Hold'em table

J9 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while retaining positional advantage if called.

J6 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially out of position.

KhTh suited is strong versus a wide button open in 3-handed play, with good equity and playability. Three-betting from the big blind builds value, denies the button cheap position, and can win the pot preflop.

J9 offsuit is too weak to continue profitably against a big-blind three-bet without evidence of an unusually wide range. Position and the relatively small sizing do not compensate for frequent domination and poor equity realization.

In position with K6o, raising to steal the blinds; folds likely earn 150 chips, and if called we have position.

Q4 suited is too weak to call a button raise out of position with the big blind still to act; realization will be poor despite suitedness.

A4 suited is a good three-bet bluff against a wide button opening range: it blocks strong aces and retains nut-flush and wheel potential when called. The larger sizing pressures the opener while accounting for our positional disadvantage.

K6o is a weak hand and facing a 3-bet from the big blind, it's unprofitable to continue.

A4 offsuit on the button in 3-handed play is well ahead of blind ranges, so raising pressures the blinds and builds value with position.

Seven-three offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3bb raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more chips out of position with poor equity and playability.

J8s is a playable hand from big blind against a button open in 3-handed, getting decent pot odds to see a flop.

We have only J-high with no made hand and no immediate draw on a paired board, so checking to the preflop raiser is the affordable way to see a free turn.

In position as the preflop raiser, a small c-bet on the paired queen board can fold out much of the big blind's range, while Ace-high with the backdoor nut flush draw retains equity if called.

I have J-high with no pair and no draw on a paired board. The small c-bet might be weak, but calling or raising with almost no equity is too speculative; folding preserves my stack.

A3 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed, with an ace blocker and position against both blinds. Raising to 2.5 big blinds gives us a chance to win the blinds while keeping the investment modest.

K6o is a weak hand out of position against a button raise; folding preserves chips and avoids marginal spots.

6-2 suited is too weak out of position against a button raise; its raw equity barely meets the price and postflop realization will be poor.

I am on the button with Q7o and unopened pot, so I raise to 200 to apply pressure and try to steal the blinds in a 3-handed game.

K2 suited is a weak king with poor kicker out of position in the small blind facing a button raise, with the big blind still to act; its realizable equity does not justify calling or bluffing.

Calling costs 100 to contest a 450-chip pot, requiring only 22.2% equity. Against a typical button opening range, 97 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defense at this price, especially without rake.

I have an open-ended straight draw and a backdoor heart draw, but this king-high flop favors the preflop raiser. Checking keeps my range protected and lets me respond to their bet sizing.

I c-bet on a K-high board after the big blind checked, using my positional/range advantage to pressure missed hands and weak holdings. Q7o has little showdown value, so betting is the best chance to take the pot now.

I have an open-ended straight draw and a backdoor flush draw, with sufficient equity and implied odds to continue against this sizing. Calling preserves the draw’s value without inflating the pot out of position.

The turn gives me the nut straight. Checking lets the preflop raiser continue betting value hands and bluffs, with the intention of check-raising to build the pot.

We have a gutshot straight draw with no pair. Checking behind gives us a free card to improve while keeping the pot small, avoiding a potential check-raise.

I have the nut straight and should value-bet after the turn checked through. This sizing targets calls from kings, tens, and other bluff-catching pairs.

I have queen-high with no draw and no pair on a board where my opponent's river bet represents strength after a check-call flop and check-check turn. Calling with Q7o would be a losing play against any pair or ace-high, and bluff-raising is too risky given my weak line.

T4 offsuit is too weak even on the button in 3-handed play; calling 100 chips has negative expected value against the blinds' ranges.

Q8 suited is strong enough to open from the small blind after the button folds. Raising to 3 big blinds pressures the big blind while retaining good playability if called.

K4o is too weak to defend out of position against a small blind raise, despite the 2:1 pot odds.