Hold'em table

Pocket queens are a premium opening hand on the button. Raising to 3bb builds value while retaining maneuverability against either blind.

Q5 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a 3x button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Facing a 3bb button open, A3o plays poorly out of position and has weak equity realization, making it a clear fold.

Pocket queens are a premium hand three-handed, so I open for value from the button.

Folding Q8o from the small blind facing a 3x open on the button as it is too weak to continue out of position.

Pocket threes are a profitable heads-up defense against a button 3x open, with strong implied odds when we flop a set. Calling keeps the opponent's wider opening range in.

With pocket threes on a paired king-high board, checking preserves showdown value and avoids building a pot against the preflop raiser.

Queens are often ahead on this dry paired flop. A small bet gets value from weaker pairs while keeping the pot controlled against kings.

The small continuation bet from the button can contain many unpaired broadways, and pocket threes retain some showdown value plus two outs to improve. Calling is preferable to inflating the pot with a bluff raise.

With a small pair on a paired king board, checking preserves showdown value and avoids being forced to fold versus a stronger made hand. I can still improve to trips or a diamond flush on the river.

Queens are likely ahead of an eight or a smaller pocket pair, which may call a modest turn bet. Betting also charges overcards and draws while keeping the pot manageable.

Our pocket threes can still be ahead of missed overcards and some draws, while the price is reasonable against a single small turn barrel. Calling preserves value and lets us reassess the river.

Our low flush is vulnerable to every higher diamond, while a river bet is unlikely to be called by worse often enough after the third diamond arrives. Checking preserves showdown value and avoids value-owning ourselves.

QQ is likely ahead of many 8x and smaller pocket pairs that called the earlier small bets. A small river bet seeks value from those hands while limiting losses when the king or completed flush is out there.

The river price is very favorable relative to the pot, and this line can contain enough missed overcards or thin bluffs to justify bluff-catching with pocket threes.

K4o is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

Closing the action heads-up with 8-6 suited gets an excellent price from the small blind and retains playable equity.

T9 offsuit plays reasonably against a small-blind limp, but raising would build a larger pot out of position. I’ll see the flop for free.

Check back with a gutshot straight draw and limited immediate showdown value on this coordinated board.

Bottom pair and a gutshot have some showdown value, but betting this coordinated flop would often get called by better hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable in position.

A small turn stab can fold out unpaired overcards and weak holdings after the checked flop. My hand retains some river straight potential if called.

Bottom two pair is often ahead of a small turn bet. Raising gets value from one-pair hands and charges straight and flush draws.

I have a king-high straight and am getting a reasonable price versus possible draws, two-pair hands, and lower-value raises. Raising would mostly isolate me against a queen for a higher straight.

With no made hand beyond the board, checking preserves our chance to chop against missed draws and avoids bluffing into a range strengthened by the turn raise.

The river makes any queen a straight, and many better two-pair hands are possible. Checking takes the free showdown with my tens and nines.

Q4 offsuit is too weak to open from the button at this stack depth, especially against two blinds. Folding preserves chips for stronger opportunities.

87 offsuit is playable against the big blind, but I’d rather keep the pot small while out of position.

I hold J2o in the big blind facing a limp from the small blind; checking to see a free flop is standard.

I have no pair or immediate straight or flush draw on this flop, so I’ll check rather than build the pot.

I have second pair with a weak kicker on an Ace-high board; checking behind keeps the pot small and realizes equity in position.

After the flop checked through, a modest turn bet can win the pot from unpaired hands. Eight-high has little showdown value, so checking is less appealing.

In a limped blind-versus-blind pot after the flop checked through, second pair with an Ace on board has sufficient equity against delayed bluffs and stabs to call a turn bet getting favorable pot odds.

The river improves several hands that could have called the turn, and my weak turn bet gives a bluff little credibility. Checking avoids risking more chips with a hand that can sometimes tie at showdown.

I have a modest two pair with Jacks and Sixes with an Ace kicker. A bet is unlikely to be called by worse hands on this board, so checking behind to realize showdown value is the best play.

Five-deuce suited is too weak to open profitably from the button against two unknown blinds.

K4o plays poorly out of position against the big blind, so folding is the disciplined play.

Holding 2h 4d offsuit on the button is a clear fold preflop due to poor equity and playability.

T3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against the big blind, especially out of position.