Hold'em table

Opening on the button with AK suited for value and positional advantage.

T9 suited is a playable defend against a button open, and calling keeps the pot manageable while avoiding an unnecessary out-of-position 3-bet.

Pocket queens are a premium hand facing a button open and a small-blind call. A 3-bet to 1000 builds the pot and isolates while keeping stacks deep enough to continue postflop.

Holding premium AK suited on the button against a squeeze from the big blind, 4-betting to 2400 builds the pot with position and equity advantage.

T9 suited has insufficient equity and playability against a button 4-bet, especially with the big blind still involved. Fold rather than commit more chips out of position.

Pocket queens are too strong to fold to this 4-bet, and calling 1400 into 3650 is the right price. With a low SPR I can stack off on most flops without bloating the pot only against AA/KK.

QQ is now second pair on a king-high flop against a preflop 4-bettor who has position, so I check to pot-control and see the turn.

With top pair top kicker in a 4-bet pot with an SPR of 1.5, a small c-bet of around 30% pot extracts value from flush draws and weaker pairs while setting up a turn shove.

QQ still has showdown value and two outs against much of a 4-bet c-bet range, and 1500 into 6550 is too small to fold. Raising only folds out bluffs and gets called by better.

QQ is dominated by a 4-bet range on K-J, so I check for pot control and a free river rather than build a pot I am often behind.

With top pair top kicker and an SPR under 1, checking back controls the pot against turned two pairs or sets like JJ and KQ while keeping their bluffs and weaker holdings in for river play.

Queens have showdown value, but the king on board and villain's 4-bet plus flop bet make a thin value bet unattractive; checking lets me realize equity against a strong range.

With top pair top kicker and three spades on the board, betting river into a pot where stacks are shallow relative to the pot risks running into sets or flushes, while checking secures excellent showdown value.

K-high is a reasonable button open three-handed; raising applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the sizing modest.

85 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button raise from the small blind, so folding is the clear choice.

72s is too weak to defend out of position against a button open, even with closing action.

9-4 offsuit is too weak to open from the button against two live blinds, so folding preserves chips.

J5 offsuit is too weak to complete or raise from the small blind out of position.

T8o is just outside the standard 3-handed button opening range, so folding is the disciplined play.

A♠? ATo is strong heads-up after the button folds, so raise for value and initiative. A 300-chip total is a solid blind-versus-blind size.

T3 offsuit is too weak to continue against a 3x small-blind raise after the button folded. Folding avoids paying 200 more with a dominated, poorly connected hand.

9-4 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two blinds; calling would invite a difficult, out-of-position pot when either blind continues.

T3o is too weak to continue out of position for another 50 after the button folded; the posted blind is a sunk cost.

T7o is too weak and poorly connected to open from the button into two live blinds. Folding avoids a dominated, low-equity spot.

A4s is well ahead of random hands and plays well postflop; raising to 3bb blind-versus-blind to apply pressure and build a pot with initiative.

J9 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a small-blind open, and calling keeps weaker hands in without inflating the pot.

I hit top pair on a very wet broadway flop, but my kicker is weak; checking out of position controls the pot size and protects my checking range.

I have only a gutshot to a straight and no pair, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into this connected flop.

We hold Aces and Queens with a King kicker, but the paired Queen turn brings trips and straights into the opponent's range. Checking pot-controls out of position and keeps their weaker holdings and bluffs in.

I have only a gutshot straight draw, and checking takes a free river card without inflating the pot on a paired board.

We hold top two pair on a four-to-a-straight board; checking to realize showdown value without bloating the pot against possible straights.

My jack completes a Broadway straight, but the four-straight board makes worse hands unlikely to call a bet, while full houses are possible. I’ll take the showdown value without risking a raise.