Gambling terms, explained straight

Poker

Fold, call, raise poker meaning

These are the three actions a poker player can take after a bet has been made: fold quits the hand, call matches the current wager, and raise increases it.

Also called
Fold is also called drop; call is also called see or stay.34
Applies to
Used in poker betting rounds, including Texas hold ’em and other poker-family games.12

Key points

  • After a bet or raise, a player may fold, call, or raise.12
  • A betting round ends when all active players have matched the last bet/raise, all check, or only one remains.2

Where this term is used

Not the same as

  • Poker raise rules — specifies how much a raise must be and any limits, not the action options themselves
  • Check raise poker — a specific sequence of checking then raising, not the basic set of actions
  • Fold equity poker — a strategy concept about value gained when opponents fold, not the action of folding
Poker Donk bet (poker) Explains the term 'donk bet' and its strategic implications. Poker Poker hands Lists and ranks all standard poker hand combinations. Poker Omaha poker Describes the rules and gameplay of Omaha, a poker variant. Poker Flush poker Defines a flush hand and how it ranks in poker. Poker Quads poker Explains four of a kind, also known as quads. Poker GTO preflop ranges Game-theory-optimal preflop ranges tell a player

Sources

  1. Betting in poker en.wikipedia.org Defines the three betting actions and their general usage in poker.
  2. Poker Rules - Pagat pagat.com Explains how betting rounds work and the options after a bet.
  3. Card Games: Poker Betting pagat.com Provides alternative names for fold and call.
  4. Glossary of card game terms - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Lists alternative terms for fold and call.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.