Check

Check is a move that passes the action to another player without putting more chips in the pot.

It only becomes available if no active bets are made in that round. For example, if someone raised preflop before you, you will not be able to check, and your only option is either to fold if you do not want to play the hand, call a raise, or 3-bet. As far as preflop goes, the only time you will be able to check and see the flop is when you are sitting in the big blind, and someone just called that amount instead of raising it, or the small blind completed his bet by matching it to the initial amount posted by the big blind.

The same logic also applies to postflop situations. If you are the first to act or there are no bets made in the betting round, you can check and give another player the action, who can then bet or check as well.

If you are the last player to act, by checking, you can see free cards without investing any more chips or use this move to trick your opponents and hide the strength of your hand. It is crucial to understand how to balance your ranges with the correct checking strategy, so you should do it with both good and weak hands to mix things up and make it harder for your opponents to put you on a precise range.