Hold'em table

K♣3♣ is a playable suited hand on the button in a three-handed game, so I’ll open-raise for value and initiative. A 2.5× big-blind raise pressures the blinds without risking too much.

J5o 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.

J6 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button open at this price.

With bottom pair and no strong draw, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser and keep the pot manageable.

With only king-high on a coordinated flop and no meaningful draw, checking back preserves the chance to improve without risking chips in a spot where the big blind can continue strongly.

Trips with a jack kicker can get value from tens and single-spade draws. Betting 400 also charges those draws rather than giving a free river.

K-high has no meaningful draw on this paired, three-spade board, and calling 400 would be a poor investment against a turn bet.

J2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button in 3-handed play, with two opponents still left to act. Folding is standard.

With 4♦3♦ against the big blind, completing costs only 50 more chips and keeps the pot manageable out of position.

Checking is free and keeps the pot small with a very weak hand; I can evaluate the flop before investing more.

I have only a gutshot straight draw and no made hand. Checking keeps the pot small while giving me a chance to improve.

I have no pair or immediate draw, so checking behind preserves my chips while retaining the chance to improve.

With only a gutshot and no showdown value, I prefer to take the free river card rather than bluff into an opponent who checked the flop.

I have a nine-out heart draw and can take a free river card. With no pair, checking avoids investing into a range that may continue with made hands.

My hand plays the board, and a bluff is unlikely to fold enough better hands to justify betting. Checking avoids putting more chips at risk.

My 5-high hole cards do not improve the paired board, and a bluff is unlikely to fold enough hands that can beat the board. I’ll take the free showdown rather than risk chips.

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is playable as an open. A raise to 250 puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Pocket nines are strong enough to 3-bet for value and deny equity, especially in a three-handed game. Raising to 800 applies pressure while avoiding an unnecessarily large commitment out of position.

Q7o facing a button open and a small blind 3-bet is far too weak to continue, especially with the opener still to act behind.

7-6 offsuit is too weak to continue against this sizable three-bet, even with position.

KJo is a strong button opening hand three-handed. Raise to 2.5 big blinds to take initiative while keeping the pot manageable.

ATo is ahead of a 3-handed button opening range, so a 3-bet from the small blind is standard; it avoids playing out of position in a multiway pot and gains fold equity against both the opener and the big blind.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to continue against a 10-big-blind three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act.

KJo is a weak call against a large 3-bet, especially with substantial domination risk from stronger king and jack hands. Fold rather than invest more out of position relative to the 3-bettor postflop.

T2o is below a sound button opening range even three-handed. Folding avoids playing a dominated, weak hand out of position against both blinds.

With T4 offsuit heads-up against the big blind, completing for 50 chips is preferable to folding or building a larger pot out of position.

Raise for value with a strong hand against the small blind’s limp, while using a size that can still be called by weaker hands.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a raise to 350.

On the button in a three-handed game, K2 offsuit is a marginal but playable steal. A modest raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

A6 offsuit has enough equity against a button open to defend at this price, but calling keeps the pot manageable out of position with the big blind still to act.

Calling 150 into a 600 pot gives about 4:1 odds, so K6o is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button open even with the small blind in. Out of position multiway, it is not strong enough to 3-bet.

Top pair with a weak kicker has some showdown value, but in a multiway pot from out of position, checking controls the pot and avoids building it against stronger aces.

K-high with a gutshot (needs a 4) and a backdoor flush draw on an ace-high board in a 3-way pot, with the preflop raiser still to act. Checking takes a free look rather than bluffing into a board that favors the raiser's range.

Both opponents checked to me on an ace-high flop that favors my preflop raising range. A small bet can win the pot now, and I have a gutshot if called.

I have top pair on a relatively dry board and am getting favorable pot odds. Calling keeps weaker aces and bluffs in while avoiding an unnecessary raise with a weak kicker.

Getting 6:1 with a gutshot to a 6-high straight on a 4, plus backdoor diamonds and position-closing action. That is enough equity with implied odds to call a small bet.

With top pair but a weak kicker in a three-way pot, betting risks building a pot against stronger aces. Check and evaluate the river.

I have only king-high with no real draw in a three-way pot against an ace-high board, and the button still has betting initiative. Checking keeps the pot small and gives up cheaply if someone bets.

With king-high and only a gutshot against two flop callers, a turn bluff is unlikely to work often enough. I’ll take the free river card.

I have top pair with a weak kicker, but the river completes the diamond flush and both opponents called the flop bet. Checking avoids value-owning myself or facing a difficult raise.

King-high has little showdown value, but bluffing into two opponents who both called the flop is unlikely to fold out their many Ax hands. Checking is the cheaper option.

King-high has some showdown value against missed draws. Bluffing through two opponents who both called the flop is unlikely to get enough folds.