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What does it mean when a poker player folds?

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Five playing cards showing a flush in clubs: king, ten, eight, seven, and five of clubs. — poker A poker hand containing five cards of the same suit but not in sequence is called a flush.

In the context of poker, to fold means to withdraw from the current hand rather than matching a bet made by another player. When a player chooses to fold, they discard their hand and forfeit any claim to the pot, meaning they can no longer compete for the winnings in that round.1

Folding is a fundamental aspect of skillful play. Because players are permitted to drop bad hands, they can exercise control over the game's outcome by avoiding situations where the mathematical odds of winning are unfavorable compared to the cost of staying in the pot. A player should generally fold if they do not believe they have the best hand and the potential reward offered by the pot does not justify the risk of the required bet.2