Hold'em table

9-6 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button in this short format.

A4o is well ahead of a random big blind range in a blind-vs-blind spot. Raising to 3x takes the initiative, and the ace blocker helps.

I have a suited Broadway hand and am getting good odds to call 200 into a 400 pot, with position on the raiser postflop.

Top two pair on a spade-draw board, out of position against the big blind. Betting about two-thirds pot gets value from aces and spade draws and charges the flush draw.

I have no made hand and only backdoor straight potential against a preflop raiser who bet into me on an ace-high flop, so calling is not profitable.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button in 3-handed play with two players left to act, so folding is the disciplined choice.

JTo is strong enough to raise from the small blind against a random big blind, and a raise puts pressure on the BB while taking the dead money when they fold.

AJs is a strong heads-up blind-versus-blind hand against the small blind's raise. I 3-bet for value and to deny equity while maintaining a manageable pot.

Q2o is too weak to continue against two blinds, especially with poor playability and reverse implied odds. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

With a suited JT in the small blind against the big blind after the button folds, I raise for value and initiative.

Blind vs blind, the small blind raised to 3bb, and I need to call 200 into a 400 pot, so I only need 33% equity. K8 suited has enough equity and playability in position to defend by calling.

This is a very weak ace-high board for my unpaired hand, with only limited backdoor potential. Checking keeps the pot controlled and preserves flexibility.

K8 with no draw on an ace-high flop has little equity, but it keeps some showdown value against the preflop raiser's missed hands. Checking back takes a free card, and the raiser's check likely still holds plenty of hands that won't fold to a stab.

The checked flop and turn give an opportunity to apply pressure on a paired, ace-high board. A moderate turn bet credibly represents an ace or four while risking relatively little.

King-high has no draw and little showdown value against a turn bet on an ace-high paired board, and calling would leave us out of position facing river bets. The price of about 29% equity needed isn't justified.

7-5 offsuit is a weak button opening hand in this shallow three-handed blind structure, and folding avoids entering with poor equity.

Blind vs blind, J6o is a reasonable raise from the small blind against a single opponent. A 3x open applies pressure, and limping or folding would give up too much equity and initiative.

Calling 200 more closes the action with decent pot odds against a likely wide small blind raise, and Q5o has enough playability heads-up to see a flop.

J6o has almost no equity on K-Q-4 with two diamonds. The big blind's calling range hits this board often, so I check and give up rather than bluff out of position.

I have a pair of Queens on a wet board; I bet for value and protection against draws.

J6 offsuit with no pair and no real draw on KQ4 two-tone is too weak to continue against a half-pot bet from the big blind, even at 25% pot odds.

In 3-handed play the button opens a wide range, and 74s is a playable suited hand in position. A small open to 2.5bb gives the blinds a chance to fold and lets me realize my equity in position when called.

A2o is a weak offsuit ace out of position, and calling the raise risks being dominated with poor postflop playability. Folding saves chips for better spots.

4h6d offsuit is too weak to defend against a button open at this sizing out of position.

8-3 offsuit is too weak to invest another chip preflop, especially against two opponents. Folding preserves my stack for better spots.

2-4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against the big blind.