▁and ▁proceed s ▁clock wise . ▁If ▁there ▁is ▁a ▁bring - in , ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁of ▁bet ting ▁begins ▁with ▁the ▁player ▁obliged ▁to ▁post ▁the ▁bring - in . ▁ ▁Check ▁If ▁no ▁one ▁has ▁yet ▁opened ▁the ▁bet ting ▁round , ▁a ▁player ▁may ▁pass ▁or ▁check , ▁which ▁is ▁equivalent ▁to ▁bet ting ▁zero ▁and / or ▁to ▁calling ▁the ▁current ▁bet ▁of ▁zero . ▁When ▁checking , ▁a ▁player ▁decl ines ▁to ▁make ▁a ▁bet ; ▁this ▁indicates ▁that ▁they ▁do ▁not ▁wish ▁to ▁open , ▁but ▁do ▁wish ▁to ▁keep ▁their ▁cards ▁and ▁retain ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁call ▁or ▁raise ▁later ▁in ▁the ▁same ▁round ▁if ▁an ▁oppon ent ▁opens . ▁ ▁In ▁games ▁played ▁with ▁bl inds , ▁players ▁may ▁not ▁check ▁on ▁the ▁opening ▁round ▁because ▁the ▁bl inds ▁are ▁live ▁bet s ▁and ▁must ▁be ▁called ▁or ▁raised ▁to ▁remain ▁in ▁the ▁hand . ▁A ▁player ▁who ▁has ▁posted ▁the ▁big ▁blind ▁has ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁raise ▁on ▁the ▁first ▁round , ▁called ▁the ▁option , ▁if ▁no ▁other ▁player ▁has ▁raised ; ▁if ▁they ▁decl ine ▁to ▁raise ▁they ▁are ▁said ▁to ▁check ▁their ▁option . ▁ ▁If ▁all ▁players ▁check , ▁the ▁bet ting ▁round ▁is ▁over ▁with ▁no ▁additional ▁money ▁placed ▁in ▁the ▁pot ▁( o ften ▁called ▁a ▁free ▁round ▁or ▁free ▁card ). ▁A ▁common ▁way ▁to ▁sign ify ▁checking ▁is ▁to ▁tap ▁the ▁table , ▁either ▁with ▁a ▁f ist , ▁kn uck les , ▁an ▁open