In poker, there are four specific actions you can take during a betting round: Call, Check, Raise and Fold. These can be broken down further into specific strategies you can use to win a hand. This article will focus on what does check mean in poker and how you can utilize this action to your advantage in a hand.

When you check in poker, you are essentially passing the action to the next player yet keeping your cards. This is considered a safe bet, as you will only place a wager if your opponent makes a bet in the same direction. Whether you are checking for value, trying to bluff against an aggressive opponent, or simply want to gather information about your opponents, there are many reasons to check in poker.

Checking in poker is only possible when there has not been a bet in front of you on the current street. Therefore, in order to check, you must be first to act on that street and it must be your turn. Once you have checked, any player may now bet (call, raise or fold), if they wish.

Unlike calling, which requires you to put money into the pot, checking does not. However, you must be careful to understand when to check and not check too often or in the wrong situations. Checking too frequently can make you seem weak to your opponents and can allow them to gain control of your stack.

You can signal that you are checking in poker by saying the word “check” or making a hand motion. The most common hand motion is tapping the table with your hands or fingers. You can also nod towards the dealer or make another hand gesture that signifies your intention. The dealer will confirm whether your action means that you are checking if you are unsure.

In addition, there are idiosyncratic hand signals that can be used to indicate that you’re checking. You can twirl your fingers, make a fist with your thumb and index finger, or swivel your hand to point at the player to your left. These are all considered to be a clear indication that you are checking and should be interpreted as such by the dealer.

When you check in poker, it is important to know your opponent’s range and how you can use the information you have to your advantage. For example, if your opponent checks back on the flop with A4s and you have an inside straight draw, then you should consider raising. This will stop your opponent from bluffing into you and can give you a better chance at winning the hand.

Generally speaking, you should check with mid-range to strong hands, as these will have the best equity against your opponent’s range. There are also some hands that want to be checked because they aren’t good enough for a value bet and are too strong to bluff with, so it can help you get the best odds of making a strong poker hand.