Hold'em table

T3 suited is playable from the button three-handed; open-raise to apply pressure and take initiative.

9-2 offsuit is the worst starting hand. Calling 200 more out of position against a button raise, with the big blind still to act behind me, isn't worth it.

Closing the action in the big blind, I need only about 27% equity to call 150 more, and Ace-high with an ace blocker has enough equity against a wide button open to defend rather than fold.

Ace-high has some showdown value on the paired board, but leading would only fold worse hands and get called by queens, fours, pairs and better aces. Checking lets the button reveal strength and keeps the pot controlled.

Bet 200 into 550 as a small continuation bet: the checked-to paired board favors my preflop range, and my spade draw gives me strong equity when called.

Calling 200 into 750 needs about 21% equity; Ace-high with an Ace out and backdoor club flush has enough equity against a button's wide small flop bet, including flush draws and bluffs, to continue one street.

Ace-high has showdown value against draws and bluffs on the paired queen board, but is behind queen-x and trips; checking keeps the pot controlled and avoids building it while out of position.

A small turn bet can get value and protection from weaker pairs and draws while keeping the pot controlled. I also have a flush draw as backup if called.

Ace-high on a paired Q-4-4 board is only a bluff-catcher, and facing a second barrel after preflop and flop aggression most value hands (Qx, 4x, pocket pairs) beat us with few clean outs.

K2 offsuit is a weak hand; even on the button in 3-handed play it is a marginal call out of position postflop, and folding avoids a likely dominated spot at no cost.

Blind versus blind after the button folded, J4o has enough equity against a random big blind to complete for 50 into 150 despite being out of position postflop.

With a very weak offsuit hand and no amount to call, check and see the flop rather than building the pot.

Bottom pair of 4s on an ace-high, two-club board has modest showdown value but is vulnerable; checking keeps the pot small and avoids building it out of position.

I have no made hand and only a backdoor flush possibility. Checking takes the free card without inflating the pot.

With bottom pair on an ace-high three-club board, I have weak showdown value and little reason to build a pot; checking keeps it cheap and avoids folding out worse hands or bluffing into a flush or ace.

I have a low flush draw but could be dominated by a higher club, so I’ll take the free river card rather than build the pot.

With bottom pair on an ace-king, three-club board, I have some showdown value against unpaired hands after two checked streets. Betting would mainly be called by better pairs or flushes, so checking avoids losing extra chips for a small pot.

I have ace-high with a modest kicker and can reach showdown for free. A small bluff is unlikely to fold many pairs, so I prefer to preserve the pot and take my showdown chance.

On the button in 3-handed play, K4o is strong enough to open-raise and pressure the blinds rather than limp or fold.

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

Q4s in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open: the pot offers about 2.7-to-1, and a suited queen has reasonable playability heads-up with position against me. Calling is better than folding, and a 3-bet with a weak kicker is not appealing.

I have a weak backdoor-flush hand with Q-high on a K-9-8 board, out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see what the button does before committing more chips.

Top pair on a draw-heavy K-9-8 board after the big blind checked; betting for value and protection against straight draws and overcards.

Queen-high with a backdoor flush draw and a gutshot (Q-K-9-8 needs J/10 for a straight... actually Q with 9-8 needs J or 10) is a decent draw. Calling 300 into a pot of 850 is about 26% pot odds, which is justified, and a raise would be too loose out of position.

Queen-high with a heart flush draw (4h Qh with Kh and 5h on board) plus a gutshot-ish backdoor is a decent drawing hand; out of position against a button who bet the flop, checking to control pot size and realize equity is reasonable.

Top pair with a weak kicker benefits from protection on a draw-heavy turn with hearts and straight draws present. A half-pot bet charges draws and gets value from worse pairs like 9x while keeping the pot manageable.

Queen-high with a backdoor-ish heart draw: Qh4h plus Kh5h gives a flush draw (4 hearts: Qh,4h,Kh,5h) with 9 outs. Pot odds are 600 to win 2350, about 20% needed, and with implied odds the call is clearly profitable versus a wide button range.

Queen-high on a Kh 9d 8s 5h Kc board has almost no showdown value. Seat 3 bet the flop and turn and I only called, so the bettor's range is strong and a bluff would rarely work. I'll check and see whether seat 3 bets or checks behind.

Trip Kings on a paired river board after opponent called flop and turn then checked; a ~60% pot value bet targets 9x/8x and weaker pairs that will call.

I have only queen-high with a missed heart draw. Seat 3 bet every street, so the range is strong, and calling 1400 into 3750 needs about 27% equity, which a bluff-catcher this weak doesn't have.

As the button in a three-handed pot, a small open can win the blinds and antes are absent; 4♦2♦ is weak but suited and has some playability. Raise to 2.5 big blinds rather than limp.

A4o out of position in the small blind facing a button open to 250 with the big blind still to act is a marginal hand. Calling 200 more is a losing spot over time, and a 3-bet bluff isn't worth it, so I fold.

J9o in the big blind versus a wide 3-handed button open has enough equity to defend for 150 into 400, with position disadvantage offset by price and hand playability.

With only a 9-high flush draw and jack high on a monotone flop, checking out of position preserves pot control and lets me realize draw equity cheaply against the preflop raiser.

I have a made straight, so I’m betting for value while charging heart draws and other hands with equity. A moderate bet keeps weaker made hands in while limiting exposure on the monotone board.

We have a 9-high flush on a monotone flop, ahead of bluffs, sets and lower hearts but behind A/K/Q/T-high flushes. Calling keeps bluffs in and controls the pot out of position rather than inflating it against higher flushes.

Top pair with J kicker plus a heart flush draw has showdown value but is vulnerable on a three-heart board; checking controls the pot and lets me realize equity.

I have a made six-high straight and should value-bet while charging heart draws and other hands with equity. A 700-chip bet is substantial without overcommitting to a potentially dangerous river.

Facing a 700 bet into 1850 with top pair plus a heart flush draw, I have roughly the equity needed against a wide button range and implied value on the river.

With only a pair of nines on a three-heart board facing an opponent who raised preflop and bet flop and turn, I have no value bet; checking gives a chance at a cheap showdown and avoids bluffing into a likely flush or stronger hand.

My straight is strong, but the three-heart board leaves flushes and higher straights possible. After the opponent check-called both prior streets, checking back avoids paying off a river trap while still reaching showdown.

5-3 offsuit is one of the weakest hands. Calling out of position against two opponents from the button is a losing play, so folding is best.

Heads-up against the big blind, A7o is well ahead of a wide defending range and benefits from fold equity. Raising from the small blind builds value despite being out of position postflop.

T-5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a large small-blind raise, especially out of position.

K9o on the button in a 3-handed game is well above average and plays well in position. Raising to 2.5bb applies pressure to the blinds and builds a pot with position.

8♣4♥ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling a button raise from the small blind would leave me out of position with the big blind still to act.

Q7 offsuit is weak and out of position against a button open; calling 150 to win 400 is tempting on pot odds, but the hand plays poorly postflop, so I fold.