Hold'em table

Ace-high on the button in 3-handed play is ahead of typical blind ranges, so opening to 2.5bb applies pressure and builds value over weaker calls.

A-K offsuit is strong enough to three-bet a button open from the small blind. Raising to 11 big blinds pressures the opener and discourages the big blind from entering cheaply.

Six-five offsuit is too weak to cold-call a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity and playability.

A4 offsuit is dominated by a large small-blind 3-bet range and does not have enough equity or playability to call 850, while a 4-bet bluff is unnecessary with this weaker ace.

AJo is strong on the button in three-handed play, so I open-raise for value and position.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity and positional disadvantage.

3-8 offsuit is far too weak to defend the big blind against a button raise, even for 150 more.

Eight-deuce offsuit is too weak to profitably open on the button against two blinds. Folding avoids investing chips with poor equity and playability.

K7o is well ahead of a big blind's wide defending range heads-up after the button folded, so I raise to build value and take initiative despite being out of position postflop.

Against a small-blind raise, 5-4 offsuit has enough potential to defend the big blind at this price, especially with position and no rake.

Top pair on a wet Q-K-5 two-diamond board needs protection and value against queens, fives, and draws; a half-pot bet charges those hands while keeping weaker calls in.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker and no meaningful draw is unlikely to withstand a flop bet on this king-queen board.

8-4 offsuit is a very weak hand even on the button in 3-handed play; calling the big blind has negative expected value against the blinds' ranges.

With J4 offsuit against an unraised big blind, completing for 50 chips is inexpensive. I prefer seeing a flop to building a larger pot out of position.

With 6-4 offsuit against a small-blind limp, checking takes a free flop in position without inflating the pot with a weak hand.

I have only jack-high on a paired, draw-heavy flop. Checking avoids building the pot with a weak hand.

A half-pot stab pressures the small blind’s many unpaired hands after checking this limped pot. With almost no showdown value, taking a low-cost chance to win immediately is preferable to relying on improvement.

J-high has no immediate draw on this paired board, and I’m out of position against a bet. Calling is unlikely to realize enough equity.

Q4 suited is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

K7 suited is marginal against a button raise from the small blind, where I will be out of position and the big blind can still squeeze. Folding avoids a weak, potentially dominated continuation.

2-4 offsuit is very weak facing a button raise to 2.5bb; calling 150 out of position has poor equity and playability.

Q3 offsuit is too weak for a standard button open at 100bb with no reads on the blinds. Folding avoids investing in a hand with poor connectivity and frequent kicker problems.

Completing the small blind for 50 into 150 heads-up, T3 suited has well over the 25% equity needed and playable flush and pair potential versus a random big blind hand.

Nine-deuce offsuit is too weak to raise for value, and checking takes a free flop against the small blind's limp.

Top pair on a club-draw board heads-up after limping; bet for value and protection against BB's wide checking range.

Bottom pair has some showdown value against a small-blind limper's betting range. The price is reasonable, and I can reassess in position on the turn.

Top pair on a draw-heavy board with clubs and straight draws; betting protects my hand and charges draws while getting value from worse pairs in this limped pot.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker is a poor bluff-catcher against a flop bet followed by a turn bet. Calling 300 leaves too many difficult river decisions.