Hold'em table

4-2 offsuit is far below a profitable button opening range, so folding avoids entering with a very weak hand.

Q5 offsuit is playable heads-up, but raising from the small blind would build a pot out of position with a marginal hand. Completing for 50 chips keeps the pot small.

ATo is well ahead of a small blind limping range, so I'm raising for value and to take the initiative. A raise to 4bb is standard against a limp.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to call a 4x raise out of position.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button three-handed.

This is a blind-vs-blind spot with 85o in the small blind. Completing for 50 into a pot of 150 is cheap, and the hand has enough equity and playability to limp rather than fold.

Raise for value and initiative with an ace heads-up against the small blind’s limp; this sizing pressures weak holdings without inflating the pot excessively.

85o out of position against a big blind raise is too weak to continue profitably, even with a 36% price. Folding the limp.

QQ is a premium hand on the button in 3-handed play, so I'm opening to 2.5bb for value.

A♠? No—A♥K♦ is a premium hand, and a substantial three-bet builds value while applying pressure to the button and discouraging the big blind from entering cheaply.

Six-deuce offsuit is too weak to defend against a substantial three-bet, especially with the original raiser still in the hand.

QQ is well ahead of a wide 3-handed small-blind 3-bet range, so I 4-bet for value. A 2100 sizing keeps worse hands continuing while still letting me stack off comfortably.

AK offsuit is strong enough to continue against the button’s 4-bet, but calling keeps the pot manageable and avoids committing 100bb against a range that may call a shove with strong hands.

Bet for value and protection with top pair/top kicker on a two-spade board. A moderate size gets value from worse hands and charges draws without overcommitting against the preflop 4-bet range.

QQ on a K-high board faces a small lead from a range that flatted our 4-bet, which contains a lot of AK, KQ and sets. We only need about 20% equity, so calling keeps us in against weaker pairs and flush draws without shoving into a range that calls with better.

Bet for value with trip kings and charge the flush draws, while leaving room to respond to a raise.

As the button in a three-handed pot, 7♥4♥ is a reasonable wide steal candidate. A small open applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the risk controlled.

5-2 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

Getting about 3.7:1 in the big blind against a wide button open, Q6o has enough equity to defend by calling, but it is too weak to 3-bet profitably.”

Q-high with a gutshot on a paired low board that favors the button's opening range, so I check to the raiser. I can continue against a small c-bet given my overcard and gutshot equity.

A small continuation bet uses the preflop initiative on a paired, low board and can fold out overcards. My hand also has backdoor flush and straight possibilities if called.

Facing a small c-bet (about a third of the pot) on a dry paired board, I only need about 20% equity. Q6 has two overcards and some backdoor potential against a wide button range, so calling is correct.

The 4d turn completes an open-ended straight draw (a 2 or 7 gives the nut straight) and favors the big blind's low-card range. Leading about two-thirds pot as a semi-bluff gives fold equity against the button's range of small c-bets, and I still have 8 outs if called.

I have two pair from the paired board and my 4, which is strong enough to continue against this turn bet but not strong enough to raise. Calling keeps worse hands and bluffs in while controlling the pot.

Queen-high has almost no showdown value here. The line I've taken represents straights and trips, so a two-thirds pot bet should fold out the underpairs and weak made hands that called the turn.

The river king improves many plausible Kx hands, and the opponent’s turn lead followed by a substantial river bet strongly represents value. My two pair is weak on this board and does not justify calling.

K2 offsuit is playable as a button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

95o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold.

QTs is a strong hand to defend from the big blind against a button open, and the call price is favorable. I’ll avoid inflating the pot out of position.

Q♥T♥ has a gutshot to Broadway and backdoor heart potential, but this ace-high flop favors the preflop raiser. Check and realize equity rather than bluffing out of position.

K-high has little equity or useful draw potential on this ace-high, two-spade flop. I’ll check back and avoid building the pot.

I have the Broadway straight and should value-bet while charging any spade draw before the river. A 350-chip bet is substantial relative to the pot without overcommitting.

The small turn bet gives me a reasonable price to continue with second pair in position. I can reassess on the river if the opponent bets again.

I have an ace-high straight, but the three-spade board makes a flush plausible after my opponent called the turn bet. Checking preserves showdown value without risking a raise from a flush or other stronger hand.

Second pair with a weak kicker has limited value on this three-spade board. Checking takes the showdown without risking a raise from a stronger hand.

Q3o is at the bottom of a 3-handed button opening range and plays poorly out of position against a 3-bet or when called by both blinds. Folding avoids a marginal spot.

Calling costs only 50 chips into a 150-chip pot, and 8-2 offsuit has enough equity against a big blind's wide range to complete cheaply.

T3 suited is playable against a limp, but too weak to build a larger pot out of position.

With only 8-high on a paired, fairly dry flop, I have little showdown value and no useful draw. I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the big blind.

With ten-high and a backdoor flush draw, I can see a free turn rather than build the pot with a weak hand.

I have no pair and only a remote runner-runner straight possibility, so I’ll take the free river rather than build the pot.

With ten-high and little showdown value, I’ll make a modest positional bluff after the small blind checked twice.

I have only eight-high with no meaningful draw, and calling would require about 28% equity. The turn bet can readily be a pair or better, so folding preserves chips.