Hold'em table

On the button 3-handed, 54s is a standard open. A 2.5x raise steals the blinds often and plays well in position when called.

K2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

J♦8♦ is a reasonable defend from the big blind against a button raise, and the price is favorable. I’ll call rather than inflate the pot with a marginal hand.

With J-high on a paired flop and no immediate draw, checking preserves the option to continue cheaply without inflating the pot.

A dry paired board favors the preflop raiser, so a small c-bet with a backdoor-equity hand makes sense heads-up against the big blind's check. It should take down the pot often.

J-high has no pair or meaningful draw on this paired, rainbow flop. Facing a bet, continuing would be unprofitable.

A9 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed, so I raise to build the pot and put pressure on the blinds.

T♠2♥ is a very weak offsuit hand from the small blind, and calling 200 more out of position against a button raise is unprofitable.

J9o in the big blind against a button 2.5x open, with the small blind folded, gets good pot odds: 150 to win 400. This is a standard defend, and calling beats 3-betting with this hand.

Middle pair with a gutshot (8 makes a straight) out of position against the button's raising range on a board that favors the raiser; checking to the aggressor and continuing against reasonable bets is standard.

Ace-high has some showdown value and a backdoor flush draw, but this board connects well with the big blind's calling range. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable and lets me realize my equity.

The button checked back the flop, which caps their range, so my second pair of jacks is likely ahead. A roughly half-pot bet gets value from weaker jacks, pocket pairs and draws, and charges overcards.

Ace-high has no meaningful draw on this paired board, and the turn lead makes calling 300 unlikely to be profitable.

J9 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game; raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

Q5o from the small blind against a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is too weak to call or 3-bet profitably.

6-4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5 big blind open.

K8o is a standard button open in 3-handed play, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds.

4♦2♦ is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Calling is profitable with a small pair: the price is reasonable, and the deep stacks give strong implied odds when I hit a set.

With a small underpair on a queen-high flop, I have little value in building the pot and can take a free card.

As the preflop raiser in position on a Q-high dry board, I have a king overcard and a gutshot (J-10 makes K-Q-J-10-9). A small c-bet folds out many BB hands and keeps equity when called.1

The flop is unfavorable for pocket threes, and calling the bet would usually leave me drawing to only two outs against a queen, nine, or overpair. I fold rather than pay for a weak draw.

K7 suited is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

A♦8♦ is a solid suited hand with good playability and favorable pot odds against the button’s small raise. Calling keeps weaker hands in the pot without building a large out-of-position pot while the big blind is still to act.

QJo in the big blind facing a button open to 2.5bb and a small blind flat, I am getting 150 into 750, 5:1. That is an easy call; a squeeze with QJo is too loose against two ranges.

With no club and only weak backdoor potential on a three-way monotone flop, betting is unlikely to get enough better hands to fold. Check and take the free card.

Top pair with no club on a monotone board in a three-way pot plays best as a check-call. The preflop raiser acts behind me and is likely to c-bet, while leading would mostly fold out worse hands and get raised by flushes.

On a monotone flop against two callers, king-high with no club has little equity or fold equity. I’ll check in position rather than build the pot.

I have no made hand on a coordinated three-club board, and a multiway turn bluff is unlikely to be profitable. Check and take the free river with my overcard and gutshot potential.

Top pair with an open-ended straight draw after the flop checked through; bet for value and protection against club and straight draws, keeping the size moderate in case someone holds a flush.) ended draw adds equity if raised.)

A gutshot and one overcard are not enough to call the turn bet on a three-club board, and I have no club blocker for a bluff raise.

With only ace-high and a gutshot, I have too little equity to call 500 into the pot. The three-club board also makes my outs and overcard especially unreliable.

A-7 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. Raise to 250 to apply pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Small pocket pair in the small blind facing a 2.5bb button open with 100bb deep stacks. Calling for 200 into 400 gives a good price to set-mine, and 3-betting 44 out of position isn't necessary.

A6 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind for 150 chips into a 600-chip pot. Calling keeps the pot manageable against two opponents.

Small pocket pair on a K-J high board in a three-way pot, first to act out of position. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me fold cheaply to aggression unless I hit a set.

Ace-high has little equity on this K-J flop against two opponents, and I can see the next action for free.

With the action checked to me, a small 250-chip stab can win the pot now and gives my ace-high hand some fold equity while retaining backdoor straight and flush possibilities.

The 44 underpair is facing two overcards on a K-J-3 two-tone board in a multiway pot, and I'm out of position with a player still to act behind me. My equity and ability to realize it are too poor to continue, even at a good price.

Ace-high with no flush draw has little equity on this board, and calling out of position leaves few good turn cards.