Hold'em table

Q9 suited is a profitable button-raising hand three-handed. A modest raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

KTo has useful blockers and enough equity versus a button opening range to use as a selective small-blind 3-bet. Applying pressure denies equity to the big blind and may win the pot preflop.

87 offsuit is too weak to cold-call a small-blind three-bet, especially with the original raiser still to act. It also lacks useful blockers for a four-bet bluff.

Q9 suited is playable in position, but the large 3-bet from the small blind makes calling a poor proposition without a read. Fold and preserve the stack.

Pocket deuces are a profitable button open three-handed, with position and good equity versus blind defending ranges.

97 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5bb button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids a low-equity, out-of-position spot.

With the button opening wide in a three-handed game, 8♠6♦ is a reasonable big-blind defend at this price. I’ll call and evaluate the flop.

I have only 8-high with no meaningful immediate draw, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids bluffing into the preflop raiser on a connected board.

I have a vulnerable but likely best pair after the preflop caller checks this dry flop. A moderate value bet charges overcards and draws while retaining calls from weaker hands.

I have no pair and only a weak gutshot draw, so calling this sizable flop raise is not worthwhile.

A5 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed, with an ace blocker and position after the flop. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds without overcommitting a marginal hand.

K♣2♠ is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5bb raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

7-high suitedness is absent, but 7-5 offsuit retains enough playability and pot odds to defend the big blind against this small button raise.

We have no made hand or meaningful immediate draw on this king-high flop. Checking preserves our stack and lets us respond to the bettor's action.

Ace-high has some showdown value, but this connected, two-spade board gives the big blind many pairs and draws that will continue against a bet. Checking preserves chips and lets us reassess the turn in position.

The paired turn is a credible card to represent a strong king, jack, or nine after the checked flop. A modest stab can fold out unpaired overcards while risking relatively little.

Ace-high has little improvement potential against a king, jack, or nine, and the spade slightly blocks potential bluffs. With stronger hands available to defend against this turn bet, folding is preferable.

On the button in a three-handed pot, a small open can win the blinds and 8-high has some positional playability. I’ll keep the raise modest rather than invest heavily with a weak offsuit hand.

Suited 7-5 has enough playability to defend the small blind at this price against a button open, especially with position likely contested by the big blind.

Ace-king is a strong value squeeze against a button open and small-blind call. Raising to 1300 charges both ranges and discourages a multiway pot when we are out of position against the button.

8♠3♥ is far too weak to continue against a large raise with the small blind already in the pot.

The large squeeze creates poor immediate odds with a weak suited connector, and we will be out of position heads-up.

On the button with 9-high suited-ish connectivity, a small open can profitably leverage position and initiative against the blinds.

Q3 suited is too weak to profitably defend from the small blind against a 2.5bb open with the big blind still to act. Its suitedness does not offset poor position and frequent domination.

Q8 offsuit is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button min-open; calling gets a favorable price while avoiding an unnecessary three-bet with a marginal hand.

I have no pair and only limited backdoor potential, so I’ll take the free option and see whether the button bets.

I will make a small continuation bet with bottom pair, targeting overcards and weaker hands while keeping the pot controlled.

This flop missed my hand, and Q-high has little realistic equity against the button’s bet. Calling would require too much hope for backdoor improvement.

J7 offsuit is a marginal button steal with both blinds still holding unrestricted ranges. A small raise leverages position and gives a favorable price on winning the blinds without committing much.

88 is strong enough to continue against a button open, but calling keeps weaker hands in and avoids inflating the pot out of position with the big blind still to act.

T3 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise and small-blind call, especially out of position postflop.

With a medium pair on a two-club flop, checking out of position keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser act.

J-high has only weak backdoor straight possibilities and no club draw, making it a poor continuation-bet candidate against the small blind's calling range. Checking preserves chips and takes a free turn in position.

With a medium pair on a connected, draw-heavy board, checking keeps the pot controlled and lets me evaluate the button's river action.

After two checks from the small blind, a delayed continuation bet can fold out many better high-card hands. We have little showdown value but retain a gutshot straight draw if called.

88 is a reasonable bluff-catcher after the flop checked through, and the turn bet gives favorable pot odds. Call to continue against stabs and draws while avoiding an unnecessary raise against stronger hands.

I have a straight with the river 8 and can value-bet against hands such as top pair or two pair. A moderate bet also limits losses if the opponent has a higher straight with T-8.

Second pair is only a bluff-catcher here, and the turn call followed by a river lead credibly represents many 8x straights. Missed clubs provide possible bluffs, but without evidence of aggressive bluffing, I would not pay 700 to find out.