Until the first bet is made each player in turn may 'check', which is to not place a bet, or 'open', which is to make the first bet. When it is a player's turn to act, the first verbal declaration or action they take does NOT bind them to their choice of action this rule allows a player to think out loud at the table without being penalized for doing so. Players in a poker game act in turn, in clockwise rotation (acting out of turn can negatively affect other players). Different games are played using different types of bets, and small variations in etiquette exist between cardrooms, but for the most part the following rules and protocol are observed by the majority of poker players. In the game of poker, the play largely centers on the act of betting, and as such, a protocol has been developed to speed up play, lessen confusion, and increase security while playing. For the strategic impact of betting, see poker strategy.
This article is about the common terms, rules, and procedures of betting in poker only.
