Poker Glossary

A

Aces Up

A player with two pair, one being aces, is said to have "aces up."

Act, An

Faking a tell to mislead other players.

Action

Refers to the amount of opportunity at the table. If there are large bets being made, than there is a lot of "action" at the table.

Add On

Normally in tournaments, the ability to "add" more chips during play.

Aggressive

A player who seldom calls, but consistently raises during good hands.

Ajax

Also known as blackjack. An Ace-Jack combination, the starting hand for hold-em.

All-In

Betting the remained of your chips at the table.

Angle

A legal, but unmoral strategy to enhance your chances of winning.

Angle-Shooting

Appling these strategies.

Ante

A specified number of chips to be placed in the pot before the hand is dealt. It is used as a way to begin the pot.

Automatic Shuffler

A machine used to randomly shuffle the deck of cards for a game.

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B

Backdoor

A hand that requires the use of both the turn and river card to win. A player has a Ks, Jh. From the flop you get Kd, Ts, & 6h. The turn is a Jd. The river is a Kc. You make a full house on the "backdoor."

Back raise

When a player calls, you raise and then they re-raise.

Bad Beat

Having a good hand that is expected to win, but loses to a player that is saved by a lucky draw.

Bankroll

How much money you have to place bets.

Base Deal

Also known as bottom dealing. An illegal move in poker. When a player deals the cards from the bottom of the deck, rather than the top.

Belly Buster

An inside straight that is the result of a draw.

Bet Odds

The calculated odds of observing how many players call a raise.

Bicycle

Also known as a wheel. A hand consisting of A-2-3-4-5.

Big Blind

The player in the second position, two seats to the left of the dealer, can raise the forced bet, if no one else has PreFlop.

Big Slick

Having an Ace-King combination. (AK)

Blank

A card that holds no relevance to any players hand.

Blind

A required bet placed before the start of the game. Similar to an ante.

Bluff

The act of trying to fool your opponents into believing that your hand is better than it is. Your objective is to force other players to fold and allow you to win with a weak hand.

Board

The cards dealt face up. In Hold'em, the five community cards, the flop, turn and river. In Seven-Card Stud, the four cards dealt to each player.

Boat

Also known as a "Full House." A three of a kind and a pair.

Bottom Dealing

Also known as "Base Dealing."

Bottom Pair

A player who makes a pair with the lowest card on the flop has the bottom pair.

Bounty

An amount of money a player can win for knocking a certain player(s) out of the tournament.

Brick & Mortar

How players refer to playing in an actual casino building versus playing on-line.

Broadway

Highest straight. A-K-Q-J-T.

Bubble

The first position in a tournament that does not receive a portion of the prize. For example: If money is awarded to the top 10 players, the player in 11th place.

Bullets

Holding a pair of aces.

Burn

In an act to prevent cheating, the dealer removes the top card of the deck before dealing the flop, turn, and river cards.

Button

The dealer of each game is indicated by a white symbol on their position. Many players referred to this player as the button.

Buy In

The minimum amount need to enter a game.

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C

Call

To match the previous bet by place the same number of chips into the pot.

Calling Station

A player who does not raise often, but frequently calls.

Cap

In a limit game there is a set number of raises. The cap is the last amount allowed to be bet.

Capped

After the cap is reached, no more betting is allowed in a round.

Card Cap

A chip on top of your pocket cards to indicate your hand is still in play.

Cards Speak

A poker rule implying that the cards decide the best hand, not the player.

Case

The fourth of any card to be played. The last king to be played an a game is the case king.

Cash Out

Collecting your winnings and leaving the game.

Center Pot

The main pot on the table, usually created with the initial antes.

Changing Gears

Refers to a player who changes their way of playing during a game.

Chase

Staying in a game against a stronger hand, hoping that you can make your hand on the turn or the river.

Chat

When players have typed conversations on-line, usually about strategies, on poker sites.

Check

If no bets are open, a player may choose to pass their turn and not raise.

Check-Out

Folding instead of checking.

Check Raise

Checking, but then raising when the next player makes a bet.

Chip(s)

Plastic circular disks that denote monetary value through the use of different colors.

Chip Shuffling

Combining 2 stacks of chips together with one hand through a shuffle.

Chop

When no other players call or raise a hand, the 2 players that had blinds have the option of retracting the blind instead of playing the hand out.

Clean Out

The card that makes your hand the best hand on the board.

Clubs

One of the four suits in playing cards. (Hearts, Diamonds, Spades)

Coffee Housing

Talking at the table while playing poker, sometimes about the hand being played. A no, no in poker.

Cold Call

Calling a bet and a raise at the same time. If you are the last player to bet and someone bets, then another player raises, you call both when it gets to you.

Collusion

When many players collaborate to decide how to make a play. A form of cheating.

Come Hand

A hand that still needs cards to complete it.

Community Cards

Cards that are dealt face up on the table and are available for everyone's use.

Complete Hand

A hand that uses all five cards to win. (straight, flush, and full house)

Connected

Holding pocket cards that are in a sequence. Example: 4,5 or T,J.

Counterfeit

A hand that is underscored by communal cards on the board. If you have a 4,J and the flop brings 8,9,T. The turn is a 7 and the river is a J. Your hand is counterfeited because you no longer hold an advantage. Every player at the table now holds a straight (7,8,9,T,J).

Cover

Means that you hold more chips to play with than another player.

Cowboys

Known as pocket kings in a starting hand (KK).

Crack

Beating a very large hand.

Crazy Pineapple

A game in which 3 cards are dealt preflop and then players have the ability to discard one before the turn is drawn. A variation of Hold'em.

Cripple

Obtaining the cards that any player would like to have given the current cards on the board.

Crying Call

Making a call that you know will lose.

Cut-Off

The position right before the button.

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D

Dead Button

When only one blind is made.

Dead Man's Hand

Known for Wild Bill Hickok. A hand consisting of a pair of aces and a pair of eights.

Dead Money

A player who does not have the skill level to win the game, but will contribute money to the pot.

Dealer

The person who shuffles and hands out the cards.

Dealer's Position

The position that is last to bet. Also known as the button.

Deck Change

Changing the deck of cards during a round of games. A safety precaution to keep players from marking cards.

Deuce

A two card.

Diamonds

One of the four suits in playing cards. (Hearts, Clubs, Spades)

Dog

Also known as "underdog." Someone who is not favored to win.

Dominated Hands

Hands that usually lose to decent hands. A4 will usually lose to AQ.

Dominating Hands

Hands that almost always win over other hands. Good hands, such as AK.

Donkey

Someone who is not a very good poker player. Also called a fish.

Double Flop Holdem

A form of hold'em where there are 2 sets of flop, turn, and river cards for players to choose from. A player must choose from one set or the other, they can not mix them.

Down to the Felt

Having no more chips to play with.

Draw

Means that you are holding out for a card to make your hand good. You're drawing.

Draw Dead

Even if you receive the card you're holding out for, it is not good enough to win the hand.

Drawing Hand

A hand that is only partially complete and you are drawing cards to finish it. Most of the time you are trying to finish a straight.

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E

Early Position

The first few players to begin betting. Most of the time, this is a bad place to be.

Equity

A players perceived stake of the pot. If the pot is $100 and there is a one in four chance of you winning, then you have $25 equity in the pot.

Expectation

Or expected value. The amount you believe you will win over a given number of hands.

Extra Blind

Sometimes when a player enters a game or returns to it, they are required to put in a blind on top of the existing blinds.

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F

False Shuffle

Appearing to shuffle the cards in a random way, but really organizing them in a preselected way. An illegal way of cheating.

Family Pot

Where all players call before the flop and no players fold. All players have a stake in the pot.

Fast Play

Playing aggressively. A player who raises as often as they can, trying to increase the amount of money they can win.

Fee

When playing in a tournament, sometimes there is a fee to offset the cost of the tournament.

Fifth Street

In poker, the last card dealt in games with five community cards.

Fish

An inexperienced or untalented player. These players are needed in the game even though they don't win, because they supply the better players with money to win.

Flop

The three cards that are dealt first, face up for all players to use.

Flush

A hand where all five cards are in the same suit.

Fold

To remove yourself from the game or give up.

Foul

When a hand can not be played for some reason.

Four of a Kind

Holding all four of any one card in a hand. (K-K-K-K)

Full House

Holding a pair and a three of a kind. Also called a boat.

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G

Gap Hand

A hand where the pocket cards are not the same denomination.

Gay Waiter

A starting hand of Q3. (A queen with a trey.)

Grinding

A player who plays very safe, small risk and small wins, over an extended time period.

Gutshot

Inside straight draw needing only one card to win. If you have a 8T, the flop brings 4J7, and the turn card is a 7, you've made your gunshot straight.

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H

Hand

Using both the cards you were dealt and the community cards to create the best possible combination to win against other players.

Heads Up

Only two players are competing for the pot.

Hearts

One of the four suits in playing cards. (Clubs, Diamonds, Spades)

High Limit

Games that have limits set very high. These games are more risky, but yield greater winnings.

High Society

The top valued chips in a casino.

Hit

In poker terms it is a good thing. "The turn hit him." Means the turn card helped his hand.

Hole

The cards dealt to each player that are not revealed.

House

The place poker is being played, such as a casino.

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I

Image

The way other poker players see your game and the way you play it.

Implied Odds

The odds of winning the pot that are not based on the current situation. They are calculated after speculating what future betting rounds will hold.

Isolate

When a player bets aggressively to eliminate all but one other player from the game.

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J

Jackpot

Some houses will award a special prize to losing hands on a bad beat. These hands must meet specific qualification, typically aces full or higher.

Jam

Going all-in. Betting the maximum allowed in a game.

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K

Kicker

The highest unpaired card in a hand. Used to determine the winner when both hands are equal.

Kill Game

A high stakes game created by a player placing an extra bet.

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L

Ladies

Also known as queens.

Late Position

An advantage in poker. Being one of the last players to place a bet in a round.

Leak

Something you do as a player that weakens your game. "The leak in his game, is that he…"

Limit

Refers to how much a player can bet during a game.

Limp

Calling instead of raising a pre-flop blind.

Live

Holding a card that no other player holds in their hands. If you have a JT and your opponent has a TK, then your J is live.

Live Game

A game where players are together in the same physical room. Many poker games are now played on-line where players are sometimes separated by countries.

Live Hand

A hand that is still being played, one that has not yet folded.

Long Shot

Drawing a hand that the odds are against. "It was a long shot, but the turn was a 6s completing his straight flush."

Loose

A style of playing where a player does not fold as much as most players. They stay in more games.

Low Limit

A game of small bet amounts.

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M

Made Hand

To hold a hand that does not need improving. "You have a made hand."

Main Pot

Also known as the center pot. The pot that is created first, before side pots.

Make a Hand

To establish a specific hand. "I need an 8c to make my hand."

Maniac

A player known to raise and bet wildly. These players are not playing smart poker, they are just gambling.

Markers

Also known as a card cap. Using a chip to show you are still active in the game. The chips placed on the pocket cards.

Mechanic

A player who has the skills to illegally improve their odds of winning through card manipulation.

Micro-Limit

Games that are too small to be played a cardroom. They must be played on-line where it is more cost efficient.

Middle Position

The players who sit between the early and late positions.

Misdeal

Dealing, stoppong the hand and then re-dealing before play is started. This usually happens if the dealer makes a mistake.

Mneumonics

A way to remember information. Example, using different words to remember your pocket cards.

Motown

A starting hand of J5.

Muck

The cards that have been discarded or are no good that the dealer has collected.

Mullets

Holding 77 in the pocket.

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N

No Limit

A game in which players have no limit to what they can bet, they are limited only by the number of chips they have.

Nuts, The

The cards in your hand that would yield the best hand, in conjunction with the cards already on the table.

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O

Odds

A mathematical calculation difining the propability of a certain outcome.

Offsuit

When you have 2 cards that have a different suit. Example: Ks, Qd.

One-Gap

A hand where cards are 2 apart. Example 46, JK.

Online Poker Room

A website where players can play poker against other players around the world through an internet connection.

On the Button

Also known as button. The dealer position that bets last in a round.

On Tilt

Describes a player who acting irratically in their betting habits.

Open Ended Straight

Holding a partial straight of 4 cards in a hand and trying to draw either the card before the series or the card after. Example: 789T, you are looking for either the 6 or the J.

Option

If the pre-flop pot is unraised, the big blind can check or raise.

Out

The card that will make your hand a winning one.

Outrun

A hand that beats another. One hand outruns another.

Overcall

Calling a bet after it has already been called by other players.

Overcard

Having a pocket card higher than the highest card on the board.

Overpair

Having a pocket pair that is higher than any card on the board.

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P

Paint

Any card that does not have a numeric value. (Jack, Queen, King).

Pair

Having 2 of the same rank card. (Ts,Th)

Passive

A player who likes to watch the game. They may stay in the game, but they seldom raise.

Pat

When you can play your hand the way it was dealt.

Pay Off

Even when you don't think your hand is good enough to win, you will still call or raise a bet.

Pineapple

In a various form of Hold'em, players are dealt 3 pocket cards and then are allowed to decide which two to keep.

Play the Board

When players use only the cards on the board to make a hand and none of the cards in their hand.

Pocket

The cards dealt to each player that are for their use only. Usually in Hold'em it is 2 cards.

Pocket Pair

Holding two of the same cards as your pocket cards. (4,4)

Poker

A card game that involves using strategy to outplay your opponents.

Position

Refers to your place at the table for the rotation of betting turns. You are normally early, middle or late position.

Post

Laying down chips before the game begins, usually for blinds or antes.

Pot Limit

A rule that does not allow any player to bet more than the size of the pot.

Pot Odds

The odds calculated to determine if it is worth it to bet on a given game. The formula is (pot + bet) * (chance of hitting) >= bet.

Pot, The

All of the collective money that the players have bet in a given game, including blinds and antes.

Potting Out

When players take money out of the pot for some other use.

Pre-Flop

The game as it stands before the flop cards are dealt.

Price

The amount you derive from calculating the pot odds.

Pro

Short for professional. Someone who plays poker for a living.

Prom Nite

Pocket cards consisting of a 6,9 same suit.

Prop Player

Players who are recruited by the house to play, so the games will appear full.

Protect

Holding chips or your hands over your cards.

Push

Receiving all of your chips back, due to a tie.

Put On

What you think another player is holding in their hand. This determines whether or not you play him.

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Q

Quads

Also known as four of a kind. (T, T, T, T)

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R

Rabbit Hunting

Going through the cards in the deck, even after the game has been completed, to see when your card would have come up.

Rag

A card that holds no value to the game being played. A wasted card.

Ragged

When a flop does not bring as useful cards.

Railroad Bible

A complete deck of cards.

Rainbow

Cards of all the different suits. (Hearts, Clubs, Spades, Diamonds).

Raise

When a player bets a higher number of chips than his opponent.

Rake

The amount the house takes from each pot. This is like a fee they charge to play.

Rank

The numerical order of the cards. (5,6,7,8,9,T)

Ratholing

The action of taking money off the table.

Reading

Watching other players to determine their tells.

Rebuy

The ability to buy back into a tournament after you have lost all your chips.

Represent

When a player acts like they have one hand, but they really have a lesser hand.

Re-raise

To raise the bet after your opponent has previously raised it.

Reverse Tell

Similar to represent, trying to make others believe that you have a different hand.

Ring Game

Also known as a live game. A regular game that is not apart of a tournament.

River

The last of the 5 community cards to be displayed face up on the board.

Rock

A predictable player who only raises with good hands.

Rolled Up

in a various form of Hold'em, players are dealt 3 pocket cards and then are allowed to decide which two to keep.

Royal Flush

The high hand. Holding a T-J-Q-K-A in the same suit.

Run, Going on a

Winning a series of card game, whether through good play or good luck.

Runner, Runner

When a player catches the turn and river card to make their hand.

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S

Sailboats

Holding a pocket pair of fours.

Sandbagging

Calling a bet instead of raising when you have a good hand. Done so that your opponents will continue to bet and not fold.

San Francisco Busboy

Pocket cards of Q-3. Also known as a "queen with a tray."

Satellite

A tournament that awards winners a seat in a following tournament.

Scare Card

The one card that can turn your good hand into a bad one.

Scared Money

The last of the money a player has, which he usually will play rather conservatively.

Scramble

Spreading all the cards on the table face down and mixing them up. A form of shuffling.

Second Pair

Making a pair with the second highest card on the flop.

See

Also known as "call."

Sell

A form of bluffing where a player makes a smaller bet even though they have a good hand. This is done to keep more players in the game.

Semi-Bluff

Almost bluffing. Making a bet when your hand is ok.

Set

Having a pocket pair that matches a card on the board to make a three of a kind.

Shark

Someone who pretends to be no good in order to take advantage of other players.

Shill

Also known as a prop player. Someone who is paid by a casino to player poker to keep games full.

Short Buying

Making a second smaller buy in after the initial buy in was made

Short-Handed

Having only a few player in the game.

Short Stack

Usually refers to the player who has the least amount of chips at the table.

Side Pot

Pots that are created on the "side" from players who go all-in.

Siegfried and Roy

A pocket pair of queens.

Signaling

A way of cheating. Collaborating players use signs to tell each other what cards they hold.

Slow Play

Another form of deceptive play. Making other players believe your hand is worse than it is by calling instead of raising.

Small Blind

Of the two blinds posted before the game begins, this is the lesser of the two.

Smooth Call

Making a call while slow playing. Meaning that a player will call even though their hand is very good to entice other players to stay in the game.

SNG

Tournaments that begin once there are enough players to fill the game.

Soft-Play

An illegal move where one player goes "easy" on another for one reason or another

Soft Seat

A player or game that does not have a high skill level.

Spades

One of the four suits in playing cards. (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts)

Splash

The act of throwing your chips into the pot before others can count to verify the amount. It is in bad taste.

Split Pot

A pot that is divided between players as a result of a tied hand.

Split Two Pair

When a player holds 2 pair made with one card of each pair on the board. You have 6K and there is 68K on the board.

Spread Limit

A betting scheme which allows players to bet within a specified range each betting round.

Stash

The amount of money each player has to play with.

Steal Raise

A player may try to steal the pot by raising in a late position.

Steamrolling

When a player re-raises a raise to force other players to call two bets.

Stop-and-Go

Calling a raise, but then on the next betting round raising.

Straight

Having 5 consecutive cards in a hand. 56789.

Straight Ace to Five

Having a straight from A to 5.

Straight Flush

Having 5 consecutive cards of the same suit.

String Bet

Only keeping enough chips out to call a bet, but then pulling more from your stash to raise. This is done to see an opponent's reaction, but is illegal.

Structured

The way a game's betting strategy is set up.

Structured Limit

A game where the bets pre-flop, post-flop, on the turn and on the river are predetermined.

Suck Out

A saying used to describe a player who wins the hand after the flop, even though the hand may not have been favored.

Suit

The symbol assigned to each run(A-K) of cards in a deck.

Suited

Holding 2 cards of the same suit. Jh7h.

Suited Connectors

Holding 2 cards that are consecutive and suited. 7h8h.

Super System

A book written by Doyle Brunson which is a well respected manual of poker.

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T

Table Stakes

A rule that says that players may only bet with the chips they have on the table.

Table, The

Can refer to the actual playing surface or the group playing at the table.

Tell

A subconscious habit that players consistently repeat depending on their hand. If a player scratches his nose when his card is not very good, other players will learn to read their tell.

Texas Holdem

A form of poker where players receive 2 pocket cards and then 5 community cards(3 flop, 1 turn, and 1 river) and can make their hand from any combination of 5.

Thin

It means a player is running low on options. A player is "drawing thin" if he only has a few cards that could be useful to his hand.

Three-of-a-Kind

Having 3 of the same rank card. TTT.

Tight

An adjective used to describe a player who folds frequently and hardly plays.

Time

A pause in play requested by a player to determine their next move.

To Go

The amount of money required by a player to remain active in the game. If a player raises $20 and then another player re-raises $20, then the amount required is $40 to go.

Toke

The amount of money that is given to the dealer by the winner of each hand. Usually a small amount.

Top and Bottom

Making 2 pair with the top and bottom card on the board. You have 5K, the flop brings 59K. You made the under pair and the top pair.

Top Pair

Making a pair with the highest card on the board. You have 8Q, the flop brings 39Q. You have top pair.

Top Set

Having three of a kind with the made with the highest card on the board. You have JJ and the flop brings, 79J. You have top set.

Top Two

Also known as top pair.

Top Two Pair

When a hand's pocket cards match the top 2 cards on the board. You have JK, the flop brings 8JK. You have 2 pair with the top 2 cards on the flop.

Trips

A three of a kind.

Turn

The 4 community card. It comes after the flop and before the river.

Two Pair

A hand which consists of two pair and a useless card.

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U

Underdog

The player who is least likely, from a mathematical point of view, to win.

Underpair

Making a pair with the lowest card on the board. You have 6Q and the flop brings 69K. You have under pair.

Under the Gun

The first to make a bet in a given round. Early position.

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V

Value Bet

A bet made by a player with a winning hand. The objective is to entice other players to dump money into the pot.

Variance

The range of the highest and lowest your winnings are and the amount they vary over any time period.

Verbal Declaration

Saying out loud what your intentions are. Raise, Fold, Call.

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W

Wash

A form of shuffling where the dealer places all cards face down on the table and mixes them up.

Wheel

A straight from A-5.

Winning streak

When a player is on a "roll." They win many consecutive games.

Wired

Also known as a pocket pair. Having two cards of the same rank in the hole.

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