Hold'em table

J2 suited is playable as a button open three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Ace-five offsuit from the small blind facing a button raise is marginal, but the price is right to see a flop in a three-way pot with the big blind still to act.

Getting 4:1 pot odds with A9s, calling is profitable. Raising out of position with a marginal hand risks building a large pot.

With ace-high and no pair on a 9-6-3 board, I have little showdown value, so I'll check for a free look at the turn rather than bloat the pot out of position.

I have top pair with an ace kicker on a dry flop, so I will bet for value and protection after the small blind checks.

J-high has little equity on this flop against a bet into two players, so calling 500 is not worthwhile.

I hold only ace-high with a weak straight draw facing a 500 bet into a 1250 pot, so I need about 22% equity to call and my equity is well below that.

QJ offsuit is a playable button hand in 3-handed play, so I'll open-raise to 250 to take the blinds or build a pot with initiative.

With A4s in the small blind facing a button raise, I have enough equity to call and see a flop. Folding would be too tight in a 3-handed game, and raising out of position with a marginal hand invites a reraise.

Eight-deuce suited is too weak to defend out of position against a raise and a caller. Its equity is difficult to realize even at this price.

I have ace-high with a backdoor diamond draw and no made hand, so I prefer to check out of position and see the button's action rather than build the pot.

As the preflop raiser with an open-ended straight draw (J-Q on T-9 needs a K or 8) and position, a half-pot continuation bet can win the pot now or pick up equity on later cards.

I have the nut flush draw plus an ace overcard, and I'm getting 3:1 pot odds to call the flop bet. Calling keeps my range strong enough without overcommitting out of position.

With a marginal pair of fours and ace kicker on a coordinated board, checking controls the pot and avoids bloating it against the preflop raiser's stronger range.

I have an open-ended straight draw (Q-J with T-9 on board) and no made hand, so checking keeps the pot small and gives me a free card.

I have two pair (nines and fours) with an ace kicker; opponent showed weakness by checking the turn, so I bet for value on the river.

I have only a missed draw (Q-high with no made straight or pair) on a paired board, and seat_3's river bet of 800 likely represents a made hand, so calling is not profitable.

2s6h is a very weak offsuit hand with poor playability, and calling 100 chips out of position against two players is not profitable. Folding preserves chips.

K8 offsuit is strong enough to open heads-up from the small blind. Raising puts pressure on the big blind and gives me a chance to win the pot immediately.

Calling 200 into a 400 pot gives about 2:1 pot odds, and 63 offsuit is a marginal hand that often has enough equity against a wide small-blind raise to justify the call.

This connected flop favors the big blind’s calling range. I have an open-ended straight draw but no made hand, so I’ll check and avoid building the pot out of position.

I have a pair of sixes with a gutshot straight draw to 3-4-5-6-7, which is a decent hand to see a free turn card. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids bloating it out of position against an opponent who has already checked.

After the flop checked through, a turn bet can win the pot now. If called, I have an open-ended straight draw and a possible king overcard.

I hold only a pair of sixes below the jack on a board with no pair, so I need about 29% equity to call 400 into a 1000 pot. Seat 1's turn bet after checking the flop likely represents a stronger range, so folding is the better play.

T7 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise uses position without committing too much.

Facing a 200-chip call in a 3-way pot with 3-to-1 pot odds, Q4 suited is a marginal but reasonable call from the small blind rather than folding a cheap hand.

J5o is too weak to call a raise and a call from the big blind, especially out of position. Folding is the disciplined play.

I have only a queen-high flush draw with four hearts on board and no pair, so checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the next card cheaply.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting into the small blind's calling range risks building a pot with a weak hand. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

I hold Q-4 high with no pair on a K-high board, so I have little showdown value. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids bloating it out of position.

Two pair is strong enough to value-bet against kings, weaker pairs, and draws. Betting 450 also charges straight and flush draws on this connected board.

I have only a Q-high flush draw with one card to come, about 20% to hit, while calling 450 into a 1050 pot needs about 30% equity. Seat_1 has shown strength on the turn, so folding is the better play.

Facing a 100-chip call from the button with 3d6d, the price is close to the hand's equity against two blind-range opponents, and the suited low cards are playable enough to see a flop cheaply.

Getting 5:1 pot odds to complete the small blind with K-high, so calling 50 more is cheap and keeps my hand in position to see a flop.

With 9-8 offsuit in the big blind, I can see a flop for free. Raising out of position against two limpers would build a pot with a marginal hand.

I have bottom pair with a weak kicker and no strong draw; checking controls the pot and avoids building a large pot out of position.

Top two pair is strong on this draw-heavy flop. I bet for value and to charge straight and flush draws.

My 3d6d has no pair and no meaningful draw on 8s2c9s, so calling 225 into a 525 pot isn't justified against a flop raise.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker is often dominated by the big blind's flop raise on a coordinated board, and calling 225 into 525 is not favorable enough without a stronger draw or hand.

With pocket eights on the button, raising applies pressure on the blinds and builds a pot with a strong starting hand in position.

J-6 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, with the big blind still to act.

Ace-six suited is a playable hand getting a good price, so calling the 200-chip raise to see a flop in position against the button's wide range is better than folding or bloating the pot with a 3-bet.

I have only ace-high with a backdoor flush draw on a K-Q-K board, so I check to control the pot and see whether seat_3 bets.

The flop has two overcards and a paired board, so my pocket eights have limited value and betting into the preflop caller risks getting raised by Kx or Qx. I'll check back to control the pot and reassess on the turn.

I have only ace-high with a backdoor flush draw, and checking is free, so I take the free card rather than bloat the pot.

Opponent checked twice on a paired board; my 88 likely has showdown value and can fold out A-high or smaller pairs, so I bet half-pot for protection/value.

I hold only a backdoor-free flush draw with one card to come, about 9 outs in 46 unseen cards (roughly 20%), which is below the roughly 24% needed to call 300 into a 950 pot, and I may be behind a king.