Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is playable as an open-raise; a small sizing applies pressure while limiting risk.

A7 offsuit is strong enough to contest a button open three-handed, but awkward to play out of position in a multiway pot. I prefer a sizable three-bet to calling.

A8o facing an open plus a 3-bet to 10bb from the small blind, with the opener still behind, is well behind the ranges involved and plays poorly out of position. Folding is standard here.

The small blind’s large 3-bet makes this a poor spot to continue with 7♠6♣ offsuit. Fold and preserve the remaining stack.

J4 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button with both blinds still in the hand.

Blind versus blind, the small blind can open a wide range. J4o is a borderline hand, so I'm using it as a steal attempt at 3bb, which pressures the big blind and avoids playing a limped pot out of position.

8♣2♠ is a very weak offsuit hand, and calling a raise out of position is not worthwhile.

3-handed on the button, 86o is a reasonable open-raise candidate for stealing the blinds; a small 2.5x size keeps the risk low.

9♠5♦ is a weak offsuit hand, and calling a sizable button raise from the small blind would leave me out of position with poor equity.

J5 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, and the price is not good enough to defend.

KQs is a strong button opening hand; raise for value and initiative while putting pressure on the blinds.

K2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3x button raise with the big blind still to act.

Getting about 3.25:1 in the big blind against a wide three-handed button open, Q5o has enough equity to defend by calling rather than folding or 3-betting.

Middle pair with a weak kicker out of position against the button's opening range; check to control the pot size and let the preflop raiser c-bet.

A small continuation bet applies pressure on this dry board and can fold out better unpaired hands, while keeping the cost modest when called.

Middle pair with a backdoor diamond draw is getting 850:200 against a small c-bet from a wide button range, so calling is clearly profitable. Raising would mostly fold out worse hands.

Middle pair with a Q kicker is a showdown-value hand on a coordinated board where the turn completed several straights. Checking controls the pot, and I can decide on a call against a bet.

I have only king-high with limited improvement potential on a connected board, and checking preserves my showdown equity without investing into a likely pair or draw.

We have a weak pair of fives. It beats the missed draws and overcards that likely made up the button's turn check, but worse hands rarely call a bet, so we check to realize showdown value.

With only king-high, a river bet is unlikely to fold out the pairs that called the flop. Checking preserves showdown value against missed draws and weaker high-card hands.

Pocket threes are strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5-big-blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while retaining position if called.

T6o from the small blind facing a button open is too weak to call out of position with the big blind still to act; folding is standard.

QTo is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button open, and the price is favorable with only 150 more to call.

Top pair with a reasonable kicker is strong enough to continue, but checking out of position keeps the raiser's bluffs and weaker hands in their range and avoids building a large pot prematurely.

A small continuation bet can deny equity to unpaired overcards while keeping the pot manageable with a weak pair.

Top pair with a ten kicker is strong enough to continue against this small flop bet, while raising risks isolating myself against stronger Qx and sets.

Top pair with a middling kicker is strong enough to continue, but betting into the preflop raiser on this flush-draw turn risks building a large pot against a stronger hand. Check and keep their bluffs in.

My small pair has some showdown value, but a turn bet is unlikely to fold out many better hands. Checking in position keeps the pot manageable.

A small river value bet can get called by weaker queens or stubborn middle pairs after the turn checked through, while limiting exposure against stronger hands.

The small river bet gives me good pot odds, and my pair of threes can beat missed draws and bluffs.

42o is among the weakest hands; folding on the button in 3-handed play is standard.

Getting 3:1 to complete from the small blind, 7-3 offsuit has enough equity against the big blind’s wide range. Keep the pot small rather than raising a weak hand.

Q7 offsuit is marginal against the small blind’s limp. I’ll take the free flop rather than build the pot.

I have a weak pair with a backdoor improvement path, but this ace-high, monotone flop favors the big blind’s range. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see the turn without risking a bet into stronger hands.

With position against a wide small-blind limp, a half-pot bet can take down the pot when they missed. I'll avoid committing much more with queen-high and no spade.

Bottom pair has some showdown value and the bet is small relative to the pot. Call rather than raise on a dangerous monotone board.

I have a weak pair with a one-card flush draw, so checking keeps the pot controlled and takes the free river.

Queen-high has little showdown value, but no spade or meaningful draw makes a turn bluff unattractive after the flop bet was called.

I have only a weak pair of threes, and the opponent’s flop bet followed by turn check leaves plenty of stronger hands in their range. Checking takes the free showdown without risking chips against better pairs.

Queen-high has little showdown value, but a river bluff is unlikely to fold out enough pairs or spade holdings after the flop call. Checking avoids risking more chips.