Hold'em table

Q8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 big blind raise puts pressure on both blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A3o is weak out of position against a button open, with the big blind still left to act behind me. Calling 200 more without position risks getting dominated, so I fold.

62o is an unplayable trash hand that does not warrant defending even with pot odds.

T3 offsuit is a weak hand out of position in a three-way pot, so folding costs nothing and avoids a losing call of 100 chips.

Holding AQo in the small blind after the button folds is a standard value raise.

The small blind can raise a wide range here, and calling 200 more in position with 7-5 offsuit is reasonable at these pot odds.

Check out of position with Ace-high on a low connected board that hits the big blind's calling range well.

A small bet protects my bottom pair against overcards while leaving room to improve with a straight draw.

Getting 4 to 1 pot odds against a small flop probe bet, holding two overcards and backdoor equity.

We turned top pair top kicker after check-calling the flop as the preflop raiser. Checking allows the flop aggressor to continue bluffing or betting worse hands.

My bottom pair and gutshot have some showdown value, but the queen favors the preflop raiser's range. Checking in position lets me realize equity without building a larger pot.

We hold top pair top kicker on a paired board where villain checked behind on the turn; a value bet targets weaker pairs like 9x and worse Queens.

Bottom pair is unlikely to beat a river bet after the opponent called the flop. Calling 600 requires more bluffing than this line suggests.

Opening A3s on the button is standard in 3-handed play to leverage position and suited ace playability.

Q9 offsuit is playable against a wide three-handed button opening range. Reraising from the small blind avoids a difficult out-of-position call with the big blind still to act.

9c7d offline is weak facing a 3-bet to 950 from the small blind plus a button open; calling 850 more with a marginal hand out of position against two ranges is a losing play.

Facing a large out-of-position 3-bet to 9.5 bb, A3s is near the bottom of our opening range and suffers from domination and reverse implied odds, making folding the clean play.

K2 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. Raising gives me a chance to win the blinds and keeps the initiative if called.

88 is a solid hand facing a 2.5x button open in a 3-handed game. Calling keeps the pot small and lets me realize set value, and the big blind still has to act behind me. A 3-bet is also reasonable, but calling is simpler out of position.

Holding weak offsuit ace (A2o) out of position in a multiway pot offers terrible playability and reverse implied odds despite good pot odds.

Pocket eights on a J-Q-3 board is a medium-strength hand that is often ahead of a button raiser's range, though overcards can hit. I'm first to act heads-up, so a bet of about 2/3 pot builds the pot and denies equity to overcards.

K-high has little equity or drawing potential on this flop, and calling 400 against the bet is unlikely to be profitable.

T9 suited on the button in a 3-handed pot is a good hand to see a flop with at a cheap price. A call costs 100 to win a pot of 250, so the price is right. Raising is also reasonable, but calling keeps the pot small when I am out of position after the flop against neither player being weak.

Holding 52s in the small blind out of position is too weak to complete, even getting good direct pot odds against a limp.

K9 offsuit is strong enough to raise against a button limp, with the small blind’s dead chips adding value to the pot.

T9 suited has good playability. Calling 300 more into a pot of 550 gives about 1.8-to-1 odds, and I'll have position on the big blind's raise in a heads-up pot. Folding gives up too much equity, and a 3-bet with this hand is unnecessary.

With king-high and no club draw on this paired, two-club flop, I prefer to check and preserve the option to continue against a small bet.

Heads-up on a paired 6-7-7 board after the BB checked. I hold T9 with an open-ended straight draw (8 completes it, plus J/8 outs) and backdoor flush potential, so a small bet works as a semi-bluff and gets value from weaker hands.

The small bet offers a reasonable price with king-high and backdoor straight and flush possibilities. I’ll call and reassess on the turn.

I have a flush draw but no made hand. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me see how the button responds.

I have only ten-high with a backdoor draw on a 6c 7h 7c Ac board. Seat 1 checked twice, but the ace and clubs on the board make a bluff risky and a call likely to be strong, so I take the free card.

King-high has little showdown value. After the turn checked through, a river bet can fold out weak pairs while risking a moderate amount.

I have only ten-high on a paired board, so I can only beat a bluff. I need about 26% equity to call and likely have less, so I fold.

Opening on the button with a strong suited connector JTs to 2.5bb.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

K2o in the big blind gets 400 into 150 (about 2.7 to 1) against a button min-raise from a wide range. A call is cheap enough to see a flop, and a 3-bet bluff with this hand is unnecessary.

Top pair with a king on a dry K-5-2 board, heads-up and out of position against a button raiser. Betting about 64% of the pot for value and protection should get called by worse kings and pairs, and it denies equity to overcards.

I have J-high with negligible draw equity on a dry K-high board facing a flop bet, making this a clear fold.