Hold'em table

ATo is well within the standard button opening range in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb builds the pot with positional advantage.

5-3 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Eight-seven suited is a profitable button open three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

23o is the worst starting hand and I am out of position facing a button raise; folding is clearly best.

Holding AQo in the big blind against a button open 3-handed, raising to 1000 builds the pot with a strong value hand and denies equity out of position.

87 suited plays well in position against a big blind three-bet. Calling lets me see a flop without committing more to a marginal preflop hand.

As the preflop 3-bettor with top pair strong kicker on an ace-high dry board, a small c-bet around one-third pot extracts value from worse aces, king-x holdings, and underpairs while maintaining range advantage.

My 8-7 has no pair or immediate draw on A-K-6, and calling the 3-bettor's flop bet is unlikely to be profitable.

K2o is too weak to continue from the button against a full big blind, especially with two opponents and no read, so folding avoids dominated spots.

In a blind-versus-blind situation, a pocket pair has strong equity against a wide range, making an open-raise standard for value and initiative.

Q2 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise, and I’ll have position after the flop.

On a coordinated Ts-Js-6h flop that heavily connects with the big blind's calling range, checking my underpair out of position is standard.

After the preflop raiser checks, a small position bet may fold out unpaired hands. I can give up cheaply if called or raised.

On a coordinated Ts-Js-6h board, pocket fours have very little showdown value or equity against the bettor's range. Folding is the standard disciplined play.

53s is slightly too weak to open profitably on the button even in 3-handed play, making a fold standard.

Ace-king offsuit is a strong heads-up hand. Raising from the small blind builds the pot and puts pressure on the big blind.

A5s has good equity and implied odds in position, closing the action with 250 to call into 450. No need to bloat the pot preflop against an unknown SB range.

Top pair with top kicker is strong against the big blind’s calling range. A small bet gets value from weaker pairs while keeping the pot manageable.

Calling 250 with A-high, a backdoor spade draw, and potential overcard outs; pot odds are reasonable and I have position.

Top pair with the best kicker is strong enough to bet for value. A 750-chip bet also charges straight draws on this turn.

I have only ace-high with no meaningful draw against an opponent who has raised on both flop and turn. The call price is too high for my equity, so folding is best.

K4 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. Raising gives me a chance to win the blinds while retaining position if called.

A8s is strong enough to defend the small blind against a button open, and flat calling keeps the pot controlled while out of position.

KQo has excellent equity and closing the action getting 4 to 1 pot odds makes this an easy call.

I have middle pair with an ace kicker and backdoor flush draw on a draw-heavy board. Betting for protection and value against overcards and draws.

I have only two overcards with no draw on an 8d 4s 9h board facing a two-thirds pot lead and the preflop raiser still left to act.

Bottom pair is weak, but the king kicker gives me some improvement potential, and the bettor can have draws or weaker pairs. I’ll call once in position and reassess on the turn.

I have second pair with an ace kicker on a coordinated board. The turn queen is an overcard that improves the button's preflop raising range, so I check to control the pot rather than bet into a stronger range.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess on the river.

My pair of eights has showdown value but is beaten by any Q or 9, and opponent's flop call suggests a strong range. Checking controls the pot and avoids value-cutting myself against better hands.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, and a river bet is unlikely to get enough better hands to fold. Checking avoids putting more chips at risk.

3h9s is too weak to call or raise from the button; folding avoids investing chips with a dominated hand and no prior dead money incentive.

KJs is a premium hand in a blind-versus-blind situation, so raising to 3bb builds the pot and exerts pressure.

K6 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a small-blind raise to 300. Calling keeps the pot manageable with a marginal hand.

Out of position on a low, connected board that heavily favors the big blind's calling range, checking with two overcards and backdoor equity is standard.

Top pair with a strong kicker is worth a value and protection bet on this draw-heavy flop. A modest size can get calls from weaker pairs and draws.

I missed this low, connected board completely out of position, and calling a bet without direct draws or equity is unprofitable.