Showdown Hold'em table

8♥6♦ is an unconnected, offsuit hand below the recommended preflop raising range, so I’ll avoid committing a large play bet.

A pair plus an open-ended straight draw gives this hand strong showdown potential, making the 2x flop raise worthwhile.

K♣3♦ is offsuit and below the reference preflop raise threshold of K5o+, so I’ll check and retain the option to act on the flop.

I have two pair, kings and eights, which is a strong made hand and merits the flop raise while I can still choose it.

The reference preflop strategy raises 4x with any ace. Aces have strong showdown potential, making the larger raise preferable to checking.

T-4 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range, so checking avoids risking a larger play bet with a weak starting hand.

I have no pair and only a backdoor heart-flush draw, so raising now risks extra chips with weak equity. I’ll check and reassess on the river.

A low pair of fours is unlikely to beat a dealer hand that qualifies, and the board gives any dealer holding a five a straight. Raising risks additional chips with insufficient showdown equity; folding limits the loss to the posted ante and blind.

The published preflop raise range includes any ace. Raising 4x maximizes value with A♠3♦.

8-5 offsuit is a weak, unconnected hand outside the recommended preflop raising range, so I check rather than commit a large raise.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on this flop, so raising would put extra chips at risk with very little equity. I’ll check and reassess on the river.

My pair of eights beats unpaired dealer hands and many lower-pair hands, making the river play bet worthwhile.

T2 suited is outside the recommended preflop raise range. Check to see the flop before committing to a play bet.

My hand has no pair and only a remote backdoor straight chance, so raising now risks too much. Check and reassess on the river.

My two pair, aces and tens, beats the dealer unless their hole cards make a straight or improve to trips or better; there are more favorable outcomes than unfavorable ones, so raising has positive expected value.

T9 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range, so I’ll see the flop without committing to a raise.

Top pair with a ten kicker is strong against the dealer’s random hand, so raising now is preferable to waiting for a smaller river bet.

8-2 suited is well below the preflop raising threshold; checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop before risking a play bet.

My 8-2 has no pair or meaningful draw on this flop, so raising would risk an extra bet with poor showdown prospects. Check and reassess on the river.

My best hand is only ace-high, and a dealer pair or better beats it. Raising is unlikely to recover enough against the many qualifying dealer hands, so folding limits the loss to the ante and blind.

Pocket nines are well within the recommended preflop raise range, so I’ll make the maximum raise.

7s-4d is below the recommended preflop raising range, so checking avoids committing a play bet with a weak starting hand.

My hand has no pair and only very limited runner-runner straight potential, so raising is unlikely to be profitable. I’ll check and retain the option to act on the river.

The board gives both players trip twos, and a dealer hole card above a seven will usually provide a winning kicker. My win chance is well below what is needed to justify raising, so I fold.

Any ace is in the reference preflop 4x raising range, so raise with A♣6♥.

Ace-jack offsuit is a strong preflop hand and falls within the recommended 4x raising range.

Q4 offsuit falls below the recommended preflop raise range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop without adding a play bet now.

Top pair with a queen gives a solid showdown hand and meaningful improvement chances, making the flop raise preferable to checking.

Pocket sixes meet the referenced preflop threshold for a 4x raise and have solid showdown potential.

J♥3♣ is well below the recommended preflop raising range, so checking avoids putting more chips at risk with a weak hand.

My current hand is only a pair of tens with a jack kicker, and many dealer holdings can already beat it. Checking avoids putting in a larger bet before seeing the river, where I can reassess.

The board gives me two pair, tens and sevens, with a jack kicker. Raising risks only 10 more chips and is preferable to folding with a hand that can still beat many dealer holdings.

9♣6♣ falls below the preflop raising range, so checking avoids committing a large raise with a weak hand.

I have three sixes on the flop, a strong hand that is likely to beat the dealer at showdown, so I raise.

2♥3♦ is well below the stated preflop raise range, so I’ll avoid committing a play bet.

The pair of threes with an open-ended straight draw has useful potential, but checking preserves the option to see the turn and river before risking a play bet. I can raise on the river if the completed hand and board favor it.

The board already gives both players a wheel straight, so most dealer hands tie. Only a dealer holding a 6 can make a higher straight; raising risks just the 10-chip play bet and is much better than folding and losing the ante and blind.

K♦8♦ is a suited king, within the reference preflop range for a 4x raise.

Q4 offsuit falls below the preflop raise range, so I’ll check and preserve the option to act after the flop.

Q-high with no made hand and only weak backdoor potential is unlikely to beat a dealer holding; checking preserves the option to evaluate the river before risking a play bet.

I have only queen-high, with no pair or flush draw completed. A dealer pair is enough to beat me, and raising has poor expected value.

J9 offsuit falls below the listed preflop raising range. Check to preserve the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Top pair with a jack gives a strong made hand and useful improvement chances, so raising now is preferable to checking and risking a missed river decision.

J-7 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range, so I’ll keep the play bet uncommitted and evaluate the flop.

I have no made hand and only backdoor draws, so a 2x raise risks extra chips with weak equity. Checking preserves the option to assess the full board before deciding on the river.

The dealer’s likely winning hands are mostly pairs or a king-high hand; otherwise my ace-high hand often holds up. Raising has slightly better expected value than folding, which loses the ante and blind.

Q7 offsuit falls below the recommended preflop raising range; check and evaluate the flop.

I have a pair of sevens, which gives enough showdown strength to commit the 2x flop raise rather than defer the decision.

2-4 offsuit is well below the preflop raising range, so checking avoids risking a larger play bet with a weak hand.

My hand has no pair or meaningful draw, so raising risks extra chips with little chance to win. I’ll check and reassess on the river.

My hole cards do not improve the paired board, so I can at best tie when the dealer also plays the board; any improvement by the dealer beats me. Folding avoids the extra play-bet loss.

KJo is within the stated optimal preflop raising range, so raising 4x has the best expected value.

Ace-king is a premium starting hand and falls within the reference 4x raising range, so I raise the maximum preflop amount.

Q3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range; check to see the flop without risking a large play bet.

I already have two pair, which is a strong made hand on this flop, so raising is preferable to giving up the chance to win the play bet.

J-5 offsuit is below the preflop raising range, so I’ll preserve the option to act on the flop.

Top pair gives me a strong enough chance to win against the dealer’s random hand to raise now, despite the coordinated board and possible draws.

An ace suited is within the reference preflop raise range; raising 4x maximizes expected chips with this hand.

2♦5♥ is a weak offsuit hand, outside the profitable preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to continue only if the flop improves the hand.

This is a weak hand with only a gutshot wheel draw and little showdown strength. Checking preserves the option to make a smaller river raise if the board improves or the final hand merits it.

My best hand is only a pair of threes with weak kickers, and almost every dealer holding beats it. The small chance of a tie is not enough to justify the river raise.