Hold'em table

A6 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

K7 suited is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still behind.

Getting 150 to win 400 (about 27% equity needed) against a wide button 2.5x open, so 96o is a reasonable defend from the big blind. Calling keeps the pot small and lets me realize equity on connected boards.

The 96 offsite has no pair and no draw on K-J-4. This dry board favors the button's raising range, so checking to the preflop raiser is standard and lets me give up cheaply if they bet.

A small continuation bet can fold out some better ace-high hands and low pairs while risking relatively little on this dry flop.

Nine-high with no draw on K-J-4 has too little equity, even against a small c-bet. This board favors the preflop raiser, so folding is best.

3-4 offsuit is a weak button opening hand in this short-stacked three-handed configuration, so folding avoids investing against the blinds.

Pocket 4s in a blind-vs-blind spot are well ahead of a random hand, so a standard 3x raise from the small blind is better than limping.

J9 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise, especially with position postflop.

Pocket 4s plus an open-ended straight draw on a low board I connect with well as the preflop raiser; a small c-bet denies equity and builds the pot with a strong semi-bluff/value hand.

J-high has little equity on this low, two-spade flop and no useful straight draw. Calling the bet would leave me with few good turns.

72o is the worst starting hand; folding on the button in 3-handed play costs nothing.

A9 suited is strong heads-up against the big blind, so I raise for value and initiative.

Defending the big blind against a small blind min-raise is appropriate with suited-like connected 7-6 offsuit at this favorable price.

A small continuation bet can pressure the big blind's missed hands while keeping the pot manageable with ace-high and a backdoor flush draw.

The small continuation bet gives a reasonable price with a gutshot and some potential to win with a pair on later streets. Calling keeps the opponent's broad c-betting range in.

Ace-high has some showdown value and can improve with a five, but the turn may have helped the caller. I’ll check rather than build the pot with a weak hand.

Villain's turn check after betting the flop leaves room to apply pressure on this coordinated low board. I can credibly represent a jack or an overpair while retaining a gutshot straight draw.

A-high with a gutshot has insufficient equity to call a 650-chip turn bet without a strong read that the opponent is bluffing.

Five-deuce offsuit is too weak to open on the button at 100bb.

Raise premium suited AK for value and initiative heads-up against the big blind.

Getting 3:1 in position against a wide small-blind steal range, T4o has enough equity and playability to defend by calling.

I will value-bet top pair with top kicker while retaining the nut-heart draw as strong backup equity.

T4 offhand on an A-J-2 two-tone board has no pair and no draw beyond a gutshot-free ten high. Facing a 2/3 pot c-bet from the preflop raiser, folding is clearly best.

Open-raise pocket fives on the button to build value and leverage position.

62 suited is too weak to call out of position from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still to act.

Q7 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button min-ish raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With top pair and a weak kicker out of position against the preflop raiser, I prefer to check and keep the pot manageable.

With a marginal underpair on a coordinated high-card flop, checking back preserves showdown value and avoids being check-raised off our equity.

Second pair with a weak kicker is worth taking to showdown, but the ace favors the button's preflop raising range. Checking keeps the pot manageable and leaves room to respond to a bet.

A modest delayed bet can fold out many missed overcards and weak pocket pairs after the opponent checks twice, while risking little relative to the pot. Our pair has some showdown value if called.

Second pair has enough showdown value to call this small turn bet, and the price is favorable against possible bluffs and draws. Raising would risk building a large pot against stronger hands.

My pair of queens has showdown value, but the river completes both a flush and a possible straight. Checking avoids building a pot with a vulnerable hand.

My pocket fives have little showdown value after the turn call. A substantial river bet credibly represents a king for the completed Broadway straight and can fold out weaker one-pair hands.

My pair of queens is weak on this river: a king makes a straight, three spades allow a flush, and many two-pair hands beat me. Facing a sizable bet, folding is better than calling without useful blockers.

On the button in 3-handed play, pocket 2s is a clear open; a 2.5bb raise takes initiative and can pick up the blinds.

K4 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Ks6s has sufficient suited high-card equity to defend the big blind against a button min-raise at this price. Calling preserves flexibility without inflating the pot out of position.

Check to realize equity with the king-high flush draw while keeping the pot manageable out of position.

22 has some showdown value on this ace-high board, but it gets little value from a bet and folds out few better hands. Checking back controls the pot and keeps my range protected.

We have a marginal pair with some showdown value on an ace-high board. Checking keeps the pot controlled and avoids being check-raised by stronger aces or overpairs.

Pocket 2s have some showdown value against a range that has checked twice, but betting would mostly fold out worse hands and get called by better ones. Checking back realizes equity cheaply.

Our pair of six has modest showdown value after the opponent checked both flop and turn. Betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands and risks value-owning ourselves against their ace or stronger pair.

Pocket 2s have almost no showdown value on this board, and the big blind has checked every street, which suggests a weak, capped range. A modest river bet represents the flush or a straight and can fold out weak pairs.

Our pair of six can profitably bluff-catch against missed hands and weaker river stabs after the opponent checked twice. The sizing gives reasonable pot odds, while raising would mostly be called by better hands.