Hold'em table

Suited 45 has useful playability on the button in a three-handed pot. A small open-raise applies pressure while retaining maneuverability.

K2 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

J8 suited in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open is getting good pot odds (150 to win 400) and plays well postflop, so defending by calling is standard.

Out of position with J-high and a backdoor draw on a dry paired board that favors the raiser's range, so check to the preflop raiser. I can check-call or check-raise depending on their sizing.

A small continuation bet leverages the preflop range advantage on this paired board and can deny equity to unpaired overcards. My hand has limited showdown value but some runner-runner potential.

We're getting good odds against a small c-bet (200 into 550). J-high with a backdoor straight draw has enough equity and playability on a dry paired board to continue.

J-high with a gutshot (needs a 7 or Q... actually just a 7) and a backdoor draw that missed; checking to the preflop raiser keeps the pot small and lets me realize equity or give up cheaply.

With a marginal pair on a paired board after the flop call, checking controls the pot and preserves showdown value. A turn bet is unlikely to be called often by worse hands.

Jack-high rarely wins at showdown against a turn check-back range full of unpaired overcards. A bet of about 60% pot can fold out AK/AQ/KQ and weak pairs, and our line is consistent with having turned a 6 or holding a 5 or 7.

We have two pair on a paired board and need relatively modest equity versus this river bet. The opponent can value-bet worse pairs or bluff missed holdings, so calling is preferable to folding or raising.

Button with A9s is strong enough to open-raise and take initiative against the blinds.

T2 offsuit out of position against a button open, with the big blind still to act, is a clear fold from the small blind.

Defend the big blind versus a button min-raise with J9 suited, which has solid playability and favorable pot odds.

Checking preserves the pot with a medium-strength top pair while allowing the preflop raiser to continuation-bet. I retain showdown value and a gutshot straight draw.

Semi-bluff with the nut flush draw and an overcard, taking initiative on a board where I can win the pot immediately or improve on the turn.

We have top pair plus a gutshot on a relatively dry board. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding inflating the pot against stronger queens, sets, and better jacks.

Check to preserve pot control with second pair on a paired board and allow the preflop raiser to reveal further strength.

I have ace-high with no made hand on a paired board, and my opponent called the flop bet, so betting again would likely only get called by better hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me see the river.

Our two pair is not strong enough to value bet confidently after the flop call, since queens and sevens dominate us while many worse hands fold. Checking realizes showdown value.

J9o is a standard open from the button in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to take the initiative and put pressure on the blinds.

Qc5h is a weak offsuit hand facing a button raise from the small blind, with the big blind still behind. Folding avoids defending a dominated, poorly playable range.

64o is far too weak to continue out of position against a button raise; calling 1.5bb with dominated offsuit trash is a losing play. Folding only sacrifices the already-posted big blind.

K8 offsuit is a marginal button hand; folding avoids entering a multiway pot with dominated kicker risk.

Calling 50 completes the small blind with a suited hand and good pot odds heads-up, seeing a cheap flop.

Pocket threes against a small-blind limp play well as a value/protection raise heads-up in position. Raising to 4x punishes the limp's weak range, and checking is also fine.

2-4 suited is far too weak to continue against a preflop raise to 400, and calling 300 more offers poor equity. Folding minimizes losses in this spot.

A8s is a strong hand blind-vs-blind after the button folded, so I'm raising to 3bb for value and initiative.

Defend the big blind versus the small blind's modest raise with QJ offsuit; it has sufficient equity and playability heads-up.

Ace-high with no club on a monotone board that strongly hits the big blind's calling range. Betting from out of position gains little, so I'll check and keep the pot small.

Betting top pair for value and protection on this coordinated monotone board. A half-pot sizing can be called by worse queens, tens, and draws while charging clubs.

On a monotone club board we hold only ace-high with no club and no straight draw, so our equity against a big blind that led into us is too low even at 3-to-1 pot odds.

A7o is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to take the initiative and pressure the blinds.

Pocket fours have sufficient implied odds to continue for the small additional price, especially against a button opening range. Calling keeps the pot manageable while retaining set value.

Calling 150 into a pot of 600 gives excellent immediate odds with A6s, and the hand has enough playability multiway to see a flop. Folding would be too tight given the price, while raising risks bloating the pot out of position with a marginal hand.

With a low pair on a coordinated K-high flop in a three-way pot, checking preserves pot control and allows us to react to opponents' actions.

I have only Ace-high with a backdoor flush draw, so I take the free card and see the turn rather than building the pot with no made hand.

On a K-high board that favors the preflop raiser, a small c-bet into two checks is good. Ace-high with a backdoor club draw gives us some equity and fold equity.

Bottom pair has poor equity versus a continuation bet into two opponents on this coordinated board, with the big blind still behind. Folding preserves chips.