Fold
To fold is to throw your cards away and give up your claim on the pot. You can fold when it is your turn and someone has bet. Once you fold you take no further part in the hand, and you can no longer win the pot.
The simple explanation
Folding is how you stop losing chips when your hand is weak. Say the word 'fold' or push your cards toward the dealer when it is your turn, and the hand is over for you. The cards you folded cannot be taken back, and they should not be shown to other players while the hand is in progress.
A closer look
Folding is an important skill because the chips you do not lose are as good as the chips you win. A correct fold is based on the price you are offered and the chance that your hand is best, rather than on how much you have already put into the pot. Good players fold often before the flop, and they also learn to fold strong hands when the action says that they are beaten. A verbal fold at a live table is binding.
A practical example
You hold 7♥ 2♣ and face a raise before the flop. You fold, lose nothing more, and wait for a better hand.
Full explanation
To fold is to throw your cards away and give up your claim on the pot. You can fold when it is your turn and someone has bet. Once you fold you take no further part in the hand, and you can no longer win the pot.
To fold means to discard your hand and forfeit the pot. You do this when it is your turn and you do not want to call or raise.
You can fold whenever it is your turn, even when you could check. You normally only fold when someone has bet, because checking is free.
Once you fold you cannot win that pot. Any chips you have already put into the pot stay there.
In live poker, a spoken fold counts as a fold. Do not say it unless you mean it.
Folding
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 full hand 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 77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB AAce of diamonds (Ad)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 with a strong hand.
- Player A BTN / SB 77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB AAce of diamonds (Ad)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 4 chips
Player B has a weak hand and folds. Folding gives up the hand and any claim to the pot.
- Player A BTN / SB 77 of hearts (7h)22 of clubs (2c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player B BB AAce of diamonds (Ad)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 198 · In this round 2 · Folded
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.