Hold'em table

On the button in 3-handed play, 54s is a prime candidate to open-raise for position and playability.

K2o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise, and the big blind can still squeeze. Folding avoids dominated spots.

J-8 suited is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button min-raise, especially with the small blind's dead money in the pot.

With jack-high on a paired board, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser and avoid building the pot out of position.

C-betting small on a dry, paired board where the preflop raiser has a range advantage to deny equity and take down the pot.

The small bet gives me a good price to continue with J-high and some chances to improve. I’ll reassess on the turn.

Jack-high has little showdown value, but leading into the preflop raiser on this dry, paired board is unlikely to be profitable. Check and reassess if they bet.

Turned second pair gives us decent showdown value, so checking behind controls the pot and realizes our equity against missed floats.

J-high is unlikely to win at showdown. After the turn checked through, a river bet can pressure the opponent's missed high-card hands and weak pairs.

Our two pair (nines and fives) is purely a bluff-catcher that loses to any six, higher pair, trips, or straight. Facing a 600-chip bet into 750, folding is the disciplined play.

A9s on the button is a strong 3-handed hand; raising to 300 applies pressure and builds the pot with position.

T2 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a 3x button raise with the big blind still to act.

Folding J9o in the big blind facing a 3x open from the button, as it underperforms out of position.

J9 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed, and a 2.5 big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Q5o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise.

4-6 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise, even with decent pot odds. Folding avoids playing a dominated, low-equity hand.

In 3-handed play, K8o is easily strong enough to open from the button to steal blinds and play in position.

With 2d4d in the small blind facing a button raise, this hand is too weak and out of position to continue profitably.

Calling 100 more with pocket threes is profitable against a button min-raise at this stack depth, particularly with the small blind's dead money in the pot.

My pocket threes are a weak underpair on this flop. Checking avoids building the pot out of position.

Checking back with King-high to see a turn card in position without bloating the pot.

My small pair has some showdown value, but the king favors the preflop raiser's range. Checking avoids building a pot with a weak hand.

Turned top pair after checking the flop. Betting a little over half pot to extract value from weaker pairs and drawing hands.

Pocket threes are unlikely to be ahead on this board, and the small chance of improving does not justify calling the turn bet.

Kh7h is a playable suited king on the button in a 3-handed game; raising to 300 applies pressure on the blinds while keeping initiative and position.

A8 suited is strong enough to three-bet against a button open in a three-handed game. Raising also avoids playing a multiway pot from the small blind.

Facing an open and a sizable 3-bet from the blinds, QJo is clearly dominated and not profitable to continue with out of position.

K7s is often dominated by a large SB 3-bet and I only have 300 invested; folding avoids playing a marginal hand for a big pot without clear equity.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 big blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Holding a pocket pair in the small blind against a button open 3-handed, calling 200 chips provides solid set-mining implied odds with 100bb stacks.

Closing the action with an ace-high suited hand and excellent pot odds (150 to win 600); it has enough equity and playability to see a flop.

I have an underpair on a board with two high cards in a three-way pot out of position, making a check the clear default play.

I have only ace-high on a coordinated king-high flop and the preflop raiser is still to act behind me. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids betting into a range that connects well with this board.

Ace-high has limited equity against two callers on this K-J flop. I’ll take the free card in position rather than bluff into both opponents.

I have an underpair on a coordinated board with no draw; checking is standard.

I have ace-high with a gutshot straight draw on a coordinated board. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free river card.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this coordinated board offers little reason to build a multiway pot. Checking preserves the chance to win at showdown.

I have a pair of fours which has some showdown value against missed high-card holdings in a checked-down pot.

Ace-high with no pair on a coordinated board; checking the river to reach showdown cheaply since I have no made hand and no fold equity against two opponents who have called all the way.

Bottom pair is too weak to value-bet against two opponents, and checking gives it a chance to win at showdown.