Hold'em table

Pocket deuces are a profitable button open three-handed, with position and a chance to win the blinds immediately. A 2.5bb raise keeps the investment modest while preserving set value when called.

65 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise out of position with the big blind still to act; folding preserves stack.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With bottom pair on a king-queen flop, I prefer to check rather than build the pot out of position.

Pocket deuces have limited showdown value but little potential to improve, and betting mainly folds out weaker hands. Checking back keeps the pot small and preserves the option to reassess on the turn.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting into the preflop raiser on a king-queen board is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

Pocket deuces retain some showdown value against unpaired hands, while betting is unlikely to fold many better pairs. Checking keeps the pot small and realizes our remaining equity for free.

My pair of sevens has showdown value, but a bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking avoids building the pot against queens or kings.

Pocket deuces retain showdown value against unpaired hands after three checks. Betting is unlikely to get called by worse, and our line does not credibly pressure enough better hands to justify bluffing.

On the button three-handed, 9-8 offsuit is well within opening range and plays well in position, so raising pressures the blinds instead of limping or folding.

J7 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 2.5bb button raise, with poor connectivity and equity realization out of position. It also lacks useful blockers for a three-bet bluff.

Q7 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds uses position without committing too much.

AQ suited is a strong value three-bet against a button open. The larger sizing compensates for being out of position and discourages the big blind from entering cheaply.

Ts3s is a weak suited hand facing a button raise and a large small-blind 3-bet; calling 1000 out of position against a strong range has poor equity and playability.

Q7 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large preflop three-bet, even with position.

65 suited is a profitable button open three-handed at 100bb depth, with good postflop playability in position. Raising to 2.5bb pressures the blinds while keeping the investment modest.

Q6 offsuit is weak out of position in the small blind facing a button raise with the big blind still to act; calling would play a dominated hand at poor implied odds.

T7 offsuit is a marginal but reasonable big-blind defense against a button open, especially with the small blind's chips in the pot.

With a flush draw on a monotone flop, I can check to the preflop raiser and respond based on their bet size.

With only a gutshot and no spade, this hand has limited equity against continuing hands on the monotone flop. Checking back takes a free turn and avoids being forced off the draw by a check-raise.

I have an open-ended straight draw and a spade flush draw. A turn bet can win the pot now while building value when I improve.

My double-gutshot draw has at most eight outs, with the spade outs potentially completing an opponent’s flush. Facing a 375-chip bet, the required 28.8% equity and uncertain implied odds make folding preferable.

J2 offsuit is a weak, disconnected hand even on the button in a 3-handed game; calling or raising risks chips with poor equity and playability.

With 7-6 offsuit in the small blind, completing for 50 chips is inexpensive. Raising would build a larger pot while out of position against the big blind.

84 offsuit is too weak for a routine isolation raise against the small blind’s limp. Checking lets us see a free flop and play in position without investing more chips.

I have no pair or immediate draw, and betting out of position into the big blind is unlikely to win enough often. I’ll check and keep the pot small.

Middle pair has showdown value, but the weak kicker makes building a pot unattractive. Checking back keeps weaker hands in and lets us reassess the turn in position.

I have no made hand or meaningful draw, and the turn card does not give me a compelling reason to bluff into the big blind.

A half-pot bet gets thin value from weaker pairs, ace-high hands, and straight draws while denying free cards to overcards. The small blind's repeated checks make a small value-and-protection bet attractive.

Seven-high has little chance to improve by the river, and calling 100 into a 300-chip pot is unlikely to be profitable.

QTo is a profitable button open in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A6 suited is a reasonable three-bet against a wide button opening range, with an ace blocker and nut-flush potential. Raising to 1100 pressures both opponents and compensates for playing out of position.

T9 offsuit is too weak to call a 11bb 3-bet from the small blind after a button open; folding preserves stack versus a strong range with poor realizability.

QTo is often dominated by a small-blind 3-betting range, and the large raise makes calling unattractive despite having position.