Hold'em table

Pocket aces on the button in a 3-handed game; raise to 3bb for value and build the pot.

J6 offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3bb button raise from the small blind, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more with poor equity realization out of position.

9♥4♦ is a weak offsuit hand and the button’s 3x raise makes the call unattractive from the big blind. Fold rather than continue with poor playability.

Nine-four offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button without evidence that the blinds overfold. Folding avoids investing in a hand with poor playability.

KTs is strong heads-up against the big blind. Raise for value and initiative while keeping the sizing moderate.

Q4s in the big blind is getting 2:1 against a small blind raise to 300 (the button folded). It has enough equity and playability to call, but not enough to 3-bet.

I have a modest pair on a coordinated flop, so checking keeps the pot controlled and avoids building it against stronger queens or draws.

Top pair with a weak kicker on a fairly dry board. Seat_3 checked from the small blind, so I bet about 2/3 pot for value and to deny equity to overcards and flush draws. Sizing is small enough to limit losses if raised.}

Call with middle pair and a strong kicker; the price is reasonable, while raising would risk inflating the pot against stronger Qx hands.

I have two pair, kings and tens, and should value-bet while charging club and straight draws. A sizable but noncommittal bet can also get value from weaker kings and queens.

Top pair (Qh with Qc on a Qc 2h Tc Ks board) with a weak kicker, facing a turn bet of 850 into 1400, so I need about 27% equity. Seat 3 check-called the flop and then led the turn, which could be a bluff or a value hand like a K or a two-pair/straight draw, but my pair beats many of those holdings, so calling is better than raising or folding.

I have two pair on a harmless river and can get value from weaker kings or some queens. A modest bet targets those hands while limiting losses when called or raised by stronger two pair or a set.

Second pair (queens) with a weak kicker is a bluff-catcher. The call needs only about 21% equity against a small river bet, and the line plays like it includes some missed draws, so calling is reasonable.

Pocket fours are a playable button open in a three-handed game. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable if called.

3-5 offsuit is a weak hand out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act, so folding is best.

A5 suited is a strong three-bet bluff against a button open: it blocks premium ace hands and retains flush and wheel potential when called. The larger sizing applies pressure while out of position.

A small pair plays poorly against a large 3-bet, and calling 8.5 big blinds offers insufficient implied odds to set-mine profitably.

A6s on the button in a 3-handed game is a strong enough hand to open-raise for value and position against two blinds.

K3 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3bb button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a frequently dominated hand out of position.

K6 offsuit is weak but has enough equity to defend heads-up from the big blind at these pot odds. Calling keeps the pot manageable without turning it into a bluff 3-bet.

With only king-high and limited backdoor potential, checking is preferable to betting into the preflop raiser. I can reassess if they bet.

Board J-T-J is paired and fairly dry. I have an ace-high with a backdoor spade draw, and the big blind checked. A small bet of about half the pot can take the pot now or pick up some equity. Betting small also limits my losses against a jack or a ten.

I have no made hand and only backdoor flush and straight possibilities, which are not enough equity to call this sizable flop bet.

K9 suited is a clear button open three-handed, with good playability and position against both blinds. Raising to 2.5 big blinds builds value while giving the blinds an immediate incentive to fold.

K♦3♥ is a weak offsuit hand from the small blind, and calling a 2.5bb button raise leaves the big blind yet to act. Fold rather than commit more chips out of position.

A7s in the big blind is getting 400 to 150 (about 2.7-to-1) against a button open, which is a wide range. Calling is clearly profitable, and the hand plays well in position-disadvantaged spots without bloating the pot.

Ace-high with a weak kicker on a connected two-tone board, out of position against the button's preflop raise. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize my equity, with some showdown value as a bluff-catcher.

Second pair with a strong kicker has solid showdown value but cannot comfortably build a large pot on this draw-heavy board. Checking back controls the pot and keeps weaker hands in.

Ace-high on a connected two-tone board has almost no showdown value against a button who checked back the flop. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the river cheaply.

After the big blind checks twice, second pair with a strong kicker merits a modest value-and-protection bet. This can get calls from worse pairs and draws while denying free equity to overcards.

Ace-high with a weak backdoor on a Tc 9d 2c 4s board has little showdown value. The button bet 300 into 550 after checking the flop, so I need about 26% equity to call. That bet is a fairly wide range, but my hand has few outs and I'd be playing out of position, so I'll fold.

A♠9♠ is a strong hand on the button, so I’ll raise for value and take the initiative while keeping the sizing moderate.

K8o out of position in the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a marginal hand that plays poorly. Calling 200 more would be a losing play, so I fold.

J5 offsuit is too weak to profitably defend against a 2.5bb button raise out of position. Its poor playability and domination risk favor folding.