Hold'em table

Opening JhTh on the button is standard; raising to 2.5bb builds the pot with position and strong playability.

K♦Q♠ is a strong hand against a button open in a three-handed game. I’ll 3-bet from the small blind for value and to reduce the chance of going multiway out of position.

Q4 offsuit is too weak to continue against a button open and a small-blind three-bet to 900. Folding avoids putting more chips in with a dominated, unconnected hand.

Calling the 3-bet in position with JTs, which has excellent playability and implied odds against the small blind's range.

KQ has two overcards but no club or meaningful backdoor draw on this low, connected flop. I’ll check and take the free card rather than inflate the pot against the caller’s range.

Check behind with two overcards and backdoor equity to take a free turn in position against the preflop 3-bettor.

Top pair with a strong kicker is likely ahead after the flop checked through. A half-pot bet gets value from weaker pairs and draws while protecting against the club draw.

Holding jack-high with only a gutshot straight draw facing a half-pot bet on the turn, we do not have sufficient pot odds or implied odds to call.

54 offsuit is too weak to open from the button; avoid investing chips with poor playability.

Button folded, so this is blind versus blind with A8o. A small raise takes the initiative and builds the pot with a hand that plays well heads-up.

Defending big blind in position against a standard small blind open with an Ace blocker and favorable pot odds.

I have top pair on a rainbow flop and the pot is unopened, so a small value bet extracts chips from worse aces and draws while keeping the pot manageable with a weak kicker.

I have top pair with an ace and my opponent fired a small 1/3-pot continuation bet. Calling is standard to keep their bluffing range wide without overplaying my weak kicker.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated turn, so I check to control the pot and avoid a difficult raise.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board, so checking back controls the pot and allows me to see a river safely.

I have only a pair of aces with an eight kicker on a highly coordinated A-K-Q-J-9 board, so betting is unlikely to get called by worse. Checking is free and avoids turning a marginal showdown hand into a bluff.

I hold a pair of aces on a four-to-a-straight board where any ten makes a straight. Checking behind has solid showdown value and avoids value-owning myself.

Three-handed on the button, 35s has enough suited-connector playability and fold equity to open rather than fold. A 2.5bb raise keeps the price reasonable while taking the initiative in position.

Q7s is too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a 2.5bb button open.

The button’s raise is modest, and the big blind gets a favorable price to continue. 9-4 offsuit is weak, so I’ll call rather than build a larger pot with a raise.

I have no pair and only a backdoor flush possibility, so I’ll check rather than build the pot without meaningful equity.

I have no pair and no draw on Jc-6c-2h, so a flop bluff has little fold equity against a BB caller and no backup equity if called. Checking is free and avoids burning chips with air.

A small turn probe can fold out unpaired overcards after the flop checked through. My hand has little showdown value, so I use a modest size rather than risk a large portion of my stack.

I have 3-5 offsuit with no pair, no draw, and no relevant blockers on a Jc-6c-2h-8h board. Calling or bluff-raising 180 into 730 with zero equity is a clear fold.

84o is far too weak to open on the button even in a 3-handed game.

With the button folded, pocket sixes are strong enough to raise from the small blind for value and to avoid giving the big blind a cheap flop.

Heads-up against the small blind, Q4s has enough equity and suited playability to continue for 200 into a 600 pot. Calling keeps the pot small with a speculative but playable hand.

I have a low underpair on a connected flop that likely interacts well with the caller’s range. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids betting without much equity or protection value.

I have an open-ended straight draw and position after a check, so a small semi-bluff bets my equity and can fold out weak hands.

The small bet gives favorable pot odds, and my pair still has some showdown value against bluffs or draws. I’ll call rather than raise and reassess on the turn.

With only a small underpair on a connected board, betting is unlikely to get better hands to fold and risks inflating the pot. I’ll check and preserve my showdown value.

I have bottom pair plus an open-ended straight draw on a checked turn, so a two-thirds pot bet applies pressure while still having equity if called.

Sixes are a weak underpair on a connected board, and the turn bet leaves too few likely outs to justify calling.

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is playable as an open. I raise to 250 to take initiative while keeping the sizing modest.

9-3 offsuit is too weak to call a button raise out of position; folding preserves chips.

J2o has very poor equity and reverse implied odds out of position, making it an easy fold facing a button open.

T3 offsuit is too weak to open from the button for a full big blind, so I fold and wait for a better hand.

Q6o is too weak to profitably open or complete out of position against the big blind.