Hold'em table

A3o on the button in a 3-handed game is a clear open-raise, so I'm making it 2.5bb to steal the blinds.

A9 offsuit is strong enough to 3-bet from the small blind, and the ace blocker adds value to the raise. Raising also avoids inviting the big blind into a multiway pot.

Offsuit 6-5 is too weak to defend against a large three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

Getting 2:1 in position against a likely wide 3-handed SB 3-bet range, A3o has enough equity and playability to call. The ace blocker also helps.

Check A-high out of position on a low paired board; it can often be ahead, and checking avoids bloating the pot without a strong draw.

Out of position the 3-bettor holds the stronger range on 5-5-4, so I check back. That lets me realize the equity of my ace-high and wheel gutshot cheaply without getting check-raised off it.

With ace-high and no meaningful draw, checking preserves the chance to reach showdown cheaply. The turn can improve many of the opponent’s broadway hands, making a bluff unattractive.

The 3-bettor checked twice, which suggests weak hands like AK or AQ that out-kick my ace-high. A half-pot semi-bluff with a wheel gutshot and an ace overcard can fold those hands out while keeping equity when called.

The small turn bet can be a delayed bluff, and ace-high has some showdown value against missed overcards. Calling 900 into 2700 offers reasonable pot odds; raising would risk too much with no made hand.

With only ace-high, a river bet is unlikely to get called by worse after the turn call. I’ll take the free showdown rather than risk bluffing into a made hand.

A3 is nearly worthless at showdown against a 3-bettor who called the turn, since it loses to AK, AQ and pocket pairs. A roughly 70% pot bluff can fold out better aces and medium pairs, and it represents a 5 or a strong overpair.

The river bet is large relative to the pot, and my ace-high kicker only gives me a weak pair on this board. The turn-call, river-bet line is likely value-heavy, while my ace also blocks some natural missed broadway bluffs.

T3 offsuit is weak, but on the button in a three-handed game it is playable as an open. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A7 suited is strong enough to three-bet against a button open. Raising also pressures the big blind and avoids playing a multiway pot out of position.

Facing an open plus a 3-bet from the small blind with 84s, and with the original raiser still left to act behind, calling 850 more is unprofitable. Folding is clearly best.

T3 offsuit is far too weak to continue against a large three-bet, even with position and the price offered.

Pocket queens are a premium hand on the button, so I’m raising for value.

42s from the small blind facing a button open to 3bb, with the big blind still to act behind, is too weak to call or 3-bet profitably. Folding keeps losses minimal.

8-4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 3x button raise, despite the favorable pot odds.

95o on the button in 3-handed play is a marginal-to-weak open, and folding is the standard, low-risk choice at 100bb deep.

T6 offsuit is weak, but completing costs only 50 chips into a 150-chip pot and keeps the blind-versus-blind pot manageable.

Pocket threes are ahead of many hands in a small-blind limping range. Raising builds value and gives me a chance to take the pot preflop.

T♣6♥ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling a substantial raise out of position is not profitable. I fold and preserve my stack.

As the button in a three-handed game, a small open can profitably take the blinds and gives me position if called. I use a modest raise size with this marginal hand.

6-3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 2.7:1 against a wide 3-handed button open, 75o has enough equity and playability to defend by calling from the big blind.

75o has a gutshot to nothing useful (only a weak backdoor) on a JTQ board that hits the button's raising range hard, so I check and plan to give up to aggression.

I have an open-ended straight draw and position after the big blind checked, so a modest semi-bluff can win the pot now while building it when I improve.

75o with no pair and no real draw (only a backdoor club draw) on a J-T-Q board facing a c-bet; folding is clearly best despite the decent pot odds.

Pocket sixes are strong enough to open on the button, and a 2.5-big-blind raise builds the pot while keeping the sizing manageable.

92o from the small blind facing a button open is too weak to call or 3-bet profitably, and the big blind is still left to act behind.

J5 offsuit is weak, but the button’s raise can be wide three-handed and the call costs only 150 into a 400-chip pot. I’ll defend the big blind and proceed cautiously postflop.

With a weak pair on a Q-high, two-heart flop, checking keeps the pot small and avoids building it against stronger hands.

My pair has showdown value, but this board connects with many big-blind calls. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable.

A small turn probe can deny equity to overcards and heart draws while getting occasional calls from weaker pairs. The opponent has shown weakness by checking the flop, so I can fold to a raise.

My pair and open-ended straight draw have ample equity against a small turn bet. Calling in position keeps weaker hands in and lets me reassess on the river.

My pair of fives is weak on this connected river, and the turn caller can have stronger pairs or a straight. Checking avoids putting more chips in without a clear value bet.

I have a straight, and the river check gives me a chance to get value from queens and other made hands. A bet of about 70% of the pot balances value with getting called.

A single pair of fives is unlikely to beat a large river bet after the turn barrel, especially with the 8 completing several straight draws. The price does not justify calling without stronger evidence of bluffs.