Checking

This strategy column, and many like it, are featured in every issue of Card Player magazine. Subscribe today to get 26 issues delivered to your home each year! While playing $20-$40 limit hold’em, you pick up the Q Q in middle position. You open-raise, the button three-bets, and you go to the flop heads up. The flop comes 10 7 3. You check, and, as expected, the button bets. You figure that he has a pretty wide range here, including several pocket pairs, A-K, A-Q, and perhaps some occasional whimsical adventures. You decide to check-raise, for several reasons: • You are way ahead of most of his range. • You are out of position, which normally means that you have to take some chances to gain full value from your hand. If you just call here and check the turn, he will often just take a free card, and you will fail to profit when you are ahead. You want him to pay to draw out.

Passing on the opportunity to bet while retaining the right to raise if a bet is placed.

Checking is a betting action where the player chooses to not bet or raise when offered.

I think checking is one of the most important actions in a poker game. Almost everyone dismisses another player’s check. Keeping this in mind can be very helpful when playing.

Learn How to Play Poker, different poker strategies with our free articles. Improve your game with PokerSchoolOnline.

Like these Gambling Lessons?

In our latest installment of the 10 Essential Texas Hold'em Moves beginner poker strategy series we show you how to use the Check-Raise to make more money at the poker table.

Explaining what betting, checking, raising and folding means in a game of poker.

Basic poker rules for all of our poker games including Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Stud. Learn at our free money tables and then play poker for real money.

Poker beginners guide.