Hold'em table

T4 suited is too weak to profitably open from the button under default unknown opposition.

With the button folded, K3 offsuit is strong enough to open against the big blind. A 2.5-big-blind raise gives us a chance to win the blinds without committing too much.

Calling costs 150 to contest a 500-chip pot, requiring 30% equity. Q6 offsuit is a reasonable defense against a small-blind opening range, especially with position postflop and no rake.

King-high has little equity on this connected flop, so I’ll check rather than build the pot out of position.

Bottom pair has showdown value but cannot comfortably build a pot on this coordinated board. Checking keeps weaker hands in and realizes equity with a backdoor queen-high flush possibility.

King-high has little equity on this coordinated board, and betting into a possible straight or flush would be costly. I’ll check and keep the pot small.

My pair has some showdown value, and the queen-high flush draw gives me useful river equity. Checking realizes that equity for free on a coordinated board without risking a check-raise.

King-high has little showdown value. The river ace favors my preflop raising range, so a bet may fold out weak pairs.

Bottom pair is only a bluff-catcher, and calling requires winning about 31% of the time. The river ace gives the raiser plausible value hands, while our queen of diamonds blocks some natural missed-draw bluffs.

On the button, 8-7 offsuit is playable as a steal with position after the flop. A modest raise pressures the blinds without committing much of the stack.

KJo is a strong three-bet candidate against a wide button opening range, with blockers to KK, JJ, and AK. The larger out-of-position sizing pressures the opener and discourages the big blind from entering cheaply.

2-4 offsuit is far too weak to continue against an open and a large 3-bet out of position.

87 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large three-bet, even with position.

KQs is a strong button opening hand with excellent postflop playability. Raising to 2.5 big blinds builds value while pressuring the blinds.

75 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind versus a button open, especially with the big blind still behind.

J6 offsuit is a marginal but playable big-blind defense against a button open at this price, especially with the small blind's dead money in the pot.

I have jack-high with no immediate draw. Checking avoids putting more chips into the pot against the preflop raiser.

Two overcards and a gutshot give this continuation-bet bluff useful equity when called. Betting pressures ace-high hands and small pairs while retaining position on later streets.

J6 offsuit has only a weak overcard and no immediate draw. Calling this flop bet out of position is unlikely to be profitable.

6-4 offsuit is too weak to open from the button at this stack depth; folding avoids playing a dominated, low-equity hand.

AQ suited is a strong heads-up hand. Raising to 350 builds the pot and puts pressure on the big blind while playing out of position.

Nine-four offsuit is too weak to defend against a 3.5-big-blind raise, even with position. Its poor equity realization and lack of useful blockers make calling or bluff-raising unattractive.

J8 suited is a profitable button open three-handed, and raising gives me initiative in position.

A5 suited is a strong semi-bluff three-bet against a button open, blocking premium aces while retaining flush and straight potential. The larger out-of-position sizing pressures the opener and discourages the big blind from entering.

4-2 offsuit is far too weak to continue against an early raise and a large 3-bet out of position.

J8 suited is too weak to continue against this large three-bet, even with position.

63s is near the bottom of a button opening range, with weak high-card strength and limited connectivity. Without evidence that the blinds overfold, folding avoids a marginal investment.

7-5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind without favorable implied odds.