Hold'em table

K5o on the button is a weak hand, but with only 100 to call and position on two players, calling is a cheap way to see a flop rather than folding a small-equity hand for free.

AJs is a strong hand in 3-handed play; raising for value and to take initiative.

54 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 4bb raise with the button still in the hand.

Facing a 300-chip call into a 600-chip pot with the button and only one opponent left, I have roughly the pot odds needed with K5 offsuit, so calling is better than folding.

I raised preflop and the board is dry enough to continue aggression; a flop bet can fold out overcards and weaker pairs while I still have overcards and backdoor equity.

I have only king-high with no pair facing a 500 flop bet into a 1400 pot after seat_2 raised preflop, so my equity is weak and folding is the least costly option.

Th2s is a very weak hand; calling 100 chips out of position is unprofitable, so folding is best.

K8 suited is strong enough to raise against the big blind heads-up. Raising to 300 builds the pot while keeping the sizing standard.

Facing a 200-chip call heads-up in the big blind with 6-8 offsuit, the price of about 2:1 is enough to continue against a small blind raise that could be wide.

Top pair is likely ahead of much of the big blind’s calling range. A small bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws while limiting the cost when behind.

I have 6-8 with no pair, no real straight draw, and no backdoor value on a T-K-4 board, facing a 250 flop bet from the preflop raiser. Folding avoids putting chips in with too little equity.

4-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button, even three-handed; folding avoids investing in a poor hand.

AKs is a strong hand in a 3-way pot with the button already folded; raising to 300 builds the pot and may take down the blind.

Getting 2:1 with position and a king-high hand against a possible small-blind steal; calling is cheap and keeps the pot manageable.

I have ace-high with a backdoor club draw and no made hand, and checking is free, so I keep the pot small and see whether seat_2 bets.

With only K-high and a backdoor flush draw on a coordinated board, checking controls the pot and avoids getting raised by a stronger range.

We have only ace-high with no pair on a 5-T-9-J board, so checking keeps the pot small and lets us see a river cheaply.

With Kd3c on a 5-T-9-J board, I have only a gutshot-ish king high with no pair and no real equity against a caller. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids getting raised off a weak hand.

I have Ace-high on a board with a pair of fives, and both opponents checked the flop and turn, so a bluff has little fold equity. Checking to see the river for free is the best option.

My K-high has no showdown value against a preflop raiser who checked all streets; a small bet can fold out A-high and missed draws.

Ace-high is a weak bluff-catcher, but calling 200 into an 800 pot needs only about 20% equity, and a small river bet after two checks could be a bluff that my ace beats.

Pocket eights are a strong preflop hand in a 3-handed game, so raising to 300 builds the pot and isolates against the blinds.

I have 2d9h, a weak offsuit hand out of position facing a button raise. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity.

J8 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button raise to 300, especially with the small blind's 50 chips in the pot.

J8 has a gutshot and some pair outs, but not enough value to lead into the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to a bet.

Heads-up after seat_3 checked, my pocket eights often hold up against a checking range, so a half-pot bet can win the pot now and charges draws.

The half-pot continuation bet gives a reasonable price to continue with a gutshot and possible pair outs, despite being out of position.

I have an open-ended straight draw but only jack-high at present. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me evaluate a bet before committing more chips.

With a single pair of eights against a player who called the flop and is now checking, I have a weak made hand with a small straight draw, so checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the river cheaply.

Top pair is worth a modest value bet against hands such as nines or pocket eights. The smaller sizing can get called by worse hands while limiting losses to stronger jacks.

Calling 450 into a pot of 1750 needs about 17% equity, and villain's flop call, turn check, then river bet could be a bluff or a medium hand that my pair of eights beats.

K6o on the button is a good spot to raise and take initiative, applying pressure on the blinds. I prefer raising over limping with a weak offsuit king to avoid playing a marginal hand passively.

J4 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a 3x button raise with the big blind still to act.

I am closing the action from the big blind with 9-5 suited, getting about 2.25 to 1 on a 200 call into a 450 pot, which is enough to continue against a button raise.

Our 5-9 offers little on this 6-3-Q board, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids bloating it out of position.

I have middle pair with a decent kicker on a dry board. Betting for value and to charge any draws.

I hold a flush draw with 5d 9d and the Qd on the flop, and 450 to call into an 1100 pot gives roughly 29% pot odds, which a flush draw with two cards to come roughly covers, plus I have implied odds.

With 5-9 suited on a 6-3-Q-7 board I have only a gutshot and a backdoor flush draw, so checking keeps the pot manageable and avoids bloating it against a flop bettor.

I have bottom pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board. Checking controls the pot and avoids getting raised by better hands or draws that improve.

I hold 9-high with no pair or made draw, so I can't beat a made hand and checking is free with no bet to call.

My two pair (7s and 6s) is beaten by any Q, 7, or overpair, so betting would only get called by better. Checking behind realizes showdown value against missed draws and small pairs.

Q4 offsuit is playable as a button open in a three-handed game. A small raise uses position without committing much of the stack.

7-6 offsuit is a weak hand to play out of position against a button raise, so folding the small blind is the disciplined choice.

Closing the action with 7c6h, I only need roughly 27% equity to call 150 into a 400 pot. 76o has enough equity versus a button open, and raising out of position with this weak hand would risk too much.

We have only a weak gutshot and no pair on a coordinated board, so checking keeps the pot small and lets us see a free turn.

This flop connects well with the big blind's calling range, and Q-high has little equity when called. Checking back keeps the pot small and preserves position for the turn.

I have a flush draw plus a gutshot straight draw (12 outs), and the opponent checked back the flop. A semi-bluff bet can take the pot down now or build it for my strong draw.

The small turn bet gives a reasonable price to draw to a flush, with some chance a queen also improves me. Position lets me reassess on the river.

I have 7-high with no pair and missed draws; checking and folding to a bet is the best way to avoid losing more chips.

Queen-high has little showdown value. After the opponent's river check, a bluff can represent a flush and may fold out weak pairs.

My 7-high has no pair, no straight, and only four hearts, so it cannot beat a river raise. Folding avoids paying 800 into a pot where I have almost no equity.