Holdem table

On the button, a small open applies pressure to the blinds and gives me positional advantage, even with a marginal hand.

T6s is too weak to continue out of position against a button raise with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids a dominated, low-equity spot.

Getting attractive pot odds with no rake to defend the big blind against a button open holding K7o.

Flopped second pair with no flush draw on a monotone board out of position against the preflop raiser; standard check to control pot size.

I have no pair or heart draw on a monotone flop, so raising would risk chips with little equity. I’ll take the free card.

I have two pair (sevens and threes with an ace on board), which functions well as a check-calling or pot-control hand rather than betting into the monotone texture.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on this paired, monotone board. Checking keeps the pot small with a hand that has little value as a bluff here.

I have two pair (sevens and threes) with an ace kicker. Checking allows me to realize showdown value against missed hands without risking getting raised or called only by better holdings.

My nine-high has some showdown value against missed draws, while a bet is unlikely to get better made hands to fold often enough to be worthwhile.

Q3 offsuit is too weak and disconnected to open from the button even three-handed, so folding is the highest-EV option.

Holding AJo blind vs blind after the button folds is a standard value raise to 3bb.

2♣4♥ is a very weak offsuit hand and would be out of position postflop against a sizeable raise. I fold rather than invest more chips.

84o is too weak to open even from the button in 3-handed play.

Complete the small blind with a marginal hand at favorable pot odds; raising would build a pot out of position with weak offsuit cards.

76o is too weak to raise, and checking is free after the small blind limps and the button folds.

Middle pair with a weak kicker is a modest showdown hand on a connected, two-spade board. I’ll check out of position and avoid building a pot against stronger made hands and draws.

I have only a gutshot with 76 offsuit on K-T-8 and no pair or flush draw. With the pot checked to me, checking keeps the pot small and realizes my limited equity for free.

With only a pair of tens on a connected turn, betting risks being called or raised by stronger hands and draws. I’ll take the free showdown path and keep the pot small.

I have no pair, no draw, and no showdown value on this board, so checking behind is the only sensible option.

I have a modest pair of tens, but the connected board gives the big blind plenty of better hands and potential traps. I’ll take the showdown rather than risk a thin value bet.

Seven-high has no showdown value, but a river bluff into a tiny checked pot risks far more than it can win against a range that still contains many calling hands. Checking is free.

94 suited is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game; raising applies pressure to the blinds and gives me positional initiative.

A5o is too weak and poorly playable out of position against a button open, so folding is the highest-EV option.

Folding 42o facing a button open as it is far too weak to defend out of position.

69s is a playable suited gapped hand on the button in three-handed poker, so I open to 2.5bb to take the initiative rather than limp or fold.

6c 4s is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button open raise.

Calling 150 more gives favorable pot odds, and the deep stacks offer useful implied odds if I flop a set. Reraising pocket deuces would be too speculative.

With pocket deuces on a J-9-7 flop, I have a weak underpair and little reason to build the pot. I’ll check and see how the button acts.

I have middle pair with a weak kicker on a jack-high board, so checking back controls the pot and preserves showdown value rather than building a pot against the big blind's stronger calling range.

With only a low pocket pair on a connected, draw-heavy board, betting risks building the pot with a weak hand. I’ll check and keep the pot small.

I have middle pair plus a diamond flush draw and a gutshot, and the opponent has checked both flop and turn. A small turn bet builds the pot and applies pressure while keeping weaker hands in.

Pocket twos have little showdown value on this board, and the turn bet can be made with many pairs or draws. The pot odds aren’t enough to justify continuing with only two outs against made hands.

A8s is a strong suited ace on the button in 3-handed play; raising to 2.5bb is standard to build the pot and take the initiative.

65 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

J9o is too weak and easily dominated to continue out of position against a button open, so folding is the lower-variance choice.