Hold'em table

On the button, suited connected cards are playable with position. A modest raise can win the blinds or build a pot when called.

K2o is a weak, dominated hand out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act, so folding avoids unnecessary risk.

Defending J8s in the big blind against a button open getting favorable pot odds closing the action.

As the out-of-position preflop caller on a paired dry board, standard strategy is to check my entire range to the aggressor.

A small continuation bet puts pressure on the big blind's unpaired hands. My backdoor flush and straight possibilities give me some equity if called.

I have Jack-high with no draw on a paired board facing a continuation bet, making a fold clear.

A9s is a strong hand in 3-handed play; raising to 300 on the button applies pressure and builds the pot with position.

T2o is a weak unsuited hand that cannot profitably call or 3-bet from the small blind against a button open.

J9 offsuit has enough equity against a button opening range to defend the big blind for 200 more chips. Calling avoids building a larger pot out of position.

Middle pair has showdown value, but the preflop raiser has the range advantage. Checking controls the pot and lets me respond to their bet.

On a Q-J-7 flop that favors the big blind's calling range, my A9cc has only an overcard and backdoor equity. Checking back in position realizes equity and avoids inflating the pot with a weak made hand.

After the flop checked through, my jack is often ahead of unpaired hands. A small turn bet gets value from weaker hands and denies free river cards without building a large pot.

I have the nut flush draw plus an overcard, and the small turn bet gives me good implied odds with position. Calling keeps the pot manageable and lets me evaluate the river.

My jack has showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by enough worse hands. Checking avoids building a bigger pot against queens and stronger holdings.

With Ace-high and no pair, checking behind is best. The opponent's river check suggests a possible missed draw, and betting would mostly be called by better hands.

Opening on the button with J9o to exploit position in 3-handed play.

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

Closing the action with 3.5:1 pot odds, 46o has enough equity against a likely wide button raise to justify a call despite being out of position.

Bottom pair with a gutshot on a monotone board; checking to control the pot and see opponent's action.

We hold an overcard and a Jack-high flush draw on a low monotone board; checking back allows us to realize equity in position without risking a check-raise.

Board is four diamonds and I hold no diamond; my pair of fours has minimal showdown value against a preflop raiser. Checking allows me to see a free river and avoid putting chips in as a big underdog to any made flush.

We made a Jack-high flush on a four-diamond board. Betting around half pot allows us to get value from weaker flushes and straight draws while maintaining control.

I have only a weak pair with no diamond on a four-diamond board, and the turn raise indicates strong value or a flush. The pot odds are insufficient for my thin straight/two-pair outs, so folding is best.

K8 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 big-blind raise puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

2d4d is a weak offsuit-gapped hand out of position facing a button raise; folding avoids playing a marginal dominated hand without position.

Getting excellent pot odds of 150 to win 400 with a pocket pair closing the action against a button open, calling to see a flop is profitable.

We hold an underpair out of position against the preflop raiser; checking is standard and allows us to see how the button acts.

King-high has some showdown value, but this flop offers few strong draws. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess on the turn.

Holding an underpair on a double broadway board out of position, checking is standard with low equity and no reason to turn pocket threes into a bluff.

Top pair is likely ahead after the opponent checked twice. A moderate bet can get value from weaker pairs and draws while protecting against river cards.

Holding an underpair on a coordinated broadway board with virtually no equity or drawing potential makes this an easy fold facing a delayed turn bet.

K7s on the button in a 3-handed game is strong enough to raise for initiative and pressure the blinds.

A8s plays well as a three-bet from the small blind against a button open, gaining initiative and fold equity.

QJo is frequently dominated by the small blind's large three-bet range, and calling 10 big blinds with the button still to act is unprofitable.

K7s has enough equity and position to call the 3-bet; folding would make my button opens too exploitable, and 4-betting as a bluff is unnecessary with no reads.

I missed the monotone flop completely and have no club blocker or flush draw, making a check the prudent play out of position.

I have king-high with a backdoor flush draw on a monotone club board; my opponent checked, so I check back to control the pot and see a free turn card rather than betting into a board that heavily favors my opponent's range.

I have Ace-high with a gutshot straight draw on a wet, monotone board. Checking to realize equity and control the pot out of position.

I have king-high with no pair on a coordinated board and my opponent has shown no strength by checking twice; checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free river.

I made a queen-high straight with my eight, but any king or flush beats me, and worse hands will rarely call a river bet.

My Kh7h missed the board entirely; with no pair and only king-high, checking to reach showdown is best since I have no fold equity and betting into a calling station risks chips with a weak hand.

Opening A7o from the button 3-handed is standard for value and stealing the blinds.

Pocket fours can profitably call a small button raise with deep stacks, keeping the pot manageable while retaining the chance to flop a set.

Closing the preflop action with Ad6d, I'm getting 4:1 pot odds and have a suited ace that can flop well. Calling keeps the pot controlled and avoids bloating it out of position with a marginal holding.

A small pocket pair on a K-J-3 flop has little value to bet into two opponents, especially out of position. Checking keeps the pot small.

I have ace-high with a backdoor flush draw on a king-high flop. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free turn card rather than betting into two opponents who called a preflop raise.

In a 3-way pot on a coordinated King-Jack board, Ace-high has decent showdown value and checking back preserves pot control in position.

Pocket fours have little value on this coordinated turn, and bluffing into two opponents is unlikely to be profitable. I can check and reassess if someone bets.

I have ace-high with a gutshot straight draw on a coordinated board, but no made hand and no fold equity since all opponents checked the flop. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free river.

With Ace-high and no direct draw on a coordinated board multiway, checking back preserves showdown value and avoids walking into a check-raise.

Pocket fours have little showdown value, but bluffing into two opponents on this board is unlikely to get enough folds. Checking avoids risking more chips and may win against missed draws.

Ace-high with no pair on a K-J-9-7 board has minimal showdown value against two opponents who have shown no aggression; checking keeps the pot small and avoids risking chips with a weak hand.

I paired my seven on the river with an Ace kicker. Checking back gives me showdown value against missed draws and weak hands without risking getting called by better.