weak to bet for value. Checking takes the free card against a range that can contain strong pairs.

With a marginal pair on this coordinated board, checking realizes our showdown value. A river bet is unlikely to be called by many worse hands after the preflop and flop action.

Ace-high is unlikely to win at showdown against a preflop three-bettor. After two checks from the opponent, a river bet may fold out better ace-high hands and some pocket pairs.

Pocket sevens have only a marginal bluff-catcher on this overcard-heavy board, and the large river bet after the flop action is unlikely to be a bluff often enough.

8-4 suited is too weak to profitably enter from the button facing the blinds without prior action.

In a blind-vs-blind spot I'm getting 3:1 to complete from the small blind, so a cheap limp with 73o is fine. Raising this weak offsuit hand isn't needed.

QJo is strong enough to raise for value against a small-blind limp, and raising uses my positional advantage after the flop.

73o out of position facing a raise to 4bb after limping; the pot odds don't justify continuing with such a weak hand.