Hold'em table

Holding 86 offsuit on the button in 3-handed play is too weak to profitably open-raise.

Button folded, so this is heads-up versus the big blind. J3 suited has enough equity and playability to complete for 50 into a 150 pot rather than fold or inflate the pot with a weak raise.

T8 offsuit is a playable hand with good equity against a small-blind limp, but raising risks bloating the pot with a marginal hand. Take the free flop in position against the limper.

Middle pair with a weak kicker on a queen-high flop; checking controls the pot and avoids building a pot out of position against a better queen or a flush draw.

A small probe may fold out unpaired hands, and I have a gutshot to the straight if called.

I have middle pair on a queen-high flop and only need to call 100 into 300. That price is good enough against a small stab from the big blind who checked preflop, so I continue rather than fold or inflate the pot with a weak kicker.

I have middle pair with a weak kicker on a queen-high board after the opponent bet the flop. Checking controls the pot and lets me see their turn action before committing more.

I have only a gutshot straight draw and no made hand, so checking back preserves my chance to improve without inflating the pot.

I have a pair of jacks on a king-queen board with three clubs, so a small river bet is unlikely to get called by worse. Checking realizes showdown value cheaply.

I have no meaningful showdown value, but the river king and completed flush draw make this a credible bluff after the opponent checked. A 250-chip bet applies pressure without risking the full pot.

I only have a weak pair of jacks on a king-queen board with three clubs, and the river bet looks like value too often to call.

K4s is playable as a button open in three-handed poker. A 3x raise builds the pot with position and suited-king equity rather than limping.

T-2 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

98 offsuit plays poorly out of position facing a 3x open from the button, making fold the standard play.

J4 offsuit is too weak to call from the button, especially with both blinds still in the hand.

Blind vs blind confrontation after the button folded; opening to 3 bb with an Ace to apply immediate pressure.

Queen-ten suited is too strong to fold to a small-blind open and has enough equity and playability to continue. Calling keeps the pot manageable out of position rather than bloating it with a three-bet.

We have bottom pair with top kicker out of position; checking controls the pot size while retaining decent showdown value.

I have top pair with a queen kicker on a dry flop and the preflop raiser checked. A half-pot bet gets value from worse tens and overcards while keeping the pot controlled.

In a blind-vs-blind battle, bottom pair with top kicker has plenty of equity against a half-pot stab to justify calling.

Turned two pair (Aces and Deuces). Standard line after check-calling the flop out of position is to check our entire range to let the flop bettor continue with bluffs and value bets.

The ace on the turn is a scare card and I only have second pair with no draw. Opponent checked after calling my flop bet, so I check back to control the pot and realize showdown value.

I have two pair (Aces and Twos) on a relatively dry board. A half-pot value bet can get called by weaker Ax holdings and stubborn tens.

Queen-ten is only a bluff-catcher on an ace-high river, and seat 1's delayed half-pot bet is more often an overpair, ace, or better ten than a bluff on this dry board.

A3s is a standard open from the button 3-handed to apply pressure and play in position.

Pocket sevens are ahead of a button open in three-handed play, so I 3-bet to 800 to build the pot and deny equity before the big blind acts.

K-4 offsuit is too weak to continue against the button open and small blind 3-bet, especially out of position with the button still to act.

Holding suited ace with position, getting decent pot odds (550 to win 1700 total), calling the 3-bet is standard.

I flopped a set of sevens on a king-high board with a club draw, so I bet about two-thirds pot for value and to charge draws.

We completely missed this flop with no draws or backdoor equity, facing a substantial continuation bet from the preflop 3-bettor.

J2 offsuit is too weak to call or open even from the button in three-handed play; folding avoids a dominated, poorly playable hand.

With the button folded, T2 suited has enough equity to complete the small blind for just 50 more chips. I’ll avoid inflating the pot with a raise.

We hold Q9o in the big blind facing a small blind limp, giving us an easy check to see a free flop in position.

I have no made hand or club, and checking takes a free card with some backdoor spade potential.

I have top pair and a queen-high flush draw, so I bet for value and protection against draws.

I have no pair, no club, and very little realistic draw equity against the flop bet. Calling 150 would be difficult to justify.

A♠? No—A♥Q♥ is a strong button hand, so raise for value and initiative while keeping the sizing reasonable three-handed.

32o is the absolute bottom of any opening or defending range, so folding from the small blind against a button open is standard.

3-5 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open; folding avoids putting more chips in with a hand that has little equity or playability.