Hold'em table

9-6 offsuit is too weak to play even on the button in a 3-handed game; folding avoids unnecessary risk.

With the button folded, A4 offsuit is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind and can win the pot immediately.

Calling with Jh Th in the big blind against a small blind open, closing the action in position with excellent playability.

Top and bottom pair is strong heads-up on a two-spade flop. Betting 400 builds value from aces and draws while charging spade draws.

I completely missed the Ace-high board with Jh Th and face a 2/3 pot c-bet from the preflop aggressor, making this a clear fold.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two blinds.

In a blind-vs-blind situation, JTo is strong enough to raise for value and fold equity.

AJs is a strong hand against a small-blind open after the button folded, and I have position postflop. I will 3-bet for value and to take control of the pot.

Facing a 3-bet out of position, JTo is dominated by the big blind's continuing range and cannot profitably call or 4-bet.

Q2o is far too weak to open even from the button in 3-handed play.

Button folded, so this is a heads-up blind battle where TJo is strong enough to raise and apply pressure. I can fold to a 3-bet and otherwise take initiative.

K8 suited is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable in position.

With T-high and only a backdoor straight/flush draw on an ace-high flop, checking keeps the pot small and avoids betting into a caller who likely has Ax or a pair.

King-high has little reason to build the pot on this ace-high flop. I can take the free card in position.

I have no pair or strong draw on an ace-high paired board, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids risking chips with a weak hand.

King-high has some showdown value, and a turn bet is unlikely to fold out many better hands. I’ll take the free river card.

My T-high has no showdown value, and both opponents checked flop and turn, so a river bet can fold out better unpaired hands and small pairs. I choose a half-pot-sized bluff to take down the pot without risking too much.

King-high has little showdown value, and this river bet is too costly to call without a credible read that the opponent is bluffing.

75o is too weak to play from the button in a three-handed pot, especially with two players still to act behind me. Folding avoids unnecessary risk with a marginal offsuit hand.

J6 offsuit is playable heads-up for one more small blind, but it is too weak to build a larger pot out of position.

We are in the big blind with Q5o and have position postflop after the small blind limped. Checking to see a free flop is the standard, low-variance play.

I have jack-high with no immediate draw on a coordinated flop, so checking keeps the pot small.

We have second pair with a weak kicker in position in a limped pot. Checking behind controls the pot size and realizes our showdown value.

The big blind checked back the flop, and the turn is a blank. A modest bet can win the pot against their weaker hands.

Second pair is sufficiently strong to call a single turn bet in a limped blind-versus-blind pot where villain checked the flop.

J-high has little showdown value, but the river missed the main draws, so a bluff is unlikely to fold out many hands that called the turn.

I have two pair, Queens and Fours with a King kicker. I have solid showdown value and little value to extract from worse hands, so checking back is standard.

On the button, suited 7-4 is playable as a small open at a three-handed, rake-free table.

A2o plays poorly out of position facing a button open with the big blind still to act.

With 4h6d out of position against a button raise, the hand has poor playability and reverse implied odds. Folding avoids investing more chips with a weak offsuit holding.

83o is too weak to open raise or call, making folding the standard play.

2d4s is the worst starting hand and we are out of position; even with 3:1 pot odds, the reverse implied odds make folding the better choice.