Hold'em table

J9 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while retaining positional advantage if called.

J6s is a weak hand and playing out of position against a late position raiser is -EV, so I fold.

KT suited has strong equity against a wide button open and good playability; calling 150 to defend the big blind is profitable over 3-betting out of position.

With king-high, only backdoor draws on a rainbow 9-8-2 board, checking out of position to the preflop raiser preserves equity cheaply.

Top pair with a jack kicker can get value from weaker pairs and straight draws. A half-pot bet also denies equity to overcards without building an unnecessarily large pot.

Calling 275 into 825 needs 25% equity; K-T has two overcards plus backdoor straight and flush draws on a rainbow 9-8-2 board against a wide button c-bet range.

With king-high, a gutshot to the jack, and overcard outs out of position, checking preserves equity cheaply and avoids bloating the pot against a flop bettor who likely has a pair or better.

Top pair with a jack kicker can get value from weaker nines, eights, and draws. A half-pot bet charges those draws while keeping weaker made hands in.

King-high with no real draw on a paired board facing flop and turn bets; only pairing K or T helps and that is well below the 25% equity needed to call 550.

K6o is too weak to play from first position preflop, even with postflop position advantage, as calling or raising risks chips with a hand that is often dominated.

Q4 suited is playable heads-up blind versus blind for just 50 more; completing keeps the pot small while out of position and lets me realize suited queen-high equity cheaply.

A4 suited is a strong isolation candidate against a small-blind limp, with an ace blocker and nut-flush potential. Raising applies pressure to a wide limping range while giving us initiative and position postflop.

Q4 suited is dominated by a big blind 4x raise after my limp, and I would be out of position heads-up postflop, so calling 300 is not profitable.

On the button with A4o in a 3-handed game, this is well within opening range; raising takes initiative and can win the blinds.

73 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise from the small blind, with poor playability out of position and the big blind still to act.

J8s has decent equity against a button open, and I'm getting good pot odds to call and see a flop.

With J-high and no draw on a paired board, checking is the safe play to see what the preflop raiser does.

In position after preflop raise, I have Ace-high with the nut flush draw on a paired Queen board. A continuation bet can fold weaker hands and builds the pot for my many outs if called.

I have J8 offsuit with no pair and only backdoor draws on a paired board; folding to a bet is the prudent play.

A3 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed, with an ace blocker and position if called. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds without risking too much with a marginal hand.

K6o is a weak hand and we are out of position; calling or raising would likely lose chips.

6-2 suited has poor equity and playability out of position against a button raise, despite the small additional cost. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

On the button with Q7o, a standard steal raise to 200 to pressure the blinds and take down the pot preflop or play with position.

K2 suited is strong enough 3-handed against a button min-raise, and calling 150 into 350 offers good pot odds despite being out of position.

Calling costs 100 into a 500-chip pot and closes the preflop action. Despite being offsuit, 97 has enough connectivity and equity against a button min-raise and small-blind call to defend at this price.

Top pair on a wet Kd8h6h board is likely ahead three-way but vulnerable to flush and straight draws, so betting for value and protection.

I have an open-ended straight draw plus a backdoor heart draw, with deep stacks providing implied odds. Calling preserves that potential without inflating the pot against a multiway lead, though heart straight outs may be compromised.

With Q-high and no draw on a K86 two-tone board facing a bet and a call, this hand is worthless. Folding is the only reasonable option to preserve my stack.

Top pair with a weak kicker on a draw-heavy board; checking controls the pot and avoids building it against better kings or completed draws while keeping bluffs in.

The turn completes my nut straight. Betting three-quarters pot builds value against kings, two pair, and sets while charging flush and higher-straight draws.

Top pair with a deuce kicker is vulnerable facing a 75% pot turn bet after calling the flop; better kings, two pair and sets beat me, and I am out of position on the river.

T4 offsuit is too weak to call or raise from the button in 3-handed play; folding preserves stack versus likely stronger blind ranges.

Q8 suited is strong enough to open from the small blind after the button folds. Raising to 3 big blinds pressures the big blind while retaining good playability when called.

K4o is a weak hand, especially out of position postflop against a small blind raise. Folding avoids risking more chips with a marginal holding.