Hold'em table

76 offsuit is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play.

Heads-up against the big blind after the button folded, A7 offsuit is a strong hand, so raising for value and initiative is better than a passive limp or fold.

A8 offsuit is strong enough to defend against a small-blind raise, and calling keeps weaker hands in while preserving position postflop.

Ace-high on a K-K-6 board is a strong holding heads-up because the pair on the board makes it hard for the opponent to have a king. I'm first to act and the big blind called preflop, so a small bet of about half the pot should get worse hands to fold and build the pot when I'm ahead.

Ace-high has some showdown value on this paired board, and the price is reasonable against a range that can include bluffs. I'll call and reassess on the turn.

I hold an ace-high kicker on a Kh Kc 6h 4d board. I raised the flop and was called, so I'm betting the turn for value and to deny equity to hands like small pairs. A small bet of about 40% pot also keeps the price low if I'm behind.

Ace-high can still beat missed draws and some bluffs. The small turn bet gives me a reasonable price to continue in position.

I have ace-high with a king on board, so I have a marginal showdown holdings. Villain called three streets, so a check risks a showdown loss vs. any king or pair. But a bet is hard to justify: worse hands rarely call and better hands rarely fold. Actually a thin value/bluff bet is weak, so I reconsider: check is better.}

Ace-high is unlikely to beat a third consecutive bet on this paired, flush-completing board. The ace of hearts is a useful blocker, but a bluff-raise is too risky without a read that this opponent will fold.

J4 offsuit is a weak hand out of position in the blinds' eyes; on the button in 3-handed play it is marginal, but calling risks being dominated and playing a big pot with a poor hand, so folding is the disciplined choice.

Completing for 50 chips is inexpensive heads-up against the big blind. J4 offsuit is playable at this price but too weak to build a large pot out of position.

I have 8c 2s in the big blind facing a limp from the small blind; checking to see a free flop is the standard play.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting into the big blind on this club-heavy flop is unlikely to gain much. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

I have eight-high with minimal equity, so taking a free turn card after the small blind checks is the lowest variance play.

Top and bottom pair is strong heads-up. A 150-chip bet gets value from weaker pairs and charges draws.

I have 8-high with no draw on a board of 3-4-9-J facing a 3/4 pot bet, making this an easy fold.

With no rake and position after the flop, 8-6 offsuit is worth a small button open.

95 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a button open.

J5 offsuit is weak, but the price is good: 125 to call into a 375 pot (about 3-to-1). I close the action with position against a likely wide button-open range in a 3-handed game, so calling is reasonable and I fold to heavy pressure later.

Bottom pair (fives) on a connected 6-8-5 board with a backdoor-free draw; I'm out of position heads-up against a button raiser. A small bet of 300 into 500 builds the pot with a marginal made hand and denies equity to overcards.

Top two pair is strong on this draw-heavy flop. Raising charges straight and flush draws while getting value from weaker made hands.

I have a pair of fives on a 6-8-5 board, so top pair with a weak kicker plus a backdoor straight draw. Facing a 1200 raise into 2000 (900 to call), I'm getting decent odds and don't want to fold to a possible bluff, but raising bigger with this hand isn't attractive.

I have a pair of fives on a coordinated board with three clubs and a straight possibility, and the opponent showed strength by re-raising the flop. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize my showdown value.

The turn completes both a straight and a flush, so my two pair is less likely to be best against a flop bet-call range. Checking keeps the pot manageable in position and lets me reassess on the river.

A pair of fives is a marginal showdown hand on a connected, three-club board. The opponent raised the flop and then checked the turn back, so their range has many better hands. Betting would mostly get called only by better hands, so I check.

Two pair has showdown value, but the completed flush and possible straight make a river value bet risky. Checking avoids a raise while still winning against missed draws and weaker pairs.

Opening with KQs on the button is a standard value raise to build the pot in position.

K2 offsuit is weak out of position against a button raise with a big blind still to act behind me, so folding is the disciplined choice.

The small blind has folded, and calling 150 more closes the action against a button opening range. Q5 offsuit is marginal out of position, but the pot odds and lack of rake make a call reasonable.

With bottom pair and a weak kicker, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser and avoid building a large pot out of position.

As the preflop aggressor in position on a dry T-high board, a one-third pot continuation bet applies pressure to missed hands and denies equity.

Middle pair with a queen kicker is strong enough to continue against this small flop bet. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in without building a large pot.

My weak pair has some showdown value, but betting would likely get action from better hands. I’ll check and reassess if my opponent bets.

We have two overcards with position on a connected board after our flop c-bet was called. Checking behind controls the pot and allows us to realize our equity.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. I’ll check and decide if faced with a bet.

We have King-high with very little showdown value, but turning it into a bluff after checking back the turn is unlikely to fold out pairs that called the flop.

Pocket threes on the button in a 3-handed game is a strong enough hand to open-raise for value and to take the initiative against the two blinds.

T6 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 3x button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting over 2:1 immediate pot odds in the big blind facing a button open, QTo is strong enough to defend in 3-handed play.

Check to the preflop aggressor with top pair, medium kicker to keep their bluffing range wide and control pot size out of position.

Seat_1 checked the 9-2-Q flop and I'm on the button with a pocket pair of threes. I have some showdown value but it is vulnerable, so a small bet of about half the pot can get folds from overcards and gives me a cheap way to find out where I stand.

I flopped top pair with a decent ten kicker. Calling the continuation bet keeps their bluffing range in and under-represents my hand.

I have top pair with a mediocre kicker out of position. Checking to control the pot size and let the preflop aggressor act is standard.

With a pair of threes on a 9-2-Q-4 board, I hold a weak showdown-value hand. Seat_1 checked the turn after calling the flop, so they may hold a medium-strength hand that would call a bet. I'll check to control the pot size and try to get to showdown cheaply.

We hold top pair with a decent kicker. After the opponent checked behind on the turn, checking gives them room to bluff with missed draws or bet weaker hands, while keeping the pot controlled.

Board 9s 2h Qh 4s 5c gives me 33 with a straight 2-3-4-5 needing an ace, and I have no ace, so it is just a pair of threes. Actually 3 completes 2-3-4-5 needing A or 6, so I hold a pair only. Seat 1 checked the river, so a small value/thin bet with a marginal pair could get called by worse like 5x or 4x, though it risks being raised off. I'll bet small at about 37% pot.}

Holding top pair second-best kicker on a dry runout, facing a small bet after the turn checked through; getting favorable pot odds to call.

4-2 offsuit is too weak to open from the button against two opponents.

Holding 73 offsuit in the small blind is too weak to complete or raise; folding is standard.