Showdown Hold'em table

J4s is below the published 4x range (J8s+), so checking preserves the option to raise later with more information.

No pair, no flush draw, and no straight draw on this flop, so equity is too thin to raise 2x. Check and reassess on the river.

King-high loses to every qualifying dealer and to most live ace/queen highs, so a 1x raise is about -22 chips versus -20 for folding.

9-3 offsuit is well below the published 4x range (no pair, no ace, and neither suited nor connected enough), so checking preserves the option to raise later only if the board improves.

9-3 offsuit has no pair, no flush draw, and no meaningful straight draw on 2-7-4. Checking keeps the option to fold on the river rather than risking a 2x raise with almost no equity.

Ten-high with no pair loses to about 95% of dealer holdings, and the rare wins only net the 1x play bet because the dealer usually fails to qualify. Folding at -20 EV beats raising at about -25.

K5 suited is in the published optimal 4x range (K2s+), so I raise the maximum preflop.

JTs is in the published optimal 4x range (J8s+), so I raise the maximum preflop rather than check.

K4o is below the published 4x range (K5o+ or K2s+), so checking preserves the option to raise 2x on a favorable flop or fold on the river.

King-high with no pair and no draw on A-7-3 is too weak to put a 2x play bet in; checking preserves the option to raise or fold on the river.

Board is aces and threes, so I have two pair with the best possible kicker (king). Dealer only beats me with a full house, quads, or a diamond flush — about 22% of holdings — so the 1x raise is clearly +EV versus folding.

5-3 offsuit is well below the published preflop 4x range, so checking preserves the option to raise later only if the board improves.

Bottom pair on an ace-queen board is too weak to commit a 2x raise; checking preserves the option to fold unimproved on the river.

Board pair of aces plus my fives gives aces and fives. Against the 990 dealer holdings I win about 55% and tie 6%, so the 1x raise is only slightly negative versus folding for a sure -20.

9-7 offsuit is outside the published preflop raising range (no pair, no ace, and below the king/queen/jack thresholds), so checking preserves the option to raise later with more information.

Pair of sevens with a nine kicker on an ace-high flop is too weak to raise; checking keeps the option to fold or raise 1x on the river.

River pair of sevens wins or ties about 56% of the 990 dealer holdings, and a 1x raise loses only the extra play bet when behind, so its EV is about -7 chips versus -20 for folding.

J3s is below the published 4x range (J8s+ or JTo) and too weak to raise 3x, so check and see the flop.

Bottom pair with a jack kicker on a king-high, two-diamond board is too thin to raise 2x. Checking keeps the river option to raise 1x or fold.

Pair of threes wins 466 of 990 dealer holdings and ties 6. Raising returns about -10.5 chips versus -20 for folding, so the 1x raise is clearly +EV.

KQo is in the published optimal 4x range (K5o+), so I raise the maximum preflop.

J6 offsuit is well below the published optimal 4x range (J8s+ or JTo), so checking preserves the option to raise later with more information.

I have a pair of sixes on the flop, which is ahead of most random dealer holdings and qualifies for a 2x raise under standard Casino Hold'em strategy.

T9o is below the published preflop 4x range (JTo+), so checking preserves the option to raise later with more information.

No pair and no flush or open-ended straight draw on a paired board, so checking preserves the option to fold on the river if the hand does not improve.

I have 7s full of 9s and the board already gives the dealer trips, so I win the vast majority of the 990 dealer holdings; only quads, queens full, or nines full beat me. Raising 1x is far better than folding for a sure loss of ante and blind.

J6s is below the published preflop 4x range (J8s+), so checking preserves the option to raise 2x on a favorable flop.

Board pair with only a jack kicker and a backdoor flush is well under 50% to win, so a 2x raise is worse than checking and betting 1x on the river when the hand still has value.

Board gives me trip queens with K-J kickers, and the dealer always qualifies. I win about 62% of the 990 holdings, tie 11%, and lose 27%, so a 1x raise is worth about +4.4 chips versus -20 for folding.

54 offsuit is outside the published optimal preflop 4x range (no pair, no ace, and too weak for king/queen/jack raises), so checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves.

Two pair fives and fours beats about 645 of 990 dealer holdings and ties 4, with the dealer always qualifying off the board pair. That is about +2.7 chips versus -20 for folding, so the 1x raise is clearly better.

Pocket aces are the strongest preflop holding and are in the published optimal 4x range, so I raise the maximum before the board runs out.

AJo is in the published optimal 4x range (any ace), so I raise the maximum preflop rather than check.

Q5 offsuit is below the published optimal 4x range (Q8o+ or Q6s+), so checking preserves the option to raise later with more information.

Queen-high with only a backdoor flush draw has too little equity to raise 2x; checking preserves the option to raise or fold on the river.

Queen-high beats 204 of 990 dealer holdings, all non-qualifying, and ties 45 more. That makes the 1x raise about -18.9 chips versus -20 for a fold.

A7o is in the published optimal 4x range (any ace), so I raise the maximum preflop.

8-2 offsuit is far below the published optimal 4x range (33+, any ace, K2s+/K5o+, Q6s+/Q8o+, J8s+/JTo), so checking preserves the option to raise later only if the board improves.

Top pair with a weak kicker and only a remote flush chance is not strong enough to commit a 2x raise on this connected board. Checking preserves the option to raise or fold once the river is known.

Pair of eights beats most dealer holdings and non-qualifying boards, so a 1x raise is far better than folding the ante and blind.

8-3 offsuit is far below the published preflop raise range, so checking keeps the option to raise later only if the board improves.

8-high with no pair and only a weak gutshot has poor equity against the dealer, so checking preserves the option to raise 1x or fold on the river.

Board pair means the dealer always qualifies, and my pair of twos with Q-8-6 loses to 941 of 990 holdings. Raising is about -28 chips versus -20 for folding.

5-7 offsuit is well below the published 4x range (no pair, no ace, and not a suited or high broadway holding), so checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves.

5-7 offsuit has no pair and no flush or straight draw on 8-2-J, so a 2x raise is -EV. Check and reassess on the river.

Pair of sevens beats most dealer holdings, including every non-qualifying hand. Raising loses far less in expectation than folding the ante and blind.

Pocket deuces are below the published optimal 4x range (33+), so checking preflop preserves the option to raise later with more information.

Pocket deuces are the lowest pair on an ace-high flop and lose to every qualifying dealer pair, so raising 2x is -EV. Checking keeps the river option to raise only if we improve.

Board gives me two pair, aces and tens, with a five kicker, and my deuces do not play. Only 42 of 990 dealer holdings lose and 33 tie, so a 1x raise is about -27 chips versus -20 for folding.

J6s is below the published preflop 4x range (J8s+), so checking preserves the option to raise later if the board improves.

I only have a shared pair of twos with a jack kicker and a backdoor club draw, which is too weak to commit a 2x raise. Checking preserves the option to fold on the river if I do not improve.

With two pair jacks and deuces I beat about 78% of dealer holdings, so the 1x play bet loses far less than folding the ante and blind.

K3 offsuit is outside the published optimal 4x range (K5o+), so check and decide on later streets.

Top pair of kings plus four diamonds to a king-high or better flush is strong enough to raise 2x now rather than check.

T9o is outside the published optimal 4x range (33+, any ace, K2s+/K5o+, Q6s+/Q8o+, J8s+/JTo), so checking preserves the option to raise later with more information.

T9 offsuit on 2-Q-7 has no pair and no draw, so raising 2x is -EV. Check and reassess on the river.

Pair of tens beats most random dealer holdings, including every non-qualifying hand, so a 1x raise is clearly better than folding.

KJs is in the published optimal 4x range (K2s+), so I raise the maximum preflop.

T9s is below the published optimal 4x range (J8s+), so checking preflop preserves the option to raise 2x on a favorable flop.

Ten-nine has no pair and only backdoor straight or flush chances on 7-2-3, so a 2x raise is not justified. Check and reassess on the river.

Board is paired twice, so I hold two pair (7s and 3s) with a ten kicker. Exact enumeration of the 990 dealer holdings gives 204 wins, 66 ties and 720 losses; the 1x raise returns about -17.7 chips versus -20 for folding, so raising is the higher-EV play.

JTs is in the published optimal 4x range (J8s+), so I raise the maximum preflop.

J8 offsuit is outside the published optimal 4x range (J8s+ or JTo), so checking is the correct preflop action.

Pair of eights is ahead of enough random dealer holdings that committing the 2x play bet is +EV versus checking.

Q2 offsuit is well below the published 4x range (Q8o+), so checking preserves the option to raise later with more information.

Queen-high with no pair and no meaningful draw on a rainbow 4-8-6 board is too weak to raise 2x; check and reassess on the river.

Board pair means the dealer always qualifies, and Qs-2c plays 88 with K-Q-6. Exact enumeration: win 312, tie 33, lose 645 of 990. Raise EV is about -13.2 versus -20 for folding, so the 1x is clearly better.

QJo is in the published optimal 4x range (Q8o+), so I raise the maximum preflop.