Showdown Hold'em table

Jc6s is a weak hand with no pair and poor suitedness, well outside the published optimal preflop raising range (33+, any ace, K2s+ or K5o+, Q6s+ or Q8o+, J8s+ or JTo). Checking preserves the option to raise on the flop if the board improves the hand, and avoids risking 30-40 chips on a hand with negative expected value against the dealer.

With Jc6s on a 3d-9s-5s flop, I have only a backdoor flush draw and no made hand. Raising 2x would risk 20 chips to win a small pot against a dealer who likely qualifies, so checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve.

On the river with Jc6s, my best hand is a 9-high straight (3-4-5-6-9) which only beats the dealer's non-qualifying hands. The blind pays nothing for a straight, so raising 1x risks 10 chips to win at most 20 (ante + play) with no blind value, making a fold the EV-positive choice.

Kc Ac is a strong suited ace but not in the published optimal preflop raise table (no pair, no K2s+, no K5o+, no Q6s+/Q8o+, no J8s+/JTo), so checking preserves the option to raise cheaply on the flop and avoids overcommitting with a marginal hand.

Top pair with the best kicker on a dry flop. Raising 2x builds value and isolates the dealer.

4c-Jc is a suited connector with backdoor flush and straight potential, but it lacks the strength to raise preflop. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves the option to raise on the flop if the board improves my hand.

On the flop with 4c-Jc and a 9s-7c-8d board, raising 2x risks 20 chips to chase a gutshot straight and backdoor flush with no made hand; checking preserves the option to raise 1x on the river only if a strong draw completes, and the blind pays only when beating the dealer, so folding equity is limited.

On the river with 4c-Jc, I have only a high-card hand and no made hand. The board contains a pair of 7s, so the dealer almost certainly qualifies with at least a pair. Raising 1x risks 10 chips to win a small 1:1 play bet plus a blind that likely pays nothing against a dealer pair, making the expected value negative. Folding preserves the bankroll by losing only the ante and blind.

5s-Ah is a weak offsuit hand with no preflop raising value; checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop and avoids risking chips with a negative-EV raise.

With Ace-high on a 3s-Ac-7c flop and no pair, I have no made hand and the dealer likely qualifies; raising 2x risks 20 chips with poor equity, so checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve.

On the river with only a pair of 7s and a backdoor flush draw, I have a marginal made hand. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, and with three 7s and an Ace on board, the dealer likely has a qualifying hand. The blind pays only on a win, so a raise risks 10 more chips for uncertain reward. Folding preserves bankroll.

6c 7s is a weak suited connector with no high card strength; it does not meet the published preflop 4x raise threshold, so checking preserves the option to raise 2x on the flop if the board improves the hand.

With 6c-7s on a 6h-2h-3d flop I have a weak pair of sixes and a backdoor heart flush draw. The pot is small (ante+blind = 20) and raising 2x (20 chips) risks more than the hand's equity justifies, so checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve.

On the river with 6c-7s and a 6-2-3-5-K board, my best hand is a pair of sixes. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, and I have no straight, flush, or two pair to improve my odds. Raising 1x risks 10 chips with a weak hand against a likely qualifying dealer, so folding to lose only the ante and blind is the lower-variance choice.

Jc2h is a weak offsuit hand with no preflop raise value; checking preserves chips and lets the board develop before committing more.

With Jc2h on a 4d 9c Ts flop, I have only a backdoor flush draw and no pair; raising 2x has negative EV against the dealer's likely qualifying range, so checking is the correct play.

On the river with Jc2h and a board of 4d 9c Ts As 6c, my hand is essentially a high card with no pair, flush, or straight. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, so I am extremely likely to lose; folding loses only the ante and blind (20 chips) rather than risking more chips on a raise with almost no chance to win.

7h-3s is a weak offsuit hand with no pair, no high card strength, and no suited connectors; it falls well outside the published optimal preflop raising range, so checking to see the flop is the highest-EV choice.

With 7h3s on a 2d-7s-Kc flop I have only a weak pair and no draw, so raising 2x is a negative-EV bet against the dealer's likely range; checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve or to fold cheaply if I miss.

On the river with 7-3 offsuit and a 2-7-4-2-7 board, I have only a pair of sevens and must beat the dealer's qualifying hand. The blind pays only on a win, so a raise risks 10 chips to chase a small blind payout, while folding saves the blind and loses only the ante.

6d7d is a speculative hand that needs the flop to develop; checking preflop preserves the option to raise cheaply on the flop if the board brings a flush draw or straight possibilities, and avoids committing 30-40 chips with a hand that has poor immediate equity against the dealer's likely pair or better.

On the flop with 6d7d and a 7c4cKs board, I have a pair of sevens with a flush draw. Raising 2x risks 20 chips on a speculative hand, and checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve, while letting the dealer potentially fail to qualify.

On the river with 6d7d, I have only a pair of 7s. The board contains Ks-Js, so the dealer likely has a higher pair or better. With only raise_1x or fold available, the small raise does not justify the risk of losing the blind and ante against a likely stronger hand.

Ad-5h is a weak hand with no pair, no suited connectors, and no straight potential; the published preflop optimal table does not include it, so raising would risk 30-40 chips with poor equity against the dealer's random range. Checking keeps the ante and blind at risk only if the board improves the hand.

With Ad-5h on Ks-7s-Qh, I have only a weak backdoor flush draw and no made hand; raising 2x risks 20 chips on a hand that likely loses to the dealer's qualifying range, so checking to see the turn and river is the higher-EV play.

On the river with Ad-5h and a K-7-Q-2-8 board, I have only high-card strength with no pair, draw, or backdoor potential. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, so my chance of winning is very low; folding loses only the 10 ante and 10 blind rather than risking a raise that would likely lose the play bet too.

7d Kh is a marginal hand that does not meet the published optimal preflop raise thresholds (33+, any ace, K2s+ or K5o+, Q6s+ or Q8o+, J8s+ or JTo). Checking keeps the pot small and avoids risking chips with a weak holding.

With only King-high and no pair or draw on a dry flop, raising 2x risks losing the blind to a likely qualified dealer. Checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if the board improves.

On the river with 7d Kh, I have only a weak King-high. The board contains three diamonds, so the dealer's two hidden cards are likely to make a flush or at least a pair, meaning the dealer qualifies and beats me. Raising 1x costs 10 chips with very low equity, so folding to preserve bankroll is the correct play.

6h 5d is a weak hand with no pair and poor suitedness, so I check to see the flop cheaply and avoid risking the ante and blind preflop.

6h5d is a weak hand with no pair and backdoor straight/flush draws; raising 2x risks 20 chips with low equity against the dealer's random holding, so checking keeps the pot small and preserves bankroll.

On the river with 6h5d and a board of 4d Ah 7h 5h Qh, I have only a weak 5-high straight (A-7-6-5-4) with no pair and no flush draw. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, and my hand is unlikely to beat that; raising 1x risks 10 chips for a small win while folding limits the loss to the ante and blind.

8c Jh is a weak offsuit hand with no preflop raising value; checking preserves the option to raise cheaply on the flop if the board improves our hand.

On the flop with 8c Jh and Kd 3d 2c, I have only a gutshot straight draw and no pair. Raising 2x risks 20 chips with poor equity against the dealer's likely made hand, so checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve.

On the river with 8c Jh, my best hand is a pair of Jacks with a King kicker. The board contains an Ace and King, so the dealer likely has a pair or better and qualifies. With only a pair, I am unlikely to beat the dealer, and raising risks losing the ante and blind. Folding limits the loss to the ante and blind.

Preflop with 9c Kc I check to see the flop cheaply; the hand is too marginal to raise 3x/4x and I want to preserve bankroll over 17 remaining hands.

On the flop with Kc9c and a J-T-K rainbow board, I have a backdoor flush draw but no made hand. Checking preserves the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve, and avoids committing chips with a weak speculative holding against the dealer's unknown range.

On the river with only a raise_1x or fold available, my hand (Kc9c) is too weak to justify the 10-chip raise risk against the dealer's likely qualifying hand on this J-J-T-K-5 board; folding preserves bankroll for the remaining 17 hands.

8d7d is a suited connector but not strong enough preflop to raise; checking keeps the option to raise on the flop if the board brings a flush or straight draw, and avoids risking chips with a weak hand against the dealer's unknown pair-or-better range.

With 8d7d on a Tc-Jc-2s flop, I have a backdoor flush draw and a gutshot straight draw, but no made hand. Raising 2x risks 20 chips to chase draws against the dealer's unknown range, and the blind paytable only rewards made hands at showdown. Checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve, minimizing expected loss on this marginal hand.

On the river with 8d7d and a Tc Jc 2s Ad 6s board, I have only a weak 8-high. The blind pays only when I beat the dealer, and the dealer qualifies with a pair or better, so a non-qualifying dealer would push the ante anyway. Folding saves the blind and avoids risking the ante on a hand that is almost certainly behind.

Ac-4h is too weak to raise preflop; checking preserves chips and lets me see the flop cheaply before deciding.

With Ace-high and no pair or draw on a disconnected flop, raising risks losing the 2x bet against a dealer that likely qualifies with a pair or better; checking keeps the option to evaluate the turn and river cheaply.

On the river with Ac-4h and a 5d-6s-2h-Js-3h board, I have only Ace-high with no pair, draw, or backdoor made hand. Raising 1x risks 10 chips to win at most 20 when the dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better, so folding preserves bankroll.

Js9c is a marginal preflop hand; the published optimal 4x table does not include it, and checking keeps the play bet at zero while still allowing the blind to pay if the dealer fails to qualify.

Js9c on a 3d-5h-7d flop is a weak speculative hand with no pair and limited backdoor potential; checking preserves the option to raise cheaply on the river if the board improves, rather than risking 20 chips now with poor equity against the dealer's range.

On the river with Js9c on a 3d-5h-7d-4d-Tc board, my best hand is a non-winning straight (6-high) that only beats dealer non-qualifiers, while the blind pays nothing for a straight. Folding loses only the 10 ante and 10 blind, which is better than raising 1x and risking the play bet when the dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better.

3c-6d is a weak hand with no pair, no high card strength, and no suitedness; the published preflop optimal table does not include it, so raising has negative EV. Checking keeps the option to raise cheaply on the flop if the board improves my hand.

My hand is 3c6d with a 3h2h9c flop, giving only a weak pair of threes. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, so I'm likely dominated. Raising 2x risks 20 chips to chase a thin value/blind payout that isn't justified here, so checking to see the turn and river cheaply is the better play.

On the river with only a pair of threes and a weak kicker, raising risks 10 chips to win 10 on the play bet, but the dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better and my hand is easily dominated; folding preserves bankroll by losing only the ante and blind.

4d 9c is a weak offsuit hand with no preflop raising value; checking preserves the option to raise on the flop if the board improves the hand.

With 4d 9c on a Jh 5c 3d flop, I have only a weak high-card hand and no pair. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, so raising 2x would risk 20 chips with poor equity; checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve, and folding now loses the ante and blind outright.

On the river with 4d 9c and a board of Jh 5c 3d 2c 3s, I have only high card with no pair, flush, or straight draw. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, and my hand cannot beat that, so raising would lose the raise amount. Folding loses only the ante and blind, which is the correct play.

6h Jd is a weak preflop holding with no pair, no high card strength, and no suited connectors, so it falls outside the published optimal raise ranges. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the flop improves the hand.

With 6h-Jd on a 5s-9d-3h flop, I have only a backdoor flush draw and no pair, so the hand is weak. Checking keeps the option to raise 2x later if the turn improves my hand, while avoiding committing chips on a marginal holding.

On the river with 6h-Jd and a paired 5-5-3-3-9 board, my best hand is two pair (5s and 3s) with a J kicker, which is weak and unlikely to beat the dealer's likely pair or better. Since I haven't raised yet, raising 1x risks 10 chips with poor equity, so folding to limit losses is the better choice.

Pocket Aces is the strongest possible preflop holding; raising 4x maximizes expected value against the dealer's random range and builds the pot when I'm heavily ahead.

8sTs is a suited connector with backdoor potential but no made hand preflop; checking preserves the option to raise cheaply on the flop if the board improves the hand, and the optimal preflop table does not list this holding as a raise.

On the flop with 8s Ts and board 8d As 2s, I have top pair weak kicker. Raising 2x risks 20 chips to chase a draw with limited equity against the dealer's range; checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if I improve or the board stays safe.

On the river with 8s Ts, I have only a weak 8-high straight draw that missed. The board is 8d As 2s 2d 3h, so the dealer likely has a pair or better and qualifies. Raising 1x risks 10 chips to win a small pot, but my hand is too weak to continue.

3d 4h is a weak hand with no pair and poor suitedness; preflop optimal strategy says to check this hand to avoid losing the ante and blind when the dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better.

With 3d 4h on a Q-7-Q flop, I have no pair and only a backdoor straight draw; raising 2x risks 20 chips with poor equity against the dealer's likely pair. Checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if the board improves, minimizing expected loss.

On the river with 3d-4h and a board of Qd-7h-Qh-Jd-As, I have only high-card strength and no pair, flush, or straight. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, and with two queens on board the dealer almost certainly qualifies, so raising 1x has negative expected value; folding loses only the ante and blind.

JhKs is a speculative preflop hand that falls outside the published optimal raise table, so checking preserves the option to raise cheaply on the flop if the board connects. The blind only pays when I beat the dealer, so there is no value in forcing a raise with this holding.

On the flop with Jh Ks and a 2h 3c 5c board, raising 2x risks 20 chips with only a backdoor flush draw and no pair; checking preserves the option to raise 1x on the river if the board improves, and the hand is too weak to force a raise now.

River decision with only a pair of threes and a backdoor flush draw; the dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better, so folding minimizes expected loss.

With Qd As, I don't meet the published optimal preflop raising threshold (no pair, no strong ace, no suited K/Q/J), so checking preserves the option to raise cheaply on the flop if the board improves.

With Qd As on a 6d 6c 4h flop, I have only a backdoor flush draw and no pair; raising 2x risks 20 chips to chase a weak draw against a dealer who likely qualifies, so checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if the board improves.

On the river with Qd As, the board 6d 6c 4h 3h 9s gives me only a high-card hand. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, and with three low cards on board the dealer almost certainly has at least a pair. Raising 1x costs 10 chips with essentially no equity, so folding to preserve bankroll is the correct play.

TdJs is a marginal hand that falls outside the published optimal preflop raising range, so checking preserves bankroll with only 5 hands left in the session.

On the flop with Td Js and a 7h 9c 2s board, I checked because I have only a weak gutshot to a straight and no made hand; raising 2x would risk 20 chips on a speculative draw with poor equity against the dealer's range, so I keep the option to evaluate the turn and river cheaply.

On the river with Td Js and a 7h 9c 2s 6d 7s board, I have only a pair of sevens with a ten kicker, which is weak. The dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better, and raising 1x risks 10 chips for a low-probability win, so folding minimizes expected loss.

Qc Kd is a marginal preflop hand that falls below the published optimal raise thresholds, so checking preserves bankroll and lets me see the flop before committing more chips.

With Qc Kd on a 6d 7c Ah flop, I have only a backdoor flush draw and no pair; raising 2x risks 20 chips with poor equity against the dealer's likely range, so I check to see the turn and river cheaply.

On the river with Qc Kd and a board of 6d 7c Ah 6h 3d, I have only a weak high-card hand with no pair or draw. The dealer qualifies with a pair or better, and the board already contains a pair of sixes, making it very likely the dealer has at least that. Raising 1x risks 10 more chips with almost no chance to win, so folding to save the ante and blind is the correct play.

6hTd is a weak suited connector with no overcards; preflop EV is negative versus the dealer's range, so I check to see the flop cheaply and preserve chips with only 3 hands left.

On the flop with 6h Td and board Qh 7c Ac, I have only a backdoor flush draw and no pair; raising 2x risks 20 chips with poor equity against the dealer's likely range, so checking keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if the board improves.

On the river with 6h Td, I have only a weak high-card hand against the dealer's unknown two cards. The board pairs 7s and contains two overcards to my hand, making it likely the dealer qualifies with a pair or better. Folding saves the blind and avoids a likely loss.

4c 5s is a weak hand with no raise value preflop; checking preserves chips and lets me see the flop cheaply before deciding.

With 4c-5s on Ac-7c-8s, I have no made hand and only backdoor straight/flush draws; raising 2x risks 20 chips with poor equity against the dealer's unknown range, so checking preserves chips and keeps the option to raise 1x on the river if the board improves.

On the river with 4c5s and a board of Ac7c8s2c7d, my best hand is a weak 7-high with no pair, flush, or straight draw completed. The dealer likely qualifies with a pair of 7s or the Ace, so I have virtually no equity and should fold to preserve bankroll.

Ad-4s is a marginal preflop hand; the optimal 4x threshold requires 33+ or specific suited connectors, so checking preserves the option to raise cheaply on the flop if the board improves the hand.

Ad-4s is a weak hand with no pair and only backdoor flush/straight potential; raising 2x costs 20 chips and risks losing to the dealer's likely qualifying hand, so checking preserves bankroll on this final hand.

On the river with Ad4s and board 8hTd3d4h7s, I have only a pair of fours with a weak kicker. The dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better, so raising 1x has negative expected value. Folding saves the blind.

Jh-5h is a weak preflop hand with no pair and poor high-card value; the optimal preflop table does not include it for a raise, so checking preserves chips on the final hand.

On the flop with Jh5h and a Q-2-7 board, I have only a backdoor flush draw and no pair, so raising 2x would risk 20 chips with poor equity against the dealer's likely range. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves the option to raise 1x on the river if the board improves my hand.

On the river with Jh5h and a paired board of Q-2-7-Q-7, I have only a weak high-card hand and no draw. The dealer likely qualifies with a pair or better, so raising 1x risks 10 chips to win only 10 on the play bet plus a blind payout that requires beating the dealer, making fold the correct play to preserve bankroll.