Hold'em table

Q8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

In a 3-handed game, A3o is well ahead of a wide button opening range. The ace blocker makes a 3-bet from the small blind better than flatting out of position with the big blind still to act.

6♠2♦ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling a large preflop reraise from the big blind would be unprofitable.

Q8 offsuit is too weak to continue against this large preflop three-bet.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open even from the button in 3-handed play against two blinds with 100bb stacks. Folding is standard.

A♠Q♣ is a strong hand heads-up against the big blind. Raise to 300 for value and to take initiative rather than limp.

The small blind can raise a wide range after the button folds. Calling 200 more with position gives this marginal hand a reasonable chance to realize its equity.

AQ-high has limited equity on this low, connected board that can favor the big blind's calling range. I’ll check and avoid building the pot without a pair or a strong draw.

Bottom pair has showdown value and a gutshot. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable and lets me see the turn for free.

I have top pair with the best kicker on a turn card that favors my preflop raise. A modest 300-chip bet can get value from weaker pairs and charge draws while keeping the pot manageable.

The small turn bet gives me a reasonable price with a pair, a gutshot straight draw, and some chance my hand is already ahead after the flop checked through.

I have top two pair with the best kicker and can get called by weaker queen-x hands. A modest river bet targets value without risking too much against a six or better two pair.

My pair of fives makes two pair with the board. The small river bet offers enough pot odds to call against missed draws and unpaired hands.

A3 suited is a strong button-opening hand three-handed. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to apply pressure while retaining position.

Q9 offsuit is marginal against a button raise, especially from the small blind with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a dominated hand out of position.

Getting 150 into a 400 pot (about 27% equity needed) against a wide button open in 3-handed play, 97o has enough playability to defend from the big blind. The small blind has folded, so we'll play heads-up.

Middle pair on an ace-high board out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me bluff-catch; leading would fold out worse hands and get called by aces.

A small continuation bet gets value from weaker pairs and denies equity to overcards while keeping the pot manageable with my weak kicker.

Middle pair against a small c-bet of 180 into 550 gets great odds (180 to win 730), and button c-bets this ace-high board with a wide range. Calling keeps their bluffs in, while raising would fold out worse hands and get called by better ones.

Bottom pair on an A-Q-9-5 board has showdown value but can't stand much pressure, and a bet is unlikely to fold out better hands. Checking to the button controls the pot, and I can call a small bet or fold to a large one.

I have top pair and can get value from weaker aces or 9x while charging draws. A modest turn bet keeps worse hands in and limits the cost if raised.

Third pair getting about 5-to-1 against a small turn bet. That's a cheap enough price to bluff-catch, and I have some outs to improve.

Two pair (nines and sevens) beats the one-pair Ax hands that fit villain's small bets on the flop and turn. A medium river lead of about 56% pot should get called by those hands.

Top pair has a weak kicker, but the price requires only about 27% equity. The river lead can include missed draws and weaker made hands, so calling is preferable to folding or raising.

K2 offsuit is a marginal but playable button open three-handed. A minimum raise keeps the risk low while using position.

88 is well ahead of a wide 3-handed button min-raise range. A 3-bet from the small blind wins the pot often and avoids playing a multiway pot out of position.

A2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open and a substantial small-blind 3-bet, especially with another player involved.

K2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large 3-bet, even with position.

T9s on the button in 3-handed play is a clear open-raise; a 2.5bb open builds the pot with a hand that plays well in position.

5♥2♥ is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

K9 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button raise to 250, but is not strong enough to reraise for value.

King-high has little value on this paired, coordinated flop. Checking preserves chips and lets me reassess if the button bets.

We have T9h on 6c7h7c: an open-ended straight draw (an 8 makes the straight) plus a backdoor heart draw, in position against a check. A small c-bet of about a third of the pot takes fold equity while building the pot with a strong draw.

The small flop bet offers a good price against a wide button betting range. King-high has some showdown value and can improve on later streets.

I have no made hand, and my single-club flush draw is weak. Checking avoids putting more chips in without seeing my opponent's turn action.

The ace of clubs is a strong scare card for my range, and the big blind checked after calling the flop, which suggests weakness. A half-pot semi-bluff with the gutshot can fold out 6x, weak 7s and underpairs while keeping four outs if called.

The 9-high flush draw has too little direct equity to call 500 into a 1,450-chip pot, and a club river could still leave me behind a higher flush.

J♣T♣ is a strong three-handed button hand with good playability, so I’ll open-raise for value and initiative.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

K2o defends profitably from the big blind against a wide button open, since we only need about 27% equity at these pot odds. Calling is better than 3-betting with this weak kicker.

Top two pair on a dry K-high board. The preflop raiser should c-bet this texture often, so I check to induce a bet and plan to check-raise for value.

A small continuation bet applies pressure on this dry, king-high board, where my preflop range has an advantage. I also have backdoor club and straight possibilities if called.

Top two pair on a dry K-5-2 board is well ahead of the button's small c-bet range, so I check-raise for value and protection, targeting worse kings and draws.

J-high has no made-hand value and only backdoor straight/flush possibilities. The check-raise requires too much equity to continue against a likely value-heavy range.