Poker glossary
Check
Passing the action to the next player without betting, when no bet has been made on the current street.
To check is to pass the action to the next player without betting. You stay in the hand, and it costs nothing.
When can you check?
Only when nobody has bet yet on the current betting round. Once someone bets, you can’t check any more: you have to fold, call or raise.
- Preflop: the blinds count as bets, so only the big blind can check, and only if nobody raised.
- Flop, turn and river: anyone can check until the first bet is made.
If everyone checks, the round ends. The next card is dealt, or on the river the hand goes to showdown.
How to check in a live game
Say “check” or tap the table once. Both are binding.
Check-raise
A check-raise means checking first, then raising after an opponent bets. It’s allowed in almost every casino and online game and is a strong play with big hands and good draws. Some home games ban it; see is check-raising allowed?
Why check?
- To see a free card when you have a draw.
- To keep the pot small with a medium hand (pot control).
- To trap, checking a strong hand so an opponent can bet.
- To give up on a hand that can’t win.
Checking isn’t a sign of weakness on its own. Good players check some strong hands too, so their checks are hard to read.