Hold'em table

9♥4♠ offsuit is too weak to open from the button, so I’ll avoid investing chips with it.

Completing costs only 50 more chips, giving 9-7 offsuit reasonable pot odds. I’d rather see a flop than build a larger pot out of position.

JTs is well ahead of a small blind limping range, so raising for value and initiative with position is better than checking. A raise to 4bb is a standard iso size against a limp.

9-7 offsuit is too weak to call a 4x raise out of position.

On the button in a three-handed game, 8-7 offsuit is playable as a small open-raise, with position helping on later streets.

J6 offsuit from the small blind facing a button open is too weak to call out of position with the big blind still to act. Folding is standard.

T7 suited is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button open, and the price is favorable. Call rather than inflate the pot out of position with a marginal hand.

I have a modest pair on a monotone flop and no heart, so checking keeps the pot controlled and avoids building it against a likely stronger hand or a flush draw.

Middle pair is often ahead of the big blind’s checking range. A small bet gets value from weaker hands and charges overcards and heart draws without building a large pot.

A small bet gives favorable pot odds, and my pair of sevens can still be ahead of overcards or bluffs. Raising would be too thin on this monotone board, so I call and reassess on the turn.

With only a pair of sevens and no heart on a four-heart board, betting has little value and risks building the pot against a flush. Check and evaluate any further action.

I have a weak pair and no heart on a four-heart board. Checking preserves showdown value without building a pot against likely flushes.

The five-heart board gives everyone without a heart the same K-high flush, while any opponent holding a heart may have a higher flush. Checking preserves the chance to split against non-heart hands without risking chips against better hands.

My hand plays the board’s king-high flush. Betting risks losing more to an opponent with a heart, so I’ll take the showdown.

J9o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open; a 2.5bb raise pressures both blinds.

4♦2♥ is an extremely weak offsuit hand from the small blind, and calling leaves the big blind behind with a chance to continue or raise. Fold rather than defend against the button's raise.

A3 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button open at this price, but it is not strong enough to reraise for value.

With only ace-high and a gutshot on a monotone flop, I prefer to check rather than build the pot.

I have a king-high straight on a monotone, highly connected board. I'm betting about 70% of the pot for value and to charge diamond draws and weaker made hands.

Ace-high with a gutshot has limited equity on this three-diamond flop, and I have no diamond. Calling out of position risks paying more on later streets.

K7 suited is a solid button open in a three-handed game. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to apply pressure to the blinds while keeping the sizing controlled.

Six-five offsuit is too weak to call a button raise from the small blind with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 27% pot odds against a wide 3-handed button open, J4o has enough equity to defend from the big blind. Calling is a marginal but profitable defend.

Weak second pair with no kicker on a board that favors the button's raising range; check to control the pot and evaluate the button's action.

Bet 180 into 550 for value and protection with top pair, while keeping the size modest on a two-tone board.

Middle pair against a small c-bet gets a good price (about 20% equity needed), and it has showdown value against a wide button range. Raising would mostly fold out worse hands, so calling is best.

Middle pair on a scary A-K-J board facing a button opener who c-bet; checking controls the pot and keeps some showdown value.

The ace is a poor turn for my second pair, and the caller can have plenty of Ax or strong draws. Checking keeps the pot manageable while preserving showdown value.

Third pair has some showdown value against a range that checked back the turn, and betting would mostly get called by better hands. Checking to realize equity cheaply.

I have a weak pair of kings, and the ace on the river makes a thin value bet risky. I’ll take the free showdown rather than risk being called by a better hand or bluffed off my equity.

Nine-deuce offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two players.

Blind vs blind, Q7o is a reasonable opening hand from the small blind. A 3x raise applies pressure and takes the initiative.

T3 suited is too weak to continue out of position against a 3x raise; the call price and poor postflop realization make folding preferable.

A7o on the button in 3-handed play is a clear opening hand, so I'm raising to 2.5bb to steal the blinds and play in position.

92 suited is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

The dead small blind improves the price, and 6-5 offsuit has enough connectivity to defend against a button open.

I have an open-ended straight draw but no made hand. Checking out of position lets me see whether the preflop raiser bets before committing more chips.

Middle pair with the top kicker on a dry K74 rainbow board, in position against a BB who checked to me. A small c-bet gets value and protection from worse sevens, fours and overcards, while still representing the king.

I have an open-ended straight draw, and the small flop bet gives me a good price to continue without building a large pot yet.

I have an open-ended straight draw, but the turn is unlikely to make a player who called the flop fold. Checking preserves the option to realize my draw cheaply.

Third pair with an ace kicker has showdown value but gets little value from a bet and is vulnerable to a check-raise. Checking back controls the pot and realizes equity.

My straight draw missed, leaving little showdown value. After the opponent checked back the turn, a river bluff can fold out some unpaired hands and weak pairs.

We hold second pair with the top kicker on a paired board and need only about 28% equity against a 2/3-pot river lead. The villain's range includes missed draws, weaker sevens and turned bluffs. Calling is profitable, but raising would mostly fold out worse hands and get called by Kx or trips.