Understanding Checking and Betting

I am obviously new at this game and even while I have been having fun there are parts to this game I don't think I understand or play correctly. Now I am understanding most of the lingo but its the application of "checking" that I am confused by.

When playing Texas Holdem, who is allowed to check?

What is the purpose of checking?

Even with 2 players and the first player bets, does the second player have to bet to stay in the game or is checking like a free ride to the next level? Can the second player use checking in this case?

If the first player checks, and the second player bets, does it go back to the first player and he hads to make a min. bid to stay in?

Does Checking take you out of the game?

Can someone please help me understand this better. Thanks.

Checking is only if there is no bet before you. Checking says “I don’t want to bet”. If the next player bets then it will go around until it is back to you (same round) and you either call or fold. You must see a bet (call) to stay in the hand.

Everyone needs to put in the same amount of chips before the next betting round if they want to keep their cards and stay in the hand. Therefore, if someone has bet before you, you cannot just check, because you need to match the amount of chips that he has put in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by erato240

If the first player checks, and the second player bets, does it go back to the first player and he hads to make a min. bid to stay in?

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It goes back to the first player and he must MATCH the amount that the 2nd player bet. Or player 1 can fold. Or raise.

A good way to think about it is that a check is a bet of 0. I used that to explain it to a couple of new players when I tought them the basics of NLHE.