Learn poker
Check, bet, call, raise or fold: what each one means, when you can use it and how much you can bet, with a full hand played out.
The short answer
On your turn you do one of five things. If no one has bet yet in this round, you can check or bet. Once someone has bet, you can fold, call or raise. Betting goes around the table to the left, one player at a time, and a round ends when everyone still in has put in the same amount.
The five actions
Pass the turn to the next player without putting any chips in. You keep your cards.
When you can
Only when no one has bet in this round. Before the flop, only the big blind can check, if no one raised.
Put the first chips of the round into the pot. Everyone after you must call, raise or fold.
When you can
Only when no one has bet yet in this round. In no-limit the smallest bet is the big blind.
Put in just enough chips to match the current bet and stay in the hand.
When you can
When someone has bet or raised. If you can't match it all, you can call with all your chips.
Put in more than the current bet. Everyone else must match the new amount, raise again or fold.
When you can
When someone has bet. In no-limit a raise must be at least as big as the last bet or raise.
Give up your hand, and the chips you have already put in. You sit out until the next hand.
When you can
Any time it is your turn. If you could check instead, folding gives up the hand for nothing.
Step by step
Four players, blinds of $1 and $2, $200 each. Almost every betting action in poker comes up in this one hand.
Ana
Dealer button
Ben
Small blind
Cal
Big blind
Dee
First to act
Ben posts the small blind, $1.
Cal posts the big blind, $2.
Dee raises to $6. The first raise before the flop is called an open raise.
Ana raises again, to $18. A re-raise like this is a 3-bet.
Ben folds and gives up the $1 small blind.
Cal folds and gives up the $2 big blind.
Dee calls, adding $12 to match Ana's $18.
Dee checks.
Ana bets $20. A flop bet by the last raiser before the flop is a continuation bet.
Dee raises to $60. Dee checked first, so this is a check-raise.
Ana calls, adding $40.
Dee checks.
Ana checks too, so the river comes with no more chips in.
Dee bets $100.
Ana calls $100.
Dee, wins $359
Ana
Dee shows ace-king for a pair of kings and Ana shows two queens. Kings beat queens, so Dee wins the $359 pot.
Bet sizes
It depends on the game's betting limit. Most online games are no-limit or pot-limit.
The smallest bet is the big blind, and the smallest raise is the size of the last bet or raise. The most you can bet is everything in front of you. Texas Hold’em at PokerBest is no-limit.
The most you can bet or raise is the size of the pot. Omaha is usually played this way, including at PokerBest. Our Omaha poker rules work through the sums.
Every bet and raise is a set size: a small bet before the flop and on the flop, then a big bet, twice as much, on the turn and river. Rooms usually cap a round at one bet and three or four raises.
Before the flop
$10
the smallest raise allowed next
The big blind is $2 and Dee raises to $6, a raise of $4. The next raise has to go to at least $10.
On the flop
$100
the smallest raise allowed next
Ana bets $20 and Dee raises to $60, a raise of $40. A re-raise has to go to at least $100.
Running out of chips
Ana is all in for $20. Ben raises to $50 and Cal calls. The main pot is $60, $20 from each of them, and all three can win it. The other $60 is a side pot that only Ben and Cal can win.
Whose turn
Glossary
FAQ
Checking passes the turn to the next player without betting. You can only check when no one has bet in the current round. If everyone checks, the round ends and the next card comes.
Calling means matching the current bet, so you stay in the hand without raising. If someone bets $10, calling costs you $10.
Folding means giving up your hand. You lose the chips you have already put in the pot this hand, but you don't risk any more.
In no-limit, a raise must be at least as big as the last bet or raise in the same round. If the big blind is $2 and someone raises to $6, the next raise must go to at least $10.
A re-raise. Before the flop the big blind counts as the first bet and the first raise as the second, so the re-raise is the third bet: the 3-bet.
No. Once there is a bet in the round, you can call, raise or fold.
Yes. Checking and then raising after someone bets is allowed online and in casinos. Some home games ban it, so ask before you play.
Only if someone raises after you. A raise opens the betting again, so when it comes back to you, you can call, raise or fold.
You lose the chips you bet. In a cash game you can buy in again. In a tournament, losing all your chips usually means you are out.
In a cash game, the buy-in is the chips you sit down with, and each table sets a smallest and a largest. In a tournament, the buy-in is the price of a seat.
Keep learning
Every hand from royal flush to high card, and how often you make each one.
Read the guideYour chance to win before the flop, on the flop and on the turn.
Read the guideFour hole cards, use exactly two, and pot-limit betting.
Read the guideEvery word you'll hear at the table, from all in to the nuts.
Read the guideUnder the gun to the button: who acts when, and why it matters.
Read the guidePlay No-Limit Texas Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha for real money at PokerBest.
