What Happens When Everyone Checks in Poker?

Not all poker hands end up with heaps of the chips in the middle. In community card games like Texas Hold’em, all postflop betting rounds include the option for players to check when no other player has put out a bet.

Checking allows players to pass the action to the next player in the hand while committing no money to the pot. What happens if all players in a hand check? Read on to find out.

What Happens When Everyone Checks in Poker?

If all players involved in a hand check, the action proceeds to the next betting round. For example, let’s say the preflop betting round sees the player on the button open raise to $10, and get called by the small blind and the big blind.

The flop betting round would then begin with $30 in the pot, and the player in the small blind having the option to bet, or check. If that player checks, the big blind then has the option of betting or checking.

If the big blind checks, the button then gets the option to bet or check. If the button checks, the hand proceeds to the turn, with still $30 in the pot.

It’s not that uncommon for hands to go all the way through the river with nobody placing a postflop bet. When all players check in the river betting round, the hand ends and the player with the strongest hand wins.

When Can a Player Check?

Checking is always allowed if no previous player has bet. You can’t check preflop unless you’re in the big blind, and nobody raises before the action gets to you.