Hold'em table

K-deuce offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two blinds in this short-format setup.

Blind vs blind with 53o, completing for 50 into a pot of 150 gives good odds and a reasonable mixed strategy. Raising this weak a hand out of position isn't needed.

With T5s in the big blind and no additional cost to see the flop, checking is a low-risk way to realize our hand's equity. Raising would likely only get called by better hands or folds from worse ones.

53o holds a gutshot to a 4-5-6-7 straight (needs a 6... actually a 5-3 with a 4 needs 2 or 6... only weak backdoor equity), and we're out of position, so checking to take a free card is fine. A small stab would also be reasonable, but checking keeps the pot small.

With only ten-high and no strong draw on this flop, checking keeps the pot small and avoids unnecessary risk against the small blind's check.

Our 5-3 has a gutshot to a straight (needs a 6) plus some backdoor equity, and we have no showdown value. After the checked flop, a small stab should take down this uncontested pot often enough to profit.

I have no made hand and only a weak draw, while facing a turn bet with poor pot odds. Folding preserves my stack for better spots.

T6s on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds with a playable suited hand.

J8s is suited and has enough equity to defend against the button open given the pot odds, while avoiding a bloated pot out of position.

Pocket sevens is strong enough to 3-bet for value from the big blind against a button raise and small-blind call. The larger sizing also reduces multiway realization.

T6s is too weak to call a big blind squeeze to 9bb when the small blind is still left to act behind. Getting about 2.15:1 isn't enough against a strong range with reverse implied odds.

J8s is too weak to continue against a 3-bet out of position, and calling 650 more offers poor implied odds. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

Raising from the button with a suited jack to apply pressure on the blinds and take the pot preflop.

8-4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind versus a button raise with the big blind still behind.

A2o in the big blind facing a 2.5bb button open in a 3-handed game. I'm getting 150 into 400 (under 3:1), and the hand is well ahead of a wide button range, so calling is profitable; 3-betting is also viable but calling keeps dominated hands in.

Ace-high with a backdoor club draw on a paired board that favors the preflop raiser; I'll check and let the button c-bet. I can continue against small bets.

Semi-bluff with a flush draw in position, betting to take down the pot now or build it if I hit. This is a standard continuation bet on a favorable board for the preflop raiser.

Ace-high with a backdoor flush draw has enough equity against a wide, small button c-bet on a paired board, and I need only about 26% equity at these pot odds. Calling keeps the button's bluffs in the pot.

I only have ace-high and a weak 2-high flush draw on a board that favors the preflop raiser, so I'll check and let them act before deciding whether to continue.

Ace-high has some showdown value against missed draws, and a bluff on this wet, paired board is unlikely to fold out the Qx or Kx hands that called the flop. The opponent's turn check was a timeout fallback, so it tells us little about their range.

T9 offsuit is a playable button opening hand in three-handed play. Raising applies pressure to the blinds and retains initiative.

AKo in the small blind facing a button open is a clear 3-bet for value. Sizing to 10bb out of position keeps the big blind out and builds the pot with a strong hand.

8d5s is too weak to continue against a 3-bet for 900 more, and calling would require roughly 40% equity that this hand does not have. Folding preserves the stack for better spots.

T9 offsuit is not strong enough to continue profitably against a large small-blind 3-bet after opening.

Q7o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open-raise, since only the blinds are left to act. A 2.5bb steal applies pressure on both blinds.

A suited AQ is far ahead of a button min-raise range heads-up and benefits from building the pot while denying equity. I use a standard out-of-position 3-bet size.

Q7o is too weak to continue against a big blind 3-bet, even with position; the call would put in 650 more to win a 1850 pot while dominated by much of the 3-betting range.

On the button 3-handed, I raise to steal the blinds and take initiative with a playable marginal hand.

J5 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still behind.

In 3-handed play the button opens a wide range to 2.5bb, so I only need to call 150 into a pot of 400, which works out to about 27% equity. Q3 suited is a standard big-blind defend against that open.

Q-high with a gutshot-free, backdoor-only hand on an A-high board that favors the button's raising range. Check and likely fold to a c-bet.

I have queen-high with no made hand or strong draw on this ace-high board, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids unnecessary risk.

The button checked back the flop on an ace-high board, which caps its range. My hand has a gutshot to the wheel and some fold equity, so a probe bet of about 55% of the pot is a good semi-bluff.

I have only queen-high with no real draw on this board, and facing a turn bet from the big blind I don't have enough equity to continue. Folding preserves my stack for a better spot.