Hold'em table

On the button, K2 offsuit is playable as a steal in a three-handed, rake-free game. A 2.5-big-blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

6-high offsuit is too weak to defend profitably from the small blind against a 2.5bb open with the big blind still behind.

82o is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5x button open, even at 150 to win 400; it realizes equity poorly.

J6 offsuit is a weak button opening hand in this format and can be folded to avoid dominated postflop spots.

Blind vs blind after a button fold, Q4o is in a standard small-blind opening range. Raising to 3bb applies pressure and takes the initiative rather than limping out of position.

The button folded, leaving us heads-up against the small blind. Calling 200 with position and 400 already in the pot is preferable to folding this marginal hand.

The ace-high board favors my preflop-raising range over the big blind's calling range, so a small one-third-pot c-bet should win often. Q-high has little showdown value, and I have a backdoor club draw.

I have only a gutshot and weak overcard possibilities against a preflop raiser betting an ace-high flop. Calling is unlikely to be profitable.

Three-handed on the button, 96o sits near the bottom of a wide stealing range. A small open to 2.5bb applies pressure on the blinds.

T7 suited is a marginal defend against a button raise. From the small blind, I would be out of position with the big blind still to act.

T5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button open from the big blind, especially out of position.

6-2 offsuit is too weak to profitably open on the button against two players.

QTs suited is a strong heads-up blind-versus-blind holding with good playability. Raising applies pressure and builds value against the big blind's wide range.

In a blind-vs-blind spot, K9o is well ahead of a wide small-blind opening range. Calling 200 to win a 600 pot while holding position is a profitable defend..

A small continuation bet leverages our preflop range advantage on this ace-high board while risking little with two overcards and some backdoor potential.

Getting 5:1 against a small c-bet, king-high with a backdoor spade flush draw has enough equity and showdown value to continue.

With no spade and only a gutshot to a vulnerable straight, checking controls the pot on this four-spade board. A bet is unlikely to get enough better hands to fold.

The opponent checked the turn after the third spade came, which suggests weakness. A semi-bluff with my 9-high flush draw represents the flush, can fold out weak Ax and pairs, and still has outs when called.

Fold Q-high with no spade facing a substantial turn bet on a four-flush board; we have no credible made hand or useful draw.

T5 offsuit is a weak button opening hand in this configuration, and folding avoids playing a dominated, low-equity pot.

Blind vs blind, 54o is a reasonable raise from the SB against a single opponent, and pot odds also favor playing on. Raising to 3bb takes initiative and can win the pot preflop.

K6 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise, especially with position after the flop.

This Q-high dry-ish board favors my preflop raising range, and my gutshot to a straight gives me backup equity, so a small one-third-pot c-bet works well. Folds win the pot immediately, and when called I can still improve.

The small flop bet gives a favorable price. In position, king-high can still improve or be ahead of some bluffs.

The turn gave me an open-ended straight draw (an A or 6 completes it), so I'm continuing as a semi-bluff. The bet adds fold equity against the opponent's weaker flop calls and builds a pot for when I hit.

King-high with no meaningful draw is too weak to call a second barrel on this turn.

In 3-handed play the button can open wide, and 75o is at the edge of a button opening range, so I'll steal with a small raise to 2.5bb. Folding is also fine, but stealing the blinds has positive expectation here.

A3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Defend the big blind getting favorable pot odds with suited 9-high against a button min-raise.

I have a made straight on this coordinated low board and can profitably let the preflop raiser continuation-bet. Checking keeps their bluffs and weaker made hands in.

Open-ended straight draw (any A or 6 makes a straight) plus a 7 overcard on a low board that favors the preflop raiser. A half-pot semi-bluff c-bet can win the pot now and has plenty of equity when called.

I have a made straight on this low connected board and should raise for value against overpairs, sets, two pair, and draws. The raise also charges hands with equity.

The open-ended straight draw has about 8 outs (sixes and aces) plus backdoor equity. I need roughly 27% equity to call, and deep stacks give good implied odds, so calling beats folding or a thin semi-bluff raise.

I have a made six-high straight on this connected board. A substantial value bet targets sets, two-pair holdings, and pair-plus-draw hands while charging any shared straight draws.

We hold 5-7 for a 7-high straight, which is the nut straight on 4-3-2-6, so we should build the pot. Raising to 4500 gets value from 5x hands, sets and two pair, and sets up a river shove.

We have a made five-high straight and should continue against sets, two pair, and lower-value turn aggression. Calling controls the pot versus the specific 5-7 holding that has us beat while retaining strong showdown value.

Our six-high straight has showdown value, but the turn raise suggests villain frequently has the same straight or a higher straight. Checking avoids value-owning ourselves while realizing equity.

With 5-7 on this board I have a 7-high straight, which is the nuts since no flush or full house is possible. Going all-in gets maximum value from any 5 or strong made hand.

I have a made six-high straight; many opposing fives chop while lower made hands can still value-jam and lose. The pot odds make calling preferable despite the risk of a seven-high straight.