When it's your turn to act, your options depend on one thing only: is there a pending bet to match?
If NOBODY has bet yet
- Check (check): you don't bet and you pass the turn, without giving up the hand. Free.
- Bet (bet): you put chips in the pot. Now the others must pay to continue.
If there IS already a bet
- Fold (fold): you throw away your hand and give up. You lose what you already put in, but you don't risk any more.
- Call (call): you pay the same amount that was bet to stay in the hand.
- Raise (raise): you pay and also increase the bet. You apply pressure: now the opponent must pay your raise.
EjemploThe opponent bets 10 chips. You can: fold (you're out), call (you put in 10 and continue), or raise (you put in, say, 30 and turn the pressure back on them).
✓ Consejo: These 5 words — check, bet, call, raise, fold — are 90% of the language of poker. With them you can already understand any hand.
💡 Clave: No bet: you check or bet. With a bet: you fold, call, or raise. That's all you can do on your turn.