Hold'em table

82 offsuit is the worst starting hand and I am first to act, so folding avoids paying the big blind with no equity advantage.

T5 suited is playable heads-up from the small blind, and calling the additional 50 keeps the pot small with a hand that can make strong draws.

Nine-seven offsuit is playable against a small-blind limp, but not strong enough to build the pot. Checking lets me see a free flop in position.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker has little value on this ace-high, two-spade board. Check to control the pot and avoid betting into the big blind's range.

Middle pair is likely ahead of many limped hands. A small bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws while denying free cards.

Bottom pair with a ten kicker is often ahead of a small stab on this board and has enough showdown value to call once. Raising would isolate us against stronger hands and draws.

I have only a weak pair on a board with several plausible stronger hands, so I’ll take the free card rather than inflate the pot.

Second pair can get value from draws and weaker pairs while denying them a free river card. A half-pot bet keeps the risk modest against an ace.

Bottom pair is weak on this ace-high board, and the turn bet leaves me with few reliable improving outs. Folding avoids paying off a likely stronger pair or value bet.

KTo is a strong button open in a three-handed game, so raise for value and initiative rather than limp into the blinds.

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

Q4 offsuit is too weak to call a button open from the big blind; folding avoids putting more chips in with a dominated, low-equity hand.

J7 suited is a reasonable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

84s is too weak to continue out of position against a button open, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding preserves the stack for better spots.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to defend against the button's raise, even with the discount from the big blind.

Suited 97 from the button is a standard open in three-handed play; a 2.5bb raise takes the initiative cheaply.

98s has enough playability to defend against a button raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable while the big blind is still to act.

A7 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind for 150 more into a 600-chip pot, but is not strong enough to squeeze against a raise and a call.

With middle pair and a weak kicker on a two-spade flop in a three-way pot, checking keeps the pot manageable and avoids betting into stronger hands or draws.

With ace-high and no strong draw in a three-way pot, I’ll check to the preflop raiser rather than build the pot.

Both opponents checked to me on a queen-high flop where I hold middle pair. A small c-bet can fold out weaker hands and deny free cards while keeping the pot manageable if called.

A small pair has reasonable showdown value, and calling 250 into a 1,000-chip pot offers favorable pot odds. Raising would be unnecessarily risky with a weak kicker and a player still to act.

Ace-high with only a backdoor flush draw is too weak to continue against a flop bet and a call in a three-way pot.

The ace of spades is a poor turn to bluff into the preflop raiser, and my middle pair is not strong enough to value-bet. I’ll check and reassess if they bet.

I have only third pair on an ace-queen board and seat 2 already called the flop, so checking back controls the pot and avoids bloating it with a weak showdown hand.

A pair of nines with an eight kicker is unlikely to get called by worse hands, and the opponent’s flop raise leaves plenty of stronger one-pair hands. I’ll take the free showdown rather than bluff into a checked-back turn.

I have only a pair of nines on an ace-queen board, and seat 2 has called earlier streets. Checking realizes showdown value without bloating the pot.

With a small pair on the button in a three-handed pot, opening for a modest raise takes initiative and can win the blinds while retaining set value if called.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

34o is too weak to continue against a button open after the small blind folds; calling 150 more has poor equity and reverse implied odds.

Pocket nines are a strong button hand three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind open builds value while keeping the raise size efficient.

2c4h is too weak to continue against a button open; folding saves chips.

J5 offsuit is weak, but the button’s opening range is wide three-handed and the call costs only 150 into a 400-chip pot. Calling realizes enough equity at this price; reraising would be too ambitious with this hand.

I have a weak flush draw on a highly coordinated monotone flop, so checking keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser act.

Pocket nines have showdown value, but this ace-king monotone flop favors hands that would call a bet. Checking keeps the pot manageable and preserves weaker hands in the opponent's range.

A small turn bet can take the pot after the flop checked through, while my flush and gutshot straight draws give me useful equity if called.

The small turn bet gives a reasonable price to continue with 99 in position. The big blind can have missed hands or draws as well as stronger pairs.

My jack-high hand has little showdown value, but the button called my turn bet and may have a pair. The river completes a backdoor flush draw, yet I have no diamond blocker, so I’ll avoid a low-equity bluff.

Pocket nines have some showdown value against missed draws and smaller pairs. Betting on this board is unlikely to get enough better hands to fold or worse hands to call.