Part I: Games & Gaming · Card Games — Poker & Variants

Fold

Poker

To discard one’s hand and forfeit all bets made in that round. A folded hand cannot be recovered or re-entered. Folding is the appropriate action when a player believes their hand cannot win or when the cost of continuing (calling or raising) exceeds the potential benefit. In casino poker games against the house, folding means losing the ante.

In practice

Players should fold by pushing their cards face-down toward the dealer. Cards that touch the muck (discard pile) are considered dead and cannot be retrieved. Surveillance should verify that folded hands are not accidentally exposed to other players.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.