Hold'em table

Pocket jacks are a strong button opening hand, so I raise for value.

2-4 offsuit is too weak to continue against a preflop raise, so folding preserves chips.

Getting 2.25 to 1 on a 200-chip call from the big blind against a button open is enough to defend with 8-5 offsuit, and folding would give up a cheap realized-equity continue.

I hold 8-5 offsuit with no pair on a Q-K-9 flop, and I can check for free as the big blind, so checking keeps the pot small and avoids investing more chips with a weak hand.

JJ has showdown value and a gutshot, but this K-Q-9 flop connects strongly with the big blind’s calling range. Checking back controls the pot and avoids facing a check-raise.

I hold 8-5 with no pair and no draw on a Q-K-9-6-turn board, so checking to see the river for free is the sensible line over a bluff.

JJ has showdown value, and betting into a board with three clubs risks getting called or raised by stronger hands. Checking in position lets me see the river without inflating the pot.

I have only a missed gutshot with 8-high on a paired board, so I have no showdown value to bet for value. Checking keeps the pot small and avoids a bluff that the checking opponent could call with better cards.

After three checks from the big blind, a small river bet can get value from weaker pairs and occasional ace-high calls. Keeping it small limits the cost when they have a king, queen, nine, or flush.

I have 8-5 with no pair and no realistic draw on this river, so I can't beat a value bet from the button; calling 200 into an 850 pot isn't justified, so I fold.

On the button with suited 95, a small open exploits position and builds a pot with a playable speculative hand rather than just calling.

AKs is a strong hand, so I'm 3-betting from the small blind to build the pot against the button's open and take initiative.

Pocket tens are strong enough to continue against a small-blind three-bet, but a four-bet risks building a large pot against stronger hands. Calling keeps weaker hands in and preserves flexibility after the flop.

95s is too weak to continue after a 3-bet and a cold call; folding saves chips.

Ace-high with no pair and no flush draw is weak on this Q-8-3 flop, so checking keeps the pot small and lets me see whether seat_1 bets.

Pocket tens have showdown value, but the small blind’s three-bet range contains many queens and overpairs. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me reassess on the turn.

I have ace-high with no pair on a Q-8-3-Q board, and checking is free, so I take the free card rather than bloat a pot where I'm likely behind a queen or a checked-down range.

TT has showdown value on the paired board, but a turn bet is unlikely to get much value from worse hands. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me evaluate the river.

I hold ace-king high with no pair on a paired board, and the opponent has checked both earlier streets, so I'll take the free showdown rather than bluff into a possible queen.

TT has solid showdown value after the preflop 3-bettor checked every street. A river bet is unlikely to get enough calls from worse hands to outweigh calls from better ones.

Three-six offsuit is one of the weakest hands, and calling 100 chips to see a flop from the button is not worth the cost.

KTo is strong enough to raise heads-up against the big blind, despite being out of position.

J4 offsuit is too weak to continue against a small-blind raise heads-up, especially out of position. Folding avoids paying 200 more with a dominated, unconnected hand.

8-3 offsuit is too weak to play profitably from the button against two blinds.

85o is too weak to continue from the small blind after the button folds, even heads-up against the big blind.

KJo is a strong button open in three-handed play, so I raise to 2.5bb to build the pot and take the initiative.

Queen-deuce offsuit is a weak hand to play out of position against a button raise, and calling 200 more into a three-way pot does not justify the risk.

With no rake and 150 to call into a 400-chip pot, 9-7 offsuit has enough potential against a button opening range to defend the big blind.

With a weak pair out of position, I prefer to check and control the pot against the button's opening range.

BB checked the flop, so I c-bet about a third of the pot with king-high, a spade flush draw, and the preflop initiative.

Middle pair is strong enough to continue against a small button continuation bet, though raising would overplay it.

My pair of sevens and gutshot have some showdown value, but are too weak to bet for value. Checking keeps the pot manageable and lets me assess a bet.

I have a spade flush draw plus an overcard as the preflop aggressor, and the BB checked the turn. A half-pot bet applies pressure and can fold out weak pairs while I still have equity if called.

The small turn bet gives reasonable pot odds with a pair and a gutshot straight draw. The button can also be betting draws or weaker hands, so folding now is too tight.

My pair of sevens has some showdown value, but a river bet is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking also lets the opponent bluff with missed draws.

King-high has no pair and little showdown value, but seat 1 has called flop and turn, so a river bluff is unlikely to fold out a pair. Checking back avoids putting more chips in with air.

Ad3s on the button is a weak hand but a late-position steal raise to 250 can win the blinds immediately, and the ace-high gives some equity if called.

6-3 suited is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

QTo has enough equity and playability versus a 2.5bb button open to continue, and calling 150 into 400 is better than folding or 3-betting out of position.

I have a spade flush draw and can see the turn for free out of position, so checking is better than folding or bloating the pot.

I hold the ace of spades-suited nut flush draw with an overcard, so a semi-bluff bet of about half pot can win the pot now or pick up equity if called. The big blind checked, which suggests a weak range that may fold.

I have a spade flush draw plus two overcards, and deep stacks give enough implied odds to continue against the c-bet. Calling keeps the pot manageable out of position rather than bloating it with a semi-bluff.

I have top pair plus a spade flush draw on a wet board, so I bet for value and protection before the river. A pot-sized-ish bet builds the pot while still getting called by worse queens and draws.

I have only Ace-high with a four-spade flush draw, about 20% to hit on the river, which is short of the roughly 28% needed to call 750 into this pot. Seat_2 has shown aggression on the turn, so folding is the better play.