Hold'em table

A3o on the button in 3-handed play is a standard open; raising to 2.5bb puts pressure on the blinds, and the ace blocks their strong hands.

A9 offsuit is strong enough to three-bet against a button open, and raising avoids playing a multiway pot out of position.

6♣5♠ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling 950 chips against the large three-bet requires too much equity. Fold rather than continue out of position.

A3o is too weak to continue profitably against a large small-blind 3-bet, even in position. It is dominated too often to call, and it is a poor 4-bet bluff candidate at this depth.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button against two players.

A♠7♠ is a strong blind-versus-blind hand; raising to 300 applies pressure and takes initiative while remaining a standard open size.

In the big blind against a small blind 3x open, I'm getting 3:1 to call 200 into 600, with position and a suited hand. 84s defends profitably here.

This low, connected flop favors the caller’s range, and my ace-high has only a gutshot plus backdoor spade potential. I’ll check and realize equity rather than c-bet into a board that hits the caller well.

We have an open-ended straight draw plus a backdoor flush draw, in position after the preflop raiser checked. A semi-bluff of about two-thirds pot wins now often and keeps strong equity when called..

The 400-chip bet requires roughly 29% equity, while my gutshot and possible ace outs are marginal and not always clean. I fold rather than continue with ace-high out of position.

QQ is a premium hand on the button; raise for value and to build the pot while putting pressure on the blinds.

42s from the small blind facing a button open to 3bb with the big blind still to act is a clear fold; it plays poorly out of position.

8♣4♦ offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, and calling another 200 chips is unlikely to be profitable.

95o is below a standard 3-handed button opening range at 100bb deep, so folding is the disciplined play.

With the button folded, T6 offsuit is playable heads-up for one more small blind. Completing keeps the pot manageable from out of position.

With a small pocket pair and no raise to call, checking keeps the pot small while preserving the chance to flop a set.

I have no pair or immediate straight draw on this flop, so I’ll check rather than build the pot.

With a small pair below all three board cards, a bet is unlikely to get called by worse or fold out enough better hands. I’ll take the free card and retain some showdown value.

I have a gutshot to Broadway but little showdown value. Checking avoids building the pot out of position against a range that can still contain an ace or queen.

I have only a small pair on a board with several overcards and no useful draw. With no bet to call, checking keeps the pot small.

My cards do not improve the board's pair of eights. With no showdown value beyond a possible chop, and several plausible hands able to call a bluff, I prefer to check.

My pocket threes are unlikely to win at showdown, while the opponent has shown weakness by checking every street. A small river bet can credibly represent a diamond or stronger made hand and may take down the pot.

My hand plays the board, so calling can only tie or lose. A river raise is too risky against a bet on this paired, three-diamond board.

On the button in a three-handed, rake-free game, a small open with 9-6 offsuit can profit from position and blind-fold equity.

6♥3♠ is too weak to defend the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Fold and avoid investing more out of position.

The button min-raised and the small blind folded, so I only need to call 100 into a pot of 450, about 22% equity required. 75o easily clears that against a wide button range, and I'm closing the action.

75o has no pair and only a gutshot-free, weak backdoor on a JT Q broadway flop that strongly favors the button's raising range, so I check and plan to give up against a bet.

I have an open-ended straight draw and position. A small bet can win the pot now while keeping the cost of a call manageable.

75o has no pair and no real draw on QJT with two clubs (only a gutshot-free weak backdoor), so it's too weak to continue even at these pot odds against a small c-bet.

With a small pocket pair on the button, opening for 2.5 big blinds takes initiative while preserving position and keeping the raise size modest.

92 offsuit in the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act, is a clear fold. It plays poorly out of position.

J5 offsuit is a marginal but defensible big-blind hand against a 2.5bb button open. The price is favorable heads-up, and there is no rake.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but it is too weak to build a pot out of position against the preflop raiser.

With a modest underpair on a coordinated flop, checking back preserves showdown value and avoids building a pot against the big blind’s stronger hands and draws.

I have a weak pair and no strong draw. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me evaluate the button's action.

Pocket sixes have some showdown value, but this board hits many hands that can continue against a bet. I’ll take the free river rather than turn my hand into a bluff.

Bottom pair has showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking avoids inflating the pot against stronger pairs or straights.

My pair of sixes has some showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by enough worse hands after the checks. Check and take the free showdown.