Hold'em table

On the button with K4o, I raise 2.5x to pressure the blinds and attempt a steal, playing my positional advantage in a short-handed game.

ATo is strong three-handed against a wide button open, and as the small blind a 3-bet avoids playing out of position in a multiway pot while isolating the raiser.

Three-handed, the small blind's 3-bet range against a button open is wide, so 99 has enough equity to call. We are getting good pot odds (750 to win 1950), and the hand plays well for set value. A 4-bet would only fold out worse hands, so calling keeps the pot controlled.

K4o is a weak hand and doesn't play well against a 3-bet and a call, even with position. Folding preserves my stack for better spots.

As the preflop 3-bettor I have range advantage on this low board and Ace-high with two overcards has little showdown value against better Aces, so a small c-bet can fold broadways while keeping price cheap if called.

99 on a low 5-2-6 board beats AK and Ax bluffs, and the small bet only needs about 20% equity. Raising would mostly fold out the hands we beat and get called by overpairs, so a call keeps the pot controlled.

Ace-high with no real draw on a 2-5-6-7 board that favors the caller; checking preserves stack and lets me realize ace outs or bluff later rather than betting into a likely pair or straight draw.

Pocket nines are likely ahead of unpaired AK/AQ, but those hands fold to a bet while overpairs call and beat us. Checking back controls the pot, keeps some bluffs in their range, and lets us reassess on the river.

Ace-high has only modest showdown value against flop-calling pairs, but the river Jack and three spades let me credibly represent a strong hand; a sizable bet can fold 88-TT and small pairs.

I need about 29% equity to call. After the turn checked through, the bet could easily be a missed AK or AQ that 99 beats. The pot odds make 99 a reasonable bluff-catcher against a polarized river bet.

Q6o is playable on the button in 3-handed play; raising gives fold equity against the blinds and keeps positional advantage if called.

T7s out of the small blind against a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a marginal hand. Folding avoids playing out of position while risking a squeeze from the big blind.

Q8o has about 45% equity against a typical button steal range, and calling 150 into a 400 pot offers 27% pot odds, making it slightly profitable assuming decent postflop play. I'll call and evaluate flop.

I have top pair, albeit with a weak kicker, on a semi-coordinated board. Betting for value and to charge any club or straight draws.

Top pair plus a club flush draw gives strong equity in position, and calling 350 into 900 keeps the pot manageable with a weak kicker while realizing my draw.

Betting half pot for value and protection with top pair, weak kicker. Charges flush and straight draws, and may get called by worse queens or jacks.

Top pair plus a club draw gives enough equity against Jx and drawing ranges to meet the 600 into 1850 pot odds, and calling in position keeps opponent's bluffs in.

My top pair has a weak kicker and the river king is very dangerous, so betting mostly gets called by better hands. I check to keep the pot small and potentially induce a bluff from missed draws.

With second pair and a weak kicker on a K-high river, checking back realizes showdown value against missed draws and worse pairs without risking a call or raise from kings, better queens, or the completed Broadway straight.

J9 suited on the button in 3-handed play is a clear open-raise; 2.5x applies pressure on both blinds.

Ace-six offsuit is too weak to call or raise from the small blind out of position against a button open; folding is the highest expected value play.

9-6 offsuit is too weak and poorly playable out of position against a button raise, even for 1.5bb more.

J3s is too weak to open even from the button; with no antes, stealing is less incentivized and I'd rather wait for a better hand.

J8 suited is well ahead of a big blind's wide heads-up range after the button fold, so raising builds value and takes initiative despite being out of position postflop.

Getting 3:1 in position against a likely wide SB steal range, T5o has enough equity and playability to defend by calling.

With Jd8d I have a diamond flush draw on Ad7d6s and no showdown value, so a semi-bluff bet builds the pot for when I hit and can fold out pairs and high cards.

T5 offbeat has no pair, no flush draw, and only backdoor straight potential on an A-7-6 two-tone board. Calling 400 against a 2/3-pot c-bet out of position isn't justified.

On the button in a 3-handed game, T8o is playable in position. Raising applies pressure to the blinds and gives me initiative postflop rather than limping.

95o from the small blind facing a button open is too weak to call out of position with the big blind still to act, and it's a poor 3-bet bluff candidate, so folding is best.

I hold 72o, one of the weakest starting hands, out of position against a button raise. Folding preserves my stack and avoids losing chips with almost no equity.

KTo on the button 3-handed is a clear open-raise; 2.5bb sizing pressures both blinds.

9s4s is a very weak hand, especially out of position against a button raise. Folding avoids losing more chips with a marginal holding.

8-3 offsuit is a very weak hand facing a button raise; calling 150 from the big blind would be unprofitable.