Hold'em table

As the button in a three-handed game, A2 is strong enough to open-raise and apply pressure to the blinds. A 2.5× big-blind raise is a suitable size.

Holding 7h 3d out of position against a button raise is an easy fold with unplayable garbage.

T9o is a marginal but playable defend from the big blind against a 2.5x button open, with position disadvantage offset by good pot odds (150 into 400). I'll see a flop and play fit-or-fold, keeping the pot small out of position.

Middle pair with a T kicker on a Q-high flop; checking keeps the pot small against the preflop raiser and lets me call a single bet or fold to aggression.

A small bet can get value and protection with bottom pair while leveraging the nut-flush draw. It also keeps the pot manageable if called.

I hold middle pair (nines) and the bet is only 180 into a 730 pot, giving me good odds to continue with two pair/trips outs; folding is too tight and raising risks isolating against a stronger queen.

I hold second pair (nines) on a board with two spades and a Q; out of position, checking keeps the pot small and lets me evaluate seat_1's aggression before committing more chips.

I have only a weak pair with limited improvement prospects, so checking preserves showdown value and avoids building the pot against stronger hands.

My T-high with a 9 kicker is almost certainly behind seat_1's preflop raise-call line, and the board paired on the river. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids paying off a better hand.

I have trip deuces with an ace kicker, and the river check gives me a chance to get called by weaker made hands. A modest value bet targets those hands without overcommitting.

I hold two pair (nines and deuces), which beats every missed-draw bluff and worse 9x, and the small river bet into a decent pot suggests a stab or thin value. Calling 400 for good pot odds is better than folding a two-pair hand or raising into QX/overpairs.

Opening KQo on the button with a standard 2.5bb raise to take initiative with a strong broadway holding.

JTs suited has good playability and I'm getting roughly 3:1 on a call of 200 into a 400 pot. Flatting in position-ish keeps the pot manageable while retaining strong flop potential.

7♣3♠ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling leaves me out of position in a multiway pot against a raise and a caller. The pot odds aren’t enough to offset its poor playability.

C-betting 1/3 pot in position with overcards and backdoor equity after SB checks.

I have only T-high with no draw on a 6h2c3h flop against a preflop raiser who continued betting; calling 200 with no equity is losing play, so I fold.

9c3d is a weak offsuit hand from the button facing a 100bb call; folding is clearly best with no fold equity established yet.

Q6 offsuit is weak, but the small blind has a favorable price to complete against only the big blind. I’ll see the flop rather than invest more preflop.

Checking our option with 98o in position to see a free flop.

I have a strong combo draw on this monotone, connected flop: an open-ended straight draw and a heart flush draw. A moderate bet builds the pot while applying pressure to the big blind’s checked range.

Flopped top pair in a limped blind-versus-blind pot; getting attractive pot odds to call a single bet on a monotone board.

I have a flush, but it is vulnerable to higher hearts on a four-heart board, and my opponent called the flop bet. I’ll take the free showdown card rather than build a pot that could face a raise.

Four hearts are on the board and we do not hold a heart. Betting would not fold out any heart and wouldn't be called by worse, so checking behind is standard.

I have a flush, but the four-heart board means an opponent holding a higher heart can beat it. Checking takes my hand to showdown without risking a raise or folding out hands I already beat.

With four hearts on the board and holding second pair with no heart, checking behind allows us to see showdown without risking additional chips against a potential flush.

On the button, completing is a low-cost way to see a flop in position; raising this weak offsuit hand would build a pot with little value.

Isolating the button limper from the small blind with a strong suited connector to take initiative and build the pot.

Queen-three offsuit is far too weak to call a 4x raise out of position with 300 more to call. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

T3 offsuit is too weak to continue against the small blind’s raise, even with position and the price offered.

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

J2 offsuit is one of the weakest hands, and the big blind still has to act behind me, so completing risks playing a dominated hand out of position. Folding preserves the 50 chips.

5s7d offsuit is too weak to play even from the button in 3-handed; folding preserves chips for better spots.

With the button folded, 6♣5♦ is playable heads-up from the small blind, and the price to complete is only 50 chips.

JTo plays well in position; checking to see a free flop is standard against a small blind limp.

I have only a gutshot and a backdoor flush draw, so I’ll take the free card rather than build the pot with a weak hand.

Semi-bluffing with an open-ended straight draw and overcards in position after the small blind checked.

This is a weak hand with only a gutshot and backdoor flush potential, not enough equity to call the bet. I’ll avoid putting more chips in without a stronger draw.