Hold'em table

J9o is a decent button open in a 3-handed game. I raise to 2.5bb to pressure the blinds and use my positional advantage.

J6 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still behind, especially out of position.

KTs is a strong big-blind defense against a button open, with good straight and flush potential. Calling costs 150 into a 400-chip pot and keeps weaker hands in the opponent's range.

With two overcards but no direct draw on this rainbow flop, checking keeps the pot controlled out of position. There is little reason to lead into the preflop raiser with this hand.

We have middle pair with a decent kicker on a draw-heavy board. Betting for value and protection against overcards and straight draws.

King-high with no direct draw or backdoor flush draw is too weak to continue comfortably against a half-pot bet out of position. Our overcard outs are not reliably clean, and stronger draws make better bluff-raising candidates.

On the button three-handed, K6o is ahead of blind ranges and plays well in position, so I open-raise to pressure the blinds rather than limp.

Q4 suited is too weak to defend profitably from the small blind against a 2.5bb button raise with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids playing a frequently dominated hand out of position.

A4s has good playability and is too strong to fold; calling keeps the pot manageable while allowing me to realize equity with a suited ace.

I have top pair with a gutshot straight draw, but I'm out of position against the preflop raiser. Checking allows me to see his action and control the pot.

As preflop aggressor in position, semi-bluff with a gutshot to the nut straight plus a king overcard; a half-pot bet can fold overcards and unmade hands while retaining outs if called.

I have top pair with an overcard kicker plus a wheel gutshot and backdoor flush draw. Facing a half-pot c-bet, calling keeps the pot manageable out of position while my hand is too strong to fold.

I have middle pair with a gutshot straight draw. The turn Q is an overcard that likely hits my opponent's range, so I'll check to control the pot and see his action.

In position after opponent checked the queen turn, I have a gutshot plus king overcard and little showdown value, so a sizable continuation bet gives fold equity against small pairs while retaining outs if called.

My pair of fours is likely behind after the queen on the turn and the opponent's continued aggression. I do not have enough outs to justify calling 800.

A4 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed, with an ace blocker and position if called. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds without overcommitting a marginal hand.

7-3 offsuit is a very weak hand, especially out of position against a button raise. Folding preserves my stack for better opportunities.

J8 suited in the big blind has good equity and playability against a wide button 2.5x open, and calling 150 into 400 offers favorable pot odds despite being out of position.

With jack-high, no pair or direct draw on a paired queen board, checking keeps the pot small and lets me evaluate a likely button continuation bet cheaply.

A small continuation bet pressures the big blind’s missed hands on this paired board while risking little. Ace-high has some showdown value, and the ace of hearts provides backdoor nut-flush potential if called.

Jack-high with only backdoor club and straight draws has insufficient equity against the button's preflop raise and flop bet on a paired queen board, especially facing likely turn pressure.

A3o is a weak hand but from the button in a 3-handed game, a raise to 2.5bb can steal the blinds or take the pot down postflop with position.

K6 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act; calling realizes equity poorly.

62 suited has poor connectivity and weak pair potential against a button raise. Despite the pot odds, its limited equity realization out of position makes folding preferable.

Three-handed on the button, Q7o is well within a wide opening range and plays better as a raise than a limp or fold. A 2.5bb open pressures the blinds and gives initiative postflop.

K2 suited is too weak to continue profitably from the small blind against a 2.5bb open, with the big blind still to act. Poor position and the risk of a dominated king outweigh its flush potential.

97o is a weak offsuit one-gapper out of position, and calling or raising risks more chips with poor playability despite pot odds. Folding avoids difficult postflop spots and preserves stack.

T4 offsuit is too weak for a standard three-handed button open, with poor connectivity and frequent domination. Without evidence that the blinds overfold, folding is preferable.

Q8s is a playable hand heads-up against the big blind after the button folded. Raising to 300 puts pressure on the BB, takes initiative, and can win the pot immediately or build a pot with a disguised hand.

K4o has decent king-high equity against a wide small-blind steal, and I am in position heads-up getting good pot odds to defend my big blind.

I have Q8 suited with no made hand on a paired, two-diamond board and I'm out of position. Checking lets me see how Seat 2 reacts without bloating the pot with a weak bluff catcher.

With only king-high on a paired, flush-draw board after the preflop raiser checked, I have marginal showdown value and no draw worth building a pot with. Checking takes a free card and keeps the pot controlled.

The turn diamond completes a flush, and our line (raise preflop, check flop, bet turn) can credibly represent a made flush. A two-thirds pot bet risks 400 to win 600 and should fold many non-diamond, non-ten hands.

King-high with only the board pair on a three-diamond paired board beats only narrow bluffs; calling 400 against a turn bet likely facing a flush, trips, or better pair is unprofitable.