Pick up the Check
In pokern you can bet, fold, raise or check. The last action, checking, is often miscast as a weak move, when in fact, it is a perfectly acceptable tactic when playing poker. When does in make sense to check?
When a poker player first to act after the flop and any subsequent players check, the logical assumption is that none of them have good hands. However, any one of them could be drawing to flush or straight, or holding a small or medium strength pair. If a late position player does bet out, then the checking seats must make a decision to fold, call or raise.
If a poker player has checked, then must respond to a bet, there are three possible responses: a fold, a call or a re-raise. Why would a player who checked, then make a call when a bet is put out? Because that player believes the hand is not strong enough to back with aggressive play, yet still has too much potential, i.e. many outs, to lay down. Or it could represent slow playing a big hand from early position too.
At any rate, the check is often undervalued as a way to stall for time and see more cards. If you have checked your hand, and are then raised, the strategic thing to do is calculate the pot odds to completing your hand to make a winner. You should also take into account your opponent’s playing style since it is easier to be a bully in late position.
Checking is often the best action an early position player can take to protect a hand and see more cards.
