Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed pot, 7-6 offsuit is playable as a small open-raise, using position to offset its modest strength.

A7o has enough equity against a button open to defend, and calling keeps the pot manageable while we are out of position. Folding is too tight in a 3-handed game.

Getting attractive pot odds (150 to call into 600) and closing the action preflop with an Ace-high hand warrants a call.

With ace-high on a paired king-high flop and no flush draw, checking as the small blind keeps the pot controlled and avoids building a large pot out of position against two preflop callers.

I have Ace-high with the Ah on a paired board out of position against the preflop aggressor, making a check the standard play.

With a weak six on a paired board against two opponents, I prefer to keep the pot small and preserve showdown value.

With ace-high and no strong draw on a paired board, checking keeps the pot small and avoids getting raised by a king or made pair in a multiway pot.

With Ace-high and showdown value multiway, checking keeps the pot small and lets us realize equity safely.

After both opponents checked twice, a small turn bet can get value from draws and weaker pairs while protecting my kings-and-sixes against overcards.

My As7c has only ace-high on a paired board and no real draw. Facing a turn raise after checking flop, I am likely behind to a king or a pair, and calling out of position would require hitting a thin out while still losing to trips.

Holding only ace-high with no draw out of position, facing a delayed turn bet after checking twice.

J4o is too weak to complete or raise from the small blind out of position.

86 offsuit is too weak to open profitably even from the button in a 3-handed game.

Calling 50 more keeps the pot small with a weak hand that still has enough equity against a random big-blind hand.

With J5o in the big blind and no call required, checking is best to see a free flop rather than bloating the pot with a weak hand.

Bottom pair and a gutshot have good equity against a wide big-blind range. A small bet gets value from draws and overcards while denying them a free card.

Getting 340-to-140, bottom pair has enough equity against a small blind flop lead on a draw-heavy board; call and reassess on the turn.

My weak pair and gutshot have some showdown value, but the third club and connected board make a bet unlikely to get called by worse hands.

I have a marginal pair on a coordinated board with flush and straight possibilities. Checking behind controls the pot and avoids getting raised by stronger hands.

My pair of fives has some showdown value, but the connected, three-club board makes a value bet unlikely to be called by worse. Checking avoids inflating the pot.

I have a marginal pair of fives on a coordinated board with a possible flush, and the opponent checked the river after checking the turn. Checking behind realizes my showdown value without risking chips against stronger hands.

KQs is a strong button opening hand in three-handed play, so I raise for value and position.

K2o is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still left to act behind me.

Q5o is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5bb open.

Calling with a small pair on the button to set-mine cheaply and use position postflop.

Holding T6 offsuit in the small blind against a button limp, the hand is too weak to complete out of position.

QTo is strong enough to raise against a button limp, and the folded small blind adds dead money to the pot.

Pocket threes have good implied odds for set mining in position, and calling 350 closes the preflop action with a deep stack. Raising would risk too much with a small pair against the big blind's raise.

Top pair is likely ahead of a button limp-calling range. Betting for value also charges heart draws and other hands with equity.

My pair of threes is a weak underpair on a Q-high flop, and seat_1 has shown strength by raising preflop and betting the flop. Folding avoids chasing a likely dominated hand with poor equity.

42o is far too weak to open raise or play preflop, even from the button. Folding is standard.

With the button folded, completing for 50 chips gives me favorable pot odds against the big blind. I can reassess this weak hand after the flop.

With Q7o in the big blind and no call required, checking keeps the pot small and avoids bloating with a marginal offsuit hand against a limping small blind.

I have a weak bottom pair and a low flush draw on a board that favors many stronger hands. Checking keeps the pot small while preserving the chance to improve.

With Q-high and no spade on a flushing ace-high flop, checking behind is best to control the pot and avoid bluffing into a limped range that can continue.

Bottom pair on a three-spade board is too weak to value bet, and checking keeps the pot small.

I have only queen-high with no pair or strong draw, and the opponent has checked through every street. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids risking chips with a weak hand.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by worse hands or fold out better ones.

With Q-high and no showdown value on a checked-down board, a small river bet can fold out better unpaired hands and occasionally win the pot outright.

The small river bet gives me a good price to bluff-catch with a pair of threes. After both players checked the flop and turn, the big blind can still have enough missed hands for a call to be worthwhile.