Hold'em table

Holding premium AKo in the small blind after the button folds, raising to 3bb is standard for value.

Calling the extra 2 big blinds keeps the pot manageable with a small pair and gives me a chance to flop a set. A 3-bet would risk building a large pot with a hand that plays poorly when called.

On a connected flop of Ten-Eight-Six that heavily favors the big blind's calling range, checking Ace-King high out of position is standard to control the pot.

My pocket fives are an underpair on a connected board, but they have some showdown value. I’ll take the free card rather than risk a check-raise with a thin protection bet.

I turned top pair, top kicker after the flop checked through, so I am betting three-quarters pot for value against weaker aces and drawing hands.

The ace is a strong turn card for the preflop raiser, and my pocket fives have only two likely improvement outs. Facing a substantial bet, I’m unlikely to have the equity needed to continue.

Opening with pocket pairs from the button is standard in 3-handed play to build the pot and take the initiative.

QTo is playable against a small button raise, and the price is reasonable. Calling keeps weaker hands in while avoiding a large out-of-position 3-bet pot.

74o is far too weak to defend out of position against a raise and a caller; even with decent pot odds, I lack the equity and playability to continue profitably.

With second pair on an ace-high flop, checking out of position keeps the pot controlled and lets the preflop raiser act.

Check back with a pocket pair on an Ace-high board for pot control and showdown value against the small blind's check.

My pair of tens has some showdown value, but the ace-high board and possible spade draws make a bet unattractive. I’ll check to control the pot and see how the button responds.

We hold an underpair with no spade draw on a coordinated board; checking back allows us to realize our showdown value against weak hands without inflating the pot.

I have a modest pair of tens on a four-spade board, so betting risks being called by a flush or better hand. I’ll take the free showdown.

I have a pair of sixes with no spade on a four-spade board; checking behind realizes our modest showdown value against missed hands without risking a check-raise.

As the button in a three-handed pot, K4 offsuit is a reasonable open-raise. A small raise applies pressure while keeping the risk controlled.

Getting 2.67 to 1 pot odds against a wide button opening range, defending A3o in the big blind is standard.

Flopped bottom pair with top kicker out of position against the preflop raiser; checking is the standard play to control the pot.

A small continuation bet can fold out some unpaired hands, and K♦ blocks strong diamond draws. If called, I still have overcard and backdoor straight/flush equity.

We flopped bottom pair with top kicker facing a small one-third pot c-bet, offering great pot odds to defend.

I have two pair (sevens and threes) with an Ace kicker on a paired board; checking is standard out of position to control the pot size and catch potential bluffs.

With only king-high and no immediate draw, betting into a range that called the flop risks value-owning myself. I’ll take the free card and preserve my showdown value.

I have two pair (sevens and threes) with an Ace kicker, which has solid showdown value against missed high cards but cannot get called by worse if I bet.

My king-high may already beat missed draws, while a river bet is unlikely to fold many hands that have a pair. I’ll take the free showdown.

3s4d is a weak trash hand from the button facing a 100bb pot with two players behind; folding avoids bleeding chips with no fold equity information yet.

In a blind versus blind situation after the button folds, Q8o has enough high-card strength to open with a raise to exert pressure.

T8 suited has reasonable equity and playability against a small-blind raise, especially with position postflop. Calling keeps the pot manageable rather than 3-betting a marginal hand.

Check with middle pair on a very wet, connected board that heavily favors the big blind's calling range to control the pot size.

Bet 300 into the 600-chip pot for value and protection with middle pair plus an open-ended straight draw. The checked-to preflop raiser may call with weaker pairs or draws.

In a blind-versus-blind pot, middle pair with a Queen kicker has sufficient equity and pot odds to call a single half-pot flop bet on a dynamic board.

I hold third pair on a coordinated turn board with an overcard Ace; checking is standard and keeps the pot controlled.

I have a weak pair with an open-ended straight draw, so checking back preserves showdown value and lets me realize my draw without inflating the pot against stronger pairs.

We have fourth pair on an Ace-King high board, which has very little showdown value and cannot value bet; checking to see a cheap showdown or fold to a bet is best.

I have a strong flush and the opponent checked the river, so I’ll make a moderate value bet that can be called by a straight or weaker made hand while limiting exposure to a higher flush.

I only hold fourth pair on a connected board with overcards Ace and King. Opponent's river bet shows enough showdown value or improved strength that a call is unprofitable.

93o is far too weak to open, even on the button in a 3-handed game. Folding is standard.

Complete the small blind with a playable hand heads-up; the price is favorable, and raising would risk more with a marginal holding.

56 offsuit is too weak to raise for value, but it flops well enough to see a free card heads-up against a likely weak SB limping range. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves positional flexibility.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on this king-high flop, so I’ll take the free card rather than build the pot.

I have no pair or draw on T-K-2, and seat_3 checked, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids investing with a weak hand.

I have no pair or meaningful draw, and the third heart makes this a poor spot to bluff into a range that checked the flop. I’ll take the free river card.

I hold a pair of sixes on a two-heart board and both players have shown weakness with checks; a small bet charges draws and extracts value from worse pairs while keeping risk low.

I have no pair or meaningful turn draw, and calling 150 into 350 would be costly with little chance to improve.

K6 offsuit is a reasonable but marginal button open three-handed. A small raise uses position and can win the blinds while limiting the cost if called.

King-eight offsuit is dominated too often against a button raise, and playing out of position with a marginal hand risks more than it earns. Folding preserves chips for better spots.

Defending the big blind with A4o getting good pot odds against a button open in 3-handed play.

Check out of position with Ace-high on a board that heavily favors the preflop raiser.

A small bet can get value and deny equity to underpairs and unpaired hands while keeping the pot manageable with my weak kicker. The paired board makes a larger bet risky against a queen or a better king.

We completely whiffed the KQ paired board with A4o, offering very little equity or playability against the button's continuation bet.