Hold'em table

Seven-five offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two unknown opponents at this stack depth.

With A♣K♣ heads-up against the big blind after the button folds, I have a strong hand worth raising for value and initiative. A raise to 300 is a solid opening size.

73o is too weak to defend out of position against a 3x small-blind raise, even getting 2:1 on the call.

T8 suited is a profitable button open in a three-handed game. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping weaker hands in the pot.

A3o in the small blind facing a button open in a 3-handed game. Calling out of position is weak, so I'm using it as a 3-bet bluff: the ace blocker helps, and it plays okay if called.

6-4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

T8 suited has poor equity against a sizable 3-bet, and calling 7.5bb would create an unfavorable pot-odds and postflop spot even in position.

J7o is a reasonable button open in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds rather than folding or limping.

Eight-seven offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

3♣5♣ is a very weak offsuit hand with poor playability out of position against the button's raise. Folding avoids investing more chips in a marginal spot.

On the button three-handed, 9-7 offsuit is playable as a small open raise, with position after the flop.

7-2 offsuit is far too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

The button open-raised to 2.25bb and the small blind folded, so I only need 1.25bb to win a 3.75bb pot. That's about 25% equity needed, and T7o easily clears that against a wide button range. I'm calling to defend the big blind.

T7s on 8-6-8 with a backdoor flush draw and a gutshot (a 9 makes the straight) gives decent equity, but out of position it's standard to check to the preflop raiser on this board. Checking keeps his bluffs in and leaves the option to check-raise or call a c-bet.

I have an open-ended straight draw and can make a small continuation bet to build the pot when I improve or win it immediately if the big blind folds.

With a gutshot to the nine, a backdoor flush draw and a ten overcard, I only need about 21% equity against the small c-bet. Calling in position-disadvantaged spots keeps the pot controlled and still realizes my equity.

The board has three 8s, so my hand plays as 8s with a ten kicker plus a gutshot to a straight. That is medium showdown value and too weak to bet for value, so I'll check to control the pot.

The third eight weakens my straight draw, and a flop caller can have a full house or better trip-eight kickers. Checking in position keeps the pot small while I see the river.

On a trips-on-board runout, my hand plays as 888 with a T-7 kicker. That has modest showdown value against missed hands, but most of the button's overcards beat it, and a bluff is unlikely to fold out better Ax/Kx. Checking to realize showdown value.

My straight has showdown value, but the paired board gives many hands a full house. Checking avoids a value bet that is more likely to be called by better hands.

KQs is a strong opening hand on the button in a three-handed game. Raise to 300 to apply pressure to the blinds while keeping the sizing standard.

Pocket threes in the small blind facing a 3bb button open with 100bb stacks. Calling to set-mine is reasonable given the implied odds, though 3-betting or folding are also viable.

Q6 offsuit is easily dominated, and playing out of position against two opponents makes it hard to realize enough equity to justify the call.

A small pair on a monotone, highly connected board plays poorly out of position against the preflop raiser, so I'll check. I can fold to meaningful pressure.

I have a gutshot to the king-high straight but no diamond, so this coordinated monotone flop is a poor spot to build the pot. Checking back preserves my equity and avoids a check-raise. }

Pocket threes with no diamond on a four-flush board have little showdown value and cannot be bet for value. Checking keeps the pot small and lets us realize whatever equity we have.

With four diamonds on the board and no diamond in my hand, betting has little value and risks being called or raised by a flush. I’ll take the free showdown with king-high.

Our pocket threes have some showdown value against the button's air after two checks. A bluff on this four-diamond, straight-heavy board is risky, since calls would come mostly from hands that beat us.

I have king-high and retain some showdown value against missed hands. With no diamond blocker on this four-diamond board, bluffing risks chips against a diamond or a pair.

K8s is a clear open from the button in a 3-handed game, so a 2.5bb raise works well. It can win the blinds outright and plays fine postflop if called.

7-5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

J6 offsuit is weak, but the button’s small raise and the favorable price make a big-blind defend reasonable. I’ll call rather than inflate the pot out of position.

I have no pair or strong draw on this flop, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids investing chips with weak equity.

On Q-T-5 with a gutshot, overcard K, and a backdoor flush draw, I'm in position against a BB check, so a small c-bet at about a third of the pot uses my range advantage and has solid equity.

J-high has no pair and only remote runner-runner straight possibilities on this board. Facing a 200-chip bet, continuing is not justified.