Hold'em table

Pocket jacks are a premium hand on the button, so I open-raise to 3x the big blind to build the pot and take control preflop.

Facing a 300 open from the button with 2d4s, which is one of the weakest hands in the deck, calling 250 more out of position is not profitable, so I fold.

8-5 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a three-big-blind raise.

Five-nine suited is a playable but marginal hand, and calling the 100-chip big blind from the button keeps the pot cheap while keeping implied odds and position.

Ace-king suited is a strong hand to raise for value. A larger size from the small blind pressures the limper and big blind while compensating for being out of position.

Pocket tens are ahead of a limp-raise range often enough to 3-bet for value and fold out dominated hands before the flop.

Facing a 1900-chip call into a 2700 pot with 5s9s, I need roughly 41% equity against a raiser's range, which this weak suited hand doesn't have, so folding is the disciplined play.

Ace-king suited has strong equity against a 3-betting range, and shoving puts maximum pressure on hands that might fold while avoiding a difficult out-of-position flop.

Pocket tens is too strong to fold for 80bb more in a three-handed pot after I already invested 20bb; I am ahead of AK and close enough against a jam range that is not exclusively QQ+.

6-3 offsuit is too weak to play from the button, even in a three-handed pot.

Button folded, so KTo is ahead of a random big-blind range heads-up. A small raise builds the pot and takes the initiative rather than completing passively.

Getting about 3-to-1 on a 200-chip call in a heads-up pot against a wide small-blind raise, so calling with J4 offsuit as big blind is a reasonable defense.

I have top pair plus a spade flush draw on a monotone flop, so I bet half pot for value and protection against the caller.

I have top pair (jacks) on a king-high board, which is strong enough to call the 300 bet given the pot odds, but my weak kicker makes raising too risky against a preflop raiser.

Top pair plus a spade draw on a wet board; a two-thirds pot bet gets value and charges draws before the river.

I have a pair of jacks on a three-spade board, and calling 800 into a 2000 pot is about 28.6% pot odds, which a pair can justify against a possibly bluffing aggressor. Raising risks too much against a strong line.

Two pair on a three-spade river with straight cards out is too vulnerable to bet for value; checking realizes showdown value against the calling range.

With a pair of jacks on a paired-looking but static river, checking keeps the pot at 2800 and takes a free showdown after seat_1 checked, avoiding building a pot against a hand that may beat mine.

83 offsuit is too weak to open from the button for a full raise, and calling would leave me dominated with no playability.

Completing the 50-chip small blind to 100 costs little in a pot where only the big blind remains, so calling with 8-5 offsuit is a cheap way to see the flop.

Nine-three suited is too weak to build a large pot against a limper, and I can see the flop for free.

I have 8-5 with no pair on a Q-T-K board and no bet to call, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids bloating it with a weak hand.

I have a gutshot but little showdown value on a board that can connect with the small blind’s limping range. Taking the free card is better than betting here.

I have 8-5 with no pair and no real draw on a Q-T-K-4 board, so checking for free is the best option rather than bloating a pot I am unlikely to win.

With little showdown value but a gutshot straight draw, I’ll bet after the small blind has checked twice to try to win the pot now.

I have 8-5 with no pair and no real draw on a Q-T-K-4-x board, so I can't profitably call 150 into a 350 pot against a turn raise.

King-jack offsuit on the button is a strong hand to isolate against a limp, so I raise to 300 to build the pot and take initiative.

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

97o is too weak to defend out of position against a button open; folding avoids a dominated, low-equity spot.

A3 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the investment modest.

36 suited is too weak to continue out of position against a preflop raise, so folding is the best play.

Getting 150 to call into a 400 pot from the big blind is a reasonable price for a playable Q-T offsuit against a button open, and the position with a closed seat_1 keeps the field small.

I have Ten-high with no pair and no real draw on a 5-6-9 flop, and checking is free with no bet to call, so I take the free card rather than bluff into an opponent who has already called preflop.

A small continuation bet can fold out missed hands while keeping the cost modest on a monotone flop. The 3s also gives me a flush draw if called.

I have a four-spade flush draw (Ts plus three spades on board) with 9 outs, and calling 200 into a 950 pot gives roughly 17% pot odds versus about 35% equity to hit the flush by the river.

I have T-high with no made hand or strong draw on a 5-6-9-Q-high board, and there is no bet to call, so checking keeps the pot small and is free.

The small flop bet was called, and ace-high with a low spade draw has limited value against that range. Checking takes a free river card without building the pot.

I hold a pair of queens on a paired board, which is likely best or close to it, but the opponent's turn check suggests strength is possible, so I'll check to control the pot and keep the hand cheap.

Ace-high has some showdown value against missed draws. After checking the turn, a river bluff is unlikely to fold out enough pairs to justify the risk.