Hold'em table

K4o is a weak hand, especially first to act preflop in a 3-handed game. Folding avoids risking chips with a marginal holding.

ATo is a strong hand blind vs blind after a button fold; raising to 3x for value and initiative is standard.

Pocket nines are well ahead of a small-blind opening range after the button folded, so I re-raise for value while in position postflop.

In a blind-vs-blind spot the big blind's 3-bet range is wide. ATo has enough equity against it to call 600 into an 1800 pot, even out of position.

Out of position with ace-high on a low, connected board that favors the 3-bettor's overpairs. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me decide against a c-bet with my overcards and backdoor equity.

Overpair 99 on a low 6-5-2 rainbow flop after 3-betting preflop; bet half pot for value and protection against overcards and straight draws.

Getting 3.25:1 against a half-pot c-bet from a wide 3-handed 3-bet range. Ace-high plus overcard outs has enough equity to defend, so calling is better than folding or raising.

Ace-high with no real draw on a coordinated board after the 3-bettor bet the flop; check and give up to significant aggression.

With pocket nines as an overpair on a draw-heavy 5-2-6-7 two-spade board, betting half pot charges flush and straight draws and gets value from 88 and pair hands while keeping the pot manageable.

Ace-high with no real draw facing continued 3-bettor aggression on a low connected board; roughly 6 shaky outs don't justify calling at 25% pot odds.

Q6o on the button in 3-handed play sits at the edge of a standard opening range. A small raise to 2.5bb applies fold equity against both blinds.

T7 suited has enough equity against a wide button open getting 2-to-1, and with no rake calling to see a flop is preferable to folding or bloating the pot out of position.

Closing the preflop action with 4:1 pot odds makes Q8o a reasonable defend from the big blind, and I want to see a flop cheaply rather than bloat the pot out of position.

With ten-high, no pair or real draw on a J-Q-2 board in a three-way pot, checking preserves chips and avoids bluffing into two opponents.

We have top pair with a weak kicker out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking controls the pot, avoids building a large pot with a marginal hand, and allows us to see the button's action before committing more chips.

Both opponents checked to us and we hold top pair on a wet board. A bet of about half the pot gets value from weaker Jx, Qx and draws while charging the flush and straight draws.

With 7hTh on JcQs2c I have only T-J-Q toward a straight, needing two running cards, so equity is far below the 400-chip call price out of position with a player behind.

We have top pair with a weak kicker. Calling is prudent to see the turn and keep the pot small, as we are out of position against the preflop raiser who could have a better queen.

I have top pair with a weak kicker, out of position. Checking controls the pot and avoids building a large pot with a marginal hand.

Top pair with a weak kicker on a draw-heavy board. A small bet gets value from Jx and draws while denying equity, and keeps the pot manageable if I face a check-raise.

We have top pair with a weak kicker, but the opponent could be betting a draw. Pot odds are favorable, so calling to evaluate river.

Our pair of queens with weak kicker is vulnerable on a board with straight possibilities; checking controls the pot and avoids value-owning ourselves against better hands.

Queens with a weak kicker on a board where the K improves many calling hands. A bet would mostly get called by better hands and fold out missed draws, so checking to show down is better.

J9 suited on the button in a 3-handed game is a strong opening hand; raising applies pressure to the blinds and builds a pot in position.

A6o is too weak to play out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

Getting about 3.7:1 from the big blind against a wide 3-handed button open, 96o is a profitable defend, though not strong enough to 3-bet.

I have 9-high with no draw on an A-Q-4 two-club board, which strongly favors the button's raising range. Checking out of position is best, and I'll likely give up to a bet.

As the preflop raiser in position on an Ace-Queen high flop, a small continuation bet represents Ace/Queen hands and can fold many of the big blind's weaker calls, while my Jack-nine has backdoor straight and flush potential if called.

With 9-high and no pair or real draw on an A-Q two-tone board, facing a c-bet, my equity is too low to continue even at the good price of 200 into 750.

J3s is too weak to play from the button without reads; folding preserves stack for better opportunities.

In a blind-vs-blind spot after the button folds, J8 suited is well ahead of the big blind's defending range. Raising to 3bb is a standard value/steal play.

T5 offsuit is too weak to defend the big blind against a 3x small-blind raise; its pair and draw potential realize poorly despite the price.

T8o on the button 3-handed is a standard opening hand, so I'll raise to 2.5bb to steal the blinds and play in position. (Chat is off, so no table message.)

9-5 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind out of position.

Holding 72o, the weakest possible starting hand, with no antes, I have no incentive to defend my big blind against a button raise. Folding is the clear optimal play.

KTo on the button in 3-handed play is a strong open; raising to 2.5bb applies pressure to the blinds and builds value.

94s is too weak to call or raise out of position against a button open, even three-handed; folding preserves stack for better spots.

83o is among the weakest offsuit hands and plays poorly out of position against a button open, even with 27% pot odds; folding is the standard play.