Hold'em table

Nine-four offsuit is too weak to open profitably on the button without evidence that the blinds overfold. Folding avoids investing in a hand with poor equity and playability.

In small blind versus big blind, pocket threes play well as an open-raise to take initiative and fold equity against broadway cards.

K8o is ahead of a wide small-blind opening range and I am in position postflop as big blind, so calling 200 to defend is better than folding or 3-betting.

Flopped a set of threes on a dry board; betting one-third pot for value against Jx, 6x, and gutshots.

King-high with no pair or draw on a J-6-3 board has poor equity against the preflop raiser's continuation bet and will face further pressure on later streets, so folding saves chips despite the small bet size.

On the button in 3-handed play, Q6s is well within a standard opening range. A min-raise puts pressure on the blinds while risking minimal chips.

3-8 offsuit is a very weak hand facing a button raise; calling 150 more from the small blind out of position is not profitable.

Calling costs only 100 into a 350 pot, making this suited one-gapper a profitable big-blind defense against a button min-raise. It has enough straight and flush potential to continue, while a three-bet would unnecessarily inflate the pot out of position.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker and no flush draw is best checked to the preflop raiser. Betting offers little value and unnecessarily builds the pot out of position.

I have Queen-high with limited equity on a wet board that connects well with the big blind's defending range, so checking behind to take a free turn is prudent.

Bottom pair has limited showdown value, and the king favors the button’s range. Checking keeps the pot small rather than betting into stronger pairs and draws with little prospect of getting called by worse.

BB checked twice, and the King favors my preflop range. Betting 300 as a semi-bluff with a gutshot straight draw can fold out weak pairs and unpaired hands.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker and no draw is a poor bluff-catcher against this two-thirds-pot turn bet. With limited improvement potential and possible river pressure, folding is preferable to calling.

QJo is a strong button hand in 3-handed play, well ahead of blind defending ranges. Raising to 2.5bb applies pressure and builds a pot in position.

64 suited is too weak to defend profitably from the small blind against a 2.5bb open with the big blind still to act. Poor position and the risk of a squeeze outweigh its drawing potential.

Getting attractive pot odds of 2.67-to-1 in the big blind against a button raise, QTo has sufficient equity and playability to defend with a call.

I missed the connected flop completely with queen-ten offsuit out of position, making an easy check to the preflop raiser.

This wet low board favors the big-blind caller's range, and Q-J has only overcards plus backdoor straight equity. Checking in position takes a free card and avoids building a pot against pairs, draws, and flopped straights that will continue.

I have Queen-high with no draw on a connected low board; checking is standard here.

As preflop raiser in position after two checks, QJ has overcards plus a gutshot to a straight; a moderate turn bet can win the 550 pot immediately while retaining equity if called.

I have queen-high with no pair and no draw on a coordinated board facing a turn bet, making this a clear fold.

KJo is a strong opening hand on the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds and builds a pot with position and a likely equity advantage.

Holding pocket eights in the small blind against a button open in 3-handed play is strong enough to 3-bet for value and initiative out of position.

8-3 offsuit is very weak facing a raise and a 3-bet; calling 850 preflop has poor equity and playability.

KJo is a marginal defense against this sizable small-blind three-bet and is often dominated by the value portion of that range. Without evidence of excessive three-betting, folding avoids costly reverse implied odds despite having position.

Holding 72 offsuit, the weakest starting hand, folding from the button is the standard and most disciplined play.

Heads-up in the small blind, Q7 suited is ahead of the big blind's wide range and plays well postflop. Raising to 3x applies pressure and builds value instead of limping.

Nine-six offsuit is too weak to profitably defend against a 3bb raise without evidence that the small blind is opening excessively wide. Its limited playability outweighs the benefit of position.

A9 offsuit is a strong button hand three-handed, well ahead of blind ranges, so I open-raise to apply pressure and build value.

Ace-king is a strong value three-bet against a button open. This sizing accounts for being out of position and discourages the big blind from entering cheaply.

J6o is an easy fold facing an open and a 3-bet preflop.

A9o is dominated by a large SB 3-bet to 1100, likely a value-heavy range, and does not have enough equity for the 850 call despite position.