Action
You might hear a gambler say: “I need some action.” A fairly common expression about “players” of all kinds. But when you hear the word action used at a poker table it has a couple of different meanings.
Whenever a player bets, checks, raises or folds their hand, it is said that there has been action. It does not mater if a player checks, bets or folds. As long as they have acted. There are several reasons this is important. First, a player should not act on their hand until all action in front of them is complete, which is another way of saying that you should not act out of turn. Secondly, your action may be dependent on action in front of you. If you say “raise” and a player before you has not acted, you may be required to raise no matter what their action.
Action also changes what rules may be in force. For instance, if the pot is not right and a player wants to object, they may be prevented from doing so if “action” has taken place in the next round of betting. Suppose the pot was 500 and a player says I bet the pot and then another players says: “The pot is not right it should be 600.” Too late, “action” has taken place. Certain floor decisions are governed by whether or not action has taken place. The very general rule is that action moves the hand and the application of the rules to the present situation and going back is not always going to be allowed, even to correct an obvious error.
Another use of the term is “following the action”, which simply means that you, other players and in particular, the dealer keeps track of what has happened in a hand by paying close attention to the action of all the players. By following the action, you pick up on the tendencies and tells of your opponents.
Another phrase you will hear often, when it is your turn, it is said that: “the action is on you.” Or it is your turn to act.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, action describes the position of players in a hand. “First to act” being a very different strategic position from “last to act”. And, of course, it all goes back to playing a little poker and “getting some action”.
-This is Beginner’s Poker Blog Post #75
