Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is playable as a small open because position helps realize its equity.

A7o is well ahead of a wide 3-handed button opening range, and flatting out of position with the big blind still to act plays poorly. A 3-bet to 950 leverages the ace blocker and fold equity.

A8 offsuit is too weak to continue against the small blind’s large 3-bet, especially with the button still able to act.

Offsuit 7-6 is too weak to continue against a large three-bet, even with position.

J4 offsite is too weak to open profitably from the button in 3-handed play against two blinds with 100bb stacks. Folding avoids a marginal spot.

The button has folded, leaving a heads-up blind situation. Completing costs only 50 into a 150-chip pot, so the price is good enough to continue with J♠4♥.

8-2 offsuit is too weak to raise for value, and checking lets me see a free flop against the small blind.

I have a weak pair of fours with a modest kicker, so betting risks building the pot against stronger hands. I’ll take the free card and keep the pot small.

I have no pair or meaningful draw, so I’ll take the free turn rather than bluff into a board the small blind may have connected with.

I have two pair and can get value from weaker pairs while charging potential draws after the flop checked through. A modest bet also avoids bloating the pot unnecessarily.

Eight-deuce has no pair or meaningful draw on the turn, so calling the bet is not worthwhile.

On the button in a three-handed game, 8♠6♦ is playable as an open-raise; raising gives me a chance to win the blinds while retaining initiative.

9-5 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 27% pot odds in the big blind against a wide 3-handed button open, J5o has enough equity and playability to defend by calling.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board, out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see what the button does.

I have top two pair on a coordinated flop, so a substantial value bet also charges flush draws and straight draws. A 400-chip bet is about 73% of the pot.

Bottom pair with a jack kicker has enough equity against a wide button c-bet to call at about 30% pot odds. Raising would mostly fold out worse hands.

A weak pair of fives on a four-to-a-flush board with straight possibilities has little equity against the button's continuing range. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see whether they bet before I decide whether to continue.

The turn completes several straight draws and brings a third club, making a value bet risky with two pair. I’ll take the free card and keep the pot manageable.

A pair of fives has showdown value against a button that checked back the turn, which suggests overcards or a weak pair. Betting on this coordinated straight and flush board would mostly get called by better hands, so I'll check.

I have two pair and can get a small river value bet from weaker pairs and bluff-catchers. A modest sizing limits the cost when the connected board has completed straights.

The small river bet gives me 4:1, so I need about 20% equity. Villain's turn check caps their range somewhat, and a pair of fives can beat missed overcards and bluffs often enough to justify a call.

KQs is a strong button opening hand three-handed. Raising to 250 builds the pot while retaining position.

K2 offsuit from the small blind facing a button open to 2.5bb is too weak to call out of position with the big blind still to act. It's a clear fold.

Q5 offsuit is weak, but the big-blind price is favorable against a button open and I close the action. Call rather than inflate the pot with a 3-bet.

With a weak pair and no immediate draw, checking keeps the pot manageable out of position and avoids betting into the preflop raiser’s range.

A small continuation bet pressures the big blind's wide range on this dry flop. King-queen also has two overcards if called.

Middle pair with a queen kicker has enough showdown value to continue against this small flop bet, but raising risks isolating against stronger hands and bluffs are unnecessary.

My pair of fives is marginal on a board that has become more connected, and betting risks building a pot against stronger hands. I’ll check and preserve showdown value.

After the flop call, K-high has limited equity when behind, and this turn adds draws that can continue against a bluff. Checking preserves the chance to improve and avoids building the pot with a weak hand.

My pair of fives has some showdown value, but the river completes several straight possibilities and I have little reason to bet for value. I’ll check and avoid turning it into a bluff.

King-high has some showdown value against missed draws. After the big blind called the flop bet, a river bluff is unlikely to fold enough better hands to justify the risk.

Pocket threes on the button 3-handed are a standard open; raise to 2.5bb to pick up the blinds or play in position with set-mining potential.

T-6 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

QTo is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, especially with 150 to call into a 400-chip pot.

Top pair with a moderate kicker is worth continuing, but checking out of position keeps the pot manageable and lets the preflop raiser act.

A small pair like 33 has some showdown value but gets little value from betting on a Q-9-2 two-tone board. Checking back in position controls the pot and lets me realize my equity.

Top pair can get value from weaker pairs and draws. Betting 350 also charges the newly available spade draws after the flop checked through.

We need about 28% equity to call. After we checked back the flop, the BB's stab likely includes plenty of draws and air that 33 beats, so a call is marginally profitable.

Top pair is likely ahead of many hands that checked the flop and called the turn. A small river bet can get value from weaker pairs without risking too much against stronger hands.

The pot is 1,700 and I need to call 450, so I only need about 21% equity. The villain's small bets include missed heart and spade draws, and my pair of threes beats those.

4-2 offsuit is too weak to continue profitably from the button against both blinds, even at the completion price.

Completing costs 50 chips into a 150-chip pot. With no rake and the button folded, the price is reasonable even with a weak hand.

Q7o plays well against a limped small-blind range, so I raise for value and fold equity while holding position; checking would also be fine.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to defend against a four-big-blind raise, especially out of position.