Hold'em table

Pocket deuces are worth opening on the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds gives us a chance to steal the blinds and preserves positional advantage when called.

Q4 suited is too weak to defend profitably from the small blind against a button open with the big blind still behind.

3-4 offsuit is a weak hand. Against a 2.5x raise from seat_1, folding preserves chips and avoids playing a marginal hand out of position postflop.

T4 offsuit is a weak button hand in a three-handed game and not worth opening here.

Ace-high with decent kicker (A7) is a strong hand in 3-handed play, especially in position after one fold. A raise to 300 (3x the big blind) applies pressure on the remaining opponent and builds the pot with a strong hand. The aggression is justified given the board strength and the fold from seat_2.

97 suited is a profitable big-blind defense against a small-blind open, with position postflop and only 200 to call into a 400 pot. Calling preserves its playability without inflating the pot against a potentially stronger range.

I hold Ah7s which is weak on this Jc2h3s flop. I've already invested 300 chips preflop (3bb), and checking allows me to see the next street inexpensively while keeping the pot manageable. Folding would waste my already-committed chips, and raising with marginal holdings risks getting blown off or building a large pot out of position.

With little showdown value and a backdoor club draw, this is a good hand for a small bluff after the preflop raiser checks. Betting one-third pot can fold out missed hands while keeping the bluff inexpensive.

I have 7s-Ah (Ace-high with a weak kicker) on a J-2-3 flop. Seat 1 check-raised from 200 to 200 on the flop, indicating strength. My hand is weak and vulnerable to better aces or pairs. Folding preserves chips for stronger positions.

5-7 offsuit is a weak hand in early position. With two active opponents and the big blind already in, folding preserves chips for better opportunities.

KJo is strong enough to raise blind versus blind for value and to deny the big blind a free flop. A 3bb sizing applies pressure while accounting for playing out of position.

Q9 offsuit is a reasonable heads-up big-blind defense against a small-blind 3x open, especially with position postflop. Calling preserves equity without inflating the pot.

Second pair has useful showdown value but gains little from betting into hands that mostly continue with better pairs or strong draws. Checking keeps weaker hands in and protects our checking range.

A small continuation stab can pressure missed hands after the preflop raiser checks, while risking little with some backdoor spade potential.

Second pair with a jack kicker and a backdoor spade draw is strong enough to defend against a one-third-pot bet in a blind-versus-blind pot. Calling keeps weaker hands and bluffs in while avoiding an unnecessary raise against better hands.

Second pair has showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands or fold out an ace. Checking keeps the pot controlled and preserves the option to bluff-catch against missed draws.

With a marginal pair on an ace-king board, checking back controls the pot and preserves showdown value. A turn bet is unlikely to be called by many worse hands.

Rivered two pair merits a value bet against weaker aces and kings after the turn checked through. A little over half pot targets those calls without overcommitting against stronger two pair or a straight.

Our pair of nines is a weak bluff-catcher on this ace-king-high board. The river bet after the flop call is more likely to be value from a stronger pair or two pair than a bluff.

64 offsuit is too weak to open profitably on the button without evidence that the blinds overfold. Folding avoids investing in a hand with poor equity and playability.

Pocket deuces are strong enough to raise heads-up from the small blind, building a pot while retaining initiative.

T9o is a weak hand unsuited in the big blind facing a raise from the small blind. With no special advantages and facing aggression, folding preserves chips for better opportunities.

On the button three-handed, Q5 offsuit is suitable for a minimum open to pressure the blinds and retain positional initiative.

Calling costs 100 to contest a final pot of 450, giving favorable odds against a button opening range. J8 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against this minimum raise, but not strong enough for a value three-bet.

Middle pair with a weak kicker has showdown value but gains little from leading on this dry, king-high board. Checking keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser bet weaker hands.

A small continuation bet pressures the big blind's many missed holdings while risking little with our overcard and limited backdoor potential.

Second pair is strong enough to defend against a small continuation bet from the button's wide opening range. Calling requires only 20% equity and keeps weaker hands and bluffs in the pot.

Second pair has showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking keeps the pot controlled against stronger hands and preserves the opponent's bluffs.

I have a queen-high spade draw plus a gutshot to Broadway, giving substantial river equity. A sizable turn bet can also fold out weaker one-pair and unpaired holdings.

Second pair with a weak kicker and no meaningful draw is a poor bluff-catcher against this sizable turn barrel. With only five likely improvement outs against top pair and more river pressure possible, folding is preferable.

5-6 offsuit is a weak hand in early position. Folding preserves chips against a strong big blind position while I'm out of position postflop.

With the button folded, a small pair is strong enough to open against the big blind. Raising to 3bb can win the blinds immediately and charges overcards to continue.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to defend from the big blind against a small-blind raise, even with the favorable price.