Hold'em table

With pocket aces on the button, open for value and build the pot while keeping worse hands in the blinds.

J6 offsuit is weak out of position against a button raise to 3bb with the big blind still to act behind me, so folding is the cleanest choice.

94 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3bb button raise, especially out of position. Folding avoids investing more with poor equity and limited playability.

4-9 offsuit is a weak hand, and calling out of position against two opponents from the button isn't profitable. Folding costs nothing.

KTs is a strong blind-versus-blind opening hand. Raising to 3 big blinds builds a pot with good equity and gives the big blind a less attractive price to continue while we are out of position.

Q4 suited is a reasonable big-blind defend heads-up against the small blind, and calling preserves its playability without inflating the pot with a weak three-bet.

Second pair with a strong kicker and backdoor draws has useful showdown value but limited value against hands that call a bet. Checking controls the pot out of position and keeps weaker hands in the opponent's range.

I have top pair on a two-club, somewhat connected flop, so a moderate bet gets value from weaker hands and charges draws while protecting my hand.

Middle pair with a strong kicker and backdoor heart and straight possibilities is strong enough to defend against this flop bet. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding an unnecessary raise into stronger hands.

My two pair is strong enough to continue, but the king also completes AJ and improves KQ. Checking to the flop aggressor keeps weaker hands and bluffs in their range without unnecessarily inflating the pot against better hands.

I have a vulnerable pair of queens with a weak kicker, and the king makes the board more dangerous after the flop call. Checking keeps the pot controlled and preserves showdown value.

Top two pair is strong enough for a river value bet after the turn checked through. This sizing can get calls from weaker kings and queen pairs while charging hands that would otherwise check behind.

Q4 is a weak bluff-catcher on a board where Kx and completed straights can value-bet. The small sizing offers tempting pot odds, but this line is value-heavy often enough that folding is preferable.

Pocket fours are a profitable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while preserving positional advantage if called.

3♣5♦ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling a button raise from the small blind leaves me out of position with the big blind still to act. Fold rather than invest more.

A5s in the big blind getting 400 into 150 (about 27% equity needed) against a button min-raise-ish open is a clear defend; calling keeps the pot manageable out of position, and a 3-bet is also reasonable but calling is simpler.

Top pair with the nut ace kicker on a Q-A-Q board, out of position heads-up against the button's wide raising range. A small bet of about half the pot gets value from Ax and Qx hands and charges draws and weaker pairs.

Pocket fours have little equity against an ace or queen and are vulnerable even against unpaired bluffs. Facing this sizable flop lead, calling is unlikely to be profitable with only two outs to improve against most value hands.

A6 suited is a strong button-opening hand three-handed. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to apply pressure while keeping the sizing modest.

K3 offsuit is weak out of position in the small blind facing a button open with the big blind still to act behind me; folding is the disciplined choice.

K6 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defense against a button open at this price, especially with no rake. Calling preserves value against a wide opening range without inflating the pot out of position.

With king-high and only weak backdoor draws, checking out of position to the preflop raiser is preferable. This paired, high-card flop favors the button's range and gives little incentive to lead.

With only ace-high and no meaningful draw, checking back keeps the pot small and gives me a chance to improve without investing into a board that connects with the caller’s range.

The flop checked through, and this turn gives me a king-high flush draw plus a gutshot. A roughly two-thirds-pot semibluff can fold out weak ace-high hands and small pairs while retaining useful equity when called.

With only ace-high and no meaningful draw, I have little equity against a turn bet on this paired, highly connected board. The small sizing is tempting, but a call needs too many bluffs to be profitable.

K9 suited is a solid hand three-handed on the button. A 3x raise takes the initiative and puts pressure on both blinds.

K3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3bb raise, with the big blind still to act. Poor playability and frequent domination make folding the best option.

A7 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button raise, and calling preserves the weaker hands in the raiser’s range without bloating the pot.

A-high has some showdown value, but this flop connects well with the raiser’s range and I have no meaningful draw. I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into that range.

Middle pair with a king kicker on a draw-heavy board, in position against a checking big blind. A bet of about 60% of the pot gets value from worse pairs and draws and denies equity.}

I have only ace-high on a coordinated flop and no meaningful draw. Calling a sizable bet would be unprofitable without a stronger read.

A9 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while preserving positional advantage and keeping weaker hands in their calling ranges.

K8 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act and poor position postflop.

J5 offsuit is weak; facing a button raise to 250 and needing 150 more to call, it plays poorly out of position, so I fold.