Hold'em table

Nine-four offsuit is too weak to open profitably by default, even on the button. Folding avoids investing in a hand with poor equity and playability against the blinds.

Pocket threes are ahead of a big blind's random range heads-up after the button folded, so I raise for value and fold equity rather than limping.

Defending K8o in the big blind against a small blind 2.5bb open given favorable pot odds and in-position play postflop.

Bottom set on a dry rainbow flop is very strong heads-up; betting builds the pot for value against Jacks, sixes, and draws while denying free cards.

I completely missed this dry flop with King-high and no draw against a standard continuation bet.

On the button in 3-handed play, Q6 suited is well within opening range with position and flush potential, so a standard raise pressures the blinds.

Holding 8c 3h out of position against a button open is an easy fold.

Calling costs 150 to contest a final pot of 550, giving favorable odds against a button opening range. Suited 5-3 has enough straight and flush potential to defend the big blind at this price without rake.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker and no flush draw is best checked out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets us evaluate their bet size before committing more chips.

As the preflop raiser in position, a small continuation bet can fold much of the big blind's wide range; I have an overcard and backdoor spade equity if called.

Bottom pair is strong enough to defend once against a button continuation bet of less than half the pot, with only 23.8% equity needed on the immediate call. Calling keeps bluffs in and avoids inflating the pot with a weak made hand.

Bottom pair has limited showdown value, and the king favors the preflop raiser's range. Checking keeps the pot small without turning a weak made hand into an unnecessary bluff.

In position after opponent checked the king turn, I have a gutshot to the nut straight. A two-thirds pot semi-bluff can fold pairs and diamond draws while retaining equity if called.

Bottom pair with no meaningful draw is too weak to continue against this turn barrel. Calling requires about 29% equity, and the king strengthens the bettor's range while leaving us with few reliable improvement outs.

QJo is a standard open on the button in 3-handed play. Raising to 2.5bb establishes initiative in position.

64s is too weak to defend profitably from the small blind against a 2.5bb open, with poor position and the big blind still able to squeeze.

QTo defends well against a 2.5bb button open, getting a good price in the big blind heads-up.

With queen-high and only two overcards on a low connected flop, checking preserves equity and lets me evaluate the button's action rather than bluffing into a board that favors continuing ranges.

The flop is heavily connected and favors the big blind's defending range. Checking behind to realize equity with two overcards is the safest line.

With Q-high overcards on a low connected board, checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize equity on the river after opponent checked back the flop.

The board heavily connects with the big blind's calling range, so checking behind with Queen-high and a gutshot to take a free river card is preferable to betting into potential traps or draws.

I have only queen-high with little showdown value against ace/king-high, but the paired river also completes clubs and my checked line can credibly represent a flush or seven, so a lead bluff can fold better highs.

I have queen-high with no showdown value and no club blocker on a coordinated board, making a call or bluff raise unprofitable.

KJo is a strong opening hand on the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while leveraging position when called.

Pocket eights are ahead of a wide button opening range three-handed; three-betting from the small blind for value and protection rather than playing out of position in a multiway pot.

Holding 83o facing an open raise and a 3-bet from the small blind is an easy and standard fold.

The relatively small three-bet gives me 3.1-to-1 on a call, and KJ offsuit is strong enough to continue against a small-blind restealing range. Position improves my ability to realize equity without inflating the pot with a four-bet.

As the preflop 3-bettor with pocket eights on a T-7-4 two-heart board, I likely have the best hand but am vulnerable to overcards and draws, so a small c-bet protects equity and gets value from worse pairs and draws.

The small continuation bet gives me a favorable price to continue in position with two overcards and backdoor straight and king-high flush possibilities. Calling preserves equity against unpaired hands without inflating the pot against the stronger part of the three-betting range.

With pocket eights on a paired ten-high board, I have showdown value but am behind any ten. Checking out of position controls the pot and avoids building it against Tx while letting draws and weaker pairs stay in.

Their turn check gives us an opportunity to bluff out stronger unpaired hands such as AQ and AK. This sizing credibly represents a value/protection bet, while we retain some chance to improve if called.

Pocket eights are only a bluff-catcher on the paired T-7 board, losing to Tx, 7x and higher pairs which dominate the turn betting range. The 1700 call needs about 27% equity and would still face difficult river bets, so folding preserves chips.

7-2 offsuit is the weakest starting hand; calling 100 preflop has negative expected value even on the button.

In a blind versus blind situation, Q7s is well ahead of random hands and plays well as an open-raise to 3bb.

Nine-six offsuit is a marginal defense against a 3bb raise, with weak playability and no useful high-card blockers. Without evidence that the small blind is opening excessively wide, I fold.

A9o is a standard opening hand on the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb to apply pressure and build the pot in position.

Ace-king is a strong value three-bet against a button open. Raising to 1100 compensates for being out of position and discourages the big blind from entering cheaply.

J6 offsuit is far too weak to call a 3-bet for 1000 out of position in the big blind.

Facing a substantial 3-bet from the small blind, A9o is dominated by most continuing ranges and does not justify calling 850 chips.