Hold'em table

K9o is playable as a button open in three-handed poker; a 2.5bb raise is better than limping or folding.

Q6 offsuit is weak against a button raise, and calling from the small blind leaves me out of position with the big blind still to act.

74o is far too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

On the button, 9♠3♠ has enough suited playability to open against the blinds. A small raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

86 offsuit is too weak to call or 3-bet from out of position against a button raise.

9-2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open; folding avoids putting more chips in with a dominated, unplayable hand.

Queen-Ten suited is a strong hand on the button in 3-handed play, standard open to 2.5x BB.

A9s is strong enough to 3-bet the button open from the small blind, taking the initiative out of position and charging weaker hands.

Q♥7♥ is too weak to continue against the small blind’s substantial preflop reraise, especially with the button still to act.

Calling the 3-bet with QTs in position is standard given the favorable pot odds and strong postflop playability.

I was the preflop aggressor and flopped middle pair with the ace kicker. A small continuation bet applies pressure and gets value from worse pairs and draws on this connected board.

Flopped top pair with a good kicker and inside straight potential in position against a 3-bet pot continuation bet; calling is profitable and keeps worse hands in.

I have only middle pair with an ace on a highly connected three-heart turn, so checking controls the pot and avoids bloating it against straights, two pair, and strong draws.

The board has four to a straight and three hearts, giving us only top pair on a wet board. Checking behind controls the pot and takes a free showdown or river card.

I only have a pair of nines with an ace kicker on a four-straight, three-heart board, so a bet gets called by better and folds out worse. Checking is the highest-EV line.

I have a pair of tens with a queen kicker on a four-to-a-straight, three-flush board; checking behind realizes showdown value against ace-high misses without risking a check-raise.

96o is too weak to open from the button for a full big blind, so folding preserves chips.

Q5 suited is playable from the small blind at this price, and completing keeps the pot small while giving the big blind a chance to check.

I have J8o in the big blind facing a small blind limp. Checking allows me to see a free flop with position.

Q-high has some showdown value and backdoor diamond potential, but this low, connected flop favors the big blind's range. With no meaningful draw, I’ll take the free card.

I flopped top pair on a draw-heavy board in a limped blind-versus-blind pot. Betting half-pot extracts value from draws and weaker pairs while protecting my hand.

Q-high has no meaningful draw on this low, connected two-club board, so calling the bet is unlikely to be profitable.

On the button in a three-handed game, 9-high is weak but playable as an open-raise candidate; a modest raise applies pressure to the blinds and can win the pot preflop.

K4o is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise with the big blind still left to act.

78o has enough equity against a wide button open to defend for 1.5bb more, and the pot odds justify a call despite being out of position.

I have no pair, draw, or board connection on an ace-high flop, so I check and realize the free card rather than bluff into the preflop raiser.

I have a modest middle pair with a weak kicker, so checking preserves showdown value without inflating the pot against the many ace-x hands in the big blind’s range.

I have only a double-gutshot with no pair or showdown value, so I take the free card rather than bluff into the preflop raiser.

With middle pair and a weak kicker on an ace-high board, checking preserves showdown value without inflating the pot. There is little reason to bet into the big blind’s range after two checks.

I have bottom pair on an ace-high board and act first after the preflop raiser checked flop and turn. Checking realizes my weak showdown value without bloating the pot.

I have a modest pair of nines with a weak kicker, and the opponent has shown no aggression. Checking preserves showdown value without risking a bet that is unlikely to be called by worse hands.

J6o is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play, making fold the standard decision.

72s is too weak to continue out of position against the big blind; the extra 50 does not have enough realized equity to justify calling.