Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed pot, a small open gives this marginal hand a chance to steal the blinds while preserving position if called.

AKs is a premium 3-handed hand, and I want to 3-bet for value and take initiative against a likely wide button open. A larger raise also charges the big blind and avoids playing a bloated pot out of position.

Holding 73o against an open and a 3-bet preflop is an easy fold.

7-5 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large three-bet, even in position.

T8o has decent equity and position on the button in a 3-handed game; raising applies pressure on the blinds and takes initiative.

A3o is too weak to defend out of position against a button open with the big blind still to act.

6-4 offsuit is a weak hand to defend out of position against a 2.5-big-blind raise.

J7o is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

With 8-7 offsuit in the small blind, completing for 50 chips keeps the pot manageable while retaining a playable hand heads-up.

With 3h5c in the big blind and no call required, checking is best to see a free flop rather than raising with a weak hand.

Top pair is likely ahead in a heads-up limped pot. A modest bet gets value from weaker pairs and charges heart draws and overcards.

I have an open-ended straight draw (any A or 6) and pot odds of about 29% justify calling the 135 bet with 8 outs (~32% by river).

I have a weak middle pair on a turn that adds a second flush draw. Checking controls the pot and lets me assess the opponent's action.

Semi-bluffing with an open-ended straight draw; opponent checked the turn showing weakness, so a bet can take the pot or improve on the river.

Middle pair is strong enough to continue against this small turn bet, particularly when the big blind can have draws and weaker pairs.

My pair of eights has showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called often by worse hands. Checking also gives missed draws a chance to bluff.

Opponent checked the river after calling my turn raise, suggesting a missed draw or weak showdown hand. My 3-high has no showdown value, so a bet of 600 can fold out better high-card and missed-draw hands often enough to be profitable.

My pair of eights is a bluff-catcher on a river that missed both flush draws. The blind-versus-blind range is wide, and the 600-chip bet needs to be a bluff less than a third of the time for this call to pay off.

Nine-seven offsuit is playable on the button three-handed. A small open-raise uses position while keeping the pot manageable.

7c2h is the weakest starting hand and I am facing a raise with the big blind still to act; folding avoids investing more chips out of position.

T7o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise.

KQs is a strong 3-handed button hand, so I raise for value and to take initiative. A 3bb open is standard and keeps my range balanced.

Facing a 3bb button open from the small blind with the big blind left to act, pocket threes have low playability out of position.

Q6 offsuit is marginal, but the dead small blind improves the price enough to defend against a button open.

Bottom pair with no diamond on a coordinated monotone flop is too weak to value-bet against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

The flop is monotone and my KQ has no diamond, so betting into a likely diamond-containing range risks a check-raise. I prefer to check behind, control the pot, and reassess on the turn.

I have a weak pair and no diamond on a four-diamond board. Checking controls the pot and preserves my chance to reach showdown cheaply.

Opponent checked twice on a four-diamond board, so a bet can fold out non-diamond hands and take the pot. I have no diamond, so I will fold if raised.

Bottom pair with no diamond has little equity against a turn bet on a four-diamond board, and improving on the river may still leave me behind.

Opening on the button with K8s is standard in 3-handed play to exert positional advantage.

7-5 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act.

Closing the action in the big blind with 150 to call into 400, J6o has enough equity against a wide button open to defend profitably.

The board connects heavily with the big blind's defending range, so checking back with King-high and backdoor equity is standard to see a turn card safely.

I have an open-ended straight draw on a coordinated board and can apply pressure as the preflop caller; a turn semi-bluff can fold out weak pairs or overcards.

Holding King-high with only a gutshot straight draw to a Jack, the pot odds of 300 to call into an 850 pot are insufficient without clear implied odds on a coordinated board.