Knock
Knock is when a player chooses to check, meaning they don’t want to bet but want to stay in the round. Imagine you’re in a poker game and it’s your turn. Instead of betting or folding, you simply tap the table. That’s knocking.
The origin of Knock in Poker
The term “knock” has been around since the early days of poker. It comes from the act of physically tapping the table to indicate a check. Back in the day, poker games were often played in noisy saloons, so a clear visual signal was essential. The tradition continues, even in online games where the tap is more metaphorical.
Examples of use:
“I decided to knock, hoping to see the next card for free.”
Player 1: “Are you raising?”
Player 2: “Nah, I’ll just knock and see what happens.”
You can use it in real life too…
- “I knocked on that job interview, just waiting to see what happens.”
- “Instead of making a decision now, I’ll knock and think about it more.”
- “I knocked on that investment. Let’s see where it goes.”
When playing, be aware:
Do
Use knocking to gather more information. If you’re not sure about the strength of your hand and want to see more cards without putting more chips at risk, knocking is your friend. It’s like saying, “I want to see what you got, but I’m not committing just yet.”
Do not
Don’t knock too often. If you keep checking all the time, other players might catch on and start to bully you with aggressive bets. Mix it up a bit to keep your opponents guessing.
Knock means the same in other sports?
In cricket, a “knock” refers to a player’s turn at batting. It’s about staying in the game, similar to poker.
In basketball, “knocking” isn’t a term, but players might “knock down” a shot, which means to make the basket.
Trivia
Did you know that knocking in poker is one of the oldest non-verbal signals in the game? It dates back to the 19th century when players needed a discreet way to communicate their next move in noisy environments. It’s a silent agreement to keep the game rolling.
