Hold'em table

Q6 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds gives me a chance to win the blinds while retaining position if called.

J8 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 2.7:1 in the big blind against a wide 3-handed button open, 85o has enough equity and playability to defend by calling.

This paired ace-high board strongly favors the preflop raiser's range, and 85 with a backdoor diamond draw has little equity. Checking out of position is best, and I can fold to a bet.

This ace-paired flop favors my preflop raising range. A small continuation bet can win the pot without committing much with queen-high.

The small c-bet gives us about 19% pot odds. On a paired, ace-high board the button bets a wide range, so our eight-high still has a fair amount of equity. Backdoor wheel and diamond chances add a little more, so a cheap float is reasonable.

I only have 8-high with a weak backdoor diamond draw on a board that favors the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me give up cheaply if they bet.

Q-high has some showdown value on this paired board, and the flop call makes a turn bluff less appealing. I’ll check back and reassess on the river.

Our 8-high has essentially no showdown value, and the opponent's turn check-back caps their range. The Kd completing diamonds gives a credible story, so a two-thirds-pot bluff should fold out many weak pairs.

I have only a pair of aces with a queen kicker. The river completes diamond flushes and several strong hands, so calling 600 requires more bluffs than I expect.

7♥3♠ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling from the button would be unprofitable against the big blind.

Blind vs blind, 86o is a reasonable opening hand from the small blind, so I raise to 3bb and take the initiative rather than limping out of position.

A4 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise, and calling keeps weaker hands in while preserving position postflop.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker, out of position, on a connected J-T board that hits the big blind's calling range hard. Checking controls the pot and keeps some showdown value.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this flop gives A4 little reason to build the pot. I’ll check in position and reassess on the turn.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker, out of position on a connected board. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me reach showdown cheaply.

Bottom pair has showdown value, but a bet is more likely to be called by better hands than worse ones. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable and lets me evaluate the river.

A pair of sixes has some showdown value against a range that checked back twice, and betting would mostly fold out worse hands while getting called by better ones. Checking to showdown is best.

Rivering two pair gives me a strong value hand after both players checked the flop and turn. A 400-chip bet can get called by weaker aces or a jack.

We only have a weak pair of sixes with an 8 kicker, which beats only pure air. The opponent checked twice and then led the river after the ace came, so their range is heavy with Ax and made hands. Folding is better than paying 28.6% pot odds.

A8o on the button in 3-handed play is a clear open-raise; a 2.5bb size pressures both blinds.” ,

4-2 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

J4 offsuit is weak, but the big blind gets a favorable price against a button raise and can defend profitably by calling. Raising would risk inflating the pot out of position with a hand that plays poorly when reraised.

I have no meaningful made hand or immediate draw on this ace-high flop. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves the option to continue if I improve.

Top pair with a weak kicker plus a backdoor flush draw on an ace-high board. A small c-bet gets value from worse aces, queens and draws while keeping the pot controlled.”

I have only jack-high with no immediate draw on an ace-high board, so calling the flop bet is unlikely to be profitable.

J9 suited is a profitable button open three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise builds the pot while keeping the investment modest.

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

A7o in the big blind against a 2.5x button open in 3-handed play is well ahead of a wide range, and calling 150 into 400 gives excellent odds, so defending by calling is standard.

Out of position with ace-high and a gutshot on a 983 board, so checking to the button's likely c-bet is standard. I can continue against a reasonable bet size.

Top pair with a jack kicker is worth a small value bet against the big blind’s wide calling range. Betting 200 also charges overcards and straight draws.

The small c-bet means we need only about 21% equity. Ace-high has some showdown value, with overcards and backdoor draws, so calling is better than folding here.

Ace-high with no real draw has some showdown value, and leading into the preflop raiser's range on this board isn't profitable. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me decide how to respond to a bet.

Top pair is likely ahead of the big blind's wide flop-calling range. A moderate turn bet gets value from weaker pairs and charges draws.

I have only ace-high with no real draw facing a double barrel. The call needs about 27% equity, and three ace outs don't get there.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. Raising to 250 applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Three-handed, button opens wide; 97s is a good 3-bet bluff candidate from the SB with playability, and it avoids a bloated multiway pot out of position.

AK suited is strong enough to four-bet against a button open and small-blind three-bet. Raising to 2500 applies pressure without committing the entire stack preflop.

J♣9♠ is far too weak to continue against this large preflop 4-bet, especially with another player still involved.

The BB's 4-bet range is strong, and calling 15bb out of position with 97s leaves an awkward SPR and poor realized equity. A 5-bet shove bluff has too little fold equity.

Three-handed on the button with only the blinds left to act, J2s is a playable steal candidate given the wide opening ranges. A small open to 2.5bb keeps the risk low while it still pressures the blinds.

3-2 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act.

Q-high has enough equity against a likely wide button opening range to defend at the favorable pot odds, especially with the small blind already invested.

I have only a weak gutshot draw and a backdoor club draw, so I’ll take the free card rather than build the pot.

J-high with an open-ended straight draw (any Q or 8) plus a backdoor diamond draw, in position against the big blind's check. A small c-bet of about a third of the pot applies fold equity with strong equity behind it.

The Q gives only a four-out gutshot to a straight, which is not enough equity to call this bet at the offered pot odds. My club blocker does not create a backdoor flush draw with only two cards to come.