Hold'em table

Pocket queens are a premium hand on the button, so I open-raise to 3x the big blind to build the pot and take the initiative.

A7o is too weak to flat or 3-bet profitably out of position against a 3bb button open with the big blind still to act.

A2 offsuit is weak, but the big blind is getting a reasonable price heads-up against a button raise, so calling is preferable to folding or inflating the pot with a three-bet.

With only ace-high and weak backdoor draws, checking is preferable to building a pot; I can respond to the button’s action.

Pocket queens are well ahead on this dry flop, so a small value bet builds the pot and charges diamond draws after the check.

I have a strong diamond flush draw and need about 24% equity to call, so continuing is worthwhile. Calling keeps weaker bluffs in and avoids inflating the pot out of position.

I have only ace-high with little realistic improvement potential on the river, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the preflop raiser.

I have top set of queens on a dry board and the opponent checked the turn, so I bet about three-quarters pot for value while charging any diamond draws.

I have only ace-high with no meaningful river draw, and calling 900 requires too much equity against this turn bet.

J8o is slightly too weak to open from the button even in 3-handed play, so folding is standard.

With the button folded, the price is favorable for completing the small blind heads-up; 9-high has enough equity to see a flop, though it is not strong enough to raise.

Button folded and the small blind limped, so I raise J8s from the big blind to take the initiative in position and build the pot with a suited hand.

9♦5♥ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling the raise would leave me out of position with poor equity.

Q4 offsuit is a weak opening hand, and folding avoids investing chips out of position against both blinds postflop.

Button folded, so this is heads-up versus the big blind with ace-five suited. A small raise builds the pot and applies pressure rather than just completing.

Fold T5o facing a 3x raise from the small blind as it is too weak to defend profitably.

Q4 offsuit is too weak to open or limp from the button, even three-handed. Folding avoids putting chips in with a dominated, poorly connected hand.

In a blind-vs-blind situation after the button folds, pocket fives is well ahead of a random hand; raising to 3bb builds value and applies preflop pressure.

8♠2♣ is far too weak to defend against a 3x raise, even with the big blind discount.

Opening pocket fours from the button in 3-handed play is standard for value and positional advantage.

Q5 suited has enough equity against a likely wide button opening range to continue at this price, though I avoid a costly out-of-position 3-bet.

J5o is too weak to continue multiway against a button raise and a small-blind call, so folding is the best option.

I have no made hand on a king-high flop, so I’ll check rather than build the pot with queen-high and only backdoor flush potential.

I hold an underpair with a gutshot straight draw on a board with an overcard. Checking behind controls the pot and allows me to see a turn card in position.

With only queen-high and a gutshot to a straight, betting is unlikely to get called by worse hands. I’ll take the free river card.

We have a pair of fours with a gutshot straight draw; checking back controls the pot and realizes our equity in position.

With only queen-high, I have some showdown value against missed lower broadways. The river king also favors the preflop raiser, so a bluff lead is unlikely to be worthwhile.

I have modest showdown value with two pair, Kings and Fours. Betting will fold out worse hands and only get called by better, so checking back is the highest EV line.

9♦6♥ is a weak offsuit hand on the button, and calling risks entering the pot with poor playability. Fold rather than open with it.

Button folded, so this is heads-up versus the big blind with ace-high. A small raise takes the initiative and builds the pot rather than completing weakly.

76 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3bb raise from the small blind.