Hold'em table

74 offsuit is a weak button opening hand against two unknown opponents, so I’ll avoid a marginal pot.

A7s is a strong hand in blind-vs-blind play, so I'm raising to 3bb from the small blind for value and initiative.

J4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a small-blind raise heads-up from the big blind.

On the button in 3-handed play, 75s is a standard open-raise. A 2.5bb open puts pressure on the blinds.

J2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind versus an early raise, especially with the big blind still behind.

Q7 offsuit has enough equity against a typical button opening range to defend the big blind for 150 more, especially with no rake.

I have top pair with a weak kicker, so I’ll check to avoid building a large pot out of position and see what the preflop raiser does.

The Q-T high board favors my preflop-raising range. A small c-bet with this low-equity hand can win the pot right away against a BB check.

Top pair is strong enough to continue against a small flop bet, but the weak kicker makes raising unattractive.

I have two pair, but the third spade makes this a poor spot to build a large pot out of position. Checking keeps weaker hands and bluffs in the opponent's range.

Bottom pair with no spade has showdown value but can't comfortably take a bet on a three-spade board, so I'll check behind for pot control and a free river.

Two pair is strong on this river, and the turn check makes a call from a weaker queen or a ten plausible. A moderate value bet also limits exposure when the opponent has a flush.

A weak third pair facing a river lead after a check-call and a turn check mostly beats only bluffs. My range has better bluff-catchers than 75, so I fold.

T4 offsuit is too weak to profitably enter from the button under standard 3-handed ranges.

With the button folded, calling 50 more gives me favorable pot odds against the big blind’s unrestricted range. I’ll keep the pot small with this weak hand.

Q4o is a weak hand, and I'm out of position against a limp. Checking to see a free flop is fine; I'll raise with a mixed range but keep this one as a check.

With a weak hand and no immediate draw, I prefer to check rather than build the pot out of position.

Queen-high with only a backdoor heart draw on an ace-high board. Checking back takes a free card, and a stab here gets called by any ace or eight.

I have an open-ended straight draw but little showdown value. A modest turn bet can win the pot now while leaving room to improve if called.

Queen-high with no draw on A-7-8-T is too weak to continue against the turn bet, even at a good price. A bluff-raise has little credibility after checking back the flop.

A-5 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise gives me a chance to win the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

96o in the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act, is a clear fold; it's too weak to 3-bet and calling out of position is unprofitable.

T5 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise at this sizing, especially out of position.

T9o on the button 3-handed is a standard open; raise to 2.5bb to pressure the blinds.

J5 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially with the big blind still to act.

A small pocket pair is worth defending against a button raise at this price, with enough depth to profit when I flop a set.

With a small pair on an ace-high flop, I’ll check to the preflop raiser and avoid building the pot.

Middle pair with a weak kicker on an ace-high, two-club board has showdown value but can't comfortably face a check-raise. Checking back controls the pot and lets me realize equity.

Pocket fours have some showdown value, but a turn bet on this board is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking keeps the pot small.

Middle pair on a board checked twice by the big blind; a small value/protection bet of about 55% pot gets called by weaker tens, eights and draws and denies equity to overcards and clubs.

Pocket fours have little chance to improve and are behind most hands betting for value. Calling out of position would leave a difficult river decision.

Q8 suited is a playable button opening hand in three-handed play. I raise to apply pressure and retain initiative.

Calling 200 more with pocket threes keeps the pot manageable and gives me a chance to make a set without committing heavily out of position.

62o is too weak even getting 4:1 in a multiway pot out of position; fold.

With a small underpair on a paired flop, I’ll check out of position and avoid building the pot.

I have a strong two-pair hand on this paired board and can value-bet while charging overcards and straight draws.

Pocket threes are a weak bluff-catcher on this paired board. Calling the half-pot bet out of position would leave me facing many difficult turns.