Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed game, 7-6 offsuit is a reasonable wide open. A small raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the risk controlled.

A7s-ish (offsuit here) vs button open in 3-handed; A7o is a reasonable 3-bet from SB versus wide button range rather than flatting out of position with BB behind.

A8 offsuit is too often dominated by a large 3-bet, and the button still has a chance to act. Folding avoids committing more chips with a weak hand in this spot.

A 7-6 offsuit is too weak to continue against a large small-blind 3-bet, even with position. Fold and preserve the remaining stack.

J4 offsuit on the button in 3-handed play is below a solid opening range. Folding avoids a marginal spot against two blinds.

J4 offsuit is worth completing for 50 chips heads-up, but it is too weak to build a larger pot out of position.

With 8♣2♠ in the big blind and no additional amount to call, checking keeps the pot small with a very weak hand.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but this flop offers little reason to build the pot out of position. Checking keeps the pot manageable.

I have only a weak backdoor straight possibility and no made hand. With no need to protect much equity, checking keeps the pot small.

Two pair is strong heads-up, and a 150-chip bet can get value from weaker pairs and draws while charging them to see the river.

I have no made hand or meaningful draw, and calling would invest 150 chips with very little chance of improving to a winner.

On the button in a three-handed game, 8-6 offsuit is a marginal but playable open. A small raise uses position without committing too much.

9-5 offsuit is too weak to continue from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

Getting 4:1 in the big blind against a wide 3-handed button open, J5o is a marginal but profitable defend.

Bottom pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board plays best as a check to the preflop raiser. The hand has some showdown value, and I can decide how to respond once I see their action.

Top two pair is strong on this wet flop. Betting 400 into 500 gets value from pairs and draws while charging them to continue.

Bottom pair with a jack kicker has enough equity against a wide button c-bet range, and the small sizing gives me about 31% pot odds, so calling is reasonable.

Third pair with a weak kicker on a very coordinated board (7 makes a straight, the fourth club completed the flush draw); I have showdown value and need to control the pot, so I check. I'll decide on a call against a small turn bet.

Top two pair has showdown value, but the turn completes both a flush and several straights. Checking in position controls the pot and preserves my chance to improve to a full house.

Middle pair with a jack kicker has showdown value on a coordinated board where straights and flushes are possible. Villain checked back the turn, so a check lets me get to showdown cheaply, and a bet would mostly get called by better hands.

Top two pair can get value from weaker pairs after the big blind checks the river. I’ll use a small bet because straights and flushes are possible.

I'm getting better than 4:1 on a small river bet. The villain checked back the turn, which caps his range and leaves plenty of missed overcards that would bluff, so my pair of fives is a good enough bluff-catcher.

KQs is a strong button-opening hand three-handed; raise to 3 big blinds for value and initiative.

K2 offsuit from the small blind facing a 3x button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a clear fold. Calling out of position with a dominated hand loses money.

Q5 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a three-big-blind button raise.

33 on the button 3-handed is a standard open; raising to 2.5bb gives fold equity against both blinds and keeps position.

T6 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

QTs is a playable big-blind defend against a button raise, and the favorable price makes calling preferable to folding or inflating the pot with a 3-bet.

Bet small for value and protection with top pair against the preflop raiser; this size can be called by weaker queens and draws while limiting exposure to a raise.

A small donk bet lays about 4:1, and pocket threes have reasonable equity against a wide leading range that includes draws and weaker pairs. Calling in position keeps the pot controlled.

Bet 300 for value and protection with top pair, while keeping the pot manageable against stronger queens or a raise. The turn also brings a spade draw, so checking would give a free card too often.

Getting 4:1 against a small blocking-style lead. Villain's range includes many flush and straight draws plus weak pairs, so our 33 has enough showdown equity to call rather than fold or turn it into a bluff.

Top pair with a modest kicker has showdown value, but after being called on both streets, betting risks value-owning myself against stronger queens and two pair. I’ll check and allow missed draws to bluff.

Pocket threes have some showdown value against the busted draws on this board and are unlikely to get better hands to fold. Checking back realizes that equity cheaply.

4-2 offsuit is too weak to play profitably here, even on the button.

Completing costs only 50 chips into a 150-chip pot, and the button has folded, so the favorable price justifies seeing a flop with this weak hand.

Q7o in the big blind against a small-blind limp is a fine hand to see a free flop with. Raising offers little value, and checking keeps the pot small while I hold position.

With bottom pair and a weak flush draw on a monotone ace-high board, checking keeps the pot small and lets me realize my equity without facing a raise.

Q7 offsuit with no spade on a monotone ace-high board has almost no equity and gets no fold equity against spades or any ace, so checking to take a free card is best.

Bet 100 into the 200-chip pot as a small semi-bluff: my pair plus spade draw has useful equity and benefits from denying overcard hands a free river.

Queen high with no draw on a wet ace-high board facing a bet. I have little equity, and bluff-raising in a limped pot isn't worth the risk.