In poker, a call is a player’s decision to continue playing in a pot. The term is usually accompanied by a verbal declaration of a certain amount of money. It’s also possible to over-call by placing a chip in the pot. However, this is not necessarily recommended as it is a time-wasting move that is frowned upon in any form of card game.

Another form of a call is a “float” that is made before the final betting round. This is when a player wants to make a high bet with a small stake in hopes of being called on by a weaker hand. For example, if Player A has a flush, a player might want to bet half of his pot to float.

Another common type of call is the “check”. This is when a player wants to defer a bet in order to hold onto his cards or to pass on the action to the next player. Sometimes, this is the player’s only choice, as it may be difficult to acquire a larger chip in a smaller denomination. If a player’s oversized chip has been put in the pot, he can call a bet by tapping the table, which is a common way to indicate that a bet has been placed.

Occasionally, players will ‘fold’, which means they do not play in the hand. It is a common strategy for inexperienced players to “go south” after winning a big pot. Also, a player can be forced to leave the table by the dealer, who may require the player to place a dead blind.

When a player is forced to open a bet, it’s known as a “bring-in”. Normally, a bring-in is given to the player with the worst hand. But, there are times when a player will be forced to open a bet to match a high bet.

If a player has a good drawing hand, they can re-raise. To do this, they must borrow money or buy more chips. Alternatively, they can verbally state the amount of the bet, and then pay off the debt. While this sounds simple, there are a number of rules that must be followed to ensure the proper outcome.

First, the player’s bet must be big enough to match the previous high bet. The most common mistake that players make is that they don’t take into account the size of the ante, which is the amount of money that must be paid to start a game.

Next, the player’s bet must be at least the size of the ante, which is usually a quarter of the minimum bet. There are also some special rules for calculating the size of the ante, which can be complicated. Finally, the ante must be the right amount.

Other types of calls are the “hero” and the “curse.” One is the most bluffing. The other is the most ambiguous. Both are common in poker, but the hero and the curse are less frequent.