Hold'em table

Pocket aces are the strongest starting hand. A 2.5-big-blind button raise builds the pot for value while encouraging calls and potential reraises from weaker hands.

J6 offsuit is weak out of position in the small blind against a button raise, with a big blind still to act behind me. Calling 200 into a 400 pot is not worth it.

94 offsuit has poor equity and plays badly out of position against the button’s raise. The call price does not compensate for its weak equity realization.

4d9c is a weak offsuit hand out of position against two opponents, so calling 100 to see a flop isn't worth it. Folding costs nothing here.

KTs is a strong hand heads-up against the big blind after the button folds. Raise for value and initiative rather than giving the BB a free flop.

Q4 suited is a reasonable big-blind defense against a small-blind raise, especially with position postflop. Calling costs 200 to contest a 600-chip pot and preserves the hand's suited potential without inflating the pot.

A small flop bet can get value and deny equity to lower pairs and draws; I can fold to substantial resistance on this Q-high board.

Top pair is strong enough to call a one-third-pot continuation bet against a wide small-blind opening range. Calling keeps bluffs and weaker hands in while controlling the pot with a weak kicker.

Bet 600 for value and protection with two pair, charging club and straight draws while keeping the size manageable on a connected turn.

Second pair remains a reasonable bluff-catcher against a small-blind double barrel, particularly without a club blocking missed-draw candidates. The call needs about 27% equity, and position lets us reassess the river.

I have top two pair and the river is a relatively blank card, so a modest value bet can be called by weaker kings or queens without overcommitting against straights and stronger two-pair hands.

Calling needs about 21% equity, and the missed club and straight draws give the small blind plausible triple-barrel bluffs. Holding no club preserves those bluffs, making this a reasonable bluff-catching call.

Pocket fours are strong enough to open from the button, and a modest raise applies pressure while retaining position and room to maneuver postflop.

53 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 with poor equity and positional disadvantage.

A5s is a strong hand against a button open in a 3-handed game. A 3-bet to 800 from the big blind builds the pot with a hand that has good equity and blockers, and it is better than just calling out of position.

Pocket fours have enough implied-odds potential to call the 3-bet in position with deep stacks. Raising would overplay a small pair.

Top pair with an ace on a Q-A-Q board; I 3-bet preflop, so I'm betting about 55% of the pot for value. Worse aces and queen-less hands like KK/JJ would call. A smaller bet keeps the pot manageable against a Qx that beats me.

Pocket fours have little equity on this ace-high, paired board and are unlikely to be ahead of the big blind’s flop bet. Calling would require too much equity, so I fold.

A6 suited is a clear button open three-handed, with position, an ace blocker, and nut-flush potential. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while keeping the investment modest.

K3 offsuit is weak out of position against a button raise to 250, with the big blind still to act behind. Calling 200 more is not worth it.

K6 offsuit is weak, but the button’s 2.5x open is wide and the price is favorable from the big blind. Call rather than inflate the pot with a 3-bet.

Check with king-high and only a backdoor straight draw; this board strongly favors the preflop raiser, so there is little value in betting now.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this coordinated, two-heart board connects well with the big blind's calling range. Checking preserves equity and avoids inflating the pot with few strong improvement paths.

I have a strong heart flush draw plus a gutshot to a king-high straight, and the checked-through flop suggests some fold equity. A modest turn bet builds the pot when I improve while pressuring weak hands.

Ace-high with no heart and no straight draw has poor equity against this turn bet on a highly coordinated board. Calling requires about 26% equity, and this hand is too weak to continue profitably.

K9 suited on the button in a 3-handed game is a solid hand and a profitable call at 100 into a 150 pot, with position post-flop. A raise is possible, but calling keeps the pot manageable with a hand that is often dominated.

K3 offsuit is weak, but the small additional cost and favorable pot odds justify completing the blind against a button limp.

A7 offsuit is a reasonable check against two limpers, but too marginal to routinely build a large pot out of position. Taking the free flop preserves value without exposing us to a limp-reraise.

With only king-high and no meaningful draw on a connected, two-club flop against two opponents, checking avoids putting chips into a poor spot.

Ace-high with no meaningful draw is too weak to bet into two opponents on this coordinated flop. Checking preserves chips and allows a free chance to improve.

Middle pair (nines) with a king kicker on a Tc 9d 2c board, in position, after both opponents checked. A small bet of about 2/3 pot... actually a 200 chip bet (2/3 of the 300 pot) takes value from weaker pairs and draws and denies equity from overcards and flush draws.

K-high has little equity against a flop bet on this connected board, and the backdoor possibilities are too weak to justify calling.

Ace-high with no meaningful draw is too weak to continue against a two-thirds-pot bet into two opponents. Calling out of position would realize little equity, and this hand is a poor check-raise bluff candidate.

A9 suited is a strong button opening hand in a three-handed game. Raising to 250 applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable if called.

K8 offsuit is too weak to defend profitably from the small blind against a 2.5bb button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a frequently dominated hand out of position.

J5 offsuit is weak and out of position against a button open. Calling 150 to win 400 is tempting on price, but the hand plays poorly postflop, so folding is the better choice.