Poker Betting Rules and Terminology

Before the Game: The Ante A typical game of poker begins with players putting money into the "pot" at the center of the poker table even before they've seen their cards. Depending on what poker game is being played or on what the players decide beforehand, players contribute to an initial pot with either "antes" or "blinds". An ante is a small, predetermined bet that every player must place in the middle of the standard poker table before the hand begins. Big Blind and Little Blind A blind is more of an obligatory bet that one player is responsible for contributing to build the pot. As the deal moves around the poker table after each hand, the blind moves with it and each player takes his or her turn. Most often, the blinds are divided between two of the players, with one placing the "big blind" and the other placing the "little blind," which is a fraction of the big blind. The name "blind" refers to the fact that players are betting on cards they have not seen, or "betting blind." The major difference between these two opening bets is that with blinds, these bets count as actual bets, which means the remaining players have to "call" the bet or "fold" the hand.

Betting during the Hand
At the beginning of play in an ante game, the first player at the poker table (the player to the dealer's left) has to make a decision to bet or "check." Bet amounts are often limited by minimums and maximums. To check is to pass the bet to the next player.

After the first player decides, the next player at the poker table must make his or her decision. If a bet was placed, this player has three choices: "call", "raise", or "fold." Calling matches the initial bet and keeps you in the hand. Raising is the equivalent of calling and adding a bet of your own. Folding is choosing not to call and removing yourself from the hand.

Betting Rounds
Players keep this call, raise, or fold game going until the remaining players have all called and have the same amount of money invested in the hand, all of which is now in the pot. Thus ends a round of betting. If all players check, then no additional money goes into the pot during that round.

Depending on the variation of poker being played, the number of betting rounds is determined by the players or by the natural betting breaks built into the game when more cards are introduced, such as in Texas hold em.