Hold'em table

With A3o on the button in a 3-handed game, raising to 300 applies pressure and leverages position. If called, we can evaluate on the flop.

A9o plays poorly out of position facing a 3x open from the button, especially with the big blind left to act.

65 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3x button raise from out of position.

Ten-three offsuit is far too weak to open from the button even in 3-handed play.

A7 suited is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind, gaining value and denying equity.

Closing the action with 200 to call into a 400 pot, 84s has enough equity against a likely wide small-blind raise to justify a cheap defend despite being out of position.

This connected flop favors the big blind’s calling range. I’ll check with ace-high, a gutshot, and a backdoor flush draw rather than build the pot out of position.

I have a weak hand with a gutshot and no showdown value yet; checking back controls the pot and realizes equity with position.

Ace-high has some showdown value, and a gutshot gives me a chance to improve. On this board, a turn bet is unlikely to fold out many better hands.

Semi-bluffing with an open-ended straight draw; opponent checked twice, so a bet can take the pot or improve my equity if called.

Ace-high with a gutshot has too little reliable equity against a substantial turn bet. Calling out of position would also leave a difficult river decision.

Pocket queens are a premium hand on the button. Raising to 300 builds the pot for value while retaining position.

4s2s is a very weak hand facing a button raise, and calling 250 more out of position has poor implied odds. Folding avoids further losses with a dominated, low-equity holding.

Holding an unsuited and disconnected trash hand 84o out of position against a button open, this is an easy fold.

9s5c is a weak offsuit hand with poor playability, and calling 100 chips out of position postflop is not profitable enough in this spot.

Ten-six offsuit is too weak to complete or raise from the small blind out of position against the big blind.

96o is too weak to open profitably even from the button in a 3-handed game.

With the button folded, completing the small blind costs 50 into a 150-chip pot. Despite the weak hand and poor position, the price is good enough to see a flop.

With a weak offsuit hand in the big blind and no call required, checking sees a free flop and avoids bloating the pot out of position.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on a coordinated flop, so I’ll check rather than build the pot.

With 7-high and no pair or draw on a coordinated J-T-Q flop, checking behind is best to avoid putting chips in with air and to realize a free turn card.

With 6-high on a paired, connected board, a turn bluff has little chance of getting called by worse or folding out strong draws and pairs. Checking avoids investing more with a very weak hand.

With 7-high and no draw on a coordinated paired board, checking avoids risking chips as a bluff into an opponent who could have a pair or draw.

My hand plays the board, and a bet is unlikely to fold out many hands that beat it. Checking avoids investing more with a weak showdown hand.

Opponent checked all streets, showing no strength; a small river bet can fold out A-high or missed draws and win the pot, while checking likely loses at showdown with 7-high.

My cards do not improve the board, so I cannot win outright at showdown. Calling risks chips against any opponent who can beat the board.

Pocket sixes are strong enough to open on the button, and a 2.5 big-blind raise puts pressure on both blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

With 9-2 offsuit out of position and facing a button raise, this hand is too weak to continue profitably. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity and playability.

J5o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise, even with decent pot odds.