Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed game, Q6 offsuit is playable as a small first-in raise.

J8o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold: it's dominated too often and plays poorly out of position.

The button’s small open gives the big blind a reasonable price, and 8-5 offsuit is playable enough to defend heads-up rather than risk a re-raise.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on a paired ace-high board, so checking avoids investing chips with a weak hand.

A small continuation bet can fold out some of the big blind's unpaired hands on this ace-paired board. The Q♦ also gives me backdoor diamond potential if called.

I have only a weak backdoor draw and no meaningful made hand against the flop bet. Calling is unlikely to be profitable, and bluff-raising has little support from my hand.

73o is too weak to open from the button in 3-handed play with two players still to act; folding is standard.

Calling 50 gets a favorable price with a somewhat connected hand, and avoids inflating the pot out of position with a weak offsuit holding.

A4 offsuit is ahead of many small-blind limps. Raising for value also gives the limper a chance to fold.

8♠6♦ is a weak offsuit hand and not worth calling a sizable raise from the big blind out of position.

A8 offsuit is a strong button hand in a three-handed game, so I’ll open-raise for value and initiative.

4♠2♠ is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 2.7:1 against a wide 3-handed button open, J4o has enough equity to defend by calling from the big blind.

J4 with a backdoor flush draw and a gutshot to the broadway straight is a weak holding on an A-Q board that favors the preflop raiser, so I check to the button out of position and look to realize equity cheaply.

Bet 300 for value with top pair and to charge draws on this two-diamond, connected board. The sizing is a little over half the pot while keeping weaker Ax and Qx hands in range.}

Jack-high on an ace-queen-nine board has only backdoor draws, and the 300 call into 850 needs about 26% equity, which this hand doesn't have. The button's c-bet range hits this board hard, so folding is best.

J9 suited is strong enough to open from the button three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise builds the pot while keeping the risk modest.

43o from the small blind facing a 2.5x button open with the big blind still to act is a clear fold; it's too weak to call out of position or to 3-bet profitably.

A7 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button open, and calling keeps weaker hands in without building a large pot out of position.

A-high has some showdown value, but this connected low flop favors the caller's range enough that I should avoid a speculative lead. Check and evaluate the button's action.

Top pair is likely ahead of the big blind's calling range. A small bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws while limiting the pot against stronger hands.

The small flop bet offers favorable pot odds, and A-high retains some showdown value against the button’s wide continuation-betting range. Raising would turn a marginal hand into an unnecessary bluff.

With only ace-high and no meaningful draw, checking keeps the pot small and lets the preflop aggressor act.

Top pair with a jack kicker can get value from weaker pairs and draws. A moderate bet also makes overcards pay to see the river.

A-high has no meaningful draw on this dry turn, and the button’s sizable second barrel after a flop call is likely to have sufficient showdown value. Calling requires too much equity against that range.

J9o on the button three-handed is a clear open, so I'm making a standard 2.5bb steal against the blinds.

9♦7♦ is a playable suited hand against a button open, and the call price is reasonable with deep stacks. I’ll avoid inflating the pot out of position.

AK suited is strong enough to squeeze against a button open and small-blind call. A larger raise accounts for being out of position against both players.

J9o is too weak to continue against a big-blind squeeze to 12.5bb with the small blind still left to act, and calling out of position on later streets would be unprofitable.

A 9-high suited hand is too weak to continue out of position against the big blind’s large 3-bet. The call price does not make up for the risk of facing a strong range with poor playability.

J2 suited is playable from the button three-handed, so I’ll open-raise to apply pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

32 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Against a wide button open in 3-handed play, I'm getting good pot odds (150 to win 550), so calling Q2o in the big blind is a reasonable defend.

Q2 with a gutshot (J makes Broadway straight) and a backdoor club draw on a board that hits the button's range; check to the raiser and consider continuing versus a small bet.

I have only a weak gutshot and backdoor flush draw, so checking behind preserves the chance to improve without inflating the pot.

The button checked back the flop, which suggests weakness. A small semi-bluff with a gutshot to the nut straight and a queen overcard can take the pot now or improve on the river.

Call with the flush draw: nine likely outs give us meaningful equity, and the pot odds plus deep stacks make continuing worthwhile.

Queen-high has almost no showdown value. The villain checked back the flop, so their range is capped, and my Q blocks QJ, so a two-thirds-pot bluff can fold out weak pairs and missed draws.

J-high has no meaningful showdown value, and the river bet after a turn lead is unlikely to be a bluff often enough to justify calling.