Hold'em table

K3 offsuit is weak but playable as a button open in a three-handed game. A small raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

J2 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

AQo is well ahead of a button opening range in 3-handed play, so 3-betting for value from the big blind is strong. Raising to 10bb out of position builds the pot and denies equity.

K3 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large preflop 3-bet, especially with 7.5 big blinds still to call.

6-3 offsuit is too weak to play from the button against two opponents without any read that a steal is likely to work.

AJs is a strong hand for a small-blind-vs-big-blind spot, so a standard 3x raise builds the pot while we hold the initiative. Raising also denies the big blind a cheap look at the flop.

A4 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a wide small-blind raise, and calling keeps weaker hands in while avoiding an unnecessary large pot.

Out of position with AJ on T82 rainbow, we have a gutshot to the nut straight plus two overcards. A small c-bet uses our range advantage as the preflop raiser and gets folds from many BB hands that missed.

The small flop bet offers favorable pot odds, and ace-high may already be ahead of bluffs. I also have backdoor nut-flush potential and overcard outs to improve.

Ace-high with no real draw after being called on the flop. Out of position, checking controls the pot and keeps me away from a weak barrel into a range that continued.

I have only ace-high with a four-out gutshot to a wheel, so I’ll take the free river rather than bluff into the preflop raiser.

Ace-high has some showdown value against missed straight draws, and the river spade completes flushes, so bluffing without a spade blocker is unappealing. Checking keeps the pot small.

With ace-high and no made hand beyond the board pair, checking takes my showdown value without risking chips on a bluff that is unlikely to fold better hands.

J8o on the button in a 3-handed game is a standard open; a raise to 2.5bb puts pressure on the blinds.

A6 suited is a strong 3-bet candidate from the small blind: the ace blocker adds fold equity, and the hand retains good playability when called. I’m using a sizable raise to avoid inviting an easy multiway pot.

J♣T♣ plays well against a small-blind three-bet, and the 800-chip call keeps the pot manageable while retaining the chance to play in position against the three-bettor.

J8o facing a 3-bet from the small blind plus a cold call from the big blind is dominated too often and plays poorly in a multiway pot. Folding loses only the 250 I opened with.

A small continuation bet applies pressure on a low, disconnected flop that favors my preflop range, while keeping the cost controlled with ace-high and backdoor potential.

J♣T♣ has two overcards and backdoor straight and flush possibilities. The small flop bet gives me a reasonable price to continue in position.

I have a strong combo draw with the nut-flush draw and a gutshot to a straight, so a sizable semi-bluff can win immediately while retaining substantial equity when called.

The turn bet leaves my jack-high hand with only a gutshot and uncertain overcard outs. Calling 1,500 against a continued three-bet line is unlikely to be profitable.

AJo is a strong button hand in a three-handed game; raise for value and initiative.

J5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3x button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

83o out of position against a 3x button open realizes its equity poorly, so this is a marginal defend. Folding is fine.

5-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button against two players, even with position.

A8o is a strong hand in a blind-vs-blind spot, so I'm raising to 3bb for value and fold equity.

A4 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind heads-up against a small blind raise, but not strong enough to 3-bet for value. Calling keeps the pot manageable and lets me realize equity in position relative to the small blind? Actually big blind acts out of position postflop.

This dry king-high board favours my preflop raising range, so a small c-bet makes sense. My ace-high has some equity plus backdoor wheel draws, and the bet can fold out better hands like small pairs.

A4 has a decent pair with the best available kicker on this low board, and the small bet offers favorable pot odds. Calling keeps bluffs and weaker hands in while avoiding inflating the pot against stronger made hands.

Double-barrel with the ace blocker, a gutshot to the wheel, and ace overcard outs. The turn keeps pressure on a caller's weak Kx, pairs and draws while I still hold equity if called.

The turn bet is large relative to the pot, and one pair of fours is unlikely to be ahead. Although a river five can complete a wheel, the draw and other improvement outs do not provide enough equity to call at these pot odds.

On the button three-handed, K2o sits at the edge of a wide opening range, and stealing the blinds is profitable. A 2.5bb open keeps it cheap.

9♠4♣ is a weak offsuit hand and is not worth calling a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act.

QJo is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button open, and calling keeps weaker hands in without inflating the pot out of position.

With no pair or immediate draw on this ace-high flop, I’ll check to the preflop raiser rather than build the pot out of position.

This paired, ace-high dry board strongly favors the preflop raiser's range, so a small c-bet of about a third of the pot takes it down often. My king blocker helps, and a small bet still gives some equity when called.

The small flop bet gives me a reasonable price to continue with two overcards to the fives and a backdoor straight draw. The button can also bet this dry board with hands I beat.

I have no made hand and only a gutshot straight draw. Checking avoids building the pot out of position.

King-high with a nut-ish heart draw; the villain's flop call is sticky on this ace-high paired board, so I'll take the free river card rather than bluff into likely Ax.

The board gives me two pair, but a bet is unlikely to fold out stronger hands. Checking preserves the chance to split the pot against other unpaired hands.

The board plays for me: A-T-T-5-5 beats my K2, so I can only chop. A half-pot bet can fold out hands that would chop, like missed draws, and hands that beat me, like 66-99. Villain's two turn and river checks suggest weakness.

My hand plays the board, so I chop against unpaired hands. After the turn checked through, this river bet can include enough bluffs or attempts to steal a chop to justify calling.