Hold'em table

6c4h offsuit is very weak even on the button; folding is the cheapest and safest option.

QJo is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind and take the initiative.

97 suited is a profitable big-blind defense against a small-blind open, with position postflop and good straight and flush potential. Calling preserves those advantages without inflating the pot with a marginal hand.

Top pair with a decent kicker is strong enough to value bet, and the diamond draw makes a half-pot bet useful for charging draws.

Middle pair is strong enough to continue in position against a half-pot continuation bet from a wide small-blind opening range. Calling requires 25% equity and preserves the opponent’s bluffs without inflating the pot against stronger hands.

Top pair with an open-ended straight draw can get value from weaker pairs and draws. A 750-chip bet also makes flush draws pay to continue.

Third pair with a weak kicker and no meaningful draw is a poor continuation against this turn barrel. The ten improves many opposing hands, and our limited improvement chances do not justify calling 750.

A9 offsuit is a strong button open three-handed. A raise to 250 puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A4 offsuit has poor equity realization out of position and is vulnerable to stronger aces. With the big blind still to act, folding is preferable to calling or making a speculative three-bet.

T7 offsuit is a marginal button open with weak playability and frequent domination. Without evidence that the blinds overfold, I prefer folding to investing in a low-equity steal.

K5s heads-up against the BB is playable; a small raise applies pressure and can win the pot or build with position.

Against a small-blind open, 65 offsuit has enough playability to defend the big blind for 200 chips.

I have the Kh flush draw plus overcard outs on a very wet board; betting as a semi-bluff builds the pot and can fold out weaker hands, and I retain fold equity heads-up.

I have an open-ended straight draw and position against a small flop bet. Calling keeps the pot manageable while I look for a 4 or 9.

I have a flush draw plus a straight draw (any 9) heads-up on a checked-through turn; betting builds a pot I can value on rivers and often takes it down now.

Only a river four gives me a straight that isn't already on the board. That draw is too weak to call 700 into a 2,000-chip pot.

Queen-Jack suited on the button is a strong position hand; a small raise builds the pot and can take it down preflop.

Six-five suited can profitably see a flop against a button raise, especially with no rake. Calling keeps the pot manageable from the small blind.

Nine-three offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3bb raise and a caller. Its poor equity realization in a multiway pot makes folding preferable to calling or squeezing.

I have an open-ended straight flush draw against the preflop raiser. Checking lets them continuation-bet, giving me the option to raise or call.

Top pair queens with a decent kicker on a dry board; betting for value and protection against draws, and seat_2's check suggests weakness.

An open-ended straight flush draw has strong equity against a made hand. Raising also puts pressure on a continuation bet that may have missed the flop.

I hold top pair with a decent kicker on Qc-7d-4c; folding is too weak and raising is risky against a check-raise, so I call one street and reassess on the turn.

I have a strong straight-and-flush draw, but the ace favors the preflop raiser's range. Checking lets me see their turn action without inflating the pot out of position.

I hold top pair with the queen on AQ47; seat_2's flop check-raise then turn check suggests a draw or weaker queen, so I bet for value while protecting.

My open-ended straight draw and flush draw give me enough potential river outs to call at this price. Raising risks committing my stack against a strong hand.

The river completes my flush. A modest value bet can get called by aces, two pair, or sets while avoiding an unnecessarily large bet with a low flush.

I hold only a pair of queens with no club on a three-club board; villain's line (check-raise flop, call turn, river bet) represents a flush or strong ace far too often. Calling 2600 to win with second pair is a losing proposition.

K6 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

AJs is a strong value three-bet against a button opening range. Raising to 1100 from the small blind discourages the big blind from entering and compensates for playing out of position.

85o is dominated and facing a raise-and-reraise with 1000 more to call; folding is clear.

K6 offsuit is too weak to continue against this large three-bet, even in position.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to open profitably by default, even on the button. With no chips invested and no evidence the blinds overfold, folding is preferable to calling or raising.

A4s is a strong heads-up hand against only the BB; raising for value and fold equity.

AQ offsuit is strong against a small-blind open. I can three-bet for value and play the rest of the hand in position.

A4s is too weak to continue against a 3-bet out of position with a capped range; folding saves 700 chips.