Holdem table

87 offsuit is below the standard opening threshold on the button in 3-handed play, making folding the standard play.

35s is too weak to complete out of position against the big blind, and raising would bloat the pot with a hand that realizes poorly if called.

54o is too weak to open from the button with both blinds still to act; folding avoids a dominated, low-equity spot.

With the button folded, completing costs only 50 chips and J3 offsuit has sufficient equity against the big blind’s wide range.

T9o plays well in position against a blind-versus-blind limp, so taking a free flop is standard and profitable.

I have no pair or meaningful draw on this ace-high flop, so I’ll take the free card rather than bluff into the big blind.

I have bottom pair with mediocre kicker on a high board; checking back keeps the pot small and realizes equity safely.

I have no made hand and little meaningful equity on this board. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves the chance to improve on the river.

Third pair has showdown value in a limped blind battle; checking behind to realize equity and keep the pot small.

I have some showdown value with jack-high, and a river bluff is unlikely to fold better hands that checked twice.

I have two pair (nines and sixes) with an ace kicker in a limped pot that has checked all the way down; checking behind ensures realizing showdown value without risking getting raised or only called by better.

On the button in a three-handed game, J4 offsuit is marginal but playable as an open-raise. A small raise applies pressure to the blinds while keeping the risk controlled.

86s is too weak to flat out of position against a 2.5x button open with the big blind still left to act.

98s has enough equity and playability to continue against a 2.5x button open. Calling 150 into 400 is the right price rather than folding or bloating the pot out of position with a three-bet.

I completely missed this low flop with 98s and have no draw, so I check to the preflop raiser rather than bet air into their range advantage.

I have an open-ended straight draw with eight apparent outs and can apply pressure after the big blind checks. A modest bet gives me fold equity without risking too much when called.

98s has no pair, no draw, and no real equity on 532 against a flop bet, so calling or bluff-raising is unprofitable.

Opening with a strong holding (AQo) from the button in a 3-handed game.

25o is too weak to continue against a button open; folding preserves chips.

7♠6♠ is a reasonable big-blind defend against a button raise with deep stacks and good postflop potential. Calling keeps the pot manageable while getting favorable odds.

I have no pair and only backdoor straight and flush possibilities. Checking keeps the pot small and may let me see the turn for free.

I hold top pair with a strong Queen kicker on an Ace-high board and make a standard continuation bet for value and protection against floats and draws.

With only 7-high and a remote runner-runner straight draw, I have too little equity to continue against the flop bet.

6-3 offsuit is too weak to call or raise from the button, so folding is the highest-EV option.

Complete the small blind with a playable connected hand at favorable pot odds rather than inflate the pot out of position.

We have K4o in the big blind facing a small blind completion, which plays well enough to take a free flop in position rather than turning it into a raise.

I have no pair and only limited backdoor potential, so checking avoids investing chips with a weak hand.

Checking back with King-high to see a free turn card in position.

I have only a gutshot to a ten and no meaningful showdown value, but the king is a poor card to bluff into the big blind’s range. Checking preserves the chance to improve cheaply on the river.

I turned top pair in a limped pot where the opponent has checked both streets. A half-pot bet extracts value from second-best pairs and club draws.

I have only a four-out gutshot to a ten and no meaningful one-card flush draw. The 100-chip call into the 300-chip pot needs far more equity than that draw provides.

A4 offsuit is a reasonable button open three-handed; raising to 2.5 big blinds builds the pot while applying pressure to the blinds.

K3o is far too weak to defend out of position from the small blind against a button raise.

A9o has enough equity and pot odds against a button 2.5x open to continue, and calling keeps the hand simpler than a light 3-bet.

Top pair with an ace kicker on a dry flop is strong, but donk-betting folds out worse hands that would c-bet and gets called mainly by better. Checking to the preflop raiser is the higher-EV line.

A-high has useful showdown value, and this low board connects with the big blind’s calling range. I’ll take the free turn with backdoor draw potential rather than inflate the pot.

I have a pair of nines with the ace kicker on a paired board after the flop checked through. A small turn bet gets value from worse pairs and charges overcards while keeping the pot manageable.

The turn call would need about 21% equity, while my likely outs are only four threes plus at most three aces, and some may not be clean. I fold rather than invest more with ace-high.