Hold'em table

On the button in three-handed play, K8o is a marginal but playable open with position and fold equity; a small 2.5bb raise keeps the pot controlled.

T5 suited is a marginal defend from the small blind against a 2.5× button open, especially with the big blind still to act and poor postflop position. I’ll avoid committing another 200 chips with a hand that realizes equity poorly.

Getting attractive pot odds to defend the big blind against a button open with an ace blocker.

Check to the preflop raiser with Ace-high and no strong draw on a wet board.

King-high with no pair or draw on a coordinated QJ7 flop has little equity when called, so I check back rather than bluff into the big blind's calling range.

We have Ace-high with modest showdown value and no draw; checking allows us to see a free river or re-evaluate against a turn bet.

King-high with no pair or draw on a paired board; checking is free and avoids betting into a range that often has me crushed.

I have Ace-high with showdown value on a paired board after action checked through flop and turn, making a check the most prudent play.

King-high has some showdown value after three streets of checks, and a bet mostly folds out worse hands while getting called by better. Checking is the higher-EV line.

A7 suited is a profitable button open in a three-handed game. A modest raise pressures the blinds while keeping weaker hands in the pot.

82s is far too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially out of position with the big blind left to act.

35 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open, especially out of position. Folding avoids paying 150 more with a hand that rarely flops well.

Q5o is too weak to open profitably even from the button in a 3-handed game.

Button folded, so this is heads-up versus the big blind with suited ace-deuce. A small raise takes the initiative and builds the pot rather than just completing.

The price is reasonable against a small-blind open, and 7-5 offsuit has enough equity to defend rather than give up immediately.

I have top pair on a dry rainbow flop as the preflop raiser, so a small one-third-pot c-bet takes the pot often and gets value from worse pairs and draws while keeping the pot manageable out of position.

I have only a weak runner-runner straight possibility and no meaningful draw on this flop, so calling the 200 bet is not worthwhile.

T2o is too weak to open from the button for a full big blind; folding preserves the stack.

The button has folded, and 7♦4♦ has enough playability heads-up to defend the small blind at the favorable price.

I have J8o in the big blind facing a small blind complete, so taking a free flop in position is standard.

I have no pair or meaningful draw, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the big blind’s range.

I hold a gutshot straight draw on a broadway-heavy board, and checking behind takes a free turn card in position.

I have a strong flush draw and can apply pressure after the flop checked through. A half-pot bet offers fold equity while keeping the cost modest if called.

Getting 3:1 on a call against a small probe bet in a limped blind-versus-blind pot, holding third pair that just improved on the turn.

The river king is a favorable scare card for my turn-betting range, and a 300-chip bluff can pressure weak pairs after the turn call. My hand has no showdown value, so checking is unlikely to win the pot.

On a board of Kd-Qs-3h-Jd-Ks, our two pair (Kings and Jacks) loses to any Queen, any Ten (which makes a straight), and any King. Facing a 3/4 pot bet after opponent led the turn, our hand is too weak of a bluff catcher.

KQo is a strong button hand in a three-handed game, so I’ll open-raise for value and initiative.

K8o is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button open, especially being out of position with the big blind left to act.

Q2s is too weak to defend from the big blind against a button open; it is dominated often and plays poorly postflop, so folding is best.

King-six suited is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play to apply pressure and play in position.

A4o is too weak to continue out of position against a button open; calling leaves me dominated and poorly placed, and a 3-bet bluff is not worth the risk.

3♠2♦ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling the raise out of position is not worth the price.