Hold'em table

On the button in a 3-handed game, a suited jack has enough playability to attack the blinds; a standard 3x open wins the pot often preflop and gives me position when called.

J♠5♣ is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

94 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position facing a 3bb button open.

Q2 suited is a reasonable button open in a three-handed game. Raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure while keeping the risk modest.

85o is well below any reasonable continuing range from the small blind facing an open raise.

T2s is far too weak to defend the big blind against a button raise; even with decent pot odds, I'm out of position with a dominated ten and almost no postflop playability.

J3o is too weak to open even from the button in 3-handed play, making fold standard.

Heads-up against only the big blind, calling 50 into a 150 pot needs just ~25% equity, and 34o has roughly 38% vs a random hand, so defending the small blind is profitable despite the weak cards.

With the button folded and the small blind limping, I can raise a wide range from the big blind. 7-6 offsuit has reasonable heads-up potential and benefits from taking initiative.

3-4 offsuit has almost no equity against a big blind raise, and calling 250 more into a 450 pot with the worst hand type is clearly -EV. Folding is the only profitable option.

Ace-jack suited-ish offsuit is a strong button hand in a 3-max game; raising for value and position with a standard 3x open.

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

Holding 62 offsuit out of position facing an open raise is an easy fold.

J9 offsuit is a solid button open in a three-handed game. I raise to 2.5 big blinds to take initiative while keeping weaker hands in the range.

Holding pocket nines in the small blind facing a button open, a 3-bet to 10bb is standard for value and initiative out of position.

With 3s4d facing a 3-bet to 1000 after an opening raise, this hand has almost no equity or playability. Folding loses only the 100 already posted and is clearly best.

J9 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large 3-bet to 10 big blinds, even with position. Calling would put in 7.5 big blinds with poor equity and playability.

Opening from the button with an Ace blocker to exert position pressure in 3-handed play.

King-ten offsuit has decent equity against a button min-raise, and I only need 150 more to see a flop with position on the raiser postflop. Calling keeps the pot small and avoids bloating a marginal hand out of position.

K♦5♦ has reasonable playability three-handed, and the 100-chip call into a 500-chip pot offers good odds. I’ll see the flop rather than inflate the pot out of position.

King-high with only a gutshot to Broadway on an Ace-high flop; with three players and no fold equity established, checking is the safe line and I can fold to significant aggression.

I have only king-high with a backdoor flush draw, and the flop is multiway. I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into two opponents.

I have top pair with a weak kicker in a 3-way pot on an ace-high board, making checking behind ideal for pot control and showdown value.

I hold K-high with a gutshot to Broadway (any J), but everyone checked the flop, so a free card is cheap and betting into two players with little fold equity isn't worth it.

I have only king-high with little draw potential, and the checked flop does not justify risking a turn bluff into two opponents.

Betting half pot for value and protection against draws and weaker pairs after both opponents checked twice.

Cheap 300 call into a 900 pot with a gutshot to the king-high straight (any jack) plus K-high showdown value; the price and implied odds justify seeing the river.

I have only king-high with no meaningful draw, and a bet plus a call makes continuing too costly despite the attractive pot odds.

My hand is just the board's pair of aces with a king kicker; seat_3's turn raise signals at least an ace or a real pair, so I take the free showdown rather than invest more.

I have trip aces with board kickers Queen and Nine, so my four kicker does not play. Checking back ensures a showdown without risking a raise from better aces or boats.