Hold'em table

Pocket sixes are a strong button opening hand three-handed. A 2.5 big blind raise builds the pot while keeping the risk measured.

Q5o from the small blind facing a button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is too weak to call or 3-bet profitably. Folding is standard.

T4 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise heads-up from the big blind.

J4 suited on the button, 3-handed, is a reasonable steal hand against the two blinds; a small open to 2.5bb applies pressure cheaply.

9-4 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open, especially out of position in a multiway setting.

K9 offsuit is strong enough to defend the big blind against a 2.5x button open, but not strong enough to build a large pot out of position.

With king-high and only a backdoor heart draw, I prefer to check to the preflop raiser rather than build the pot out of position.

Top pair with a weak kicker plus a gutshot to the wheel, on a dry-ish board versus a BB check. A small value/protection c-bet of about 36% pot is good here.

King-high has no immediate draw on this flop. Out of position, calling the bet would leave too many difficult turns for too little chance of improving.

7-5 suited is a playable button hand three-handed and benefits from taking the initiative with a standard open.

8-5 offsuit plays poorly out of position against a button raise, especially with the big blind still to act.

ATo in the big blind against a button 2.5x open is well ahead of the button's wide range, and calling 150 into 400 is clearly profitable. Calling keeps his dominated hands and bluffs in; a 3-bet is also reasonable, but flatting is fine.

Top pair with a mediocre kicker out of position against the button's range. Checking controls the pot and lets the raiser's air keep betting; I'll mostly check-call.

I have an open-ended straight draw and can apply pressure after the big blind checks. A small continuation bet gives me fold equity while keeping the pot manageable.

Top pair with a decent kicker against a small c-bet from the button; calling keeps the pot controlled and keeps bluffs in their range, while a raise mostly gets called by better aces.

Top pair with a weak kicker is out of position on a turn that brings a flush draw. Checking controls the pot size and induces bluffs from the button's c-betting range, and I can call a reasonable bet.

I have paired the turn and can take a thin value/protection bet against draws and weaker pairs after the check. A moderate sizing keeps worse hands and draws in while limiting exposure to stronger ace or jack holdings.

Top pair with a ten kicker facing a half-pot turn bet from the button's wide opening range; calling keeps his bluffs and worse aces in, and raising would only get called by better hands. I'm getting 450 to win 1850, so a call is clearly profitable.

Top pair with a ten kicker is a bluff-catcher against the button's small bets. Checking lets missed heart draws bluff, and it avoids building a pot against stronger aces or straights.

We have two pair but it is vulnerable to any ace or jack that called earlier streets. Checking realizes our showdown value without risking a thin value bet into a stronger made hand.

T4 suited is playable as a button open in a three-handed game. Raising gives me a chance to win the blinds and preserves position if called.

54s from the small blind facing a 2.5x button open, with the big blind still to act behind, is a marginal spot. Calling out of position risks getting squeezed, so folding is standard, though a 3-bet bluff would also be defensible.

Q2 offsuit is too weak to defend against a button raise, especially out of position.

K8 suited is a clear open from the button in 3-handed play; a 2.5bb raise pressures both blinds.

Q6 offsuit is too weak to defend from the small blind against a button open in this short-handed spot.

6-4 offsuit is too weak to defend out of position against a 2.5-big-blind button raise.

Q9 offsuit is a strong enough button opening hand three-handed, with positional advantage and good steal equity.

Against a wide button opening range, K9 offsuit can serve as a three-bet bluff with a king blocker. Raising also pressures the big blind and avoids calling out of position.

A5o facing a 10bb 3-bet from the SB, with the button still left to act behind, is too weak to call out of position. A 4-bet bluff here is too risky, so I'm folding my big blind.

Q9 offsuit is too easily dominated against a large small-blind 3-bet, and the price does not justify continuing.