Hand Review Library

One decision point per hand.

Each review breaks down setup, action, beginner thinking, professional logic, GTO baseline, and exploit adjustment.

6-max cash · 100BB effective · Hero BTN · Villain BB calling station

AJ Top Pair vs a Calling Station: Why Three Streets of Value Can Work

BTN AJs on A72-9-2 against a BB calling station, with thin value and river caution.

Single-raised pot · 100BB · Hero CO · Villain BTN regular

Why AK Makes Beginners Lose Money

AK top pair can become a bluff catcher when board texture and betting pressure change.

6-max cash · 100BB · Hero BB · Villain CO regular

Pocket 88 vs a Small C-Bet on K72

Why BB should not automatically fold 88 against a small CO c-bet on K72 rainbow.

CO vs BB · 100BB · Hero CO · Villain BB regular

How to Play Flush Draws

Semi-bluffing with draws means combining equity and fold equity, not firing randomly.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain BB strong regular

Why Strong Players Protect Their Check Range

Use KQ top pair to understand why not every strong hand must bet the flop.

CO vs BB · 100BB · Hero CO · Villain BB regular

K72 Rainbow C-Bet: Why a Small Bet Is Enough

A CO vs BB hand review showing range advantage and small c-bet logic on a dry king-high board.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain BB regular

River Bluffing With Blockers

Why holding the right ace or suit blocker can make a river bluff more credible.

UTG vs BB · 100BB · Hero UTG · Villain BB regular

AA Facing Turn Pressure

Why an overpair can become uncomfortable when the board connects and villain raises.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain BB regular

Top Pair and Pot Control

When top pair should value bet and when it should slow down on dangerous runouts.

MP vs BTN · 60BB · Hero BTN · Villain MP tight

When Set Mining With Small Pairs Loses Money

Small pairs need price, stack depth, and implied odds before calling preflop.

BTN vs CO · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain CO

AK in a 3-Bet Pot

Why top pair top kicker often commits more easily when SPR is lower.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BB · Villain BTN

BB Defense With QJ

Defending QJ can be reasonable, but top pair still has kicker and reverse-implied-odds problems.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain passive BB

Facing a River Check-Raise

Why passive lines that suddenly become huge often contain more value than bluff.

CO vs BB · 100BB · Hero CO · Villain BB

Second Pair and Showdown Value

Why not every marginal made hand should be turned into a bluff.

CO vs BB · 100BB · Hero CO · Villain BB calling station

Missed Draws: Learning to Give Up

A missed straight and flush draw does not automatically become a river bluff.

6-max cash · 100BB · Hero UTG · Villain BB regular

AQ Top Pair on QJ7 Two-Tone: Value, But Not Autopilot

UTG AQ on QJ7 two-tone shows why top pair top kicker needs turn discipline on dynamic boards.

3-bet pot · 100BB · Hero SB · Villain BTN regular

QQ on A72 in a 3-Bet Pot: When Premium Becomes Medium Strength

A small blind 3-bet pot where QQ must downgrade after an ace-high flop.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain BB nit

KQ Top Pair Faces a Nit's Turn Raise

Top pair can be strong until a passive player chooses a rare aggressive line.

CO vs BB · 100BB · Hero CO · Villain BB calling station

99 Thin Value Versus a Calling Station on 87422

A medium overpair can value bet river when worse pairs really call.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BB · Villain BTN regular

BB Check-Raise on 876 Two-Tone With a Combo Draw

A big blind semi-bluff spot where board texture favors the defender more than beginners expect.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain BB strong regular

KQ on K94 Rainbow: Protecting the Check-Back Range

Against strong regulars, not every top pair has to bet the flop.

Preflop · 100BB · Hero SB · Villain BTN

A5s in the Small Blind: Blocker Pressure Without Autopilot

A preflop hand review showing why suited wheel aces can 3-bet, but not blindly.

BTN vs BB · 100BB · Hero BTN · Villain BB over-folder

QJs Misses River: Bluffing an Over-Folder With a Credible Story

A missed draw can bluff only when the line represents value and the opponent can fold.

Multiway · 100BB · Hero BB · Two opponents

Bottom Set Multiway on Q84 Two-Tone

Why slowplaying bottom set can lose value and protection in multiway pots.

Tournament study · 13BB · Hero BTN · Blinds cover

A9s With 13BB on the Button: Shallow Stack Clarity

A tournament study hand about planning before opening, shoving, or folding at shallow stacks.