Showdown Hold'em table

Pocket eights are comfortably within the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Taking the maximum raise maximizes expected value against the dealer.

Q4 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of Q8 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

A pair of fours using a hole card, supported by a queen kicker, is strong enough to raise on this flop. Betting 2x captures value against the dealer’s many unpaired holdings.

Eight-three offsuit is well outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop without risking an additional bet now.

The flop gives me a pair of threes using a hole card, which is strong enough for the 2x flop raise. Raising now captures value against the dealer’s many unpaired holdings.

Nine-seven offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Check to see the flop before committing a play bet.

A pair of sevens plus an open-ended straight draw gives strong equity against a random dealer hand. Raising now captures value from both the made pair and the potential straight.

Jack-ten offsuit is included in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum now maximizes expected value.

King-nine offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

Suited 6-4 is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after a favorable flop without committing extra chips now.

Six-high with no pair or immediate straight or flush draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to improve and make a better-informed river decision.

My best hand is the board’s pair of tens with a six kicker, which loses to almost all dealer holdings. Calling has lower expected value than accepting the ante-and-blind loss.

A6 offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range, which includes every ace. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

A4 offsuit is a 4x raise under the optimal preflop strategy, which raises every ace. Taking the maximum raise maximizes expected chips.

Unsuited 2-3 is well below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the board improves the hand.

With only three-high and a straight draw on a two-diamond board, committing a 2x raise is too aggressive. Checking preserves the option to raise after improving or fold an unfavorable river.

My hole cards do not improve the board’s pair of sevens. The dealer can only tie or beat me, so raising has lower expected value than folding.

T5 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

Ten-high with no pair and only backdoor straight and flush possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to make a smaller river bet if the hand improves or fold if it remains weak.

The board's trip nines leave me with only ten-seven kickers, which lose to higher kickers and any full house or quads. Too few dealer holdings lose or tie to justify the river bet over folding.

Suited 6-4 is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Check to see the flop before committing a play bet.

A pair of sixes using a hole card is strong enough to raise on this dry flop. Betting 2x has better expected value than waiting for the river.

Eight-two suited is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Eight-high with no pair and only backdoor straight and flush possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

Two pair, sixes and deuces with an ace kicker, beats more than half of the dealer’s possible holdings. Raising has substantially higher expected value than folding.

A6 suited is a clear 4x raise under the optimal preflop strategy, which raises every ace. Taking the maximum raise maximizes expected value.

Q7 offsuit falls below the optimal preflop raising threshold of Q8 offsuit. Check to retain the option to raise after seeing the board.

The paired board does not give me a private pair, and Q-7 has no immediate straight or flush draw. Checking preserves the option to make a smaller river bet after seeing the remaining cards.

Two pair, sevens and fives with a queen kicker, beats enough dealer holdings to make the 1x raise more profitable than folding. The paired board also guarantees that the dealer qualifies.

J6 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Top pair on a dry, unpaired flop is strong against a random dealer hand. Raising now captures value with the larger available play bet rather than waiting until the river.

Ten-nine offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Check to preserve the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Ten-high with two overcards and only backdoor straight possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the final board.

Our pair of fours with a ten kicker beats very few dealer holdings; most make a higher kicker, two pair, or better. The chance of winning is far below the threshold needed to justify the river raise.

Ace-ten offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum now maximizes expected value.

A♣2♠ falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range, which includes every ace. Raising now maximizes expected value.

A2 offsuit is a maximum-raise hand under the optimal preflop strategy, which raises 4x with any ace.

K-2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of K-5 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

I have an open-ended straight draw but no made pair or immediate flush draw. Checking preserves the option to raise after improving or fold an unfavorable river.

My pair of eights with a king kicker beats enough dealer holdings to justify calling. With the dealer guaranteed to qualify, raising needs only a 20% win rate ignoring ties, and this hand exceeds that threshold.

Suited 9-4 is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Nine-high with no spade, no pair, and only remote straight possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to make a better-informed river decision.

Despite the four-spade board, the pair of nines beats enough dealer holdings without a spade to justify calling. Raising has higher expected value than surrendering the ante and blind.

Nine-three suited is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop without committing more chips now.

A pair of threes using a hole card is strong enough to raise on this flop. Betting 2x captures its current showdown equity rather than waiting for potentially unfavorable runouts.

Q5 suited is below the optimal preflop 4x threshold of Q6 suited. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

The queen-high flush draw plus an overcard provides enough equity to raise 2x rather than wait for the river.

Six-five offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after a favorable flop without committing more chips now.

A pair of fives made with a hole card is strong enough to raise on the flop. Betting 2x captures value against the dealer’s random holdings rather than waiting for the river.

Four-three offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to bet after seeing the board without committing more chips now.

A pair of threes using a hole card is strong enough to raise on this flop, with additional backdoor straight potential. Raising now has better expected value than waiting for the river.

Nine-four offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after a favorable flop without committing additional chips now.

With no pair, no flush draw, and only a gutshot straight draw, this hand is too weak to raise 2x. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

A pair of nines has enough showdown value to justify the 1x raise despite the straight possibilities and higher board cards. Raising has higher expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Pocket twos fall below the optimal preflop raising threshold of pocket threes. Checking preserves the option to raise after the board improves the hand.

Pocket deuces are vulnerable on this connected flop, with little improvement potential. Checking preserves the option to make a smaller river bet or fold after seeing the full board.

Your pair of twos wins against 272 of the 990 possible dealer holdings and ties against one. Raising has an expected net result of about -18.98 chips, slightly better than folding for -20 chips.

T5 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold. Checking preserves the option to raise after a favorable flop without committing more chips now.

Ten-high with no pair and only backdoor straight and flush possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise after improving or fold on the river.

The board's pair leaves me with only a ten kicker, and too many dealer holdings beat it. My winning and tying chances are insufficient to justify the final 1x raise over folding.

Seven-five offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

An open-ended straight draw with no pair and two cards below the jack is not strong enough for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable river or fold after a weak runout.

My hole cards complete an eight-high straight. Raising is strongly profitable against the dealer’s possible holdings, with a 1:1 blind payout when the straight wins.