Hold'em table

QTo is a profitable button open in a three-handed game. Raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

K2o is far too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a button open.

54o is far too weak to defend against a 2.5x button raise out of position; folding is clearly best.

Opening from the button with Q9o, which is well within standard 3-handed button opening range.

AKs is a premium hand and the button opened small; 3-betting builds the pot for value, isolates the opener, and puts pressure on the big blind while I keep fold equity and strong equity when called.

J♦5♦ is too weak to continue against a button open and a substantial small-blind 3-bet, especially out of position. Calling would require too much equity and a raise would be an unprofitable bluff here.

Q9o is too weak to continue against a 3-bet, even with position.

With only the big blind left and 3:1 pot odds, J6 offsuit is worth completing from the small blind rather than folding or inflating the pot.

I have a weak offsuit holding in the big blind facing a limp from the small blind, so taking a free flop is the standard play.

With only jack-high and no meaningful draw on a king-high paired board, I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the big blind’s range.

Holding six-high on a paired K-high board in position, checking back to see a free turn is standard.

I have only jack-high with no meaningful draw, and the paired queen turn improves some hands my opponent may have. I’ll take the free river rather than bluff into a checked-through flop.}

We hold complete air with six-high. Checking back avoids committing chips into a board where the opponent could easily have connected or have ace-high that won't fold.

My river pair of sixes is a modest showdown hand. A bet is unlikely to get called by worse often enough, so I’ll take the free showdown.

We hold two pair (nines and sixes with a king kicker) which beats missed hands and the board, but few worse hands call a value bet. Checking behind takes our showdown value.

KJo is a strong button-hand in a three-handed game, so I’m opening for value and initiative. A 2.5bb raise is a sensible size.

K9s has strong postflop playability and decent equity against a button open, making a flat call from the small blind reasonable at this price.

Pocket 8s multiway at 4:1 pot odds (150 to call into 600) is a clear profitable call; I'll reevaluate on the flop with strong set potential.

Checking out of position in a multiway pot with a gutshot straight draw and backdoor flush draw.

I hold 88 on a J-Q-6 board with two overcards; with no bet to me, checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the button's action before committing chips.

Both opponents checked, so a small value/protection bet can be called by weaker pairs and charge draws. I’ll keep the sizing modest with one pair on a multiway board.

I am getting 4:1 immediate pot odds to call a 1/3 pot c-bet with a gutshot to the nut straight, backdoor flush draw, and an overcard.

My underpair 88 is likely behind both a preflop raiser and a caller on a J-Q-6 board, and calling 250 needs ~17% equity I don't have with only two outs to improve. Folding is the cheapest line.

I picked up second pair and an open-ended straight draw on the turn; checking out of position to the flop bettor is standard.

The turn check gives me a chance to value-bet top pair while charging straight draws and weaker pairs. A moderate 600-chip bet keeps worse hands in while protecting against the connected board.

I have a pair of nines plus an open-ended/gutshot straight draw to the king-high straight with good pot and implied odds.

We hold third pair on a coordinated board; checking to reach showdown or evaluate facing a river bet is standard.

My pair of jacks with a king kicker has some showdown value, but the opponent called bets on both the flop and turn on a Q-J-9 board. Checking avoids value-owning myself against queens or two pair while letting missed draws lose at showdown.

Opening standard 2.5bb from the button with a strong offsuit broadway ace (AJo).

Queen-deuce offsuit is far too weak to defend against a 2.5x button raise while out of position as the small blind. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

T7 offsuit is marginal out of position, but the small additional call and favorable pot odds make defending preferable to folding.

I have only a ten-high hand with a gutshot to a straight, so checking is preferable to betting into the preflop raiser.

Check back with Ace-high and overcards to control the pot size and realize equity on a dynamic flop.

The flop checked through, and the paired turn is a reasonable card to represent a 3 or other strong hand. A modest bluff may fold out the button’s unpaired overcards; my hand has little showdown value.

Holding Ace-high with no draw on a paired board facing a substantial turn bet, we don't have sufficient equity or showdown value to continue.

32o is the worst hand positionally can get; folding preflop loses the least against two random ranges.

9-3 offsuit is too weak to continue out of position, even for the discounted call. I’ll avoid putting more chips in with a hand that plays poorly postflop.