Hold'em table

Pocket aces are the strongest preflop hand. A three-big-blind button raise builds the pot while leaving room for opponents to call or reraise.

2h6c is a very weak small-blind hand facing a button open, with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids defending a dominated, low-equity holding out of position.

QQ is well ahead of a button opening range, so I 3-bet for value from the big blind. Going to about 3.7x keeps me out of position with a manageable pot.

Pocket aces are the strongest preflop hand. A raise to 2,500 builds the pot against the big blind's three-bet while keeping weaker hands in.

QQ is well ahead of a wide 3-handed button 4-bet range that includes bluffs and AK. The stack-to-pot ratio after calling would be only about 1.5 out of position, so shoving now maximizes fold equity and avoids tough postflop spots.

Pocket aces are the strongest preflop hand and a clear call against the all-in.

On the button, 97 suited is playable three-handed and benefits from taking initiative. A small open gives fold equity while keeping the pot manageable.

82o in the small blind facing a button open with the big blind still to act is a clear fold.

T5 offsuit is a weak hand to defend out of position against a 2.5-big-blind button raise.

K9o on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear opening hand, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds and keep position.

5-2 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Defend the big blind at a favorable price against the button min-raise with a playable Q7 suited.

Checking preserves our positional disadvantage while holding bottom pair plus an open-ended straight draw and a useful spade.

Top pair with a decent kicker on a draw-heavy board; bet for value and to protect against spade and straight draws.

Bottom pair plus the queen-high spade flush draw has sufficient equity to continue versus this flop bet. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while preserving flexibility.

With a marginal pair of sevens and no meaningful draw, checking controls the pot and preserves showdown value against the preflop raiser's range.

Top pair on a draw-heavy board; betting about 56% of the pot gets value from draws, 8x and 7x hands, and denies equity. It also keeps the pot manageable given my weak kicker.

Call with second pair and the Q-spade blocker against a heads-up turn barrel. We have sufficient showdown value versus draws and lighter continuations.

We have a strong but non-nutted two pair after the aggressor checks river. A medium value bet targets one-pair kings and queens while limiting losses against stronger two-pair or sets.

Top pair is a bluff-catcher against a half-pot river lead after passive calls. Missed spade draws and straight draws are plausible, and at roughly 26% required equity a call is justified.

K8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A suited broadway ace is strong three-handed and plays well as a value 3-bet from the small blind. Raising applies pressure to the button opener and discourages a cheap big-blind entry.

Q2 offsuit facing an open and a 3-bet is far too weak to continue, and the button can still act behind.

K8 offsuit plays poorly against a large small-blind three-bet, even in position. Calling risks being dominated in an inflated pot.

K9 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed. A 2.5bb open applies pressure while retaining maneuverability.

J8o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still left to act behind, is a clear fold. It plays poorly out of position and is too weak to 3-bet.

4-2 offsuit is too weak to defend against the button's raise, especially out of position.

KJo is a clear open from the button in a 3-handed game. A standard 2.5bb raise puts pressure on both blinds.

J7 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Defend the big blind against the button min-raise with Q8 suited; the price is favorable and the hand has solid playability.

I have a very strong queen-high flush with an open-ended straight-flush draw. I lead for value and protection while keeping worse made hands and draws involved.

I have a one-diamond flush draw with the Jd, a gutshot to the Q, and a king overcard. That is about 12 clean outs, which is plenty to call a 400 bet into 950 in position. Raising would bloat the pot against a donk-lead range that could already hold a made flush.

I have a strong queen-high flush on an unpaired board. A substantial value bet targets king pairs, sets, and weaker diamond holdings while charging single-diamond draws.

Top pair with a jack kicker, plus a diamond flush draw and a gutshot to a Q, is too strong to fold. Raising would mostly get called by better hands, so calling keeps the pot controlled at good odds (900 to win 3150).

I have a queen-high flush on a coordinated board, with only ace-high diamond holdings beating me. A substantial value bet targets weaker flushes, sets, and occasional one-pair bluff-catchers.

Top pair with a decent kicker, plus the Jd blocks some flushes. I only need about 27% equity at these pot odds, and villain's steady betting line will include enough worse value hands and bluffs to make a call profitable.