Hold'em table

Opening K9o from the button is standard in 3-max play to seize position and steal blinds.

Q6 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position against a button open, so folding is the highest-EV option.

Calling is worthwhile at the price from the big blind against a button open; 7-4 offsuit is too weak to raise, but the pot odds support defending.

I have no pair and only a remote runner-runner straight possibility, so I’ll take the free option and avoid inflating the pot.

Check back middle pair with a good kicker to control the pot size and protect our checking range on an ace-high board.

I have no made hand, but a six would complete my straight. Checking takes the free river card without risking chips on a weak draw.}

I have middle pair with a good kicker and good showdown value; checking back on the turn controls the pot and lets me see a river in position.

I have no showdown value, and the river heart completes a credible flush. A modest bluff may fold out some weak pairs after the flop and turn checked through.

Facing a half-pot river lead on a board with an Ace, Queen, and three hearts, our fourth pair of nines is a very weak bluff catcher without any heart blockers.

Three-handed on the button, 93s is a playable open with fold equity against the blinds. A small raise to 250 is better than limping a weak suited hand.

8-6 offsuit is weak and plays poorly out of position against the button's raise, with the big blind still to act. Fold rather than invest more chips.

92o is among the weakest starting hands and cannot profitably defend against a button open out of position.

QTs is a strong button hand three-handed, and raising lets me apply positional pressure while building the pot with a hand that plays well postflop.

A9s is strong enough to 3-bet for value and initiative out of the small blind against a button open in 3-max.

Q7s is too weak to continue against a small-blind 3-bet after a button open, and calling would leave me out of position with a dominated, speculative hand. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

QTs is a playable hand in position with good postflop potential, and the call price is reasonable against the small blind’s 3-bet. I’ll avoid inflating the pot with a 4-bet bluff.

Check to control the pot out of position with second pair top kicker on a wet board.

I have top pair and should get value while charging the many straight and flush draws on this connected board. A moderate bet keeps weaker pairs and draws in while protecting my hand.

We hold second pair with top kicker in a 3-bet pot getting over 3 to 1 pot odds; calling is standard to keep opponent's bluffs and weaker holdings in.

The board has four to a straight and three hearts, giving me weak showdown value with second pair and no flush draw, making checking optimal.

I have a modest pair with a gutshot, but the turn completes a dangerous three-heart, highly connected board. I’ll take the free river rather than build a pot against a range that can have strong made hands or draws.

The board has four to a straight and three hearts, giving us modest showdown value with second pair and no blockers to the nuts, making checking standard.

A pair of tens with a queen kicker has some showdown value, but the three-heart board and connected ranks make a river bluff risky. I’ll take the free showdown.

96o is too weak of an offsuit hand to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

Button folded, so this is heads-up versus the big blind. Q5 suited is worth a small raise for initiative rather than completing out of position.

J-8 offsuit is a marginal but playable big-blind defense against a small-blind open. Calling keeps weaker steals in and avoids building a large pot with a hand that plays poorly against a 3-bet call.

Queen-high with only a backdoor draw is too weak to c-bet out of position on a low, connected flop that favors the caller, so I check to pot-control.

Bet 300 into the 600-chip pot for value and protection with top pair and a strong kicker, while charging club draws and overcards.

Queen-high with no pair and no draw on a dry board; calling 300 into 900 is unprofitable against a flop bet.

69o is too weak to open even from the button in three-handed play; folding avoids putting chips in with a poorly connected offsuit hand.

K4 offsuit is marginal, but the button folded and the price to complete is small. Call and keep the pot controlled heads-up against the big blind.

Holding 87 offsuit in the big blind against a small blind limp, taking the free flop in position is the standard, high-EV play.

I have only king-high with a backdoor flush draw, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into a board that favors the big blind.

I have 8-high with minimal equity, so checking back to see a free turn card is standard.

With only king-high and little improvement potential, a turn bluff risks chips against an ace-heavy range. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize my showdown equity.

We picked up an open-ended straight draw on the turn and can take a free card to realize our equity in position.

I have king-high and can beat some weaker unpaired hands; a river bet is unlikely to fold out many better hands while risking chips against pairs.

I have a pair of sevens which has decent showdown value in an unraised pot checked down to the river, so checking behind to realize equity is preferred.

Holding 72s out of position in the small blind against the big blind, this hand is too weak to play profitably.