Hold'em table

J8o is at the bottom of the button opening range in 3-handed play; folding avoids playing a weak, unsuited hand with poor playability.

Q2 offsuit is a weak hand that plays poorly out of position against the big blind, even though folding gives up the 50 chips already posted. Calling 50 more would not be profitable over the long run.

AKo is a strong hand on the button in a 3-handed game. Raising to 3bb for value builds the pot while I have position.

Offsuit 7-5 plays poorly out of position against a button raise, with the big blind still to act.

Defending the big blind with QJo getting 3.25-to-1 pot odds against a button open in 3-handed play.

Checking out of position as the preflop caller on a King-high board with two overcards and backdoor equity.

Top pair with ace kicker on a K-8-6 board, in position against a checking big blind. A bet of about 60% of the pot gets value from worse kings and draws and denies equity.

I have queen-high with only backdoor draws on a King-high board out of position facing a 60% pot c-bet.

Nine-five suited is a marginal but playable button open three-handed. A small raise uses position while keeping the pot manageable.

82s is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise with the big blind left to act.

8s3s is a weak hand. Calling 150 more into a 400 pot would get about 2.67-to-1, but I'd be out of position against the button's open with a poor holding, so folding is the safer choice.

54 offsuit is too weak to open from the button even in 3-handed play.

4-3 offsuit is a weak hand, and I'm out of position in the small blind. Calling 50 more to see a flop is only marginally cheap, and the hand plays poorly heads-up against the big blind, so folding is the safer choice.

K7 offsuit on the button in a 3-handed pot is marginal, and I'd be out of position against both blinds postflop if called. Folding avoids a low-value spot, though calling would also be defensible.

Completing the small blind costs 50 chips and keeps the pot small with a marginal hand out of position.

Check our option with A3o in the big blind to see a free flop in position against the limping small blind.

The big blind checked a dry ace-high flop. A small in-position bet can win the pot when they missed, without risking much with nine-high.

I flopped two pair on a draw-heavy board against a limped small blind; raising for value and protection against diamond draws and gutshots.

I have nine-high with no meaningful draw, and calling the flop raise is unlikely to be profitable.

A8 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed. Raising to 250 applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

K3s is too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a button open.

K7o in the big blind getting 400 to 150 (about 2.7:1) against a button min-raise-ish open of 2.5bb. The hand has enough equity and pot odds to defend, though it plays poorly out of position, so I call rather than 3-bet.

I have trips (sevens) with a king kicker on a paired board, so I want to bet for value against the button's wide raising range. A bet of about 60% of the pot should get calls from worse pairs and overcards.

Ace-high has some showdown value against a wide big-blind range, and position gives me flexibility on later streets. I’ll call the flop bet rather than raise with a weak draw.

I have trips (sevens) with an ace kicker on a paired board, so I'm well ahead of most of the button's calling range. I bet about two-thirds of the pot for value; the button called the flop bet, so I expect calls from Ax and Tx.

Top pair is strong enough to call against this sizing, but raising would risk building a large pot against a seven or an ace with a better kicker.

I have trips (7s) with a king kicker on a Tc 7s 7h Ac 2s board. I bet the river for value, since worse sevens, Ax and tens can call. The opponent called two bets, so a moderate sizing of about half the pot should get paid.}

Top pair beats Tx and missed draws, while many weaker aces only tie on this paired board. The pot odds make calling preferable to folding, but the triple barrel is too strong to raise.