Hold'em table

K7 offsuit is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to apply pressure while keeping the sizing modest.

King-eight suited is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5x button raise with a 100bb stack; folding avoids playing a dominated, hard-to-play hand multiway.

Defending the big blind with A8o against a button open getting favorable pot odds of 150 to call into 400.

Check to the preflop raiser as the out-of-position caller on a disconnected board where I only have Ace-high.

I have top pair with a weak kicker and can get value from worse pairs while charging draws. A small bet keeps the pot manageable and protects my hand.

I completely missed the flop with A8o on a KT6 rainbow board, and calling out of position against a c-bet with pure Ace-high without draws is unprofitable.

Nine-three offsuit from the button is far too weak to play even against a limped pot; folding preserves chips for better spots.

In a blind versus blind situation, 54s has great playability and makes an excellent candidate to open-raise and take initiative.

Pocket sixes are strong against a small-blind-versus-big-blind opening range, and calling keeps weaker hands in while avoiding an unnecessary large pot out of position.

We flopped two pair on a paired board with a weak kicker; checking controls the pot out of position and protects our checking range.

Pocket sixes have useful showdown value on this low, paired flop. I’ll take the free check rather than build a pot against the raiser’s stronger pairs or a possible check-raise.

I have two pair with fives and threes, but the ace on the turn threatens my holding. Checking keeps the pot controlled with decent showdown value.

With a modest pocket pair on an ace-high board, checking preserves showdown value without inflating the pot against an ace or better pair. It also leaves missed hands room to bluff on the river.

I completed a wheel straight on the river after the action checked through on flop and turn. Betting 400 into a 600 pot targets calls from an Ace or weaker pairs.

The river bet is a substantial fraction of the pot, and my pair of sixes loses to many plausible Ax and higher-pocket-pair value bets. I don’t expect enough bluffs or worse hands betting for the call to be profitable.

Seven-deuce suited is too weak to open profitably even from the button in a 3-handed game.

With the button folded, calling 50 more gets favorable pot odds against the big blind's wide range. 7-5 offsuit is weak, so I’ll avoid raising and see a flop cheaply.

I'm in the big blind with a weak 26s but the SB only limped, so I get a free flop with a suited connector and can fold cheaply if I miss.

I have a weak flush draw on a monotone flop, but betting risks running into a higher heart or a made hand. Checking keeps the pot small while preserving my chance to improve.

I only have bottom pair (2s) with a weak kicker on a monotone heart flop, and I hold no heart, so betting has little value or fold equity. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves showdown value against the limper's likely missed hand.

I have a pair plus a strong heart draw, so a half-pot bet can build the pot and apply pressure while retaining substantial equity if called.

As the button in a three-handed game, a small open can win the blinds often enough to make this weak hand playable. I’ll keep the raise to the minimum and avoid investing more if called or reraised.

Ten-three offsuit is far too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, and playing it out of position just leaks chips.

Getting 3.5:1 pot odds to defend the big blind against a min-raise on the button, A5o has sufficient equity to call and close the action.

Checking out of position to the preflop aggressor with Ace-high and no direct draw.

This hand has a gutshot and backdoor diamond draw, so checking back lets me realize equity without inflating the pot with a weak hand.

We hold Ace-high which has some showdown value against missed unpaired hands. Checking allows us to see the river for free.

Both opponents checked the flop, and the turn check gives me a chance to win the pot with a small stab. I also have a gutshot to a straight if called.

Holding Ace-high with a weak kicker and no draw out of position, folding to the turn bet is the most disciplined play.

On the button with only 100 to call into a 150 pot, the roughly 2.5:1 price justifies seeing a flop with ten-high, and position gives me control afterward.

Holding A7s in the small blind against a button limp, raising to 400 isolates the limper and builds the pot with a strong suited ace.

Q9 suited is strong enough to continue in the big blind, and the call price is reasonable given the pot and multiway possibility.

T4 offsuit is dominated by both the preflop raiser and caller's ranges, and facing a 4x raise plus a call I have no way to realize equity profitably even with button position. Folding avoids wasting 300 more chips on a hand that rarely makes top-pair strength.

I am out of position on a coordinated low board that connects reasonably well with the big blind's flatting range. Checking with Ace-high and backdoor draws controls the pot.

Bet 300 for value and protection with top pair, while keeping weaker pairs and overcards in the pot. The checked-to preflop raiser may still have strength, so I’m avoiding a larger sizing.

Getting 4-to-1 on a call facing a one-third pot bet, Ah7h has sufficient equity with an overcard, backdoor nut flush draw, and backdoor straight possibilities.

We picked up a double gutter on the turn, but with three diamonds on board and out of position, checking to see opponent's action is standard.

The fourth diamond completes a flush draw, and several straight draws are also possible. With one pair and no diamond, checking keeps the pot controlled while preserving showdown value.

I hold Ace-high which makes two pair nines and fives with an Ace kicker on this paired board. Betting has little value since worse rarely calls, so checking to realize showdown value is best.

I have trips with a strong kicker and can target calls from weaker pairs. A modest river bet limits exposure to a flush or a stronger nine.

Holding only Ace-high with a weak kicker on a coordinated board, we lose to all value bets and even better Ace-high floats.

King-eight suited is a standard open from the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb applies pressure and captures position.

3-4 offsuit is a very weak hand, and calling 200 out of position risks more chips against a raise.

3-4 offsuit is the worst hand in the deck and I'm facing a 2.5x raise out of position with no fold equity information; folding loses only 150 more chips and preserves EV.