Showdown Hold'em table

J5 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

Two pair, jacks and fives, is a strong flop holding on this rainbow board. Raising 2x captures value against the dealer’s mostly weaker holdings rather than waiting for a smaller river bet.

Nine-five offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Check to see the flop without committing an additional bet.

Nine-high with no pair and only backdoor straight and flush possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

Two pair, jacks and nines, beats most dealer holdings without a jack or a higher pocket pair. Its showdown value comfortably exceeds the threshold needed to raise rather than surrender the ante and blind.

Pocket queens are a premium starting hand and clearly qualify for the optimal preflop 4x raise. The maximum raise maximizes expected value against the dealer’s random hand.

K8 offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5 offsuit or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chip value.

J8 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

Top pair with an eight kicker is strong enough to raise on this flop. Betting 2x captures value against the dealer’s random holdings rather than waiting for the river.

Eight-six offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after a favorable flop.

With only eight-high and a gutshot straight draw, this hand is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

We have only king-high, and too many dealer holdings make a pair or a straight. Raising has lower expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

Pocket threes are in the optimal preflop 4x raising range (33+). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

A7 offsuit is a 4x raise under the optimal preflop strategy, which raises every ace. Taking the maximum raise maximizes expected value.

K6 offsuit falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5 offsuit or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

Q-J offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

King-five offsuit meets the optimal preflop 4x threshold of K5o or better. Raising the maximum maximizes expected value.

Q2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of Q8 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

Queen-high with no pair and only a backdoor straight draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to make a better-informed river decision.

Raising has an expected net result of about -19.59 chips versus -20 chips for folding. The 204 winning and 21 tying dealer holdings out of 990 make calling narrowly preferable.

Suited 8-2 is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Check to see the flop before committing a play bet.

Eight-high with no pair and only a backdoor diamond flush possibility is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to evaluate the completed board before committing more chips.

With only queen-high and an eight kicker, this hand loses to every dealer pair and most unpaired holdings. Raising has lower expected value than folding.

T7 offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

Ten-high with no pair or immediate straight or flush draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

Although the four-diamond board is dangerous, the pair of tens still beats enough dealer holdings without a diamond to make calling more profitable than folding.

Q5 suited falls below the optimal preflop raising threshold of Q6 suited. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

A pair of fives using a hole card is strong enough for the 2x flop raise. Its showdown equity and chances to improve favor raising rather than waiting for the river.

Seven-eight offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after improving on the flop.

Top pair on this dry flop is strong enough to raise for value against a random dealer hand. Raising now captures more expected value than waiting for the river.

J4 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold. Checking preserves the option to raise after a favorable flop without committing extra chips now.

With only jack-high, no pair, and no immediate straight or flush draw, a 2x raise is not justified. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the final board.

My pair of threes with a jack kicker wins too rarely against the dealer’s possible holdings. The expected return from a 1x raise is worse than folding.

K♣6♣ is a suited king and falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

Pocket fives are in the optimal preflop 4x raising range (33 or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

K3 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of K5 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

King-high with no pair and only a backdoor flush draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to evaluate the completed board before committing more chips.

Calling has higher expected value than folding: the paired board guarantees dealer qualification, and our king kicker beats enough unpaired dealer holdings to justify the final 1x bet.

Suited 4-2 is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

The flop gives me a pair of fours using a hole card, which meets the standard flop threshold for a 2x raise. Betting now gains more value than checking despite the weak kicker.

J5 suited is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of J8 suited. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Jack-high with no pair, no flush draw, and only backdoor straight possibilities is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after the full board is revealed.

A pair of jacks has enough showdown equity to justify the final 1x bet. Despite the straight and flush threats, raising has higher expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

K6 offsuit falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range of K5 offsuit or better. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chip value.

T3 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Ten-high with only a gutshot straight draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

My 3 completes a six-high straight. Raising has substantially higher expected value than folding, with an additional blind payout when I beat the dealer.

Q7 suited is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (Q6 suited or better). Raising maximizes expected chips rather than waiting for the flop.

A6 offsuit is a preflop 4x raise under the optimal strategy table, which recommends raising any ace. The maximum raise maximizes expected chips.

Five-two offsuit is well below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

With five-high, no pair, and no immediate straight or flush draw, a 2x raise is not justified. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

Our pair of twos beats enough unpaired dealer holdings to make calling better than forfeiting the ante and blind. The additional 10-chip bet has higher expected value than folding.

Pocket sixes fall within the optimal preflop 4x raising range of pocket threes or better. Raising 4x maximizes expected chips.

9-2 offsuit is well below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Top pair using a hole card is strong enough to raise on the flop. Despite the weak kicker and connected board, betting now offers better expected value than waiting for the river.

Ten-deuce offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

Ten-high with no pair, no flush draw, and only a backdoor straight possibility is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

Calling has better expected value than folding: the ten kicker wins against enough unpaired low-card holdings, with additional ties. Folding guarantees losing both the ante and blind.