Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is playable as a steal with position. A 2.5 big blind raise keeps the risk modest.

A7o plays poorly out of position facing a button open with the big blind still behind to act, making folding the standard play.

Closing the action with A8o against a button open, I'm getting good pot odds and can evaluate on the flop rather than bloating the pot out of position.

Ace-high with only a backdoor flush draw on a paired board; checking to control the pot and see the turn.

A small bet can get value from draws and weaker hands while protecting my six against overcards.

I have an overcard and backdoor nut flush draw, and the bet is small relative to the pot. Calling keeps my range wide and lets me realize equity on later streets.

I have only ace-high on a paired board with no strong draw, so checking controls the pot and avoids putting more chips in against a likely king or pocket pair.

My six has showdown value, but betting risks building a pot against a king or a stronger pair. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess on the river.

Ace-high has no showdown value; bluffing the river to represent the flush or a king to fold out weaker pairs.

Bottom pair is a weak bluff-catcher on a river that completes the heart flush. Facing this lead, I don't expect to beat enough of the bettor's range to justify a call.

J4o is too weak to open even on the button in a 3-handed game. Folding is standard.

Completing the small blind with 3:1 pot odds; J4o has enough equity against a random big blind, and I can check/fold most flops.

8-2 offsuit is too weak to raise for value, and checking lets me see the flop for free.

I have bottom pair on a draw-heavy flop and am out of position; checking controls the pot and lets me see the opponent's action before committing more chips.

The small blind checked, and my hand has little showdown value. A small bet can win the pot now without risking much.

Getting about 2.5:1 with bottom pair and potential two-pair/trips outs, so calling the small flop bet is reasonable; raising would risk bloating the pot with a marginal hand out of position.

I have two pair (jacks and fours) on a draw-heavy board. Betting for value and to charge flush/straight draws.

I have no made hand or viable one-card draw, so calling the turn bet is not worthwhile.

86o is weak but the button has position and fold equity; a small raise can take the blinds or isolate with a playable pot.

9-5 offsuit is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

J5 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5x button open.

KQs is a strong button opening hand, and a 2.5-big-blind raise builds the pot while keeping the opening size efficient.

K2o is far too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

Q5o offsuit is a weak, easily dominated hand. Calling out of position against a button raise is marginal at best, and folding avoids unnecessary risk.

Open-raising a pocket pair on the button 3-handed for standard positional value.

T6o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

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

Top pair with a medium kicker is strong enough to continue, but checking to the preflop raiser lets them bet weaker hands and bluffs.

We hold third pair with very little equity to build a pot, so checking behind for pot control and a free turn card is best.

Top pair is likely ahead after the flop checks through. A turn bet gets value from weaker pairs and charges heart and spade draws.

Fourth pair with no draws on a wet board against a turn bet into a checked flop is an easy fold.

4d2s is the weakest possible offsuit holding in a three-handed pot, and calling 100 chips out of position against a raise-sized big blind is not profitable. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

7-3 offsuit is too weak to play out of position against the big blind.