When you're playing poker, you may come across
words that are unfamiliar. To help you learn the lingo of poker, we've
developed a handy glossary of poker terms. To help you understand
the relationships between these terms, we've built links between many
of them. Simply press your browser's 'back' button to return to your
previous position in the glossary.
Making a hand other than the one intended. Example: Having J/10
of Clubs with a flop of A of Clubs, 5 of Clubs, 6 of Spades. The
turn and river are K & Q of Hearts. You made a straight instead
of the intended (and more likely) flush.
Backraise
A re-raise from a player who originally called.
Bankroll
The amount of money you have.
Belly Buster
A draw and/or catch to an Inside Straight.
Bet
To place chips into the pot.
Bet Odds
The odds you get as a result of evaluating the number of callers
to a raise.
Bet the Pot
When a player bets the amount of the pot.
Bicycle or Bike
A straight: A-2-3-4-5.
Big Blind
A designated amount that is placed by the player sitting in the
second position, clockwise from the dealer, before any cards are
dealt. (Players joining a game in progress must post a Big Blind,
but may do so from any position.)
Big Slick
A hand that contains an A-K.
Blank
A useless card.
Blind
The bet(s) that must be made by the two players sitting directly
to the dealer's left which will start the action on the first round
of betting. The blinds are posted before any cards are dealt. (A
'Blind' bet is one that is made without looking at your cards.)
Blind Raise
When a player raises without looking at his hand.
Bluff
To make other players believe that one has a better hand than
he/she might otherwise have, by betting or raising.
Board cards
The cards that are dealt face-up in a poker game for all players
to see. In flop games, five cards are dealt face-up in the center
of the table. In 7 Card Stud, four cards are dealt face-up in front
of each player.
Boat
A full house.
Bottom Pair
When a player uses the lowest card on the flop to make a pair
with one of his own cards.
Broadway
An Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10).
Bring-in
The forced bet made on the first round of betting by the player
who is dealt the lowest card showing in 7 Card Stud and Stud 8 or
Better. In Razz (Lowball) it is the highest card showing.
Bring It In
To start the betting on the first round.
Broomcorn's Uncle
A player who antes himself broke.
Bullets
A pair of Aces.
Bump
To raise.
Button
Also known as the dealer button, it is a small round disk that
is moved from player to player in a clockwise direction following
each hand, to theoretically indicate the dealer of each hand.
Buy-in
The minimum amount of money required by a player to sit down in
a particular poker game.
Two pair - Aces and Eights (The hand Wild Bill Hickock was holding
when Jack McCall shot him in the back).
Dealer
The man or woman who handles the cards, gives out the pots, and
monitors the game.
Dealer's Position
Being the last to act in a betting round. On the button.
Diamonds
One of the four playing card suits. Formerly representing merchants.
Disconnect Protection
A tool to protect players in the event that their internet connection
is lost while involved in a pot.
Dominated Hands
Hands that are okay to play, but tend to lose against similar
non-straight/flush hands. Example: A2 is dominated because against
other hands with an Ace, it loses or draws without improvement.
Dominating Hands
Primo hands that are not only good, solid hands, but have lots
of room for improvement.
Door Card
This is the first exposed card, or 'up' card, in a player's hand
in Stud games.
Down Card
Hole cards, or cards that are dealt face down.
Doyle Brunson
It's a Hold’em hand consisting of a 10-2 (Brunson won the World
Championship of Poker two years in a row with these cards).
Draw Lowball
Form of poker where each player is dealt five cards with the option
of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones - the
low hand wins.
Draw Poker
Form of poker where each player is dealt five cards down, with
the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new
ones to attempt to make a better hand.
Drawing
Playing a hand to improve.
Drawing Dead
A drawing hand that will lose even if it improves.
Drawing Hand
A hand that needs improvement to win. Usually to a straight or
flush.
Position on a round of betting, where the player must act before
most of the other players at the table. (It's considered the two
positions located to the left of the Blinds.)
Also known as the 'river' card. In flop games, this represents
the fifth community card on the table and the final round of betting.
In Stud games, this is the fifth card dealt to each player and represents
the third round of betting.
Five-card Draw
A poker game in which each player is dealt five cards down. They
have one draw to replace them and the best high hand wins the pot.
Five-card Stud
A poker game in which each player is dealt five cards, one down
and four up, with betting after 2, 3, 4, & 5 cards.
Flat Call
Calling a bet without raising.
Flop
In Hold'em and Omaha, the first three community cards that are
dealt face-up in the center of the table, all at one time. The 'flop'
also indicates the second round of betting.
Flop Games
Poker games (Hold'em and Omaha) that are played using community
cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table.
Floor man
An employee of the card room who makes rulings and decisions.
Flush
Any five cards of the same suit.
Flush Draw
When a player has four cards in his hand, all of the same suit
and is hoping to draw a fifth to make a flush.
Fold
To throw your hand away when it's your turn to act.
Forced Bet
A required bet that starts the action on the first round of a
poker hand.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same number or face value ('quads').
Fourth Street
In flop games, it is the fourth community card dealt (also known
as the 'turn') and represents the third round of betting. In stud
games, it is the fourth card dealt to each player and represents
the second round of betting.
Free Card
The card you get as result of semi-bluffing from late or last
position so that all the players check to you.
Full House
Any three cards of the same number or face value, plus any other
two cards of the same number or face value.
To decide the first dealer in the flop tournaments each user is
dealt a single card and the player with the highest card (based
on the card and the suit order - of spades, hearts, diamonds &
clubs) becomes the theoretical dealer.
High Limit
A game where the amounts wagered are high.
Hi/lo
Split pot games.
Hold'em
Also known as Texas Hold'em, where the players get two down cards
and five community cards. See our complete Hold'em rules.
Hole Cards
These are the ‘down cards’ in front of the players.
House
The casino or cardroom that is hosting the poker game.
A prize fund awarded to a player who meets a set of predetermined
requirements. For example, some casinos will give a jackpot to someone
who gets four-of-a-kind or higher and loses.
Jackpot Poker
A form of poker in which the card room or casino offers a jackpot
to a player who has lost with a really big hand (usually Aces full
or better).
Jacks-or-better
A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair
of jacks to open the betting.
Position on a round of betting where the player must act after
most of the other players have acted, (usually considered to be
the two positions next to the right of the button).
Lay Down Your Hand
When a player folds.
Lead
The first player to bet into a pot.
Limit Poker
A game that has fixed minimum and maximum betting intervals, along
with a prescribed number of raises.
Limper
The first player who calls a bet.
Limp In
To enter the pot by calling rather than raising. The most common
understanding of limping in, is when the first person to speak only
calls the Big Blind.
Live Blind
An instance where the player puts in a dark bet and is allowed
to raise, even if no other player raises. It's also known as an
'option'.
Live Card(s)
In Stud Games, cards that have not yet been seen and are presumed
to still be in play.
Live Hand
A hand that could still win the pot.
Live One
An inexperienced player who plays a lot of hands.
Long Shot
Making a hand despite having few outs and/or poor odds.
Look
When a player calls the final bet before the showdown.
Loose
A loose player plays a lot hands.
Lowball
Is a form of draw poker in which the lowest hand wins the pot.
The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making
a hand.
Offsuit
Cards of a different suit.
Omaha
A game in which each player is dealt four down cards with five
community cards. To make your hand, you must play two cards from
your hand and three from the board.
On the Button
Being the last player to act in a betting round. Dealer's Position.
Open
To make the first bet.
Open-ended Straight
Four consecutive cards whereby one additional (consecutive) card
is needed at either end to make a straight.
Open Card
A card that is dealt face-up.
Open Pair
A pair that has been dealt face-up.
Option
An option is a live blind made before the cards are dealt. If
no one raises, the 'option' player may raise the pot.
Out Button
A disc placed in front of a player who wishes to sit out a hand(s),
but remain in the game.
Outs
The number of cards left in the deck that will improve your hand.
Over pair
A pocket pair higher than any of the cards on the board.
Holding back and calling despite the fact that you have a very
good hand, usually to disguise strength, provoke bluffs, and to
check-raise.
Satellite
A mini-tournament to gain an entry into a larger tournament.
Scoop
To win the entire pot.
Seating List
A waiting list. A player can put his or her name on this list
if there are no seats at the table at which they wish to play.
Second Pair
In flop games, when you pair the second highest card on the board.
See
To call.
Semi-bluff
Betting with a mediocre or drawing hand.
Set
Having a pocket pair that matches one of the cards on the board.
7 Card Stud
A well-known poker game in which players get three down cards
and four up cards. You play the best five of those seven cards.
Click here for information on 7 Card Stud.
Seventh Street
This is the final round of betting in 7 Card Stud and Stud 8 or
Better.
Shills
Shills are paid props who help start and maintain poker games.
Short Buying
Purchasing chips after your initial purchase. Usually the minimum
for a short buy-in is less than the initial buy-in.
Short-handed
A ‘short-handed’ game has few players.
Showdown
At the end of the final betting round, it's when all active players
turn their cards face-up to see who has won the pot.
Side Pot
A separate pot(s) which is contested by remaining active players
when one or more players are all-in.
Sixth Street
In 7 Card Stud, this is the fourth 'up' card dealt to a player
(their 6th card). It is also the 4th round
of betting.
Small Blind
The amount put in the pot by the person immediately to the left
of the dealer 'button' prior to the cards being dealt.
Soft Seat
A seat or game that is favorable because of the lack of skill
at the table.
Solid
A fairly tight player (and reasonably good).
Speed Limit
A pair of fives.
Split
Tie.
Stack
A pile of chips.
Stay
When a player remains in the game by calling rather than raising.
Steal Raise
A raise by someone in late position in an attempt to reduce the
number of players and/or steal the pot.
Steamrolling
Re-raising to make a player(s) call two bets instead of one.
Steel Wheel
A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.
Straddle
A straddle is a Blind bet which is usually double the size of
the Big Blind, (and one that a player may raise when the action
gets to him).
Straight
Five consecutive cards of any suit.
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Structure
The limits put on the blinds/ante, bets, and raises in any particular
game.
Stud Games
Games in which players get both down cards and up cards.
Stuck
A player who is losing in a game.
Suit
A characteristic of a playing card. The card being either of Clubs,
Diamonds, Hearts, or Spades.
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