Hold'em table

8c 2c is too weak to open even from the button in 3-handed play.

Complete the small blind for a favorable price with a hand that can occasionally make a disguised straight; avoid inflating the pot out of position.

T8 offsuit is too weak to raise after the button folds and the small blind only completes. Checking is free and keeps the pot small.

I have a weak pair with a poor kicker and no strong draw, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids building it against a stronger hand or draw.

I have top pair on a dry flop and the small blind checked, so a half-pot bet gets value from worse pairs and protects against overcards.

A small pair has enough showdown value to continue against this modest bet, and calling keeps the pot controlled.

A low pair with a weak kicker is too vulnerable to build the pot on this turn, especially with a possible spade draw. I’ll check and keep the pot small.

I have second pair plus a spade flush draw, and the opponent checked the turn after calling the flop. A half-pot bet gets value from worse pairs and draws while denying free equity.

A small pair with no meaningful draw is unlikely to be ahead of a turn bet after the flop raise and call. I fold rather than pay 200 with few reliable improvement outs.

On the button three-handed, T4 suited is playable as an open; raising applies pressure and takes advantage of position.

45s is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

Defending 97s from the big blind against a 2.5bb button raise getting favorable pot odds with good playability.

Flopped trips out of position; checking to the preflop aggressor who has a high c-betting frequency on an Ace-high paired board.

I have a flush draw and can apply pressure after the big blind checked. A small continuation bet risks little while giving me a chance to win the pot immediately.

I flop trips on an A-9-9 board; calling keeps the opponent's wide c-betting range in the hand while underrepresenting my strength.

I have trip nines on a paired board and will check to the preflop aggressor to induce another bet or protect my checking range.

A half-pot turn bet applies pressure after the flop call while giving my diamond draw some fold equity. I can still improve on the river if called.

I have trip nines with an open-ended straight draw. Calling keeps the opponent's bluffs and weaker value range in while keeping the pot controlled.

I have trip nines with a mediocre kicker on a board with three diamonds and an ace. Checking allows villain to bluff busted draws or bet worse value, keeping my line consistent.

I have an ace-high flush, which is strong on this river and can get value from weaker flushes or stubborn pairs. A modest value bet also limits the cost if the opponent has a full house or a higher flush.

Holding trip nines on a board with an ace and a potential flush, calling 1100 into a pot of 3050 offers favorable pot odds against missed draws and lower value bets.

AKo is a premium hand on the button in a 3-handed game, so I open-raise to 3x the big blind for value and initiative rather than flat-calling.

Nine-six offsuit is far too weak to defend out of position against a button raise.

A 3bb button raise makes this a poor defense with 4-2 suited: it has weak equity and limited playability even with the pot odds. I fold rather than call or bluff-raise.

85 offsuit is too weak to open raise or play even from the button in a 3-handed game.

T9 offsuit is a playable hand heads-up, but completing the small blind keeps the pot manageable while out of position.

Button folded and the small blind only completed. Ace-ten is ahead of a limp often enough to raise for value and take the initiative heads-up.

T9 offsuit is playable but weak against a substantial raise, especially out of position and with deep stacks. I’ll avoid calling 300 more with likely domination and poor postflop position.

As the button in a three-handed game, 6♣4♣ is playable with position and can benefit from opening aggression. A modest raise to 250 gives me fold equity without committing too much.

T3o is too weak to continue against a button open, especially out of position. Folding avoids putting more chips in with a dominated, low-equity hand.

J6o is too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

A2s is a standard button open in three-handed play; raising to 3bb builds the pot with a suited ace and position.

J7s is too weak to call or 3-bet against a 3bb button open from out of position.

J-3 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise, especially out of position; calling would risk 200 more with poor playability.