Hold'em table

Pocket eights are strong three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind button raise builds the pot while retaining position.

QKo is a strong hand in a 3-handed game and 3-betting from the small blind puts pressure on the button's wide opening range, potentially taking down the pot preflop or isolating.

Facing an open-raise and a 3-bet, 7c 3c is far too weak to continue with out of position.

Pocket eights play well as a call in position against this three-bet, while a four-bet would often face action from stronger hands.

As the preflop 3-bettor on a wet board, a continuation bet represents strength, puts pressure on the opponent's range, and denies free cards to draws, while allowing us to fold to a raise with our weak holding.

Pocket eights without a heart have poor prospects on this monotone flop against a three-bettor, and many turn cards will make continuing difficult.

With pocket eights on the button in a 3-handed game, raising to 3x the big blind builds the pot and puts pressure on the blinds, leveraging our position and hand strength.

J6s is too weak to defend out of position against a 3bb open from the button.

K7 suited is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, especially with the small blind's chips in the pot.

King-high with only backdoor draws is too weak to lead into the preflop raiser. Checking preserves the option to respond to a bet.

Flopped a set of 8s on a wet board with straight draws; betting around 77% pot to build value and charge draws.

K-high has only a backdoor flush draw and weak prospects on this board. Calling a sizable bet out of position is unlikely to be profitable.

On the button in 3-handed play, opening A2o with an Ace blocker leverages position and fold equity.

KTo is strong enough to contest a button min-raise three-handed. Raising from the small blind pressures the button's wide opening range and avoids a multiway pot out of position.

Q5o is a weak hand out of position facing a small-blind 3-bet, with the original raiser still to act behind, so calling or raising would be unprofitable.

A2o is too weak to continue against an 8bb 3-bet from the small blind.

5-3 offsuit is a weak button hand with poor playability against two opponents. Folding avoids investing more chips without a read that the blinds fold frequently.

QQ is a premium hand, raising for value against the big blind heads-up.

KQo has strong equity against a wide small blind open and plays well in position; calling allows us to realize equity efficiently without bloating the pot against 4-bets.

With an overpair on a dry J-5-2 board, I bet 400 (2/3 pot) for value against Jx and weaker pairs, while protecting against gutshot draws.

Facing a 2/3 pot continuation bet on an unconnected board without backdoor flush draws, King-Queen high lacks sufficient equity or playability to float.

On the button with Q9s, I raise to 2.5x to apply pressure on the blinds and take initiative with a hand that plays reasonably well postflop.

In 3-handed play, A8s is strong enough to 3-bet for value and protection against a button open, putting pressure on both the button and the big blind.

J8 suited is too weak to call a 10bb three-bet with the original raiser still to act, and a four-bet would be too speculative.

Q9s has playability and position against the small blind's 3-bet, which could be a wide resteal range. Calling 750 to see a flop in a pot of 1350 offers decent pot odds and implied odds.

As the preflop 3-bettor out of position on a paired low board, checking preserves pot control with Ace-high and backdoor flush equity.

I have queen-high with no made hand and only backdoor draws, so I take the free card in position rather than risk a bluff into a checked 3-bet pot.

We hold Ace-high with showdown value after the flop checked through. Checking allows us to keep the pot controlled and potentially see a cheap showdown.

Opponent checked twice, showing weakness; we have Q-high with no draw, so a bluff bet could take down the pot now.

Holding just Ace-high with no draw out of position against a 2/3 pot turn bet after checking twice, this is an easy fold.

74o is far too weak to open from the button, even in 3-handed play.

3-2 offsuit is a very weak hand to play out of position against the big blind. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor postflop prospects.