Hold'em table

On the button in 3-handed play, 54s is a solid suited connector to open for a standard 2.5bb raise.

K2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Closing the action from the big blind with J8s, I'm getting good pot odds against a likely wide button open. Calling keeps the pot manageable and avoids bloating it out of position.

I have J-high with minimal made-hand value on a paired board, and checking avoids bloating the pot out of position against the preflop raiser.

As the preflop aggressor in position on a paired, disconnected board, a small continuation bet of roughly one-third pot applies pressure across the big blind's missed holdings while we hold backdoor straight and flush potential.

J-high with no pair or draw on a paired board, out of position against a preflop raiser who continued betting. Folding is the clear choice.

A9 suited is a strong button opening hand three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise builds the pot while keeping the investment controlled.

T2 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise in a 3-handed game. Folding avoids playing a dominated hand with poor postflop potential.

Getting attractive pot odds with zero rake in the big blind against a button open, J9o has sufficient equity and playability to call.

Second pair with a gutshot straight draw out of position against the preflop raiser; standard check to evaluate their action.

This connected flop favors the big blind’s calling range. With only an ace overcard and backdoor draws, I prefer to check in position and reassess on the turn.

I have middle pair with a medium kicker on a paired board; checking to control the pot size and realize showdown value against button's checking range.

Ace-high has some showdown value, and this paired turn offers little incentive to build the pot. Checking back keeps weaker hands in and preserves position on the river.

I have middle pair (Jacks) with a decent kicker on a paired board where the opponent has checked down flop and turn; checking allows me to realize showdown value or evaluate any small river stab.

Ace-high has some showdown value after both players checked the flop and turn. Betting would mainly risk getting called by better hands while folding out worse ones.

On the button in a 3-handed game, J9o is strong enough to open-raise and apply pressure on the blinds while using position. A raise to 300 gives me initiative and can take down the pot preflop or build a pot with position.

Q5o is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise.

64 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a 3x button raise, so defending for another 200 chips is unlikely to be profitable.

Opening from the button with K8o to attack the blinds and take positional advantage.

Four-deuce suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Closing the preflop action with a small pair, I'll call the extra 100 to try to flop a set with deep stacks behind.

With a low underpair on a Q-high flop and out of position, checking controls the pot and avoids bloating it against the preflop raiser.

Check back with King-high to control the pot size and realize showdown equity on later streets.

With a small underpair and no strong draw on a coordinated board, checking controls the pot and avoids facing a raise from the preflop raiser.

I turned top pair after the flop checked through; betting half-pot extracts value from draws and second-best pairs while retaining position.

I have only a small pair of 3s on a board with two overcards and a possible flush draw; facing a turn bet with poor equity and no clear draw, folding is best.

K7 suited is strong enough to open on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5 big blind raise applies pressure while keeping the pot manageable.

A8s is strong enough to 3-bet against a button open, and raising takes initiative while denying the big blind a cheap call. I will fold to a 4-bet and proceed cautiously if called.

QJo is heavily dominated facing a button open and small blind 3-bet, making it an easy fold out of position.

The small blind's three-bet is relatively small, and K7 suited has enough playability in position to continue for 500 chips.

With ace-high and no club on a monotone flop, checking keeps the pot controlled and avoids building a large pot out of position with little equity.

The preflop aggressor checked a monotone flop, so a small positional bet can fold out some unpaired hands while risking relatively little.

Ace-high with no club and no real draw is unlikely to be ahead of a button flop bet after calling a preflop 3-bet; folding avoids chasing a marginal hand out of position.

With A7o on the button in a 3-handed game, raising applies pressure on the blinds and uses position to take the initiative. A standard 3x open is appropriate given the marginal but playable hand.

Small pocket pair out of position facing a 3bb button open with the big blind still to act behind us is a standard fold.

A6 suited is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button raise. Calling closes the preflop action without building a large pot out of position.

Out of position with ace-high and no immediate draw, I’ll check to the preflop raiser rather than build the pot.

As the preflop raiser on a K-J-3 flop, I will continuation-bet to pressure the big blind's weak range and take down the pot when possible. My ace-high also has some backdoor equity if called.

Ace-high has little chance to improve on this flop, and calling out of position against a bet is unlikely to be profitable.