Hold'em table

K2 offsuit is playable as a button steal three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise pressures the blinds while keeping the pot manageable.

Holding weak offsuit cards (5h 3c) out of position against a button open makes this an easy fold.

T5s is a marginal hand, but getting 400 into 150 (about 27% equity needed) against a button open in a 3-handed pot, with a suited hand and position disadvantage, makes calling reasonable. Folding gives up too much and a 3-bet bluff is unnecessary.

I have only a backdoor flush draw and ten-high on Q-4-8, and I'm out of position against the button's preflop raise. Checking keeps the pot small and lets me see a free card.

On this dry heads-up flop, a small continuation bet can fold out some unpaired hands while risking relatively little with king-high.

Tc5c on Qh4d8c has only ten-high with a backdoor flush draw, and the button's small c-bet of 180 into 550 requires calling 180 to win 730. Folding gives up a small equity, but calling out of position with no real draw or pair is likely a slight loss. A raise would be a pure bluff against a range that often continues.

Open-raising T6s on the button in 3-handed play to steal blinds and realize position postflop.

J8s from the small blind, facing a button open and a big blind still to act, is marginal and out of position in a three-way pot. Calling 150 more risks a tough postflop spot, so I fold.

Pocket sevens play well against a button min-raise, and calling keeps the pot manageable out of position.

Top set is very strong. A modest lead builds the pot while giving weaker pairs and draws room to continue.

I have Ten-high with no made hand and only weak backdoor straight draws against a flop lead.

4c Jc is a weak offsuit-ish hand in a three-way pot; the button can steal, but the hand plays poorly if called or 3-bet. Folding costs nothing here and avoids a marginal spot out of position postflop against two blinds.

With the button folded, calling 50 more heads-up lets me see a flop at a low price. 8-4 offsuit is too weak to raise.

Check our option with a weak offsuit ace to see a free flop in position against the small blind limp.

I have no pair and little immediate drawing potential on a paired board, so I’ll check rather than build the pot.

I have Ace-high showdown value in position in a limped blind vs blind pot, so checking behind controls the pot and realizes equity.

I have no made hand or meaningful draw, so I’ll check rather than put more chips into the pot.

Ace-high has decent showdown value in a limped blind-versus-blind pot, so checking behind to see the river for free is optimal.

My eight-high kicker has limited showdown value. After the turn checks, a modest river bet may fold out some better unpaired hands.

Holding just Ace-high with a weak kicker on a board with four high cards, paired queens, and three diamonds, we have virtually no showdown value against a near-pot river bet and do not hold the Ace of diamonds as a blocker.

T9 offsuit is a profitable button open three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds applies pressure while retaining position postflop.

AKo is a premier hand 3-handed; 3-betting to 1000 chips builds the pot with strong equity and puts pressure on the button open.

8-5 offsuit is a weak hand facing a raise and a 3-bet, and calling 900 more out of position would lose chips in the long run, so I fold.

T9 offsuit is too weak to call this large three-bet, even in position.

Q7o is too weak to open profitably from the button even in 3-handed play, so folding is the standard play.

J5 suited in the small blind is getting 3-to-1 (50 to call into a 150 pot), so completing is fine. Raising with a marginal hand out of position is worse.

Ace-queen suited is strong against a small-blind limp. Raising for value also gives me the initiative in position postflop.

J5 suited is weak, and calling 350 more out of position against a 4.5x big-blind raise, with the big blind still to act behind, is unprofitable. Folding is the disciplined choice.

Q6 offsuit is a weak hand, and calling from the button leaves it out of position against two players who could wake up behind me. Folding avoids a marginal spot, though the price is low.

J5 suited is playable heads-up. A small raise gives me a chance to win the blind while keeping the pot manageable if called.

Getting decent pot odds and closing the action in position against the small blind, Q3s is worth a call.

J5 has no pair or meaningful draw on this flop. Checking avoids building a pot out of position with little equity.

I have Queen-high with minimal equity on an Ace-high board, so taking a free turn card is preferable to turning this hand into a bluff right now.

The flop checked through, so a turn bet can win the pot against weak hands. If called, a three gives me a wheel.

I only have a gutshot straight draw with Qc 3c on an A-2-T-4 board, and getting roughly 3.5 to 1 pot odds is insufficient to chase 4 outs.