Call
To call is to match the current highest bet so you can stay in the hand.
The simple explanation
To call is to match the current highest bet so you can stay in the hand. It is the most common action in poker. If someone bets 10 and you put in 10, you have called. You keep your chance to win the pot without raising and without giving up.
A closer look
A call is the cheapest way to see the next card, but it gives up the chance to win the pot immediately. Whether it is right depends on the price you are paying compared with the pot and the chance you have of winning. Calling too often is a typical beginner error, because it puts chips in without the initiative. A call also gives information: opponents learn that you are not strong enough to raise or too weak to fold.
A practical example
A player bets 10. You call by putting in 10 chips.
Full explanation
To call is to match the current highest bet so you can stay in the hand.
To call is to match the current bet. If a player bets 10 and you also put in 10, you call. It keeps you in the hand without raising the stakes.
Calling is a natural choice with hands that are good but not strong enough to raise, and with drawing hands that have the right price.
The cost of calling is that you do not take the initiative. A bet or raise can win the pot at once, while a call only keeps you in the hand.
A call is often compared with a flat call, a call made when raising would also be reasonable.
Match the wager with a call
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of hearts (Kh) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
B already posted 2 in the big blind. Facing A’s raise to 6, B adds 4: that is a call. Both players now have 6 in the pot.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of hearts (Kh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.