Poker is a fairly deep game with so many terms and expressions that newbies cannot understand. One of these terms is Check. A Check in poker means that the action is passed to the player to your left without you making a bet. Checking is only possible if nobody has made a bet on the current street. For example, let’s say a bet was made in front of you on the current street, your options are call, raise or fold. In this scenario, checking is not an option since you must always call at least the bet on the current street. Below we will explain what does check mean in poker with examples. So, let’s get started.
Explanation – Check
If a player before you has bet on the current street, you have the option to call, raise or fold. Checking is not an option as you must always call at least the previous bet on the current street. Therefore, unless you are in the big blind position, pre-flop checking is not an available option. Remember that all other players must be at least the big blind amount in order for you to play in this hand (otherwise they must fold).
The term check-back refers solely to a check performed in the position. It’s usually possible to tell that someone wasn’t following the action properly when they refer to a check out of position as a “check back”.
Check-to-the-PFR is a term used to describe a check made out of position when facing an opponent who made the last aggressive action (raise or re-raise) pre-flop.
Example of the term checking used in a sentence -> “You checked the flop and your opponent checked back “.
How to Use Check as Part of Poker Strategy?
A check is especially useful if you want to keep the pot size small. This strategy could mean that you have a weak hand. Checking can also be used to set up a trap with a strong hand or to mislead the opponent (commonly referred to as slowplaying).
Checking is also commonly used when out of position and facing an opponent who made the last aggressive move on the previous street. This play isn’t always strategically correct, but many players have developed the habit of constantly checking against an opponent who showed aggression on the previous street.
What are the ways to signal a check in live poker?
The double tap on the table is the universal check symbol in poker. Since double-tapping is fairly easy to spot (and players wouldn’t normally double-tap accidentally), double-tapping anywhere is often enough to signal a check.
Check in The Dark
Check in the dark means checking preemptively without waiting to see what cards are dealt. For example, a player cold-calling the big blind might announce “Check in the Dark” before the flop is dealt. Regardless of which cards fall, his decision to check is now binding.
There is no strategic advantage to using this play, other than the possibility of misleading opponents.