Hold'em table

74o is too weak to call or raise from the button in a three-handed pot, so folding preserves chips.

J3 suited has enough equity to complete against the big blind at this price, though it is not strong enough to raise out of position.

I have Q2o in the big blind facing a limp from the small blind; checking to see a free flop in position is standard.

I have only jack-high with little useful draw potential, so betting risks chips against the big blind's ace-x and other made hands. I’ll take the free turn card.

I have Queen-high with minimal equity and backdoor potential; checking behind to see a free turn is standard.

I have only a gutshot to Broadway and no pair, so I’ll take the free river rather than bluff into the big blind after the flop checked through.

Turned second pair with a weak kicker in a limped pot. Checking behind to control the pot size and realize showdown value.

I have some showdown value from my jack kicker, but betting is unlikely to get called by enough worse hands to be worthwhile.

I have two pair, Queens and Tens with an Ace kicker on board. Checking back realizes showdown value since worse hands will rarely call a bet.

T8 offsuit is a reasonable button open heads-up against the blinds; a modest raise applies pressure while keeping the risk controlled.

Q8o is too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a button raise.

42o is one of the worst hands and has no equity worth defending against a button open, so folding the extra 150 is clear.

86 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

Button folded, so this is blind versus blind. 96s is suited and connected enough to raise as a steal rather than limp out of position; 300 is a standard size.

Pocket fives have enough value to defend against a small-blind raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable with a likely postflop disadvantage out of position.

I have a pair of nines on a paired flop and lead small for value and protection against the big blind's calling range.

My pocket pair is below the board’s 9 but can still be ahead of many continuation bets, and the 200-chip call offers favorable pot odds.

I have only a pair of nines on a paired board with a jack overcard, so checking controls the pot and avoids betting into a range that often has me beat.

My pocket fives have some showdown value, but the jack is an unfavorable turn and betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. I’ll take the free card and keep the pot small.

I have nines and fours, which can win at showdown, but many hands that call a river bet (jacks, kings, trips) beat me. Checking realizes my equity without value-owning myself.

I have a small showdown-value pair, and the river king makes a bluff unlikely to fold better pairs. I’ll check back and try to beat missed draws or lower pocket pairs.

73 suited is too weak to open or limp from the button for value, so folding avoids a dominated spot out of position postflop if called.

The button has folded, and completing costs only 50 into a 150-chip pot. T4 offsuit is weak, but the price is favorable heads-up against the big blind.

Holding AQo in position after the small blind limped gives me a strong range advantage, so I raise for value.

T4 offsuit is too weak to continue against a substantial big-blind raise, even with the price offered.

Raise for value with pocket kings from the button; 300 chips is a strong open size while keeping weaker hands in the pot.

42o is completely unplayable out of position facing a button open raise. Easy fold.

QTo has enough equity against a button open to continue, and calling 200 into 450 keeps the pot manageable out of position rather than bloating it with a light 3-bet.

Queen-high with no pair or draw on a low connected flop has little showdown value, so I take the free card rather than bluff into the preflop raiser.

Bet 350 into 650 for value and protection with an overpair on a highly connected board, charging pairs and draws while keeping worse hands in.

QT has no pair and no draw on 654, so calling a flop bet is unprofitable against a button c-bet range.

Opening from the button with K8o to steal the blinds and take positional advantage.

KTo is too strong to fold to a small button open in three-handed play, but calling out of position is unattractive. A 3-bet to 700 pressures a wide range and lets me take the initiative.

KJo is dominated too often by a large three-bet from the small blind, and calling out of position risks playing a bloated pot against both opponents.

K8o is too weak to continue against a 3-bet from the small blind.