Hold'em table

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

3-handed, button opens wide; 98s from the SB plays poorly as a flat with the BB behind, so a 3-bet to 10bb as a semi-bluff with good playability puts pressure on a wide range.

K9 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large small-blind three-bet with the original raiser still to act. Folding avoids investing more with a frequently dominated hand.

AJo is strong enough to continue against a small-blind three-bet, and calling keeps weaker hands in while retaining position postflop.

Top pair with an open-ended straight draw on a wet, draw-heavy board. Betting about half pot keeps the 3-bet initiative, gets value from overpairs and draws, and protects my hand.

A-J high has no diamond or strong straight draw on this connected flop. Against a sizable bet from the preflop three-bettor, continuing is unlikely to be profitable.

43o is too weak to open from the button in 3-handed play with two players left to act, so I'll fold and avoid losing chips.

A6 offsuit is strong enough to open in a blind-versus-blind pot. Raising to 3 big blinds pressures the big blind’s weaker hands and builds value against a wide calling range.

Pocket aces are the strongest starting hand. A raise to 1,000 builds the pot while keeping weaker hands in.

A6 offsuit is too weak to continue profitably against this sizable three-bet out of position. Without evidence of excessive aggression, folding avoids costly dominated-ace situations.

92 suited is too weak for a standard button open at 100bb against two unknown blinds. Folding avoids investing in a hand with poor high-card strength and connectivity.

Pocket jacks are a strong heads-up hand. Raising to 350 builds the pot and puts pressure on the big blind.

In a blind-vs-blind spot facing a 3.5x SB open, A4s works well as a 3-bet bluff with blocker value and playability, and we'll be in position postflop. Calling is also fine, but a 3-bet to 10.5bb pressures the SB's wide range.

Pocket jacks are strong enough to continue against a blind-versus-blind three-bet. Calling keeps weaker hands in and avoids building a large pot out of position.

JJ has showdown value on this king-high flop, but betting into the preflop three-bettor risks building a pot against stronger hands. Checking keeps weaker hands and bluffs in.

As the 3-bettor I have range advantage on this K-high board, and the nut flush draw with an ace overcard and a backdoor wheel draw is a strong semi-bluff. A small c-bet of about a third of the pot puts pressure on the SB and keeps my equity when called.

JJ is strong enough to continue against a small flop bet, even with the king on board. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding a large pot against stronger hands.

With JJ on a paired king-high board, I have showdown value but am behind many hands that would continue against a bet. Checking controls the pot and lets me respond to the big blind's action.

The nut flush draw with an ace-high blocker makes a good semi-bluff barrel. It can fold out medium pairs and weaker Kx that would otherwise get to realize equity, and when called I still have about 9 outs to the nuts.

JJ is a strong bluff-catcher on this paired turn. The price is reasonable against a range that can include heart draws and other bluffs.

Jacks full is strong enough to value-bet all in. The opponent can call with flushes or a five; only a few holdings, chiefly pocket kings or pocket fives, beat us.

We hold the nut flush. Calling 5950 to win 20000 needs about 30% equity, and the opponent's range includes many lower flushes and bluffs alongside the few full houses that beat us.

On the button in a three-handed pot, a small open can win the blinds or let me play in position. The hand is weak, so I’ll keep the raise modest.

J7s from the small blind facing a 2.5x button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a marginal hand that plays poorly out of position, so folding is standard. Calling risks getting squeezed by the big blind.

Six-five offsuit realizes equity poorly out of position against a 2.5bb button raise. Its limited high-card and flush potential make folding preferable to defending at this price.

In 3-handed play, J8 offsitted on the button is a standard open; a 2.5bb raise applies pressure to both blinds.

62 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity and position.

A4 suited is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise. Calling keeps weaker hands in while avoiding a large out-of-position pot.

I have trips with the best kicker on a diamond-draw board. A small lead builds the pot while giving overpairs and draws room to call.

Against a small donk bet on a dry paired board, the price is good: I'm calling 200 into a 750 pot. Two overcards, a backdoor diamond draw and position make a call better than folding or raising.

Trip fours with an ace kicker are strong enough to value-bet against queens and single-diamond hands. A moderate bet limits exposure on the three-diamond board.

With four diamonds I have a flush draw (about 9 outs, roughly 20% to hit on the river). Calling 500 to win 1950 is about the right price, and implied odds make it profitable.

Trip fours with an ace kicker can get value from queens, nines, and weaker trips. A 900-chip bet leaves room to reassess if raised on the three-diamond board.

My diamond draw missed and jack-high can't beat a hand that has bet every street. Bluff-raising against a player who keeps leading is too risky, so I'm folding.

K9 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while preserving positional advantage if called.

8-3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

T9o in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open is getting 150 to win 400 (about 27% equity needed), and it plays well postflop, so calling is clearly profitable against a wide button range.

Open-ended straight draw (Q or 7) out of position against the preflop raiser; checking to the button is standard here, and we can check-raise or call a c-bet with good equity.

King-high has some showdown value, but no immediate straight or flush draw on this flop. Checking back preserves equity and avoids building the pot against the big blind's pairs.

The button checked back the flop, which caps their range, and we hold an open-ended straight draw (any 7 or Q). A semi-bluff stab of about 64% pot can take it down now and still has eight outs when called.

King-high has no direct draw and too little equity against a typical turn betting range to justify calling 350. With no strong blockers or draw, a bluff raise is also unattractive.