Hold'em table

9h4s is too weak to continue from the button against a small blind and big blind, even with a discounted call. Folding avoids playing a dominated, low-equity hand out of position postflop.

With the button folded, 9-7 offsuit is playable heads-up for just 50 more chips. Completing keeps the pot small with a modest hand.

With JTs in position against a small blind limp, raising to 400 isolates with a premium suited connector and leverages post-flop positional advantage.

9-7 offsuit is too weak to call a 4x big-blind raise from the small blind, especially when I’ll be out of position after the flop.

On the button in a three-handed game, 8-7 offsuit is playable as an opening raise. Raising to 250 gives me a chance to win the blinds or play in position.

J6o is a weak offsuit holding that plays poorly out of position against a button open.

Closing the action with T7s for 150 into 400; the button's range is wide in 3-handed, and this suited hand has enough equity and playability to defend.

Middle pair on a monotone flop out of position; checking controls the pot and lets me evaluate the button's action before committing more chips.

Top pair benefits from a small value and protection bet against overcards and single-heart hands. Position lets me control the pot on later streets.

Pot odds are good (200 into 750) and I have middle pair, but the monotone board is dangerous. I'll call and re-evaluate on the turn.

The turn completes a four-heart board and I hold no heart, so my pair of sevens has only marginal showdown value. I check and evaluate the opponent's action rather than bloating the pot.

I have a pair of sevens but no heart on a four-heart board. Checking controls the pot and preserves my showdown value.

I have a pair of sevens, but the four-heart board means any heart beats me. Checking controls the pot and avoids getting raised off my marginal showdown value.

The board plays as a flush for both players, and my cards cannot improve it. A bet risks being called by any heart while gaining nothing when we would split.

J9o is well within the standard button opening range in 3-handed play; raising to 2bb applies pressure and captures positional advantage.

4-2 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button raise, especially out of position with the big blind still to act.

A3 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button min-raise, especially with the small blind's dead money in the pot. Calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

Ace-high with a gutshot is worth continuing cautiously, but this coordinated flop favors the preflop raiser's range. I check and reassess after their action.

I flopped a King-high straight, but the board is monotone with three diamonds and offers higher straight possibilities with an Ace. Checking back controls the pot size and allows me to see a turn safely in position.

Ace-high has some showdown value and a gutshot to Broadway, but betting into this coordinated board is unlikely to fold out many better hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

I have a King-high straight on a wet board. After checking the flop for pot control, I should now bet for value and protection against diamond draws and gutshots.

Ace-high with only a gutshot is too weak to call 300 into a 750-chip pot. Even if a jack comes, a diamond could complete a flush.

K7s on the button is strong enough to attack the blinds in a 3-handed game. Raising to 300 applies pressure and can take the pot down preflop, while still leaving room to fold if re-raised.

Six-five offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3x button raise, with the big blind still to act.

J4o is too weak to defend out of position against a 3bb button open.

Nine-deuce offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two active blinds.

Q7o is too weak to profitably open or complete out of position against the big blind.

Opening from the button with an unsuited Ace is standard in 3-handed play.

2s9s is a weak offsuit-gapped hand out of position facing a button raise; folding avoids investing more chips with poor equity.

6-5 offsuit is a marginal defense against the button’s raise, especially out of position. Folding avoids a difficult postflop spot.