Hold'em table

52o is too weak to open even from the button in 3-handed play, so folding is standard.

With 5-3 offsuit, completing from the small blind leaves me out of position with a weak hand. I’ll save the additional 50 chips.

KQs is a strong button opening hand three-handed, and a 2.5 big blind raise builds the pot while preserving positional advantage.

2-6 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise.

KJo in the BB against a button open to 2.5x is a clear defend, since we're getting good pot odds. It has enough playability to call rather than 3-bet.

Trips with a king kicker on a dry paired board; checking to the preflop raiser lets them c-bet their air and keeps their weaker hands in the pot, since they will bet this board often.

A small continuation bet on this dry paired board can fold out some ace-high hands and weaker draws while keeping the risk low. K-Q also has overcards and a backdoor diamond draw.

Trips with a king kicker on a dry paired board is very strong. Slowplaying by calling keeps the button's c-bet range in, including bluffs, and lets them keep betting on later streets.

Trip jacks with a king kicker is well ahead. Leading about two-thirds pot gets value from pairs and heart draws, and charges those draws rather than risking villain checking back.

K-Q high has no meaningful draw on this paired turn. Against a 600-chip lead after the flop call, the pot odds do not justify continuing.

Pocket sevens is a strong three-handed button opening hand. Raising to 3bb builds value and pressures the blinds.

Q9o from the small blind facing a button open to 3bb, with the big blind still to act behind, is a weak, dominated hand out of position; folding is standard.

A5 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise, but not strong enough to build a large pot out of position.

With ace-high and a backdoor flush draw on a paired board, I prefer to check out of position and see how the preflop raiser acts.

I bet small with the pocket pair for protection against overcards and to extract value from worse pairs and draws while controlling pot size on the paired board.

The small flop bet gives me a good price to continue with ace-high and backdoor nut-flush potential. Raising would risk too much against a range that can contain an eight or an overpair.

Ace-high has some showdown value, and leading into the preflop raiser on this paired board is unlikely to get enough better hands to fold.

I have a medium-strength pair on a paired, draw-heavy board. Betting for protection and thin value targets unpaired overcards, straight draws, and flush draws.

Ace-high has little chance to improve on this turn, and holding the ace of spades blocks some of the opponent’s likely flush-draw bluffs. Calling the second bet out of position is unlikely to be profitable.

On the button 3-handed, 54o is a reasonable steal candidate: a small raise to 2.5bb attacks the blinds with a hand that plays okay postflop in position.

76 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5bb button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

9-5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise at this sizing, especially out of position.

A7 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed, so I raise to build the pot and pressure the blinds.

K7 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind versus a button open with the big blind still behind.

98o in the big blind facing a 2.5x button open, getting 150 to win 400, is a clear defend by calling. It plays well postflop in position-agnostic spots and is too weak to 3-bet for value.

98 offsuit has only a backdoor and a gutshot-ish draw (needs 5 for... actually no straight draw) on an ace-high board that favors the button raiser. Checking to the preflop aggressor is standard here.

Top pair is strong enough to bet for value against weaker pairs and draws. A small bet keeps those hands in while limiting the pot with a modest kicker.

Small c-bet of about a third of the pot means I only need roughly 20% equity. 98o has backdoor straight and flush potential plus overcards to the 4 and 3, so it can defend against a wide button c-betting range.

I have only nine-high with no real draw on an ace-high board, and the button's range contains many aces. Checking keeps the pot small, and I'll likely give up to a bet.

Top pair can get value from weaker pairs and draws. A 500-chip bet also charges draws on the turn.

With 9-high on 4c Ah 3d 6d, I have no pair and no real draw, since one river card cannot complete a diamond flush with only one diamond in my hand. Calling 500 into a pot of 1,410 is not justified, and bluff-raising against an aggressor who has bet every street is risky.

J9 offsuit is a playable button opening hand in three-handed play, and raising applies pressure to the blinds while retaining positional advantage.

K3o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act, is a clear fold; it plays poorly out of position.

Q2 suited has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button raise at this price, though it plays poorly enough that I prefer calling to reraising.

I have a flush draw, but the preflop raiser has a range advantage on this A-K-4 flop. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to their bet.

This ace-high board strongly favors my preflop raising range, so a small continuation bet can profitably pressure the big blind's many misses while risking little.

The queen-high flush draw has enough equity to call a small flop bet. Raising risks building a large pot against the button's strong ace-heavy range.

I have a flush draw but no made hand. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me respond to a bet based on its size.

A substantial turn barrel credibly represents an ace, king, or strong club draw and pressures weaker flop floats and middle pairs. Our J-high has little showdown value, so betting is preferable to checking.

I have the nut flush draw. The immediate pot odds are short, but the chance of winning more on a spade river makes a call worthwhile.

I have a queen-high flush, which is strong enough to value bet after the river completes the spade draw. This size can get called by aces and weaker flushes.

Our jack-high has no showdown value and cannot profitably call a substantial river bet after the opponent called both prior streets.