Hold'em table

9-4 offsuit is one of the weakest hands. On the button facing the big blind against two players, folding is better than calling or bluffing without a good reason.

With the button folded, 9-7 offsuit is playable heads-up, but raising out of position would build a pot with a marginal hand. Completing the small blind keeps the investment low.

JTs is a premium suited connector with postflop position against a limping small blind, making an iso-raise standard for value and initiative.

Nine-seven offsuit plays poorly out of position against a sizable raise. Calling is unlikely to realize enough equity to justify the extra 250 chips.

On the button in a three-handed game, 87 offsuit is playable as a small open-raise with position.

J6o is a weak offsuit hand out of position facing a button raise, making it an easy fold.

T7 suited in the big blind is getting 400 to 150, about 2.7 to 1, against a button open. It has enough equity and playability to call rather than fold, and a 3-bet without a strong hand isn't worth it.

I have a pair of sevens with a ten kicker on a very wet, three-heart flop where I hold no heart. I'm first to act out of position against the preflop raiser, so checking keeps the pot small and lets me see what the button does.

Middle pair can get value from weaker pairs and heart draws. A small bet also protects against unpaired overcards without building a large pot.

I have a pair of sevens (middle pair) on a three-heart flop with a backdoor spade draw only. Facing a small 200 bet into 550 (about 27% pot odds), calling is reasonable versus a button c-bet range, and raising would risk too much against flush draws and better hands.

A pair of sevens on a four-heart board has some showdown value but is easily beaten by any heart. Betting would only get called by better hands, so I check and keep the pot small.

I have a pair but no heart on a four-heart board. Checking preserves my showdown value without building a pot against a flush.

Four hearts are on the board and I hold only a pair of sevens with no heart. My hand is a weak showdown hand that would fold out worse and get called by better, so I check.

The board already has a flush, and I have no heart. Checking preserves a likely split against hands without a heart rather than risking a bluff into an opponent who may have one.

Opening standard 2.5bb from the button with a decent one-gapper in 3-handed play.

4-2 offsuit is the worst starting hand, and I'm out of position facing a button raise with the big blind still to act. Folding is clearly best.

A3 offsuit has enough equity to defend the big blind against a button min-sized opening range, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

With ace-high, no diamond, and a gutshot on a coordinated flop, I prefer to check and avoid building the pot out of position.

We flopped a king-high straight, but the board is monotone with three diamonds and we hold no diamond blocker. Checking back controls pot size and protects against check-raises from flushes and combo draws.

The button checked back the flop, so a turn bet can fold out some weak hands while giving my gutshot a chance to improve if called.

We made a King-high straight on the turn, but the board features three diamonds and broadway possibilities, so flat calling keeps villain's bluffs and worse made hands in while controlling pot size.

Ace-high has some showdown value against missed draws. With no diamond blocker on this three-diamond board, a river bluff is less attractive, so I’ll check.

On a monotone board with possible flushes and higher straights (AJ), checking back ensures we realize our strong showdown value against missed draws or marginal pairs without facing a check-raise.

K7 suited is a playable hand on the button in a 3-handed game, so I open with a small raise to take the initiative and put pressure on the blinds.

Six-five offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act.

J4o has very poor playability and equity out of position against a button open, making this a clear fold.

Nine-deuce offsuit is too weak to profitably open from the button against two blinds.

Q7o plays poorly out of position postflop against the big blind, making a fold the cleanest zero-EV play.

A7o is well within the standard opening range on the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb puts pressure on the blinds.

2s9s is a weak offsuit-ish hand out of position from the small blind against a button raise with the big blind still to act; calling 200 more is not profitable, so I fold.

The small blind's dead money gives 6-5 offsuit sufficient pot odds to defend against a button raise. Calling keeps the pot manageable while preserving the chance to make a strong hand.

I have an open-ended straight draw but no made hand. Checking to the preflop raiser keeps the pot manageable and lets me see their action.

Checking back second pair with top kicker to control the pot size and realize equity in position.

The flop checked through, and my open-ended straight draw gives me eight river outs if called. A turn bet can also fold out some unpaired hands.

I hold third pair with top kicker in position after checking back the flop. The turn probe bet from the big blind can contain numerous bluffs or semi-bluffs, making a call profitable given the pot odds.

My straight draw missed and six-high has little showdown value. A river bet can fold out missed draws with higher cards and some weak pairs.

Seat 2 led turn and fired a large bet on the river paired board. My two pair of Tens and Sevens loses to any King and any Ten, beating only pure bluffs.