Showdown Hold'em table

K9 offsuit falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5 offsuit or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

Pocket threes meet the optimal preflop 4x threshold of 33 or better. Raising the maximum is preferred to checking or raising 3x.

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

Pairing a hole card on this low flop is strong enough to raise against a random dealer hand. The 2x raise has better expected value than waiting for the river.

Nine-six offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board without committing extra chips now.

A pair of nines using a hole card is strong enough for the 2x flop raise against a random dealer hand, despite the coordinated board.

Unsuited 2-3 is well below the optimal preflop raising range. Check to see the flop without committing an additional bet.

A pair of deuces using a hole card is strong enough for the flop raise against a random dealer hand. The backdoor diamond draw adds a little extra equity.

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

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

I have only queen-high with a nine kicker and no completed draw. Too few dealer holdings lose to this hand to justify the final 1x raise.

Q2 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold. Check to see the flop before committing a play bet.

The pair of fives is shared, and Q-2 provides no strong made hand or immediate draw. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold after seeing the full board.

Our pair of fives with ace-queen kickers beats enough unpaired dealer holdings to justify calling. With the dealer guaranteed to qualify, raising has higher expected value than forfeiting the ante and blind.

A♥3♥ is a 4x raise under the optimal preflop table, which raises every ace. Suitedness adds flush potential.

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

Nine-six offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board without committing additional chips now.

A pair of sixes using a hole card, backed by a gutshot straight draw, is strong enough to raise on the flop. Betting 2x extracts more value than waiting for the river.

Q3 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

The open-ended straight draw and backdoor diamond draw offer potential, but queen-high is too weak to justify raising now. Checking preserves the option to fold unfavorable runouts or raise after improving.

I have a six-high straight, which beats most dealer holdings and earns a 1:1 blind payout when it wins. Raising has substantially higher expected value than folding.

K♦2♦ is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range, which includes every suited king. Raising the maximum has higher expected value than checking or raising 3x.

Pocket kings are a premium starting hand and a clear maximum preflop raise. Raising 4x maximizes expected value against the dealer’s random holding.

Ten-eight offsuit is outside the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Middle pair using a hole card is strong enough to raise against the dealer’s random holding. Betting 2x now has better expected value than waiting for the river.

A4 offsuit falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range, which includes every ace. Raise the maximum 40 chips to maximize expected value.

Pocket nines are comfortably within the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected value with this strong starting hand.

K7 offsuit is within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5 offsuit or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

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

I have flopped a full house, sixes full of tens, making me a strong favorite. Raising now maximizes the play bet while preserving the potential full-house blind payout.

K2 offsuit falls below the optimal preflop raising threshold of K5 offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board.

King-high with no pair or immediate straight or flush draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to make a better-informed river decision without committing more chips now.

King-high wins too rarely on this board, and many dealer holdings make a qualifying pair or straight. Raising has lower expected value than folding.

Four-two offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to bet after seeing the community cards without committing additional chips now.

Bottom pair plus a flush draw provides enough showdown value to raise on the flop. Although the low spade makes the draw vulnerable to higher flushes, the combined pair and draw favor betting over checking.

Unsuited 4-2 is well below the optimal preflop raising range. Check to see the flop without committing an additional bet.

A pair of deuces using a hole card is strong enough for the standard 2x flop raise against a random dealer hand. Raising now captures more value than waiting for the river.

Pocket deuces fall below the optimal preflop raising threshold of pocket threes. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the flop.

Pocket deuces are an underpair to all three flop cards and are too weak to justify the 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to improve or make a better-informed river decision.

The pair of twos wins against 280 of the 990 possible dealer holdings and ties one. Raising has an expected net loss of about 18.66 chips, better than the guaranteed 20-chip loss from folding.

Queen-jack offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chip value.

A7 offsuit is in the optimal preflop 4x raising range, which includes every ace. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

K♦5♦ is within the optimal preflop 4× raising range, which includes every suited king. Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

King-nine offsuit falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (K5o or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

J9 suited falls within the optimal preflop 4x raising range (J8 suited or better). Raising the maximum maximizes expected chips.

A3 offsuit is a 4x raise under the optimal preflop strategy, which raises any ace. Taking the maximum raise maximizes expected chips.

8-6 offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising range. Checking preserves the option to raise after seeing the board without committing more chips now.

Trip eights are a strong favorite on this flop, with chances to improve to a full house or quads. Raising 2x maximizes value rather than waiting for a smaller river bet.

King-two offsuit is below the optimal preflop raising threshold of king-five offsuit. Checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves the hand.

King-high with no pair or immediate straight or flush draw is too weak for a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to make a profitable river bet after seeing the remaining cards.

A pair of twos beats enough unpaired dealer holdings to make the 1x call better than forfeiting both the ante and blind.