Hold'em table

Pocket deuces are worth opening on the button in a three-handed game. A 2.5-big-blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

6-5 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise out of position with the big blind still to act.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a button open, needing only 27.3% equity on the call. Calling preserves chips against stronger aces while keeping the button's weaker hands in.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but this king-queen-high flop favors the preflop raiser. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets us evaluate their bet size before committing more chips.

Pocket deuces have some showdown value, but this K-Q-7 flop gives them little chance to improve when called. Checking keeps the pot small.

Our pair of sevens has showdown value, but betting gets limited value from worse hands and rarely folds out better pairs. Checking keeps the pot manageable and preserves the option to bluff-catch against a small bet.

After the big blind checks twice, a delayed bet can fold out overcards and other weak hands. With pocket deuces unlikely to improve, taking the pot now is preferable to checking toward showdown.

The button's delayed turn bet can include draws and unpaired hands after the flop checked through. Third pair has enough showdown value to call at 28% pot odds, while raising would mostly isolate stronger hands.

Our sevens have showdown value against missed draws and weaker hands, but a bet is unlikely to get called by worse. Checking preserves that value without building the pot against queens or trip kings.

Pocket deuces have limited showdown value, but a river bluff is unlikely to fold enough queens or kings to be profitable. Checking avoids investing more and can still beat missed draws.

98o is a playable button open in 3-handed play; raising applies pressure to the blinds and takes initiative rather than limping or folding.

J7 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5bb button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Its poor playability out of position makes folding preferable to calling or bluff-raising.

T4 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise. I’ll save the 150-chip call for a stronger hand.

Q7 offsuit is a reasonable marginal button open three-handed with no rake. A small raise pressures the blinds while limiting investment with a hand that benefits from position.

AQ suited is strong enough to three-bet against a button open, and a larger size from the small blind discourages a multiway pot.

T3 suited is far too weak to call a 900-chip 3-bet from the small blind after a button open; folding preserves the stack.

Q7 offsuit is too weak to defend against this large small-blind three-bet, even in position. Its poor playability and domination risk make folding preferable to calling or bluffing.

Six-five suited is a reasonable button open three-handed, and a 2.5-big-blind raise puts pressure on the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Q6 offsuit is weak out of position in the small blind facing a button raise, with the big blind still to act; folding avoids a marginal dominated spot.

T7 offsuit is a weak defend against a 2.5bb button raise, with poor equity realization out of position. Without evidence of an unusually wide opening range, folding is preferable to calling or bluff-raising.

J2 offsuit is too weak even on the button in a 3-handed game, with poor playability and dominated jack potential. Folding preserves the stack versus calling or raising into the blinds.

Completing the small blind costs only 50 into a pot of 150. With connected cards and only the big blind remaining, a cheap entry is preferable to folding or inflating the pot out of position.

8-4 offsuit is too weak to raise for value, and checking lets me see a free flop against the small blind.

With seven-high, no immediate draw, and only backdoor straight potential, this is a weak bluff candidate out of position. Checking avoids investing in a marginal spot and preserves the option to improve.

Bottom pair is vulnerable to overcards, so a small bet can get value from weaker hands while denying free cards.

Seven-high with only backdoor straight possibilities is too weak to continue against a half-pot bet out of position. Folding avoids investing further with poor equity realization.

QTo is a profitable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while retaining positional advantage if called.

A6 suited is a reasonable three-bet bluff against a button open. Raising avoids a difficult out-of-position call with the big blind still to act.

T9 offsuit is too weak to call a 10bb 3-bet for 900 more with the original raiser still to act behind, lacking the equity and playability needed.

QTo is a marginal, frequently dominated hand against a small-blind three-bet to 10 big blinds. Position does not sufficiently compensate for the large call and poor equity realization, so folding is preferable.