Poker is a game of skill, strategy, and psychology, but it’s also a realm filled with its own language of terms and slangs.
In this Poker Terms & Slang guide, we’ll dive into the rich vocabulary of poker, breaking down each term into easy-to-understand definitions. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to brush up on your knowledge or a newcomer eager to learn the ropes, this guide will equip you with the essential poker terminology to navigate the felt with confidence.
Let’s get started.
ABC Poker: A strategy in which a player focuses on playing a tight range of strong hands and making straightforward, calculated decisions. The term “ABC” suggests simplicity and adherence to a basic, effective approach, avoiding unnecessary risks and complex plays.
Ace Magnets: Slang for holding pocket Kings (KK) as starting hole cards. They are called that because many players believe that when you have this hand, an ace will appear on the flop more often than usual.
Ace-High: A hand where the highest-ranking card is an Ace, and no other hand components form a stronger combination. An Ace-High hand often plays a role in determining the winner when neither player has a pair or better.
Action: The activity in a poker hand, including betting, raising, and folding. Players take turns to make decisions, and the sequence of actions shapes the progression of the hand and influences the pot size.
A-Game: Refers to a player’s optimal state of performance, characterized by focused decision-making, mental clarity, and adherence to a well-defined strategy. Playing one’s “A-Game” maximizes the chances of success and minimizes errors.
Aggressive: A playing style marked by proactive betting and raising, often aimed at pressuring opponents into folding or making mistakes. Aggressive players seize control of hands and use bets to define the terms of engagement.
Airball: Missing all community cards without improving a player’s hand. An “airball” scenario signifies that none of the dealt community cards contribute to the player’s hand strength, leaving them reliant solely on their hole cards.
All-In: Betting all of one’s chips on a single hand. Going “all-in” signifies a commitment to the hand and often creates a pivotal moment of tension as players anticipate the outcome.
American Airlines: Slang for pocket Aces (AA) as hole cards. This term injects a lighthearted aspect into the poker lexicon, associating the strong starting hand with the airline’s notable initials.
Ammo (Ammunition): Chips used as betting units during the game. “Ammo” refers to the chips that players deploy to engage in the poker battle, just as ammunition is used in combat.
Angle Shooting: Employing tactics that may be within the rules but exploit opponents’ misunderstandings or assumptions. While not technically cheating, “angle shooting” challenges the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.
Anna Kournikova (Poker Hand): A slang term for holding Ace-King (AK) as starting hole cards. The name “Anna Kournikova” suggests that, like the tennis star, AK “looks good” but doesn’t always “win”.
Ante: A forced bet contributed by all players before each hand commences. Antes contribute to the pot’s initial size and create a foundation for action and strategy.
Backdoor Draw: A drawing hand that requires specific turn and river cards to complete. “Backdoor draws” involve hands that initially lack potential but gain it after additional community cards are revealed.
Bad Beat: A situation where a player with a strong hand loses to an opponent with an initially weaker hand, often due to unlikely and unfavorable turn and river cards. Experiencing a “bad beat” can be emotionally challenging.
Bad Beat Story: Sharing a detailed account of a bad beat experienced in a hand. While fellow players may sympathize, long-winded “bad beat stories” can sometimes test their patience.
Balanced: A strategic approach that blends different types of hands and plays, avoiding predictability. A “balanced” player mixes aggressive and passive actions, making it difficult for opponents to discern the strength of their holdings.
Bankroll: The total amount of funds a player sets aside for poker-related activities. Proper bankroll management is essential to withstand variance and minimize the risk of ruin.
Belly Buster: An inside straight draw requiring one specific card to complete the straight. The term “belly buster” highlights the urgent need for a particular card to create a strong hand.
Bet In The Dark: Placing a bet before the next card is dealt, indicating a willingness to continue betting regardless of the card’s actual value. This move can create unpredictability and tension at the table.
Big Blind (BB): A forced bet contributed by the player sitting two seats to the left of the dealer. The “big blind” initiates the betting action and contributes to the pot.
Big Blind Special: It refers to when the player in the big blind wins a pot or makes a strong hand with a hand they likely wouldn’t have played in any other position
Big Slick: Slang for holding Ace-King (AK) as starting hole cards. “Big Slick” combines the high value of an Ace with the slickness of a King, reflecting the potential of the hand.
Blank: A community card that doesn’t significantly impact the hand’s strength or potential outcomes. “Blank” cards lack relevance to players’ hands and rarely influence decisions.
Blind Steal: Raising from a late position with the intention of winning the blinds. A “blind steal” exploits the perception that late-position raises are indicative of strong hands.
Blind War: A competitive situation arising between the small blind and big blind. The “blind war” is characterized by strategic battles over blinds and the dynamic of being out of position.
Blind: Mandatory bets placed by players before any cards are dealt. The small blind and big blind initiate the betting, ensuring there is a starting pot before the community cards are revealed.
Bluff Catcher: A hand with marginal strength, intended to call a suspected bluff from an opponent. A “bluff catcher” is strategically weak but can be effective against opponents attempting to
exploit perceived weakness.
Bluff: Betting or raising with a weak hand to make opponents with stronger hands fold. Bluffing involves creating a narrative that convinces opponents of your hand’s strength.
Board: The community cards dealt face-up in the center of the table, available for all players to use in conjunction with their hole cards. The “board” determines the potential hands players can make.
Brick: A community card that doesn’t improve the hand’s strength or create drawing possibilities. A “brick” card fails to enhance any players’ holdings.
Broadway: A straight that includes the highest consecutive cards from Ten to Ace. Achieving a “broadway” straight indicates a strong hand composed of the highest-ranking cards.
Bubble: The point in a tournament when only one more player needs to be eliminated before the remaining players reach the money. Being on the “bubble” is a tense moment for players, as they vie for a cash finish.
Bullets: Slang for a pair of Aces (AA) as starting hole cards. “Bullets” highlights the high value and strength of pocket Aces.
Burn Card: The top card of the deck, discarded face-down before dealing the community cards. The “burn card” is intended to prevent cheating by revealing the top card prematurely.
Busted: Losing a hand that was drawing to improve but didn’t receive the necessary cards. Being “busted” signifies a missed opportunity to enhance the hand.
Button: A round marker indicating the dealer position for the current hand. The “button” rotates clockwise after each hand, determining the order of action.
Buy-In: The amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament. The “buy-in” contributes to the prize pool and often establishes the starting chip stack.
Call: Matching the current bet to remain in the hand. A “call” signifies a player’s decision to contribute the same amount as the previous bet.
Calling Station: A player who frequently calls bets and raises but rarely initiates aggressive actions. A “calling station” tends to play passively, potentially making it difficult to read their hand.
Candy Canes: Slang for a pair of sevens (77) as starting hole cards. The term “candy canes” reflects the appearance of the number 7.
Cap: Reaching the maximum number of allowable bets or raises in a particular round of betting. Once a pot is “capped,” players can no longer contribute additional bets or raises to that pot.
Cardrack: A player who consistently receives strong hole cards and experiences a run of favorable hands. “Cardrack” suggests a player who appears to be unusually lucky.
Case: The final remaining card of a specific rank in the deck. If a player holds the “case” card, they have the only remaining card of that rank.
Check: Opting not to bet when it’s a player’s turn to act, passing the action to the next player. A “check” is a way to remain in the hand without committing additional chips.
Check-Raise: Checking initially and then raising after an opponent places a bet. A “check-raise” is a tactical play that lures opponents into contributing more chips to the pot.
Coin Flip: A situation where two players are all-in with roughly equal chances of winning the hand. The outcome of a “coin flip” is uncertain, with both players having an approximately 50% chance to win.
Cold Call: Calling both a raise and a bet in the same round of betting. A “cold call” suggests a player enters the pot with a weaker hand after another player’s aggressive actions.
Collusion: Secret cooperation between players to gain an unfair advantage, often through illicit communication or signaling. “Collusion” is considered cheating and is prohibited in legitimate poker games.
Come Hand: A drawing hand that requires specific cards to complete a strong hand. A “come hand” hinges on drawing the necessary cards to transform it into a winning hand.
Community Cards: The cards dealt face-up in the center of the table, available to all players to combine with their hole cards. “Community cards” are shared and determine hand strength.
Complete Hand: A hand that doesn’t require further improvement on subsequent community card reveals. A “complete hand” is already strong and doesn’t need additional cards.
Connectors: Consecutive cards of any suit, such as 9 and 10. “Connectors” create the potential for straight draws and may form strong hands with the right community cards.
Continuation Bet Or C-Bet: Betting on the flop after raising before the flop. A “continuation bet” asserts dominance by reaffirming the strength shown pre-flop.
Cooler: A scenario where two strong hands clash, resulting in significant action and a sizable pot. A “cooler” often leads to an inevitable showdown of strong hands.
Coordinated: Describes a board with community cards that have potential to create various strong hands, like flushes, straights, and full houses. A “coordinated” board adds complexity to the hand.
Counterfeit: A community card that decreases the value of a player’s hand by pairing a card that was valuable to their hand. “Counterfeit” cards can diminish hand strength.
Cowboys: Slang for holding pocket Kings (KK) as starting hole cards. “Cowboys” emphasizes the strength of holding a pair of Kings.
Crabs: Slang for holding a pair of threes (33) as starting hole cards. The term “crabs” references the visual resemblance of the number 3 to the shape of a crab.
Crack: To beat a hand – typically a big hand. You hear this most often used to apply to pocket aces.
Crap Shoot: Referring to a situation with high uncertainty and randomness, often suggesting unpredictability in a poker hand’s outcome.
Cripple: To severely diminish an opponent’s stack or bankroll through a large loss or a series of unfortunate hands.
Crying Call: Calling a bet with a marginal hand despite expecting to be behind. A “crying call” signifies a difficult decision made with little hope of winning.
Cutoff (CO): The player sitting one seat to the right of the dealer button. The “cutoff” position offers strategic advantages, as the player acts late in the betting order.
Dead Man’s Hand: A poker hand consisting of two pairs—Aces and eights—traditionally associated with the hand held by Wild West folk hero Wild Bill Hickok when he was killed.
Dealer: The player responsible for dealing the cards and overseeing the hand’s progression. The “dealer” rotates clockwise after each hand.
Deuces: Slang for holding pocket Twos (22) as starting hole cards. “Deuces” underscores the low value of the pair.
Dimes: Slang for holding pocket tens (TT) as starting hole cards. “Dimes” highlights the visual resemblance of the number 10 to a dime coin.
Dirty Stack: A stack of chips that are disorderly, disorganized, or not neatly stacked. A “dirty stack” can make chip counts difficult to assess accurately.
Dog: Slang for an underdog, indicating a player or hand with unfavorable odds of winning.
Dolly Parton (Poker Hand): Slang for holding a 9 and 5 (95) as starting hole cards. Named after the famous country singer and her song “9 to 5.”
Dominated Hand: A hand that is significantly behind another hand, typically due to sharing the same highest card but having a weaker kicker.
Donk Bet: A donk bet is a bet made out of position after check/calling on the previous street.
Donkey: A derogatory term for an inexperienced or unskilled player who makes questionable decisions. “Donkeys” are often seen as easy opponents.
Doomswitch: A perceived sequence of bad luck or unfavorable outcomes that some players believe can affect their performance.
Doyle Brunson (Poker Hand): Slang for holding a 10 and 2 (102) as starting hole cards. Named after the legendary poker player Doyle Brunson, who won two World Series of Poker Main Events with this hand.
Draw Out: Winning a hand by drawing the necessary cards on the turn or river to complete a strong hand. “Drawing out” involves improving a weaker hand to win.
Drawing Dead: Having no chance of winning a hand regardless of the remaining community cards. A player “drawing dead” has no outs to improve their hand.
Drawing Hand: A hand that needs specific cards on the turn and river to complete a strong hand, such as a flush or straight.
Drawing Live: Having the potential to complete a strong hand with the remaining community cards. A player “drawing live” has viable outs to improve their hand.
Dry Board: A community card layout with low potential to create strong hands. A “dry board” lacks connected or suited cards, limiting potential combinations.
Ducks: Slang for holding a pair of twos (22) as starting hole cards. The term “ducks” stems from the visual resemblance of the number 2 to the shape of a duck.
Early Position: A position at the poker table where a player acts before most other players in a betting round. Players in early position have less information about their opponents’ intentions and must exercise caution.
Edge: A competitive advantage or skill that gives a player an upper hand against opponents. Developing an “edge” through strategy, reading opponents, or mathematical analysis can lead to improved results.
Effective Stack: The smaller of the two chip stacks involved in a hand when considering the potential bets and raises a player can make. The “effective stack” influences strategic decisions in the hand.
Empty The Clip: Betting all of one’s remaining chips in an aggressive manner, often in an all-in move. “Empty the clip” implies an aggressive approach aimed at overwhelming opponents.
Equity: A player’s share of the pot based on their chances of winning the hand. “Equity” factors in probabilities and influences decisions to continue or fold a hand.
Even Money: A bet with a payout equal to the amount wagered, resulting in no net gain or loss. “Even money” bets typically involve coin flips or situations with equal odds.
Expected Value: The average amount a player can expect to win or lose from a particular action or decision over the long term. “Expected value” guides decisions based on potential outcomes.
Exposed Cards: Cards accidentally revealed during the hand, possibly impacting the integrity of the game. “Exposed cards” may lead to procedural adjustments or reshuffling.
Extra Blind: An additional blind bet contributed by a player entering the game at a specific time, usually when returning after missing the blinds.
Family Pot: A hand in which most players at the table enter the pot by calling the big blind. A “family pot” often leads to multiway action and a larger pot size.
Fast: A playing style characterized by aggressive betting, frequent raises, and fast-paced decisions. Playing “fast” can pressure opponents and increase the tempo of the game.
Favorite: The player or hand expected to win based on odds or current circumstances. A “favorite” is considered more likely to prevail in a particular situation.
Fifth Street: Also known as the “river,” it’s the fifth and final community card dealt in Texas Hold’em and Omaha games.
Fish Hooks: Slang for holding pocket Jacks (JJ) as starting hole cards. “Fish hooks” humorously refers to the visual resemblance of the letter “J” to a hook.
Fish: A player perceived as inexperienced or weak, often prone to making poor decisions. “Fish” players are seen as easy targets for skilled opponents.
Flip: A situation in which two players are all-in and reveal their hole cards, creating a high-stakes showdown with uncertain results. “Flips” are often decided by luck rather than skill.
Float: Calling a bet on one street with a plan to take control of the pot on a later street, usually through a bluff or semi-bluff.
Flush Draw: A drawing hand that needs one more card of the same suit to complete a flush. A “flush draw” can be strong if the player has several outs to complete the hand.
Fold: Declining to continue in the hand and forfeiting any bets placed. “Folding” is a strategic decision made when a player believes their hand is weak.
Forced Bet: A mandatory bet, such as the small blind and big blind in Hold’em. “Forced bets” initiate the action and contribute to the pot’s initial size.
Foul Hand: A hand that is deemed ineligible due to violating game rules or procedures. A “foul hand” results in the player’s cards being disqualified from play.
Four-Bet: The fourth bet in a betting round, often involving significant aggression. A “four-bet” indicates a strong hand or an attempt to assert dominance.
Free Card: Receiving a card without having to make a bet or call. A “free card” can be valuable in making a drawing hand more lucrative.
Free Roll: A situation where a player has a chance to win a pot without risking additional chips. A “free roll” can occur when a player has both a strong hand and a draw to a stronger hand.
Gappers: Hole cards with one or more missing consecutive ranks. “Gappers” can form potential straight draws if the missing rank appears on the flop.
Gears: Refers to a player’s ability to switch between playing styles and strategies to keep opponents guessing. Being able to shift “gears” adds complexity to a player’s approach.
GG: An acronym for “good game,” often used to show sportsmanship and acknowledge opponents at the conclusion of a game or tournament.
Going South: Illegitimate behavior where a player secretly removes chips from the table, usually after winning a significant pot. “Going south” is considered unethical and is against the rules.
Grinding: Playing poker with a focus on consistent, steady gains rather than taking risks for large rewards. “Grinding” involves playing many hands and minimizing losses.
GTO Poker: Playing according to a balanced and mathematically optimal strategy known as “game theory optimal.” GTO poker aims to be unexploitable by opponents.
Gutshot: A straight draw that requires a single card within the sequence to complete. Drawing to a “gutshot” involves fewer outs than an open-ended straight draw.
Heads-Up: A poker game or hand involving only two players. “Heads-up” play often requires adjustments in strategy compared to games with multiple players.
Hero: The player who is the focus of the hand, often the player whose perspective is being discussed or analyzed. The term “hero” is used in discussions to refer to the player making decisions.
Hero Call: Making a call with a marginal hand in a bluff-catching situation, based on a strong read or intuition about an opponent’s intentions.
Highjack (HJ): The player sitting two seats to the right of the dealer button. The “highjack” position provides advantageous mid-position seating for strategic play.
Hit And Run: A tactic where a player leaves a table immediately after winning a big pot. “Hit and run” behavior is often frowned upon in poker etiquette.
Hockey Sticks: Slang for holding a pair of sevens (77) as starting hole cards. The term “hockey sticks” humorously references the visual resemblance of the number 7 to hockey sticks.
Hole Cards: The two private cards dealt face-down to each player at the beginning of the hand. “Hole cards” remain hidden from opponents until revealed during the showdown.
Hooks: Slang for holding pocket Jacks (JJ) as starting hole cards. “Hooks” humorously refers to the visual resemblance of the letter “J” to a hook.
House: The establishment or casino hosting the poker game. “House” refers to the location where the game is held and the rules are enforced.
ICM: Independent Chip Model, a mathematical model used to calculate the value of a player’s stack in a tournament based on the distribution of prize money.
Idiot End: The lower end of a straight, often considered weaker because it’s vulnerable to higher straights. Holding the “idiot end” can lead to potential losses.
Implied Odds: Factoring potential future bets into calculations when making a decision based on drawing to a hand. “Implied odds” consider potential gains from opponents’ future bets.
Inside Straight: Also known as a “gutshot” or “belly buster,” a straight draw requiring a single card within the sequence to complete.
Jam: Betting all of one’s chips in an all-in move. “Jam” is an assertive play often used to maximize pressure and potential gains.
Kicker: The highest unpaired card in a player’s hand used to break ties between hands of the same rank. A “kicker” becomes relevant when comparing hands.
Late Position: A position at the poker table where a player acts after most other players in a betting round. Players in late position have more information about opponents’ actions.
Lead: Betting into the previous round’s aggressor. A “lead” challenges the initial aggressor’s dominance and can shift the dynamic of the hand.
Legitimate Hand: A hand that has a reasonable chance of winning based on its strength and potential for improvement. A “legitimate hand” has value beyond just bluffing.
Limping: Calling the minimum bet to stay in the hand rather than raising. “Limping” suggests passive play and can lead to multiway pots.
Live Blind: A blind bet contributed by a player who has returned to the table after missing the blinds. The player posts a “live blind” to enter the hand.
Live One: A player who consistently makes poor decisions, providing opportunities for skilled players to profit. A “live one” is an easy target for exploitation.
Loose Game: A game with multiple players entering many pots and playing a wide range of hands. A “loose game” involves more action and frequent showdowns.
Loose-Aggressive: A playing style characterized by entering many pots and frequently making aggressive bets and raises. “Loose-aggressive” players play a wide range of hands assertively.
Loose-Passive: A playing style marked by entering many pots but often calling or checking rather than betting or raising. “Loose-passive” players play a wide range of hands but are less assertive.
Made Hand: A hand that is already complete and doesn’t require additional community cards to improve. A “made hand” has value without relying on drawing.
Main Pot (Center Pot): The primary pot in a hand, created by the contributions of all players who remained in the hand. The “main pot” can be won by the best hand among those remaining.
Maniac: A player who consistently makes aggressive bets and raises, often disregarding hand strength. A “maniac” aims to overwhelm opponents with pressure.
Middle Position: A position at the poker table where a player acts after early position players but before late position players. Players in middle position have moderate information about opponents’ actions.
Miscall: An incorrect verbal declaration of the ranking of a hand.
Misdeal: An invalid hand due to errors in dealing or shuffling. A “misdeal” results in re-dealing the hand to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Monster: A very strong hand with high potential to win. A “monster” hand has a strong likelihood of dominating opponents’ hands.
Mowtown: Slang for holding a 5 and 10 (510) as starting hole cards. The term “Mowtown” humorously references the combination of the numbers 5 and 10.
Muck: To discard one’s hand without revealing the cards to opponents. “Mucking” occurs when a player folds or wins without a showdown.
Nit: A player who plays very conservatively and cautiously, often folding marginal hands. “Nit” players avoid risky plays and prioritize strong hands.
Nitfest: A game characterized by multiple “nit” players who avoid risky moves and rarely take aggressive actions. A “nitfest” game tends to have fewer large pots.
No-Limit: A betting structure where players can bet any amount of chips, up to their total chip stack, in any given betting round. “No-limit” creates opportunities for large bets and bluffs.
Nosebleeds: Refers to the highest stakes poker games, where players risk significant amounts of money. “Nosebleeds” games are typically played by experienced and wealthy players.
Nut Low: The lowest possible hand in a lowball poker variant. The “nut low” is the best low hand possible, often A-2-3-4-5 in games like Omaha Hi/Lo.
Nuts: The best possible hand in a particular situation. Holding the “nuts” guarantees victory and ensures that no opponent can have a stronger hand.
Offsuit: Hole cards of different suits. “Offsuit” cards are not of the same suit and don’t have the potential to form a flush.
One-Gap: Hole cards with one rank missing between them, such as 7 and 9. “One-gap” cards have the potential to create inside straight draws.
Open: To make the first voluntary bet in a betting round. “Opening” initiates the action and sets the stage for further bets and raises.
Open-Ended Straight Draw: A straight draw that can be completed by hitting one of two ranks, allowing a card from either end of the sequence. An “open-ended straight draw” has eight possible outs.
Option: The player to the left of the big blind’s decision to either call the big blind’s bet, raise, or fold. The “option” typically exists in home games and certain poker variants.
Orbit: A complete rotation of the dealer button around the table. An “orbit” ensures that every player gets a turn at each position.
Outrun: Winning a hand against an opponent with a stronger starting hand through skill, strategy, or favorable community cards.
Outs: The number of cards in the deck that can improve a player’s hand to a winning one. “Outs” are used to calculate odds and make drawing decisions.
Overbet: Betting more chips than are currently in the pot. An “overbet” is often used as a strategic move to put pressure on opponents or disguise hand strength.
Overcall: Calling a bet after one or more opponents have already called. An “overcall” indicates that a player believes their hand has potential despite multiple callers.
Overcard: The term “overcard” is used in poker to refer to cards with a higher rank than any cards revealed on the board.
Overpair: A pocket pair that is higher than any community card on the board. An “overpair” is a strong hand that can be vulnerable to hidden sets or higher pairs.
Owned: Describes a player who has been consistently dominated or defeated by an opponent. Being “owned” suggests a clear superiority of one player over another.
Pat: A complete hand that doesn’t require any additional cards to improve. A “pat” hand is already strong and doesn’t need further development.
Pay Off: Calling a bet with a marginal or weaker hand, often due to curiosity or suspicion of bluffing. “Paying off” is a strategic decision to gain information about an opponent’s hand.
Peel: To call a bet with a drawing hand on one street, often with the intention of re-evaluating on the next street.
Play The Board: Using all five community cards to form a hand with no hole cards. When players “play the board,” the best possible hand is determined solely by the community cards.
Pocket Cards: The two private cards dealt face-down to each player at the beginning of the hand. Also known as “hole cards,” they are the foundation of a player’s hand.
Pocket Pair: Holding two hole cards of the same rank. A “pocket pair” creates the potential for a set or trips if a matching community card appears.
Pocket Rockets: Slang for holding a pair of Aces (AA) as starting hole cards. “Pocket rockets” emphasizes the strength of having the highest-ranking starting hand.
Poker Face: A neutral facial expression that conceals a player’s emotions and intentions. A strong “poker face” avoids giving away information to opponents.
Polarized: Referring to a player’s betting range, which consists of very strong hands and weaker, speculative hands. A “polarized” range makes it difficult for opponents to determine hand strength.
Post: To contribute chips to the pot, either through the small blind, big blind, or an additional blind. “Posting” initiates the action and begins the betting round.
Pot Odds: The ratio of the current size of the pot to the cost of a contemplated call. “Pot odds” help players make informed decisions about drawing hands.
Pot-Committed: When a player has invested a significant portion of their stack into the pot, making it challenging to fold their hand. Being “pot-committed” influences decision-making.
Pot-Limit: A betting structure where the maximum bet or raise is limited to the current size of the pot. “Pot-limit” creates opportunities for strategic betting while controlling pot size.
Premium Hands: The strongest starting hands in poker, such as Aces, Kings, Queens, and sometimes Jacks and Tens. “Premium hands” have high potential to win.
Price: The cost of entering a hand, often referring to the amount needed to call a bet or see the next card. “Price” considers pot odds and potential gains.
Probe Bet: A small bet made to gather information about an opponent’s hand strength. A “probe bet” can reveal whether an opponent is holding a strong or weak hand.
Prop Bet: A prop bet (proposition bet) is a wager made between two or more players outside of the immediate game. As an example, they might wager on what will be the next card beeing dealt or if the flop comes with 3 cards of the same suit. They can also bet on things not poker related, imagination is the limit.
Protect: To make a bet or raise with the intention of discouraging opponents from drawing or outplaying. “Protecting” a hand aims to maintain the lead.
Push: Another term for “all-in,” meaning betting all of one’s remaining chips in a single move. “Pushing” signifies a strong commitment to the hand.
Quads: Slang for a four-of-a-kind hand, where all four cards of a rank are held. “Quads” is one of the most potent poker hands.
Rabbit Hunting: Asking the dealer to reveal the next community card that would have been dealt had the hand continued. “Rabbit hunting” satisfies curiosity about what could have happened.
Ragged: A community card that appears unconnected and has minimal impact on hand strength. A “ragged” card typically doesn’t complete draws or improve hands significantly.
Rags: Weak or unplayable cards, often referring to low-ranking cards that have limited potential to form strong hands.
Rainbow: A flop or board where all three community cards are of different suits. A “rainbow” board limits the possibility of flush draws.
Rake: The portion of the pot taken by the house or casino as a fee for hosting the game. “Rake” contributes to the establishment’s revenue.
Range: The set of possible hands that a player could be holding based on their actions and decisions. Analyzing an opponent’s “range” helps make informed decisions.
Represent: To make bets or plays that convey a specific hand strength, often to mislead opponents about the actual strength of one’s hand.
Ring Game: Also known as a cash game, it’s a poker game with real money chips on the table. In a “ring game,” players can buy in, cash out, and play as long as they want.
River: The fifth and final community card dealt in Texas Hold’em and Omaha games. The “river” is followed by the final round of betting and the showdown.
Rock: A player who plays extremely conservatively, rarely betting or raising and often folding. “Rock” players prioritize strong hands and avoid risk.
ROI: Return on Investment, a measure of a player’s profitability in tournaments, calculated by dividing total winnings by total buy-ins and expressing as a percentage.
Rolled Up: In seven-card stud, being dealt three of a kind in the first three cards.
Rounders: A slang term for experienced and skilled poker players. “Rounders” often compete in high-stakes games and tournaments.
Route 66: Slang for holding a 6 and 6 (66) as starting hole cards. The term “Route 66” humorously references the famous highway.
Royal Flush: The highest-ranking poker hand, consisting of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. A “royal flush” is the rarest and most valuable hand.
Runner Runner: Also known as backdoor, runner-runner means making a hand by hitting the needed cards on both the turn and river
Running Bad: Experiencing a prolonged streak of bad luck or unfavorable outcomes in poker games. “Running bad” can impact a player’s confidence and results.
Running Good: Experiencing a prolonged streak of good luck or favorable outcomes in poker games. “Running good” can boost a player’s morale and results.
Running It Twice: Choosing to deal the remaining community cards twice after a player is all-in, effectively splitting the pot into two separate outcomes. This usually happens in cash games. You cal also run it three times or even more.
Rush: A period during which a player experiences an unusually high number of winning hands or favorable outcomes. “Rush” can boost morale and bankroll.
Sailboats: Slang for holding a pair of fours (44) as starting hole cards. The term “sailboats” humorously references the visual resemblance of the number 4 to a sailboat.
Satellite: A tournament with a lower buy-in that awards winners with entry into a higher-stakes tournament. Participating in a “satellite” allows players to qualify for larger events at a fraction of the cost.
Scare Card: A community card that appears likely to improve opponents’ hands or complete draws. A “scare card” can influence betting and strategy decisions.
Second Pair: Holding the second-highest pair on the board or among your hole cards. A “second pair” can be vulnerable to higher pairs or stronger hands.
Semi-Bluff: Betting or raising with a drawing hand that has the potential to improve, even if the hand is not yet strong. A “semi-bluff” combines both bluffing and drawing elements.
Session: A period of time during which a player participates in one or more poker games. A “session” can range from a few hands to several hours of play.
Set: Three of a kind. The term is more often used when having a pocket pair and making three of a kind with one card on the board. A “set” is a strong hand that can be difficult to detect.
Set Mining: Calling a preflop raise with the intention of hitting a set on the flop. “Set mining” aims to win a big pot by flopping a strong hand.
Shark: An experienced and skilled player who preys on weaker opponents. A “shark” is highly strategic and often wins consistently.
Shootout: A multi-table tournament format where players must win their table to advance to the next round. A “shootout” continues until there’s one winner from each table.
Short Handed: A poker game with fewer players than the maximum allowed, often referring to games with 6 players or fewer.
Short Stack: Having a smaller chip stack compared to the average or other players at the table. A “short stack” often requires careful strategy due to limited resources.
Shot Clock: A timer used in tournaments to limit the amount of time a player has to make decisions. A “shot clock” prevents slow play and keeps the game moving.
Shove: Betting all of one’s remaining chips in an all-in move.
Showdown: The final phase of a poker hand, where remaining players reveal their hole cards to determine the winner. A “showdown” occurs after the last betting round.
Side Bet: A separate bet made alongside the main pot, often unrelated to the hand’s outcome. “Side bets” can involve personal challenges or prop bets.
Side Pot: A separate pot created when a player goes all-in and other players continue betting. The “side pot” is contested by those who remain active in the hand.
Sit Out: Temporarily leaving a poker game without folding. Players who “sit out” don’t participate in the current hand but can return to the game.
Sit-And-Go: A single-table tournament that begins as soon as all seats are filled. “Sit-and-go” tournaments have a predetermined number of players and no set start time.
Slow Play: A strategy of playing a strong hand passively to encourage opponents to bet and build the pot. “Slow playing” can lead to bigger pots but carries some risk.
Slow Roll: Deliberately delaying the revealing of a strong hand at the showdown, often as a form of gamesmanship. “Slow rolling” can be considered poor sportsmanship.
Small Blind (SB): The smaller of the two forced bets in Texas Hold’em and Omaha. The “small blind” initiates the betting action in each hand.
Smooth Call: Calling a bet rather than raising with a strong hand. A “smooth call” can be used to trap opponents or disguise the strength of the hand.
Snap Call: Making a quick and decisive call in response to a bet. A “snap call” indicates a confident read on an opponent’s hand.
Snowmans: Slang for holding a pair of eights (88) as starting hole cards. The term “snowmans” humorously references the visual resemblance of the number 8 to snowmen.
Soft Play: When players avoid betting or raising aggressively against each other, often due to personal relationships or agreements. “Soft play” is considered unethical.
Solid: A player who demonstrates consistent and reliable gameplay, making well-informed decisions. A “solid” player avoids reckless plays and focuses on strategy.
Speed Limit: Slang for holding a pair of fives (55) as starting hole cards. The term “speed limit” humorously references the posted speed limit of 55 mph.
Split Pot: A pot that is divided between two or more players because their hands have equal value. A “split pot” occurs when players have identical or nearly identical hands.
Spread-Limit: A betting structure where players can bet within a specific range, both minimum and maximum, during each betting round. “Spread-limit” offers flexibility in betting.
Squeeze: A strategic play involving a re-raise after a player has called a bet and another player has raised. The “squeeze” aims to isolate the initial caller and capitalize on their potential weakness.
Stack: The collection of chips a player has in front of them. A player’s “stack” reflects their current chip count and influences their betting and decision-making.
Steal Position: Attempting to win the blinds or antes with a bet or raise when in a late position. “Stealing” requires recognizing favorable opportunities to exploit opponents’ weaknesses.
Straddle: A voluntary blind bet made by the player to the left of the big blind before the cards are dealt. A “straddle” increases the stakes and acts as a third blind.
Straight: A hand containing five consecutive ranked cards of any suit. The “straight” is a strong poker hand that can range in value based on its highest card.
Straight Flush: A hand containing five consecutive ranked cards of the same suit. A “straight flush” is a powerful and rare poker hand.
String Bet: An illegal action where a player initially puts in a partial bet and then adds more chips to complete the bet. A “string bet” is not allowed in poker.
Suck Out: Winning a hand despite being behind statistically before the final cards are dealt. “Sucking out” involves hitting a lucky card on the turn or river.
Suicide King: A nickname for the King of Hearts (K♡) in traditional decks, where the King is depicted holding a sword to his head. The “suicide king” is known for its unique design.
Suited: Hole cards of the same suit. Being “suited” increases the potential to form a flush if more cards of the same suit appear.
Table Stakes: A rule that restricts a player to betting only the chips they have on the table at the beginning of a hand. “Table stakes” prevent players from adding more money during a hand.
Tanking: Taking an extended period of time to make a decision, often as a strategy to confuse opponents or gather information. “Tanking” can lead to frustration among other players.
Tell: A physical or behavioral clue that unintentionally reveals information about a player’s hand or intentions. Recognizing opponents’ “tells” can aid decision-making.
Texture: The composition and arrangement of community cards on the board. Analyzing the “texture” helps players assess potential hand combinations and drawing possibilities.
Three Barrel: A strategy of betting aggressively on all three streets (flop, turn, river) with the aim of forcing opponents to fold. A “three barrel” bluff requires strong conviction.
Three-Bet: Making a third bet in a single betting round. The “three-bet” is typically a re-raise after an initial raise and a subsequent re-raise.
Three-Of-A-Kind: A hand containing three cards of the same rank. “Three-of-a-kind” is a strong hand, also known as a “set” when using a pocket pair.
Tight: A player who plays conservatively and selectively, entering pots with only strong hands. “Tight” players prioritize quality over quantity.
Tight-Aggressive: A playing style characterized by selective hand choice and aggressive betting with strong hands. “Tight-aggressive” players strike a balance between caution and aggression.
Tilt: Emotional frustration that leads to poor decision-making and risky plays. Being “on tilt” negatively impacts a player’s performance.
Time: Requesting additional time to make a decision during a hand. “Timing out” is a mechanism used to prevent players from excessively delaying the game.
Toke: A tip or gratuity given to the dealer by a winning player. “Toking” is a gesture of appreciation for the dealer’s service.
Treys: A pair of threes (33).
Trips: Three of a kind. Usually used when you make three of a kind with one card in your hand and a pair on the board.
Turn: It refers to the fourth community card that is dealt as well as being the name assigned to the third round of betting in Hold’em and Omaha variants (the second is the flop).
Under The Gun Or UTG: The under-the-gun player is the first to act before the flop.
Underbet: A bet sized smaller than half the pot.
Underdog: The player who is not statistically favored to win a hand.
Value Bet: A bet where the player wnats the opponent to call because he thinks he have the best hand and is going to win the pot.
Variance: It refers to the natural ups and downs that can occur in short-term results due to luck.
VPIP: VPIP Means “Voluntarily Put In Pot” and is a common poker statistic that tracks the percentage of hands in which a particular player voluntarily puts money into the pot preflop. Posting the small and big blinds does not influence the VPIP statistic.
Wayne Gretzky (Poker Hand): A pair of Nines (99), named after the famous NFL player Wayne Gretzky.
Wet Board: This term is used to describe community cards with many draw possibilities, like straights or flushes.
Wheel: The nickname for the five high straight (A, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Whiff: To whiff means failing to improve your hand (miss on your draw).
Wired Pair: A pair made by the first two cards dealt to a player. The same as a pocket pair in Texas Hold’em or having a pair in you first two downcards in Seven Card Stud.
