Showdown Hold'em table

3-4 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

Bottom two pair is strong on this flop and is well ahead of most dealer holdings. Raising now captures value rather than waiting until the river for a smaller raise.

T6 suited falls below the recommended preflop raising range, so checking preserves the option to decide with more information on the flop.

The ten gives me an open-ended straight draw: either a nine or an ace completes it. Raising now takes advantage of those eight outs.

J5 suited is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

J♠5♠ has no made hand beyond the shared pair of threes and no immediate flush draw. Checking preserves the option to make a better-informed decision on the river.

My best hand is the board’s two pair, so I cannot win outright, but many dealer holdings also play the board and tie. Those pushes make the 1x raise less costly on average than folding.

8♠4♠ is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

With no pair or immediate draw on this flop, a 2x raise has poor expected value. Checking preserves the option to decide after seeing the full board.

My pair of sevens has only an eight kicker, and most dealer holdings beat it. Folding loses less on average than making the river bet.

J9 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Middle pair with a jack kicker is strong enough to raise on this flop against a random dealer hand.

6♠4♠ is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Middle pair and a gutshot straight draw give this hand enough strength to raise on the flop rather than wait for the river.

Any ace is a 4x raise under the published preflop strategy, including A-4 offsuit.

Q-T offsuit is within the recommended preflop 4x raising range (Q8 offsuit or better).

T4 suited is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

Top pair on the flop is strong enough to raise now rather than risk waiting until the river.

K-2 offsuit falls below the recommended preflop 4x raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

King-high is weak on this flop, and the flush and straight possibilities need two favorable cards. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river.

The board gives me a pair of threes with a king kicker. Against the dealer's unknown hand, calling the final 10 chips is better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Ace-king suited is a premium starting hand and comfortably meets the optimal preflop 4x-raise threshold.

K-J suited is in the recommended preflop 4x raising range and has strong winning and flush potential.

Pocket queens are well above the preflop 4x raising threshold and have strong equity against a random dealer hand.

K-Q offsuit is a strong enough starting hand to raise 4x preflop under the published optimal strategy.

8-3 offsuit is well below the profitable preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Eight-three has no pair or meaningful draw on this ace-king-six flop. Checking avoids committing a 2x raise with a weak hand.

My pair of fives with an eight kicker beats too few possible dealer hands to justify the river bet.

8-4 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

With 8-4 offsuit on a three-diamond flop, I have no made hand or diamond draw. Checking preserves the option to decide after seeing the full board.

My 4 makes an eight-high straight. Most dealer holdings lose to it, so raising is substantially better than folding.

Q8 offsuit is in the recommended preflop 4x raising range.

Q2 suited falls below the recommended preflop 4x raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

A gutshot straight draw and backdoor spade draw are not strong enough to justify a 2x raise on this high-card flop. Checking preserves the option to decide with all five community cards visible.

My queen improves the board’s ace-high hand. Many dealer holdings miss the board, so calling is better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

J9 suited falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range.

J-2 offsuit falls below the profitable preflop 4x raising range. Checking keeps the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

With only a jack kicker to the board’s pair and no meaningful draw, I’ll see the remaining cards before committing a play bet.

My J kicker plays with the board’s two pair and beats many dealer holdings. Raising is better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Q2 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

On this paired flop, Q-2 has no strong made hand or draw. Checking preserves the option to decide after seeing the turn and river rather than committing a 2x raise now.

My queen makes queens and nines, beating the board's two pair and most dealer holdings. Raising is better than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Any ace is in the optimal preflop 4x range; A-2 offsuit should raise now rather than wait for later streets.

Bottom pair plus a jack-high flush draw gives strong equity against the dealer. Raising now captures that value rather than waiting for a river decision.

A pair of fives is ahead of many random dealer hands. Raising now captures the 2x opportunity rather than waiting until the river, when only a 1x raise is available.

J-3 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise if the flop improves the hand.

J-3 has no pair or strong draw on this K-7-4 flop. Checking preserves the option to decide on the river rather than committing a 2x raise now.

The board gives me a pair of fours with a jack kicker. I can beat enough dealer holdings to make the final raise better than folding.

Pocket threes are in the recommended preflop 4x raising range.

8♠5♠ is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop.

Middle pair on the flop is strong enough to raise now rather than wait for the river.

Pocket fives are in the recommended preflop 4x range; raising now captures their value before the board develops.

Q6 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Middle pair with a queen kicker is strong enough to raise on this dry flop rather than wait for the river.

Q3 offsuit is below the recommended preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise on a favorable flop or decide on the river.

Top pair is strong enough to raise on the flop, despite the weak kicker and possible spade draws.