Hold'em table

Heads-up in the small blind, A3 offsuit is strong enough to raise for value and initiative against the big blind.

Holding 6s2d in the big blind facing an open raise from the small blind, this is a clear fold with junk.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two players with deep stacks.

Holding strong offsuit broadway AQo in the small blind after the button folded, raising to 3bb for value against the big blind.

Getting 2:1 with position as the big blind, I'll take a cheap flop with 5c7d against a possible small-blind steal. Folding is also fine, but the price and positional advantage justify a call.

On a low, connected board that heavily favors the big blind's calling range, checking out of position with overcards is standard.

I have a pair of fives plus a gutshot straight draw, and the preflop raiser checked the flop. Betting half-pot applies pressure and builds value while I likely have the best hand.

We missed the flop completely on a coordinated low board out of position. Without direct draws or backdoor flush equity, folding to the half-pot bet is standard.

Ad 3d is a strong suited ace on the button in a 3-handed game, making it a standard open raise.

Q9o is a marginal offsuit hand out of position against a button raise, with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a dominated, low-equity hand in a marginal spot.

The button can open a wide range, and the folded small blind improves my pot odds. Calling 150 is reasonable with 97 offsuit, though it plays poorly enough out of position that I don't want to raise.

With middle pair and a weak kicker against the preflop raiser, I prefer to check rather than build a larger pot out of position.

C-betting small for value and protection on an Ace-high dry texture after the big blind checked.

Middle pair is strong enough to continue against a small continuation bet on this dry flop. Raising would mostly fold out weaker hands and get action from stronger ones.

My pair of nines has some showdown value, but the queen makes a value bet unlikely to be called by many worse hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

I have top pair with a weak kicker in position; checking back the turn controls the pot size and allows me to evaluate on the river.

Rivering two pair gives me a strong value bet after the turn checked through. A bet of 600 can get called by an ace or queen.

Hero has top pair with a weak kicker, but after checking back the turn, Hero's range is somewhat capped and under-represented. Getting roughly 2.5:1 pot odds, top pair is a strong bluff catcher against missed straight draws and aggressive stabs.

K2o is a weak offsuit hand that plays poorly even on the button, and calling 100 into a small pot invites domination. Folding avoids unnecessary risk with no invested chips.

Pocket eights are strong heads-up against the big blind. Raising for value also avoids giving a free flop.

Facing a larger 3.5bb open from the small blind, A2o does not have enough playability or equity to justify defending out of position.

T9 suited plays well in position, so I’m opening to 2.5 big blinds on the button.

5h 2h is too weak to continue out of position against a button open.

Closing the action with K9o and getting 400:150 pot odds, which is profitable against a wide 3-handed button raise range. I avoid bloating the pot out of position with a marginal offsuit hand.

With K-high and only backdoor draws on a paired flop, checking out of position is best; the button's preflop raise suggests a range that often has us beat, so I avoid bloating the pot.

A small continuation bet can fold out missed overcards, while my gutshot and backdoor heart draw give me equity when called.

I have two overcards plus backdoor straight and flush possibilities, and the small 180 bet gives me favorable odds to see the turn. Calling keeps the pot controlled without bloating it with a marginal hand.

Semi-bluff with a flush draw and K overcard; the turn Ace is a scare card that can fold out weak pairs and missed hands, while I still have equity if called.

I have only a gutshot straight draw and no flush draw. Calling 600 on the turn is not justified by the pot odds.

JTs is a premier suited connector on the button in 3-handed play, making a standard 2.5x open clear.

Q2o is a weak offsuit hand out of position against a button raise, and calling 200 more with poor playability is not profitable. Folding avoids further investment with a dominated hand.

The small blind's dead chips improve my pot odds, making a call reasonable with K2 offsuit against a button open.

With top and bottom pair on a dry flop, checking lets the preflop raiser bet weaker hands or bluff. I can then raise for value.

As the preflop aggressor in position on a dry King-high board, a standard one-third pot continuation bet applies pressure and leverages our range advantage.

Bottom two pair is strong on this dry flop. I’m raising for value against Kx and to charge straight draws.

I have Jack-high with no significant draw on a King-high board, making a fold to the check-raise straightforward.