Hold'em table

2s3c offsuit is one of the worst starting hands; folding on the button with no investment is clearly correct.

Holding 53 offsuit out of position in the small blind is an easy fold against the big blind.

6c 2c is too weak to open profitably even from the button in a 3-handed game.

Q9 offsuit is strong enough to raise against the big blind heads-up. Raising to 300 builds value while keeping the pot manageable out of position.

2-4 offsuit is one of the weakest hands; facing a 3x raise from the small blind out of position post-flop isn't worth it, even at 2:1 pot odds. Fold and wait for a better spot.

JTo is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. Raising to 250 puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

J4 offsuit in the small blind facing a 2.5x open from the button is a clear fold; it plays poorly out of position with a big blind still to act.

K4o lacks sufficient playability and equity out of position against a 2.5x button open.

A4o on the button in a 3-handed game is a standard open; raising 2.5x to take the blinds or play in position with an ace.

Calling 200 chips from the small blind with 97s given favorable pot odds with no rake and decent postflop playability against the button's opening range.

Five-deuce offsuit plays poorly out of position against a raise and a caller, despite the favorable pot odds.

Check second pair to the in-position preflop aggressor to control pot size.

Bottom pair with top kicker on a dry-ish board heads-up as the preflop raiser; a small c-bet for value/protection against overcards and flush draws while keeping the pot manageable.

I flop middle pair with 97h on Jd 7s 4s, which is well within my standard flop defending range against a button c-bet.

I improved to two pair on the turn, but the board now features three spades and several straight possibilities. Checking to the flop aggressor to control the pot is the most prudent line.

Bottom pair with ace kicker on a three-spade board with no spade in hand; opponent check-called flop so another barrel has little fold equity and we can't call a check-raise. Check back for pot control and showdown value.

I have two pair, but the board is heavily connected with four to a straight and three spades. Checking to realize showdown value is the most prudent play.

A4 with bottom pair has only thin showdown value on a board where every draw got there; a bluff needs ~50% folds from a range that is mostly pairs or better after check-calling the flop, so checking back realizes our small equity cheaply.

Holding pocket jacks on the button 3-handed is a clear value opening raise to 2.5x.

K4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

K3 suited in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open with 150 to call into a 400 pot gets good price and closes the action; it's a standard defend with suited king playability, while 3-betting would be too loose.

K3 suited missed the flop with only a gutshot (needs a 5) and king-high; checking to the preflop raiser keeps the pot small and lets me see their action before deciding.

Betting our overpair for value and protection on a relatively dry board after the big blind checks.

King-high with only backdoor straight draws on a dry T-4-2 board; against a half-pot c-bet from the button we can't realize equity well and have poor bluff candidates, so folding is the lowest-variance correct play.

A9 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise builds the pot while keeping the sizing efficient.

J2 offsuit is a weak hand out of the small blind facing a button open with the big blind still to act; folding is standard.

Getting favorable pot odds (150 to win 400) defending the big blind against a button open with an ace.

Check to the preflop raiser out of position with Ace-high on a paired low board.

I have two overcards and a backdoor flush draw on a dry paired flop. A small continuation bet can win the pot now without committing many chips.

Getting over 4 to 1 pot odds against a small one-third pot continuation bet on a paired, dry board where Ace-high holds sufficient equity and backdoor potential.

We hold trip threes with an Ace kicker on a paired/tripled board where any pocket pair or seven makes a full house. Checking is standard to control the pot.

Ace-high has showdown value on this dry board, but a turn bet is more likely to be called by a seven or pocket pair than by a worse hand. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

Holding quads with the nut Ace kicker on a four-of-a-kind board gives me the absolute nuts; betting a small sizing targets calls from pocket pairs and high kickers.

The four threes and my ace make the best possible hand, so I’m raising for value. A modest size gives weaker kickers a chance to call.

I hold the nut kicker Ace with four threes on the board, giving me the unbeatable nuts. Raising all-in is risk-free and captures additional value if the opponent misreads the board with a worse kicker.

The board gives everyone four threes, and my ace is the highest possible kicker. I cannot lose at showdown.