Poker Terms
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5 Card Stud - PokerTesting the popups to show definitions Variation
7 Card Stud - Poker Variation
A-B-C, A-B-C-D - A sequence of the lowest cards in a lowball game. For example, the hand 8-6-3-2-A might be called an "eight-six-a-b-c" and the hand 8-4-3-2-A might be called an "eight-a-b-c-d". See also Eight Rock.
AA - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace, Ace or Pocket Aces, also known as Rockets, Pocket Rockets, Bullets or American Airlines.
ABC Player - An ABC player is a player who is very predictable. This player generally reads a poker book or two and follows them to the word. They always play hands the same way and are generally pretty tight. These types of players are often winners at lower stakes and loose games but are easily crushed by advanced players.
Ace-to-Five - Method of stating the best low hand in lowball. See also, ace-to-six lowball and ace-to-six.
Ace-to-Six - Method of stating the best low hand in lowball. See also, ace-to-five lowball and ace-to-five.
Aces and Spaces - A hand with one pair of aces and nothing else. Sometimes used derogatorily in games where two pair is a typical winner, like seven card stud.
Act out of turn - When a player acts prematurely before their turn.
Action - #1 Any legal move a player makes when it is their turn to make a decision on playing their hand. #2 A player's turn to act, "The action is on you". #3 A willingness to play, "I'll give you action" or "there is plenty of action in that game". #4 A bet, along with all the other calls. For example if a player makes a $10 bet and four other players call, the player is said to have got $10 "in action" and the player is said to have received $40 worth of action on their bet. The tern usually comes into play when working out side pots when one or more player is all-in.
Action Button - A marker similar to a kill button, when a player makes an extra forced bet. For example in a stud game where a player makes an extra forced bet representing the completion of the bring-in to the full bet. For example in a seven card stud game with $5 and $10 betting limits and a $2 bring-in, the player with the action button must bet $5. When the cards are dealt the player with the low card must then make the bring-in of $2 and the player with the action button as effectively raised $3 and has the option to raise further. Players between the small card bring-in and the action button can just call the bring-in but are aware that they will be raised by the action button.
Action Player - A player who gets involved in lots of pots frequently with inferior hands.
Add-on - In a tournament an add-on is a single rebuy for which all players are eligible. This usually happens immeaditely after the rebuy period.
Advertise - To advertise is to represent a method of play. For example, an advertiser may show a bluff to induce players to call later in the game when the advertiser will have a winning hand. Or, to display only winning hands so the advertiser gives the impression of not bluffing to iduce players to fold when bluffing. See also Hollywood.
Advertising - Advertising is to represent a method of play. For example, an advertiser may show a bluff to induce players to call later in the game when the advertiser will have a winning hand. Or, to display only winning hands so the advertiser gives the impression of not bluffing to iduce players to fold when bluffing. See also Hollywood.
Aggressive - A player with a reputation for being not afraid to bet and raise frequently.
Aggressive Action - A wager that could enable a player to win a pot without a showdown; this could be either a bet, a raise or a re-raise.
Air - A lowball, to give a player "Air" is when a player makes it known that they intend to draw a card or cards to induce a call.
Ajax - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace-Jack (AJ). Also known as Blackjack and Trepasso.
All Blue - A term denoting a flush, usually in spades or clubs.
All In Chip - the chip used to signify a player's all-in if they have a large amount of chips and pushing them all into the pot only to restack them is not feasible.
All Pink - A term denoting a flush, usually in hearts or diamonds.
All Red - A term denoting a flush, usually in hearts or diamonds.
All-in - A wager where a player bets all their chips.
Alligator Blood - A poker player who plays fearlessly when short-stacked and wins. A player who plays for a long time short-stacked, winning just enough to keep them in the game.
American Airlines - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace, Ace or Pocket Aces, also known as Bullets, Pocket Rockets, Rockets or AA.
Ammo, Ammunition - The term refers to the chips a player has in play.
Angle - A technically legal but borderline unethical play. See Angle Shooter.
Angle Shooter - A player who regularly makes borderline unethical plays. Three examples, deliberately miscalling one's hand, calling out of turn and placing chips in such a way that opponents are confused as to whether a call or a raise is coming.
Angling - Angling is any action out of turn, be it a fold, a check, a call, a bet or a raise. A player who regularly does this is called an angle shooter. Angling is used to intimidate players and try to make them play their hands differently. For example, an angler may idicate to bet out of turn causing other players to call when they may have raised or to fold when they may have called. See also angle and angle shooter.
Ante - A predetermined nominal wager placed in the pot by all players. Usually a small amount to get the pot going.
Ante Off - When a player becomes absent from a tournament for any reason then that player must continue to make the small blind and big blind bets during their absence. In some cases for extended absence this is sometimes increased to the amount of the small blind, every hand except when the player in on the big blind when it will be the full amount. The players cards are always folded until the player returns. When returning to the game the player must be seated before any deal commences to claim the right to any action or any part of the pot. However, it would be unethical to deal the cards when it is clear a player is returning to the game and about to sit down. See also blind off.
Aquarium - An aquarium is a poker room or game that has a lot of fish in it.
Baby - A term for a low ranking card usually in lowball. See also spoke.
Back In - A term usually used in draw poker like Jacks or Better or Jackpots in which a player does not open to make the first opening bet but then calls after another player has openened the betting with a qualifing opening hand.
Back Into - To "back into" a pot is being given the opportunity to win the pot without making a bet and where the player who wins the pot would have folded had a bet been made by another player. Also, a player who starts out with rolled-up trips in seven card stud for example and then makes a flush. Or in Texas Hold'em for example, where a player with pocket Qd-Qh flops say 2h-Qc-Jh. The turn comes a heart and the river is also a heart giving the player flush beating the original flopped trips. The player can be said to "back into" a flush. In the same way a player could "back into" a straight but in Texas Hold'em it would be a split pot as the straight would appear on the board. See also backdoor.
Backdoor - A possibly unexpected hand made on the last cards dealt rather than made depending wholly on the player's starting cards. For example, in Texas Hold'em a player's starting hand may be Kh-Qh. The player does not make a flush but hits Qd-Qs on the turn and river making trip queens. Here the player is said to have made backdoor trips. A player may also make other backdoor category hands such as a backdoor flush or a backdoor straight etc.
Bad Beat - A bad beat is when the mathematical favorite to win the hand loses to the mathematical underdog.
Bank - Same as tray or rack.
Bankroll - Dealers money in the rack or a player's lifetime playing money for their poker playing career.
Beer Hand - Generally a 2-7 offsuit, although some consider the 2-7 suited to be a beer hand as well. Considered the worst stating hand in Texas Hold'em.
Behind - A player in a pot and not at the time having the best hand but hoping to improve. Also describes money in play but not visible on the table. A player may annoce that they are playing $100 "behind" while waiting for a card room employee to bring the chips to the table. See also playing behind.
Belly Buster - An inside straight draw. Also known as a Gutshot.
Berry Patch - A game which has novicies playing at the table making it potentially a lucrative game for a sem-skilled player.
Bet - Any money wagered during the play of a hand and more specifically the opening bet of a betting round. Also, in a limit game it is the standard bet.
Bet Out - the act of making the first wager on any particular betting round.
Bet out of turn - When a player bets prematurely before their turn.
Betting Round - A particular round of wagers making up a deal in which all participating players in the deal must place equal amounts of money into the pot or an amount which causes a player or players to be All-in,in which case a Sidepot or sidepots would be created.
Betting Structure - The specific amounts players may bet according to the type of game they are playing in. These limits are predefined before the game commences whether it be limit, pot limit or a no limit game. It also refers to the blinds set according to time or numer of hands played in a tournament, whenafter the blinds or antes increase.
Bicycle - The hand comprising A-2-3-4-5. Called also Bicycle Wheel and Wheel.
Big Bet - In a limit game where a the later or last betting round the maximium bet is increased to usually double the earlier largest bet that was permissable.
Big Bet Game - A game with a pot limit or no limit game structure.
Big Blind - The biggest forced wager placed in the pot directly after the small blind before the cards are dealt.
Big Slick - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace-King (AK).
Bird on a Stick - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Seven-Two (72).
Blackjack - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace-Jack (AJ) also called Ajax and Trepasso.
Blacks - $100 Chips
Blind - A forced wager placed in the pot before the cards are dealt.
Blind Game - A game which involves players putting in forced wagers before the cards are dealt.
Blind Off - When a player becomes absent from a tournament for any reason then that player must continue to make the small blind and big blind bets during their absence. In some cases for extended absence this is sometimes increased to the amount of the small blind, every hand except when the player in on the big blind when it will be the full amount. The players cards are always folded until the player returns. When returning to the game the player must be seated before any deal commences to claim the right to any action or any part of the pot. However, it would be unethical to deal the cards when it is clear a player is returning to the game and about to sit down. See also ante off.
Bluff - A bluff is to make a bet with a hand that is, or probably is, not the winning hand. The idea is to represent strong hand and hope that the other players fold. Known as "Buying the Pot". See also Buy the Pot and Semi-bluff.
Board - Exposed cards which are common to all players, usually comprising of five cards called:', 'the flop (three cards), the turn (one card) and the river (one card)
Board Card - An exposed card common to all players.
Boat - Term meaning a full house also called a full boat.
Bottom Pair - When a player makes a pair on the flop with the lowest card on the board pairing one of their hole cards. The other cards on the board are referred to as over cards and may therefore give other players the middle pair or top pair. The bottom pair is also sometimes called the third pair.
Box (The) - The dealer's seat
Boxed Card - A card in a deck that is the wrong way up and is therefore exposed when the deck is dealt.
Break - A break is when you bet your strong hand very forcefully to win the pot. Most often your opponent will need to go all-in.
Brick - A card that does not help any players hand.
Broadway - Broadway can be a straight from ten to ace. This is the best possible straight, more often called a top straight. Or it referrs to someone who is deliberately acting in a way to induce belief that they have a strong hand or a weak hand.
Broken - If a player consistently loses over a night and loses a lot of money, the player may be considered 'broken.'
Broken Game - A game no longer taking place.
Broken Table - A table in a tournament which ceases to exist because the players are designated empty seats at other tables in play.
Brush - House employee who keeps tables tidy and seats players on the waiting list.
Buckets - The Texas Hold'em starting hand 44. A pocket pair of fours.
Bullets - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace, Ace or Pocket Aces, also known as Rockets, Pocket Rockets, AA or American Airlines.
Bump - To raise
Burn - When the dealer discards the next card prior to dealing the flop, turn and river. The card that is placed down is termed the 'burned/burnt card'.
Burn Card - The top card is always discarded or "burnt" just prior to dealing any boardcard(s).
Bust - To run out of money, especially in a tournament.
Button - In a game with a dealer, the button is the player for whom the dealer deals the cards and this player is denoted by a dealer button which rotates around the table in order in a clockwise direction.
Button - As opposed to your home game, in casinos and big tournaments, they have a dedicated dealer and instead use a small plastic disc called the "dealer button" to indicate who is effectively the dealer. After the flop, the dealer is the last person to act in a round of betting. Being "on the button" is a good position as you are the last person to decide to call, raise or fold.
Button Games - Games in which there is a dealer and in which a dealer button is used.
Buy The Pot - When a player makes a bet causing all the other players to pass (fold). See also "BLUFF" and "SEMI-BLUFF".
Buy-in - The minimum amount of money required to enter a game.
California Lowball - Poker variation, click here. Ace-to-five lowball with joker.
Call - To bet an amount only equal to the previous bet. You must at least "call" other players bets to stay in the hand or you can raise, otherwise you must fold your hand. If no one before you makes a bet, you can also just "check" the hand and stay in the game until another player raises.
Call or Pass - When a player plays call or pass it means that that player must either call any size wager, no matter how large or fold. Not a recommended method of play, see also Playing Behind.
Calling Station - A calling station is a player who calls a lot. They do not consider other players hands, they just stay in to see if their hand will win, often drawing long odds to make a real hand. They do not bluff much and are generally not aggressive, they just call a lot.
Canada Low - Poker Variation
Candy Canes - The holdem starting hand Seven-Seven (77). Pocket sevens. Also called Walking Sticks and Sunset Strip.
Canine - The Texas Hold'em starting hand King-Nine (K9). Also called The Dog.
Cap - In limit poker the cap is the maximum amount of raises allowed in each betting round. A common cap seen in online poker games is 4 bets per round (one bet and three raises).
Capped - The point at which in a limit game the maximum number of raises has been reached on any particular betting round.
Cards Speak - The winning hand in a showdown denoted by the cards regardless of any verbal announcements.
Case - The last card of a particular denomination in the deck to make a hand. Example, a player has Pocket Rockets, the Turn comes an ace making Trips then the River is also an ace making Fours, the player is said to have hit "The case ace".
Cash Game - Basically a cash game is what it says and may be in a casino or online and is played table stakes where players may come and go as they please within the House Rules. See also ring games.
Catch - When the cards are running well a player is said to be catching cards.
Chase - To call in the hopes of hitting a draw. This word often describes someone who will call even with bad odds. For example, someone who "chases" a card to make a straight or flush draw.
Check - Any player may check and retain an interest in the pot in any particular betting round providing nobody has made a wager in that particular betting round.
Check - In a betting round, if there are no previous bets or raises on a hand, players can "check" the hand and continue to play without wagering any more money. You must call to stay in the hand if someone raises. You can signify a check by tapping the table, and/or saying "check".
Check It Out - A situation usually occurring where when friends contest a pot and they have a prior agreement not to bet. Can also occur in a tournament when a player is all-in. The other players may check it out to reduce the chances of the player who is all-in from winning the pot.
Check-Raise - A situation in which a player checks and then after a later player makes a wager the player who originally checked puts in a raise.
Check-Raise - Quite possibly one of the scariest plays in poker. A player "checks" the hand, to see what his opponents play will be, but has every intention of re-raising if his opponent raises him. This is a technique used to get more money into the pot and an effective play in a limit game.
Chinese Hold'em - Poker Variation
Chips - Small discs used instead of money at a poker table.
Clock - Occurs when the dealer or floorperson times a player making a decision. If after the allotted time has elapsed that player did not decide on any action, then their hand is automatically mucked by the dealer.
Coffee House - To talk about a hand one is involved in, usually with the intent of manipulating or misleading players.
Cold Call - A cold call is a call against a pot that has already been bet and raised. For example, preflop, you are in late position, two players have already raised the blinds and you call the two bets. It is a cold move because the other two players already believe they have very good hands, your call basically says you believe your hand is just as good.
Cold Cards - A player who is receiving cold cards is usually an experienced player who is having bad luck due to a long running string of bad cards.
Cold Deck - A form of cheating in which a pre-arranged deck of cards is switched into a game. They are then given several false shuffles and a false cut.
Collection - A fee charged for playing in a game
Collection Drop - A fee raked from a pot by the dealer or taken usually on an hourly basis and dropped through a slot in the table into a box.
COLLUSION - Collusion is a form of cheating. Players will work in a team to try to gain an advantage over the other players. They will somehow signal to each other what their cards are. They will then use this information to gain an unfair advantage. Collusion is illegal. It is sometimes hard for brick and mortar cardrooms to detect colluders, but online poker rooms can track potential colluders because they can review hand histories.
Color Change - A request to change chips from one denomination to another denomination.
Color Up - When during a poker tournament or cash game the house removes the smaller denomination chips from play and replaces them with higher value chips.
Common Card - A card dealt face-up that is used by all players in a pot where there are insufficient cards in the deck to allow each player to be dealt a card.
Community Cards - Cards dealt face up from which players make their hands with their hole cards in various legal combinations.
Complete The Bet - To increase an all-in bet or a forced bet to the full bet in limit poker.
Computer Hand - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Queen-Seven (Q7). A starting hand that on average is the median of all other hands.
Connectors - Connectors (connected) are hole cards are consecutive, like TJ, 56, 89. Also, Suited Connectors are consecutive hole cards that share the same suit. JQ of spades, 78 diamonds.
Conterfeit - Sometimes a card will come on the board that will destroy your hand because it makes a previously valuable card in your hand communal property. For example, suppose you hold A8 in a game of Holdem Poker. The board is 4567. You hold a straight to the 9! However, if the final card on the river comes a 8, your hand is counterfeited, because everyone has a eight high straight or a player with a 9 can beat you.
Cowboy - King
Cowboys - The Texas Hold'em starting hand King-King (KK).
Crabs - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Three-Three (33).
Crazy Pineapple - Poker Variation
Cut - To divide a deck into two sections where either section must contain at least five cards and where the two sections swap positions, usually done prior to the initial cards being dealt on any particular deal.
Cut-Card - A term for the bottom card of a deck after the cards have been cut. Can also be a colored piece of plastic the same size as a playing card sometimes called the buck that is used for cutting the deck so that the bottom card cannot be seen.
Dead Card - A card that is deemed as illegal to play. A burn card is an example of a "dead card".
Dead Hand - A hand that is not legally playable.
Dead Man's Hand - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace-Eight (A8) and making two pair on the board AA88. Legendary lawman and gambler Wild Bill Hickok was shot to death while holding this hand.
Dead Money - Chips that are placed in the pot because nobody knows who they belong too.
Dead Money - An novice player who has virtually no shot at winning a tournament. Their chips are said to be "dead money".
Deadwood - A group of loosely arranged touching cards no longer in action and under the control of the dealer that comprise of players folded hands and discards.
Deal - A term denoting, the shuffle, the cut, the action and the showdown.
Deal Off - To take all the blinds and the button before changing seats or leaving the table on a particular round of dealing.
Dealer Button - A marker disk usually referred to as the button that is passed around the table in a clockwise direction denoting the dealer where there is a dealer at the table who deals for all the players.
Deck - A set of playing cards, usually 52 or 53 with a joker, see also strip deck.
Declare - A split pot high low game where the players decide which part of the pot they wish to contest including the whole pot. This is usually done simultaneously with tokens in the hand, one token for low, two tokens for high or three or more tokens for the whole pot. In some games however, players call in order from the dealer.
Deuce-to-Seven - Poker variation. A form of draw poker low also known as Kansas City Lowball, in which the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 where straights and flushes do not figure as a low hand.
Dime - Gambling slang for $1,000. "He went over the top of me with a 2 dime bet".
Discard(s) - Card or cards mucked by the holder to make room for replacements in a draw game or card or a card or cards mucked from a hand because to do so is a requirement of the game.
Dollar - Gambling slang for $100.
Dominated - In Texas Hold'em poker, a hand that is similar to another hand but has a lower kicker, is a "dominated" hand. If you hold K8 and your opponent had KQ, your hand is dominated buy the higher kicker. You need to draw the 8 because the K won't make your hand better against your opponent. Your hand can also be dominated if your hand has far less outs than your opponent.
Door Card - The first card dealt face up to each player in Seven-Card-Stud.
Double Add-on - In a tournament a double add-on it a single rebuy for which all players are eligible. The players pay the original buy-in cost but receive double the amount of chips. This usually happens immeaditely after the rebuy period.
Double Flop Hold'em - Poker variation, click here.
Downcard(s) - Face down or hole cards individual to each player.
Doyle Brunson - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ten Deuce (10-2), more accuratly 10 hearts', '2 hearts, the hand Doyle Brunson won the WSOP with two years running.
Draw - #1 In flop games to "draw" for the turn or the river in the hope of improving one’s hand. #2 Abbreviation for draw poker like Jacks or Better or Lowball. #3 The act of replacing discards with fresh cards in the hope of improving one’s hand. #4 The point in the game where discards are replaced by fresh cards is called “the draw”.
Draw Cards - The act of replacing unrequired cards in games like Draw Poker and Lowball.
Draw Poker - Poker Variation
Draw Poker High - Poker Variation
Draw Poker Low - Poker Variation
Drawing Dead - Drawing to a hand that will lose even if you make your draw. If you have a straight draw but your opponent already has a flush, you are "drawing dead".
Drawout - When you get beaten by someone who makes their draw and you lose the hand. You may have had better cards going into the play, but you get "out drawn" by an opponent. Often refered to as a "bad beat".
Drop - (i) To fold, (ii) To lose an amount of money or (iii) The house rake.
Ducks - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Two-Two (22). Otherwise known as "dueces".
Eight Rock - Lowball hand comprising 8432A.
Face Card - A King a Queen or a Jack
Family Pot - When more than three players are contending for a pot, the pot is often considered a family pot but more accurtley, when every play on the table is involved in the pot.
Fast - To play aggressively
Fifth Street - The third up card in a stud game or the last single card exposed in Texas Hold'em or Omaha and is dealt after the turn, otherwise known as the river or the the river card.
Fish - A fish is an novice or bad player, who often loses a lot of money.
Fishhooks - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Jack Jack.
Five Card Stud - Poker Variation
Fixed Limit - Applies to limit poker where the size of the bet on any particular betting round is pre-determined.
Fixed Limit - Basically another way of saying "limit poker", there are set bets. Poker with set betting limits. In a $5-$10 fixed-limit poker game all bets and raises preflop and on the flop are $5 each, and the bets and raises after the turn and river cards are $10 each.
Flashed Card - A card that is quickly or partially exposed.
Floorperson - The person making a decision or ruling which is final and binding if any problem cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the dealer to the agreement of all the participating players involved in a particular pot.
Flop (The) - After the initial betting round in Texas Hold'em or Omaha the first three cards making up the board are exposed simultaniously prior to the next betting round.
Flop (The) - The first three face up community cards in Holdem poker. The first three board cards.
Flush - Any five cards of the same suit where the all the five cards are not all in sequence.
Fold - To thow away or muck one's hand and relinquish any claim to the pot in play. The "folded" cards create or make up the deadwood.
Fold - A player must "fold" or forfeit his hand if he/she does not want to match the current bet in the pot. A player should fold his/her cards when they think they can not win the hand. When folding against only 1 other player (or in a heads up game) you can choose to "show" your cards or "muck" the hand, which means to discard without revealing what cards you had.
Forced Bet - A required wager to start the betting on a particular deal. In stud this is called the bring in and in Texas Hold'em or Omaha it is called a blind.
Fouled Hand - A folded or illegal hand that becomes part of the deadwood.
Four Flush - A hand with four cards of the same suit.
Four of a Kind - A hand which contains four cards of the same denomination, sometimes called a "poker" or "fours".
Fours - Fours
Fourth Street - The second up-card in a stud game or the first single card exposed after the flop in Texas Hold'em or Omaha', otherwise known as the turn or the turn card.
FREEROLL - A Freeroll is a poker tournament where the entry fee, the stakes, or both the entry fee and stakes are waived. Often online poker sites offer free entry but give real money prizes.
Full Boat - Another name for a full house, a poker hand consisting three-of-a-kind and another pair.
Full Buy - A buy-in of at least the minimum requirement of chips needed for a particular game.
Full House - A hand consisting of three of a kind and a pair.
Giving Air - A lowball "Giving Air" is a term for when a player makes it known that they intend to draw a card or cards to induce a call.
Grinder - A semi-professional player who makes a living out of playing poker.
Gutshot - An inside straight draw. An example of a gutshot straight draw (also known as belly buster straight draw) is to have 4578, in an attempt to draw a 6.
Half Kill or Half Kill Blind - An extra blind, usually 50% the size of the big blind and increasing the limit 50%. Sometimes though a “kill” is used which is doubles the blind and the limit. A half kill can be either voluntary or mandatory. Usually for a mandatory half kill a player has to win two consecutive pots in at lowball and other games, or for scooping the whole pot in high-low split game.
Hand - (1) All a player’s personal cards. (2) The five cards determining the poker ranking. (3) A single poker deal.
Heads Up - A play between only two players.
High - The high hand is simply the best hand
High Card - In any round of poker no player makes a ranking hand (pairs or better) then the person with the highest card "High Card" wins. If two players have the same high card, then their second highest card is taken as the winning kicker, and so on. If the players have the exact same 5 card rank hand, then the pot is split.
High Society - Gambler slang for $10,000.00 in chips. Mike McDermott buys "3 stacks of high society" at Teddy KGB's place in the film Rounders.
Hilton Sisters - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Queen-Queen (QQ). Also called "The Ladies".
Hold'em - An abbreviation of the poker gameTexas Hold'em.
Hole Card(s) - The cards dealt facedown to a player.
Hooks - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Jack-Jack (JJ).
HORSE - A form of poker in which a table round of each of the following particular variants of poker is dealt in this order:', '(i) Hold'em, (ii) Omaha, (iii) Razz, (iv) Seven-Card-Stud and (v) Omaha Hi-Lo', '8 or better.
Idiot End - The idiot end straight refers to drawing to the bottom end of a straight. For example, if there is an open-ended straight on the board 789T and you have a 6, it is likely that someone has a Jack and will crush you.
Implied Odds - The same as pot odds except it takes into account making bets in the future. Thus, you may call a bet at the flop, but have implied odds of making bigger bets on later rounds if you hit your draw. So, if you have AK of diamonds and the flop comes two diamonds, your implied odds are what you have to call at the flop compared to how large the pot will be at the end of the hand.
Insurance - A side agreement when someone is all-in for a player in a pot to put up money that guarantees a payoff of a set am
It - Refers to the largest amount anyone has yet played in a round.
Jackpots - Poker Variation
Jacks or Better - Poker Variation
Joker - A totally wild card or a wild card with specfic attributes i.e., the joker may be wild in the low but in the high it counts as an ace but may also be used as the best card to make a straight or a flush.
Kamikaze - A player who is on tilt so badly that they literally throw away their money with no regard or go all in with a rubbish or semi-strong hand.
Kansas City Lowball - Poker variation. A form of draw poker low also known as deuce-to-seven, in which the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 where straights and flushes do not figure as a low hand.
Kicker - A kicker is a player's highest card that is used to break ties in poker hands. For example, if two players make a pair of Aces, one is holding AK and the other AJ, then the player with the K is the winner. If the players had A3 and A2, and the board was A8J5K then the two players tie with the pair of Aces, but split the pot because the best 5 card hand is made up of AAKJ8 and their kicker cards are too low. Kickers are also used to determine which player wins a flush or straight, if two players have a flush, the player with the highest of the suited cards is the winner. If the flush is made up of all over cards, then the players suited kickers do not count, and the pot is split.
Kill or Kill Blind - An extra blind, usually twice the size of the big blind and doubling the limit. Sometimes a “half-kill” is used which increases the blind and limits by fifty percent. A kill can be either voluntary or mandatory. Usually for a mandatory kill a player has to win two consecutive pots in at lowball and other games, or for scooping the whole pot in high-low split game.
Kill Pot - The winner of two consecutive pots at Lowball and other games is required to make a forced increased blind called a “Kill Pot”. This can also occur when a pot of sufficient size is won in a high-low split game. In some games it may be voluntary.
Kojak - The Texas Hold'em starting hand King-Jack (KJ).
Kokomo - The Texas Hold'em starting hand King-King (KK).
Ladies - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Queen-Queen (QQ).
Lady - Refering to a Queen. A pair of queens (QQ) is often referred to as "ladies".
Lazy Pineapple - Poker Variation
Leg Up - Being in a situation equivalent to having won the previous pot, and thus liable to have to kill the following pot if you win again.
Limit Poker - Poker with set betting limits. In a $5-$10 limit poker game all bets and raises preflop and on the flop are $5 each, and the bets and raises after the turn and river cards are $10 each.
Limp In - A player is said to "limp in" by trying to see the flop cheaply by just calling the big blind.
Limp Raise - To make a small raise preflop when a player has a very strong hand like AA and wishes to provoke a re-raise.
List - The ordered roster of players waiting for a game.
Little Slick - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace-Queen (AQ).
Live Blind - A blind bet giving a player the option of raising if no one else has raised.
Live Card - A card that has not been seen.
Lock - A hand that is guaranteed to win at least part of the pot.
Lock-Up - A chip marker that holds a seat for a player.
Longhand - This refers to a poker game with seven or more people. The odds of high cards being played are increased due to the amount of cards out on the table.
Loose - Someone who plays a lot of hands. A loose player is often either a maniac or a calling station.
Low Card - The lowest upcard at seven-card stud, which is required to make the bring-in.
Lowball - Poker Variation
Make - To make a hand means to get a decent hand that has a chance of winning.
Maniac - Nickname for a player who is very loose and/or plays aggressively. This type of player plays a lot of hands, raises frequently, and often bluffs.
Mechanic - A cheater who uses sleight-of-hand to arrange the deck or deal benefit himself or a partner.
Mid-Life-Crisis - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Four-Four (44). Pocket Fours.
Middle Pair - When a player makes a pair on the flop with the middle value card on the board pairing one of their hole cards. The higher card on the board is referred to as an over card and may therefore give another player the top pair.
Miscall - An incorrect verbal declaration of the ranking of a hand.
Misdeal - A mistake on the dealing of a hand that causes the cards to be reshuffled and a new hand to be dealt.
Missed Blind - A required bet that is not posted when it is your turn to do so.
Muck - (1) The pile of discards gathered facedown in the center of the table by the dealer. (2) To discard a hand.
Mucked - The muck (noun) is the area on the table where all of the dead cards are placed once folded or burnt. To muck (verb) is to discard you hand in a showdown but not show your hand once you discover the other hand has beaten you.
Must-Move - In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as
Near Nuts - Almost the best hand possible, but may be only a couple of hands, or very unlikely hands that could beat you. For example, if you have KK, and the board is K6693, you have the near nuts, because someone else may make a full house or four-of-a-kind sixes.
Nickel - Gambler slang for $500.
NL - Abbreviation to indicate a No-Limit game.
No Declare - A split pot hi-lo game where the cards speak.
NO LIMIT - A betting structure in which there is no maximum bet. Players may bet as much as they want at any time, at any time they can declare themselves "all in" and put all of their chips into the pot.
Nuts (The) - The nuts is an unbeatable hand, there is no other hand that could win.
Offsuit - A Texas Hold'em starting hand with two cards of different suits. These hands are weaker than suited hands because there are less "outs" in the hand, as the chance of a flush is significantly decreased.
Oldsmobile - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Nine-Eight (98).
Omaha - Poker Variation
Omaha High Low - Poker Variation
Open Ended Straight - Where a player has four cards to a straight such as 2345 and the hand can be made with either an ace or a six. See also Inside Straight and Gutshot.
Opener - The player who made the first voluntary bet.
Opener Button - A button used to indicate who opened a particular pot in a draw game.
Openers - In jacks-or-better draw, the cards held by the player who opens the pot that show the hand qualifies to be opened.
Option - The choice to raise a bet given to a player with a blind.
Outs - Cards that can improve your hand. If you have a 4 cards of a flush draw, then there are 9 other cards left in the deck that can give you the flush (13 out of 52 total) so you have a total of 9 "outs" to complete your hand.
Over Bet the Pot - In a no limit game if a player bets more than the total pot, they have "overbet the pot".
Over Blind - Also called oversize blind. A blind used in some pots that are bigger than the regular big blind, and usually increase
Paint - A picture card, Jack, Queen or King.
Pair - A pair is two cards of the same rank. In holdem poker, if you held A9 and the board cards were 5AJ you would have a pair of Aces. If you had the pair in your hole cards, it is called a "pocket pair".
Pass - (1) Decline to bet. In a pass-and-out game, this differs from a check, because a player who passes must fold. (2)
Passive - Someone who does not bet and raise a lot.
Pat - Not drawing any cards in a draw game.
Pineapple - Variants of Texas Hold'em in which players get three starting cards, one of which must be discarded at some stage.
PL - Abbreviation for Pot-Limit.
Play Money - Playing for fun or fake money. Usually online poker sites have free games with play money. This allows players to practice without wagering real dollars. Most online casinos and online poker rooms have "play money" games.
Play(ing) Behind - In some poker games players are permitted to "play behind", that is, to play more money than they represent on the table. This generally happens in cash games. Not a recommended method of play, see also Call or Pass.
Play(ing) Behind - Have chips in play that are not in front of you (allowed only when waiting for chips that are already purchased).
Play(ing) the Board - In Texas Hold'em if the five board cards make up a better hand than the players hands. For example a flush with 5 higher ranked cards than the players hole cards, then the player is said to be "playing the board".
PLO - Abbreviation for Pot Limit Omaha.
Pocket Pair - In Texas Hold'em if you are dealt two hole cards of the same rank.
Pocket Rockets - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace, Ace or Pocket Aces, also known as Bullets, Rockets, AA or American Airlines.
Poker - A game of cards in which money is wagered and contested in a pot by individual players in which the pot is won or divided by the player or players exposing the rarest combination of cards of five cards in an mathematically exact sequence of accepted card combinations. In the case of more than one player holding the same type of combination, the pot is awarded to the player holding the highest or rarest cards in that particular combination. For example a full house of 77722 will beat another full house of 666AA. Another example is that two pairs 99664 will beat two pairs 99663. Also, a straight of 34567 will beat an A2345 straight. The Term "poker" is also sometimes referred to as "fours" or "four of a kind".
Poker Hand - A group of five cards which are ranked according to the hand rankings.
Polish Hold'em - Poker Variation
Position - Your seating position at the poker table is referred to as "position". While your physical seat stays the same, your "position" changes with each hand. The dealer (player with the dealer button) has the best position because he/she acts last in the betting round, therefore the dealer can see all other players actions before deciding whether how to play the hand. Preflop the person to the left of the big blind, or after the flop the small blind are the worst positions as the player has to act first and does not get any chance to read the other players from their bets before putting money into the pot. This position is sometime called "under the gun".
Position - (1) The relation of a player’s seat to the blinds or the button. (2) The order of acting on a betting round or deal.
Pot Limit - A betting structure in which the maximum size bet is the size of the pot and in which the maximum size raise includes any call or raise the raiser has to equal to make the pot before making a raise.
Pot Odds - These are the odds you are getting when you are hoping to improve your hand without considering future bets. Basically, you want to make sure there is enough money in the pot to justify playing. This is done by comparing the real chances of making the hand compared to the size of the pot against the size of the call. The simple mathematical formula for pot odds is:', '(pot + bet) * (chance of hitting) > = call. For example on a club flush draw in Texas Hold’em, where you expect to win the pot if you hit the flush, there are 9 clubs to make the hand which is about a 20% chance on the next card. If the pot is 90, and the bet is 10, (90 +10) *.20= 20 where 20 >10 = call. However, let’s say the pot is 10 and your opponent bets 40. Now the pot is 50 and the bet is 40, (50 + 40) *.20 = 18 where 18 < 40 = fold.
Potting Out - Agreeing with another player to take money out of a pot, often to buy food, cigarettes, or drinks, or to make side be
Preflop - The stage of a Texas Hold'em game when you have two cards in your hand and there are no cards on the board yet.
Prop - Prop is short for proposition player,sometimes called a "House Player". A prop player is paid to play poker. The player plays hands with his own money but has each hand subsidized; receive a payment for playing a certain amount of hands or are paid an wage per hour to play. A lot of online poker rooms use propositional players to keep their games active.
Proposition Bets - Proposition Bets Side bets between players that are not related to the outcome of the hand.
PUSH - When a new dealer replaces an existing dealer at a particular table.
PUSHING BETS - The situation in which two or more players make an agreement to return bets to each other when one of them wins
Pushka - An agreement between two or more players to share part of the pots win, or more precisely, the container into which the agreed chips are played.
Quads - Four of a kind. Holding a set of four cards of the same rank
Rabbit Hunt - When you win a poker hand, your opponent sometimes wants to know if they would have beat you if they stayed in the hand. When your opponent is "rabbit hunting" they ask the dealer to deal the flop, turn or river cards to see what would have come out. Rabbit hunting is frowned upon when playing poker and banned from most tournaments.
Rack - (1) A container in which chips are stored while being transported. (2) A tray in front of the dealer, used to hold chips
Rag(s) - Useless card or cards that don't improve your hand.
Rainbow - This describes a flop of all different suits, reducing the chance of a flush.
RAISE - To increase the amount of a previous wager. This increase must meet certain specifications, depending on the game
RAISE - To make a bet larger than the previous bet, thus forcing the original bettor to call the difference or fold.
Rake - This is the fee the poker rooms charge players. It is usually a percentage of the pot. For example, online poker rooms take up to 10% as a fee for hosting the game. However, brick and mortar casinos will charge players an hourly rate instead of raking hands.
Rank - The number or letter on the card. Ace is the highest rank and 2 is the lowest. An Ace can also be used as a one (1) when creating a straight. Ranks are abbreviated as follows: A', 'Ace, K', 'King, Q', 'Queen, J', 'Jack, T', 'Ten, 9', 'Nine, 8', 'Eight, 7', 'Seven, 6', 'Six, 5', 'Five, 4', 'Four, 3', 'Three, 2', 'Two.
Razz - Poker variation, click here.
Re-Raise - To raise someone’s raise.
Rebuy - In a tournament once a player has lost all their chips they may rebuy back into the tournament for the original cost and get their starting chips again. In some tournaments, players by rebuy if their stack is 50% or less of the starting chips.
Rock - This is a nickname for a type of player who will fold a lot. These types of players generally break even. They fold most of their losers, but will not aggressively bet their winners and will thus not make much money. They are also easily bullied out of pots.
Rockets - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace, Ace or pocket aces, also known as Bullets, Pocket Rockets, AA or American Airlines.
Rolled Up - In Seven-Card-Stud having trips dealt the first three cards. Example: "Rolled Up Queens".
Round - Can refer to (i) A round of betting, (ii) A round of cards or (iii) A round of a particular game at dealers choice or (iv) A round of a particular game in "HORSE".
Rounder - A rounder is a semi-pro or professional player who makes a living or a significant amount of their income from playing poker.
Route 66 - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Six-Six (66, pocket sixes).
Royal Flush - The best hand in poker comprising of 10, J, Q, K, A all of the same suit.
Sailboats - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Four-Four (44, pocket Fours).
Sandbagging - Sandbagging is another term for slow-play. To check or bet weakly when you have a strong hand.
Sausage - A player who plays with no sense. Example, all-in with a 2-9.
Scoop - To win both the high and the low portions of a pot in a split-pot game.
Scramble - A facedown mixing of the cards also called a Shimmey.
SELL - Similar to the slow play or sandbagging, betting a very strong hand fairly lightly in order to induce a call.
SEMI-BLUFF - A semi-bluff is when a player makes a bet with a hand that is currently weak but has the potential to become a very strong hand. A common example is when someone has a flush draw and makes a bet into the pot. The bettor hopes that the other players will fold, and he wil win the pot right there. However, even if the other players do not fold, he still has a good chance at improving and winning the pot anyway.
Set - Three cards of the same denomination with two unpaired cards of different denominations. For example Q Q Q 2 3 which would beat J J J A K. Also called Three of a Kind and a Set.
Setup - A fresh deck of cards which have been placed in order of suits ace to king, spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs.
Seven Card Stud - Poker Variation
Seven Rock - A Lowball hand comprising 7432A or 7ABCD.
Shark - A shark is a good player and typically wins on a regular basis. A shark generally "eats" fish, the weaker amateur players.
Shill - A shill player is a who is paid by the house and plays with the house money. See also prop.
Shimmey - A facedown mixing of the cards also called a Scramble.
Short Buy - A buy-in that is less than the required minimum buy-in.
Shorthanded - This refers to a poker game with six or fewer people.
Showdown - The final act of determining the winner of the pot after all betting has been completed.
Shuffle - The act of mixing the cards before a hand.
Sidepot - In a multi-way pot, a sidepot is created for other players if one player goes all-in. These other players bets and raises will go to the sidepot, and only the players that participated in the sidepot are eligible to win it.
Sir - A confusing term that has a totally different meaning at a poker table. Can be said to a player who makes a big draw or a "suckout" to win the pot. Example: "Nice hand Sir!" really means "Congratulations for winning money through your own stupidity, you clueless moron".
Six Rock - Lowball hand comprising 6432A.
Slowplay - Slowplaying is a great poker play, basically the opposite of bluffing. It means to check or bet weakly on a strong hand. The point of the slowplay is so your opponent can get a better hand but you know that your hand can not be beaten (the nuts). The purpose is to get more money into the pot by "bluffing" that you have nothing.
Small Blind - The smallest forceed wager placed in the pot directly after the dealer before the cards are dealt.
Snap Off - To beat someone, often a bluffer with usually not an especially strong hand.
Snowmen - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Eight-Eight (88).
Soko - An action variation of Five Card Stud invented in Scandinavia which introduces two new values of hands between one pair and two pairs. These being a "Four Straight" and a "Four Flush". So the order of hands thus becomes: High Card, One Pair, Four Straight, Four Flush, Two Pairs, Trips, Five Straight, Five Flush, Full House, Fours, Straight Flush, Royal Flush
Speed - Refers to the level of aggressiviness of a player.
Speed Limit - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Five-Five (55).
Splash - Throwing your chips into the pot is called "Splashing the pot" and is considered bad etiquette in poker.
Split - The Texas Hold'em starting hand of Seven-Ten (7-10). Named after a ten pin bowling term "The Dreaded 7-10 Split", the pins on opposite sides of the pin deck.
Split Pot - A pot that is divided among players, either because of a tie for the best hand or by agreement prior to the showdown
Splitting Blinds - When no one else has entered the pot, an agreement between the big blind and small blind to each take back their bets.
Splitting Openers - In high draw jacks-or-better poker, dividing openers in hopes of making a different type of hand.
Stack - Chips in front of a player.
Stone Cold Nuts - The best holding possible in a hand of poker that will win the entire pot (as opposed to possibly winning only half or some fraction). Such an example would be holding a suited ace and making a flush with it on an unpaired board in Texas Hold'em. This is in contrast to holding an ace high straight, which even though it may not possibly be beaten, could end up in a tie with another one.
Straddle - An additional blind bet placed after the forced blinds, usually double the big blind in size or in lowball, a multiple blind
Straight - A poker hand consisting of 5 cards in order of rank. For example, 45678.
Straight Flush - Five cards in sequential order, all if the same suit, example 5,6,7,8,9 all diamonds the highest of which is called a Royal Flush, example, 10-J-Q-K-A all clubs.
Street - Cards dealt on a particular round in stud games. For instance, the fourth card in a player’s hand is often known as
String Bet - In a live game, someone does a string bet if they act like they are going to call but then make a raise. For example, it is standard etiquette that putting the requisite chips for a call into the pot just means a call. If one wants to raise, he or she needs to announce raise before placing chips into the pot. They cannot say "I call your bet" ... but then raise you; They must say "I raise." String bets confuse players as to whether the player is calling or raising, so they are not allowed.
String Raise - A bet made in more than one motion, without the declaration of a raise (not allowed).
Stub - The portion of the deck, which has not been dealt.
Stud - A poker variation, usually "5 Card" or "7 Card".
SUCKOUT - It means someone hit a draw against you to win the hand.
SUIT - Spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs. In poker, no suit outranks another. A flush is the only hand that uses suits.
SUITED - Refers to a Texas Hold'em starting hand with two cards of the same suit. Suited hands are slightly better than unsuited hands because there is a chance of a flush.
Suited Connectors - Cards that connect and are of the same suit like, QS-JS.
Sunset Strip - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Seven-Seven (77). Also called Walking Sticks and Candy Canes.
Supervisor - A Poker Room employee qualified to make rulings, such as a floorperson, shift supervisor, or the Poker Room manager.
SWEEP - To call both high and low in a declare split-pot game.
Table Stakes - (1) The amount of money you have on the table. This is the maximum amount that you can lose or that anyone can win.
Table Stakes - All proper poker games are played table stakes. This means one can only bet what one has in front of him on the table on any given hand. Players cannot reach into their pockets and add to their bets. If a player runs out of chips in front of him in the middle of a hand, he or she is considered all in.
TAP - In a no limit game, if you tap your opponent you are making a bet equal to all of his chips.
Tapping the Aquarium - To tell an amateur player what they are doing wrong.
Tapping The Table - Accepted in poker as representing a check.
Tate Gallery - A poker hand comprising of all picture cards.
Texas Hold'em - The most popular variation of poker in the world and is the game played in the World Series of Poker, the most prestigeous poker tournament in the world. Each player gets two hidden hole cards and five common cards called the board. Players contest the pot for the best five card poker hand using any combination of the seven cards each player has to play with.
The Nuts - Holding the best hand possible in a flop game at a particular time during a deal.
Third Pair - When a player makes a pair on the flop with the lowest card on the board pairing one of their hole cards. The other cards on the board are referred to as over cards and may therefore give other players the middle pair or top pair. The third pair is usually refered to as the bottom pair.
Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same denomination with two unpaired cards of different denominations. For example Q Q Q 2 3 which would beat J J J A K. Also called Trips and a Set.
Three Wise Men - Three of a kind, with three kings, also called Trip Cowboys.
Tight - Someone who does not play many hands, see also "ROCK".
Tilt - A player can go on tilt. Often when someone loses a big hand or has a good hand cracked (bad beat) it causes them to tilt. Tilt or on tilt is when you play recklessly or emotionally based on previous hands, most often losing hands.
Time - An expression used to stop the action on a hand. Equivalent to “Hold it.”
Time Collection - A fee for a seat rental, paid in advance.
Top Pair - When a player makes a pair on the flop with the highest card on the board pairing one of their hole cards.
Tournament - A poker competition, normally with an entry fee and prizes.
Trepasso - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Ace-Jack (AJ). Also called "Ajax" and "Blackjack".
Trip Cowboys - Three of a kind, with three kings, also called Three Wise Men.
Trips - Three cards of the same denomination with two unpaired cards of different denominations. For example Q Q Q 2 3 which would beat J J J A K. Also called Three of a Kind and a Set.
Turn (The) or Turn Card - The fourth street card in Hold’em or Omaha.
Two Pair - Two cards of the same denomination with two cards of a different denomination plus a odd card. For example K K 2 2 3 which would beat Q Q J J A. Also called Three of a Kind and a Set.
Under the Gun - The position to the left of the big blind which acts first before board cards are dealt.
Underdog - The least likely hand/player to come out the eventual winner with another, or more cards to come.
Underpair - An underpair is a pocket pair that is smaller than any card on the board.
Upcard - Any card that is dealt face up.
Wager - An amount placed in the pot in a game of poker. It can take the form of an ante, a blind, a bet, a raise, a re-raise or an all-in.
Walking Sticks - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Seven-Seven (77). Also called Candy Canes and Sunset Strip.
Wayne Gretzky - The Texas Hold'em starting hand Nine-Nine (99).
Wheel - The hand comprising A-2-3-4-5. Called also Bicycle and Bicycle Wheel.
Wired Pair - A pair in your starting hand. A Pocket Pair.
WPT - World Poker Tour.
WSOP - World Series of Poker.
