Hold'em table

Q6 offsuit is a reasonable button steal in a three-handed game. A small open applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the risk controlled.

J8o from the small blind facing a button open to 2.5bb, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold. It plays poorly out of position and is too weak to 3-bet.

The button can open a wide range three-handed, and the pot odds make a call with 8-5 offsuit reasonable despite being out of position.

I have a weak hand on an ace-paired flop and can see the next action for free.

A small continuation bet leverages my preflop range advantage on the paired ace board and can fold out unpaired hands. The queen of diamonds also gives me backdoor flush equity if called.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on a paired ace-high board, and continuing out of position against the preflop raiser is unlikely to be profitable.

73 offsite is too weak to open from the button in a 3-handed game with two players left to act, so folding is standard.

With 8-6 offsuit heads-up, completing the small blind for 50 chips is a low-cost way to see a flop. Raising would build a larger pot with a marginal hand out of position.

A♠4♣ is a reasonable blind-versus-blind hand, and with no raise to call, checking keeps the pot small while seeing a flop for free.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but this board favors the big blind's range enough that I prefer to check rather than build the pot.

With only ace-high and no meaningful draw on this connected flop, checking keeps the pot small and preserves my chance to improve.

Bottom pair is often ahead of the big blind’s wide checking range. A small turn bet gets value from weaker hands and charges overcards and draws.

I have a pair of fours with an ace kicker and am getting a favorable price against a small turn bet. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding an unnecessary raise with a marginal made hand.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but an ace on the river makes a value bet unlikely to be called by worse hands. Checking avoids putting more chips at risk.

I have two pair, aces and fours, and the river check gives me a chance to get value from weaker aces and other pairs. A modest bet targets calls without overcommitting against a possible straight or better two pair.

The river bet is modest relative to the pot. My pair of sixes can catch missed draws or a thin bet with a weaker pair often enough to call.

A8 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.

4♠2♠ is too weak to continue out of position against the button’s raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 3.7:1 against a wide 3-handed button open, J4o has enough equity to defend from the big blind despite being out of position.

J4 with a backdoor diamond draw and a gutshot to Broadway (K) on an A-Q-9 two-tone board that favors the preflop raiser. Check and see what the button does.

Top pair can get value from weaker pairs and draws. A small bet also protects against free cards without building an oversized pot with a weak kicker.

Jack-high with only a backdoor flush draw misses this A-Q board badly. Playing out of position, I won't realize enough equity to justify calling even a small c-bet.

J♦9♦ is a strong button hand in a three-handed game, so I’ll raise to apply pressure to the blinds and take initiative.

43o from the small blind facing a button open with the big blind still to act is a clear fold; it plays poorly out of position.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With ace-high and no strong draw on this flop, I’ll check rather than build the pot out of position.

A small bet gets value from weaker pairs and charges straight draws while keeping the pot manageable with a modest top pair. The checked-to flop gives me a good opportunity to protect my hand.

The small flop bet gives me a reasonable price to continue with ace-high and some ways to improve on later streets.

Ace-high has some showdown value but little incentive to build the pot on this turn. I’ll check and reassess if the button bets.

Bet 300 for value and protection with top pair, while keeping weaker 9x and 8x hands in the pot and charging straight draws.

Ace-high has no meaningful draw on this turn, and calling another bet out of position is unlikely to be profitable.

J9o is a standard button open in 3-handed play; a 2.5bb raise pressures the blinds and keeps position.

Nine-seven suited has enough playability to defend the small blind against a button open, especially with no rake. Calling keeps the pot manageable.

AKs is a premium hand worth 3-betting for value and to thin the field; 1000 is a substantial raise over the open and caller.

J9o facing a BB squeeze to 10bb with a caller still behind is too weak to continue profitably. Folding keeps us out of a bloated pot where we'd often be dominated and out of position against the squeezer's range.

Calling the large squeeze with 97 suited would leave me out of position with a hand that realizes its equity poorly.

J2 suited is playable as a button open in three-handed hold'em, and a 2.5-big-blind raise gives me position without risking too much.

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

Getting about 3.7:1 against a wide 3-handed button open, Q2o has enough equity to defend by calling rather than folding or 3-betting.

Gutshot with Q-high (needs a J) and a weak backdoor club draw out of position against the preflop raiser on a board that favors their range. Checking lets me realize equity cheaply and fold to heavy pressure.

A small continuation bet can fold out missed hands while risking little. The gutshot and backdoor diamond draw give me ways to improve if called.

Q2 offhand has only a gutshot and a weak backdoor draw on a board that hits the button's range. The price is 200 into 950, needing about 21% equity, which we don't have.