Showdown Hold'em table

K2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raise threshold (K5o+). Check to retain the option to evaluate the flop.

Bottom pair with a king kicker is not strong enough to commit 2x on this coordinated two-spade flop. Checking retains the option to make a better-informed river decision.

Two pair is often best here, and even when it is not, raising protects the already-posted ante and blind better than folding. The board pair ensures the dealer qualifies, making the 1x river raise worthwhile.

K6 offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o+).

K-duece offsuit is below the profitable preflop raise threshold, so check and reassess on the flop.

Bottom pair with a king kicker is sufficiently strong on this flop to value-raise; it is ahead of many unpaired dealer holdings and retains improvement potential.

Any ace is in the published optimal preflop 4x raising range, so Ad8c should raise immediately.

Any ace is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range; suitedness adds additional straight-flush and flush potential.

Ace-ten is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range (any ace).

T-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range. Check and reassess with the flop information.

With only the board pair and a weak ten kicker, a 2x flop raise is unlikely to have sufficient equity against random dealer holdings. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable rivers or make a smaller river raise when improved.

My pair of sixes has a weak kicker and is frequently beaten by dealer holdings that make two pair, trips, or a higher pair. The 1x raise does not have sufficient showdown equity versus folding.

7-4 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker on a king-high, two-club board is not strong enough to commit a 2x play bet. Checking preserves the option to make a selective river decision.

Bottom pair is comfortably strong enough to continue at the river price, with many dealer holdings failing to pair the board or exceeding my pair.

9-8 offsuit is below the profitable preflop raise thresholds, so checking preserves the option to assess the flop.

With only a weak nine-high hand and a non-nut diamond draw on an ace-high paired-risk board, the 2x flop raise is too aggressive. Check to retain the option of evaluating the completed board at the river.

I hold a nine-high straight on this board. It beats most dealer holdings, with losses mainly to flushes or a ten-eight straight.

9-6 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so retaining flexibility for the flop is preferable.

This is a weak, unpaired holding with only marginal straight and backdoor flush potential. Checking preserves the option to fold or make a better-informed river decision.

The missed straight leaves only a weak high-card hand. Most dealer qualifying hands beat it, and the limited non-qualifying wins do not justify the river call.

7-4 offsuit is far below the profitable preflop raising range, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker on a king-high board is not strong enough to commit the 2x play bet now. Checking retains the option to fold unfavorable rivers or raise when the final board improves the hand.

Raise with a made pair of sevens. It beats many unpaired dealer holdings and lower pairs, making the one-times play wager favorable versus folding.

T7 suited is below the listed profitable preflop 4x range, so preserving the option to evaluate the flop is preferable.

With only ten-high on a paired flop and no immediate made hand, checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable rivers or make the smaller river raise when we improve.

The paired board already gives the dealer a qualifying two-pair hand; my cards do not improve it, so I can only tie or lose to any dealer improvement. Folding avoids an unprofitable river raise.

8-3 suited is too weak for an early raise and benefits from seeing the flop before committing further.

With only a weak pairless hand on a three-heart board and no strong made hand or draw, checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable rivers.

With only a jack-high board hand and an eight kicker, the dealer will usually have a pair or a better kicker. The river call is not profitable.

Ten-eight offsuit is below the published preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves flexibility to evaluate the flop.

Top pair with an open-ended straight draw is a strong flop holding with substantial showdown value and improvement potential, so I raise.

8♣9♦ offsuit is below the published preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

This weak unpaired holding has little immediate showdown value on an ace-king-queen board and only limited improvement prospects. Checking preserves the option to make an informed river decision.

We hold a king-high straight, a very strong made hand. Raise for value despite possible dealer Broadway straights.

7-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raise thresholds, so checking preserves the option to evaluate the flop.

With 7-high and no meaningful draw on this K-8-4 rainbow flop, checking preserves the option to fold or make a better-informed river decision.

With only seven-high on this disconnected board, the dealer will qualify and beat us far too often for a river raise to be profitable.

6♣8♦ offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising thresholds, so I will defer and evaluate on the flop.

With only a weak open-ended straight draw and no pair on a coordinated two-heart flop, checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable rivers rather than committing 2x now.

Raise: our queens with 9-8-6 kickers beat enough lower unpaired dealer holdings, and folding sacrifices both ante and blind.

Q9 offsuit is within the published optimal preflop 4x raising range (Q8o+).

Any ace is a premium preflop raise under the optimal 4x strategy; ace-seven offsuit qualifies.

Any ace is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Ace-high has sufficient equity and retains strong pair-making potential.

Ace-eight offsuit qualifies for the published optimal preflop 4x raising range (any ace). Raise for maximum value.

Any ace is a published optimal preflop 4x raise. A8 has sufficient high-card strength and pairing potential to commit now.

J5 suited is below the stated preflop 4x raising threshold and is better deferred for a flop decision rather than committing immediately.

J-high with a gutshot is too weak to commit a 2x raise on this coordinated, diamond-heavy flop. Checking preserves the option to make a value decision after the river.

Two pair, jacks and fours, is a strong river holding with substantial showdown value. Raising captures value against the dealer’s many weaker pairs and unpaired holdings.

J9 suited is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range, with strong straight and flush potential.

Q7 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold, so checking preserves flexibility for a board-dependent decision.

Top pair is strong enough against a random dealer holding to commit on the flop. Raising now captures value while avoiding unfavorable river cards.

8-high with a weak, disconnected offsuit kicker is well below the profitable preflop raising range. Check and reassess on the flop.

With only 8-high and no made pair or strong direct draw on this flop, checking preserves the option to make an informed river decision.

I have a pair of eights on an unpaired board, which beats many dealer holdings and is sufficiently strong to make the final 1x raise preferable to folding.

Any ace is a premium preflop raising hand under the optimal strategy; A4 suited also carries flush potential.

Ace-jack suited is a strong preflop holding and qualifies for the optimal 4x raise range.

Q9 offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range (Q8o+). Raise for value.

T8 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising thresholds, so checking preserves the option to make a board-informed flop or river decision.

With no made pair and only a gutshot straight draw, this hand is not strong enough to commit the 2x raise on the flop. Checking preserves the option to evaluate the completed board at the river.

Topological pair of tens with an eight kicker is likely ahead of most dealer holdings on this unpaired board, and raising captures value versus weaker board pairs and non-qualifying hands.