Hold'em table

T2 offsuit is too weak to open profitably, even on the button.

K4 offsuit is worth completing heads-up from the small blind at 3-to-1 pot odds. Limping keeps the pot small with a weak kicker while playing out of position.

I have Q4o in the big blind facing an SB limp, making checking to see a free flop the standard play.

Bottom pair has some showdown value on this dry board, but betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands. Checking keeps the pot small out of position and preserves options against a bet.

I have third pair on an ace-high board in position. Checking behind controls the pot size and realizes our showdown equity against the small blind's limp range.

Bottom pair has some showdown value, but betting is unlikely to get called by many worse hands or fold out better pairs. Checking keeps the pot small and preserves the option to evaluate a bet.

I have bottom pair with modest showdown value in position; checking behind keeps the pot small and allows me to see the river for free.

Our pair of fours has showdown value, but a bet is unlikely to get called by worse. Checking keeps the pot small and lets us reassess if the opponent bets.

I have a pair of fours with decent showdown value against checked-down hands, so checking back to reach showdown makes sense.

J9 offsuit is strong enough to open on the button three-handed. Raising to 2.5 big blinds pressures the blinds while preserving our positional advantage if called.

AQo is a premium holding in 3-handed play, making a 3-bet from the small blind against the button's open standard for value and positional disadvantage mitigation.

T9 offsuit performs poorly against the small blind's large 3-bet range, especially with the button still able to continue. Folding preserves chips.

J9 offsuit is too weak to profitably continue against a four-times-opening-size three-bet, even with position. Folding avoids investing more with a frequently dominated hand.

84o is well outside any reasonable 3-handed button opening range, making this a trivial fold.

Getting a strong price to complete from the small blind heads-up, and 9-6 suited has enough equity to defend.

With 4-2 offsuit and no amount to call, checking takes a free flop without investing more with a very weak hand.

I will make a small continuation bet with a gutshot straight draw and some backdoor spade potential, applying pressure to unpaired limped hands.

Four-high has no pair or immediate straight draw, only weak backdoor possibilities. Against a 65%-pot bet, there is insufficient equity to call and little reason to choose this hand as a bluff raise.

Button open-raise with Q7 suited to leverage position and initiative against the blinds.

96 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a 2.5bb raise, especially with the big blind still to act. Folding avoids investing more chips with poor playability out of position.

J8s is a standard defense in the big blind facing a button min-plus open, getting good pot odds closing the action.

I have top pair with an eight kicker on a paired board out of position; checking to the preflop aggressor is standard.

A small continuation bet applies pressure to the preflop caller on this paired, club-heavy board while risking little with two overcards to the board.

I hold top pair on a paired board facing a small continuation bet, making a call profitable against the button's wide range.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a board with three clubs. Checking to pot-control out of position is the standard line.

With only queen-high on a paired board that now completes the club draw, checking back preserves showdown value and avoids bluffing into a likely sticky flop-calling range.

I have second pair with a mediocre kicker on a board with an overcard Ace and three to a flush; checking to see showdown is preferred over turning it into a bluff or value betting.

A medium river bluff can fold out missed floats and some weak one-pair hands after the opponent's passive line. The sizing pressures their capped range while risking less than a large bet.

Seat 1 checked behind on the turn and is now stabbing for 600 on the river Ace, an obvious scare card. We have second pair (Jacks and Twos with Ace kicker), which serves as a prime bluff catcher getting better than 3.5:1 pot odds.

Ace-king suited is a premium button opening hand. Raising to 2.5 big blinds builds the pot with a strong equity advantage while leveraging position against the blinds.

Holding 72o out of position facing a raise is an automatic fold.

Defend the big blind heads-up against the button's small open; 8-6 offsuit has sufficient equity and playability for the price.

With an open-ended straight draw but no made pair, checking keeps the pot controlled and allows me to react to the preflop raiser's continuation bet.

Top pair with top kicker and the nut flush draw is strong enough to build the pot. This sizing gets value from weaker kings, queens, and draws while charging them to continue.

With 8-high, no club, and only weak backdoor possibilities on this coordinated board, calling the continuation bet is unprofitable.

T6s is on the bottom fringe of 3-handed button opening ranges, making a fold standard and disciplined.

9-2 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against the big blind, especially with no additional players in the pot.