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Poker has developed its own terminology, like so many other pastimes
and professions.
This guide includes common poker terms and
also those specifically related to online Poker.
Our thanks go to CD Poker and Texas Calculatem who provided most of this information.
Ace-High:
A hand that only has an ace as its highest card. This hand has no pairs, straights, or flushes.
Aces Up:
Two pairs when the higher pair is aces. If a player has a pair of 8’s and a pair of Ace’s, he would say he has aces up.
Action:
The act of putting chips into a pot. If a player makes a large bet and a lot of players call or raise, the player is getting a lot of action.
Active Player, Active Hand, Active:
Players who are still in contention for winning the hand. If six players are at a table and four fold, there are two active players.
Add-On:
When a tournament allows players to buy additional chips at a set point during the tournament. If a player pays for more chips to add to his current stack, he is buying an add-on.
Advertise:
When a player makes a deliberate move early in the game to convey a specific image. If a player plays a bad hand to showdown in order to give the impression that he is very loose, he is said to be advertising.
Aggressive:
A playing style that describes players who bet and raise large amounts during the hand. An aggressive player doesn’t necessarily play a lot of hands, but he does bet a lot in the hands he does participate in. If a player raises the pot before every flop he sees, the player is aggressive.
Alabama Night Riders:
Three kings.
All-in
If you run out of chips during a hand,
but don't wish to fold, you are All-in. This means you
have the potential to win a share of the pot up to and
including your last contribution to that pot. You cannot
share in any bets added beyond that point. These bets
form a side-pot. The all-in is also used for situations
where a player in a hand loses connection to the server.
American Airlines:
Another term to describe a pair of aces, usually when they are the two down cards.
Angle or Angle Play:
When a player seeks out a way to gain an edge over his competition. If a player is pretending he is acting like he will raise a player’s bet to scare him away, he is using an angle play.
Avatar
A term from computer gaming for an image or figure used to represent a person.
Away-from-table
In tournaments, you may not "sit out".
Rather, you may be "away-from-table" which means you
are dealt into every hand, posting blinds when it's
your turn, and then folded when there is a raise before
the flop, or a bet after the flop. When you are in a
tournament and need to leave, time-out, or lose your
connection, you are automatically marked as "away-from-table".
Baby:
A small card like a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. If you have a pair of 4’s, you have a baby pair.
Backdoor:
A hand that requires the fourth and fifth cards on the table. If you need two consecutive spades after the flop in order to complete your flush, you have a backdoor flush draw. (See: Runner-Runner)
Backing Into:
While playing a certain hand, unintentionally completing a better hand. If you flop a straight, and then while playing that hand you catch a flush, you backed into the flush.
Bad Beat
to be a heavy favorite in a hand and lose to an opponent who was a severe underdog statically speaking
Bankroll:
The money that you have to play poker with. The size of your bankroll has a major impact on what stakes you can play. If you have a $1,000 bankroll, you cannot play $100-$200 limit poker.
Belly Buster:
When a player has four cards of a straight but needs a card in the middle of the straight to complete the straight. For example, if a player has 8d, 9h, Jc, Qs, he is on a belly buster straight draw (he needs the ten).
Bet Blind:
When a player makes a bet without even seeing the next card. After the flop, the player to the right of the dealer can bet blind before the next card is even turned over. This is also known as betting in the dark. You can also check blind.
Bet the Pot
This term is used in pot limit games.
It means your bet matches the current amount in the
pot. If, when your turn to bet, the pot was at $217,
and you bet the pot, your bet is $217.
Bicycle:
A popular slang term for using the Ace as a low card. For example, if the ace was used with a 2, 3, 4, and 5 to form a straight.
Big Blind (limit poker)
In games using a blind to put money
in play, the big blind is generally equal to the lower
amount of the stakes for that game. In a $5/$10 game,
the big blind is $5. The big blind follows the small
blind, which is put up by the first player to the left
of the dealer.
Big Blind:
The larger of two forced bets made to the left of the dealer to ensure betting on every hand. The big blind is the player to the left of the small blind.
Big Slick:
Being dealt Ace-King at the beginning, one of the strongest starting hands you can get.
Big Bet:
In limit poker, the larger of the two possible. If the game has a $5-$10 limit, $5 is the small bet and $10 is the large bet. Big bets are allowed after the fourth card is turned over on the table.
Blind
This term refers to the required bets,
called the small blind and the big blind used to put
money into play. The blinds are mandatory bets and rotate
around the table.
Blinded Out:
Being forced out of a game by the forced blinds.
Bluff:
When a player pretends to have a strong hand in order to win the pot even when he doesn’t have good cards.
Board
The community cards in Hold'em are collectively known as the board.
Boat:
A full-house. Also known as full-boat
Bottom Pair:
A pair of the lowest cards shown on the table. For example, if a 5, 7, 8, and Q are on the board, and you have a pair of fives, you have the bottom pair.
Broadway:
A straight with the Ace as the highest card: 10, J, Q, K, A.
Bullets:
A pair of aces.
Burn
In physical poker rooms, the top card
of the deck is discarded prior to each round of dealing.
The intent is to minimize the risk of cheating by knowing
the next card. There is no possibility of this happening
in our poker room, therefore we do not burn cards.
Busted Hand:
When a player was drawing to complete a hand but failed. If you hold four spades after the flop, but no more spades appear, you hold a busted hand.
Bust:
To run out of chips or money.
Button
A marker, usually disk-shaped, to
indicate which player is the virtual dealer. The button
is used in games where position relative to the dealer
is important.
Buy-in
The amount of money you sit down in a game with.
Buying The Pot:
Placing a huge bet to scare everyone into folding.
Call
When a player matches the prior bet
on the table, that action is termed the call.
Calling Station:
A nickname given to a player who seems to call bets all the time, even when they don’t have a great hand.
Calling Someone Down:
When a player just calls every bet made by a player to avoid getting re-raised. This is done when a player wants to stay in the hand but has a marginal hand.
Cards Speak:
At the end of the hand, the winner of the hand is the one with the best cards regardless what verbal announcement he makes.
Cap
The last permitted raise in a betting
round is called the cap. We allow three raises beyond
the initial bet in limit games. The third raise is the cap.
Chasing:
Waiting for a card to be dealt that will complete your hand.
Check
If there is no bet on the table and
you do not wish to place a bet, that action is termed
a check. You may only check when there are no prior bets.
Check-Raise:
When a player checks to fake weakness only to raise the pot when it is his turn again. Players use the check-raise to trap players when they hold good cards.
Check Blind:
Same as betting blind. Checking before you even see the next card. Same as a check in the dark.
Client
The term for the software that you
download to your computer, allowing you to interact
with the poker room's servers.
Coin-Flip:
When two hands are statistically even (or close to it) and the winner will be based on luck.
Cold Deck:
A deck that has been arranged by cheating players to con honest players out of their money.
Collusion
A form of cheating where two or more
players attempt to gain an unfair advantage by sharing
information. We do not tolerate cheating.
Community Cards
Face up cards on the table that are
shared by all players are termed community cards. Texas
Hold'em and Omaha always have community cards.
Cowboys:
Kings.
Dead Blind
In a situation where you have missed
your blinds and wish to re-enter the game before your
turn to post the big blind. You must post both blinds
and the small blind is termed a dead blind, meaning
it does not count towards calling a bet.
Dead Hand
A hand no longer in the game.
Dead Money:
Money put into the pot by players who have folded their hands.
Deuces:
A pair of 2’s.
Double Belly Buster:
When two different cards can complete a hand. For example if you have 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, either a 3 or an 8 will give you a straight. This is also known as a double gut shot.
Down Cards
The face-down cards dealt to a player, also termed hole cards
Draw:
When a player holds a hand that still needs cards to be complete. If a player is holding four spades, but needs a fifth spade for a flush, that player is on a flush draw.
Drawing Dead
This describes the situation when a player is trying to draw a card to complete a hand when there is already a hand that will beat it, even if made.
Drop
To drop your hand when you decide not to go further with your hand; to return your cards to the muck. Same as fold.
Ducks:
A pair of 2’s.
Early Position:
The first players who act in each round of betting. Players acting in early position must be pickier about what cards they play.
Easy Money:
Money won from new, inexperienced, or untalented players.
Expected Action:
A prediction about what moves a player will make later on in the hand. If you are thinking about making a bet, but you expect another player will raise you, you are taking an expected action into consideration.
Exempted Outs:
Cards that can be dealt that will improve your hand, but will help other players more. If you hold AsKs, the Ad would improve your hand, but if there were already 3 diamonds on the table, it is likely that the Ad is an exempted out (because it helps someone make a flush).
Face Card: A jack, queen or king.
Face Down
Dealt cards that are not visible to other players.
Face Up
Dealt cards that are visible to all players.
Family Pot: A hand where many people are involved in the action.
Feeler bet: A small bet made to get an idea of what the other players are holding.
Fifth Street: The fifth and final card turned over, also known as the river.
First Position: The first person to act in a round of betting. This is the worst positioning to have. Before the flop, the first position (to the left of the big blind) is also known as under the gun.
Fish: A bad player that is easily beaten. These players are either new to the game or are simply poor players. The opposite of a fish is a shark. You want to be the shark.
Flop
In Texas Hold'em, the set of 3 face-up community cards or the first three cards on the board, all dealt at the same time.
Flush
Any 5 cards in one hand that are all the same suit.
Flush Draw: When a player holds four cards of a certain suit and is waiting for a fifth suited card to complete his flush.
Fold
Withdraw from further participation in the current hand. Also see drop.
Forced Bet
A mandatory bet. In certain games, a player is required to bet, having sat-in the game.
Four of a Kind
A great hand ... all 4 of one rank. For example, 4 Tens.
Fourth Street: The fourth community card turned over, also known as the turn card.
Freeroll
This term applies to poker tournaments where the entry fee, the stakes, or both the entry fee and stakes are waived.
In some non-freeroll tournaments, the house may guarantee a minimum prize pool.
Full House
A hand in which you have a combination of 3 of a kind, and a pair. Also known as a full boat.
Garbage Hand:
A bad hand to be folded quickly.
Gorillas:
A pair of kings.
Graphics
The term for the artwork used to present you with the images of a poker room, including the table, chairs, avatars, cards, and chips.
Grinder:
A poker player who plays tight but wins consistently.
Gutshot:
An inside straight draw. (See: Belly Buster)
Hand
A set of cards used by a player during a single round. Another word for a single round of shuffling, dealing, and betting.
Heads Up
A game where only two players remain in contention for the pot.
Head to Head
A game where only two players may participate.
High Card
The card with the highest rank.
High/Low
A variation of a game where the pot
is split between the best hand and the worst hand. The
worst hand is comprised of the 5 lowest cards. Most
poker rooms, including this one, consider 5, 4, 3, 2,
A (the wheel) as the lowest possible hand, despite it
also being a straight.
Hit:
When a player who is on a draw catches a card that completes his hand, he hits his card.
Hit And Run:
When a player plays for a short time, wins a big hand, and then quickly leaves the room. This is looked down upon by most poker players.
Hole Cards:
The two face-down cards dealt to all players at the beginning of the hand, also known as the pocket cards.
Hold'em
Also called Texas Hold'em. One of the most popular poker games. Each player gets 2 down cards and can use 3,4, or 5 of the community cards.
Hooks:
Pair of Jacks
In
A term for being an active player; one who has not folded.
Implied Odds:
When calculating pot odds, making assumptions about future action and incorporating that information into your decision. For example, if you have a flush draw after the flop and a player makes a bet. It is reasonable to assume that if you complete your hand, you will be able to increase the size of the pot to maximize your winnings.
Inside Straight
The term applied when a player has
4 of 5 cards needed for a straight with the missing
card being inside the sequence rather than at either
end, and gets the missing card. For example, a player
holding 3, 4, 5, 7 needs a 6 to complete the straight.
Getting that 6 is termed "making the inside straight."
In The Dark:
Making a move before you even see the next card. See also: Bet Blind and Check Blind.
Jackpot
A bonus opportunity to win under specific circumstances set by the poker room.
Jackal:
Slang term for a player who makes erratic, unexplainable bets and raises. Jackals are also known as manics.
Kicker
The term for the card used to break ties between two of a kind or between Two Pair.
Lady:
A queen. A pair of queens is usually referred to as ladies.
Late Position:
The players who are not forced to act until the other players have already acted for that specific round of betting. Late position is preferable to early position.
Limit Poker:
A type of poker that sets specific betting limits on the players.
Limp In:
Only calling the blinds, and not raising the pot. This usually encourages other players to raise the pot.
Live Blind
A blind that counts towards any bet you call or raise.
Live Hand:
A hand that can still win because it hasn’t been folded and isn’t drawing dead.
Lock:
A hand that is a sure win, also known as the nuts.
Loose:
A playing style where players play a lot of hands. Loose players don’t wait for premium hands before the flop to play. These players are the opposite of tight players.
Loose Calls:
When bad players make the wrong decision to call you when you have a better hand.
Main Pot
The initial pot of money. When one or more players go all-in, a side pot is created for each all-in player.
Manic:
A wild, reckless player who will play as many pots as possible and bets big and unpredictably.
Monster:
An extremely good hand.
Motown:
When a players hole cards are J-5, derived from Jackson Five.
Muck
As a noun, this refers to the pile
of folded cards and discarded cards. As a verb, at showdown
time, the act of returning a losing hand to the dealer facedown.
Multi-Table Tournament
A tournament where players at more
than one table compete, starting with equal numbers
of chips, until one player has won all the chips. Prize
payouts are a function of the number of entrants, and
are posted on the tournaments page. Multi-table tournaments
have a posted start time, and require registration in advance.
nh
Nice hand.
No Limit
A variation of the betting rules in
which each bet is unlimited up to the number of chips
a player has on the table (NL).
Nuts:
The best possible hand at any given point in time.
Nut Flush:
The flush including the Ace of the flushed suit.
Off-Suit:
When two cards are not of the same suit.
Omaha
A game in which each player receives
4 facedown cards and shares 5 community cards. The winning
hand must use exactly 2 down cards and 3 community cards.
This game also has a High/Low variant.
Omaha High/Low
This game allows players to compete
for a pot split between the highest and the lowest hands
using 2 down cards and 3 community cards. A player may
use different sets of cards to make up the best high
and the best low hands.
On the button
This term means you are in the dealer
position in Texas Hold'em and Omaha games. A "button"
marks the dealer position with a "D" in the centre.
One on One
See head to head.
Open, Opener:
The first person to bet in a round of action.
Open Ended:
A straight the can be completed with a card either higher or lower (i.e. you have 6,7,8,9 either a 5 or a 10 will complete your straight.)
Outs:
Possible cards that can be dealt that will give you a winning hand.
Outdraw:
When you beat an opponent based on the cards that you draw, not your own ability.
Overcard:
A card higher than any card on the board. If the board reads: 4, 7, 9 and you hold K, 5 you’re holding one overcard (K).
Over pair:
When you have a pocket pair that is larger then any of the cards on the table. If you hold pocket queens, and the flop comes 10, 4, 8, you have an over pair.
Over The Top:
Raising another person after they have raised you.
Over-Betting The Pot / Over-Bet:
Making a bet that is too large considering the size of the pot. If you bet $100 to win a $2 pot, you are over-betting the pot.
Paint:
Face cards.
Pair
This is a hand where the player's best hand is made up of 2 cards of the same rank.
Pass
Can be used in place of either check or fold depending on the context.
Passive:
A player who doesn’t like to bet or raise much. These players will call, but are not aggressive with their play.
Play Chips
The chips used for play money games. Play chips have no monetary value.
Playing the Board
Using all the community cards in Hold'em as your best hand.
Pocket Cards
The term for the two down cards at the start of the hand.
Pocket Pairs:
When the two pocket cards form a pair.
Position:
A players spot at the table relative to the dealer button and when they have to act. Early position is one of the first to act. Late position is one of the last to act.
Position Bet:
A bet made more on the power of the player’s position than on the strength of their hand.
Pot
The chips available to be won in any given hand.
Pot Committed:
Staying in a hand against logic because you have already bet too many chips to fold.
Pot Limit
A variation on betting where each player may bet up to the current amount in the pot (PL).
Pot Odds:
A risk/reward ratio for a poker hand. If you are on a nut flush draw, odds against you winning are about 5:1. If there is a $20 bet to call and the pot is $140, you are getting 7:1 on your money if you hit. These are profitable pot odds, so you should make the call.
Presto:
Pocket fives.
Pre-Flop:
Action that takes place before the flop comes out.
Profile
A term describing the information
a player may enter about himself/herself that may be
available, at the player's option, to other players
in the poker room. Your profile may include your favourite
hobby, favourite web site, favourite quote, and more.
Prop Player:
A player who earns money for playing at certain tables as decided by they poker room or casino.
Protecting The Blinds:
When a player in the big blind calls a raise because he has already put money into the pot.
Pulling The Trigger:
Going all-in with a hand when you are the short stack.
Put Them On A Hand:
Guessing what a player is holding without seeing the cards based on their betting patters.
Quads:
Four of a kind.
Rabbit Hunt:
Turning over the last card even after everyone has folded out the hand and someone already won the hand.
Rake
The amount of money, in chips, taken by the house as the service fee.
Raked Hand
A raked hand is defined as a hand in which the player is dealt 2 cards, and that game produces a rake.
Irrespective of whether the player decides to wager or not,
he/she is recognized as having taken part in a "raked hand" and therefore qualifies.
Raise
The act of increasing the amount bet by a prior bettor.
Ran Down:
When one loses a lot of chips in a hand to an inferior hand with a lucky draw.
Rank
The value of a card. The rank of the
2 of Spades is 2. The rank of the Queen of Hearts is
Queen. Rank value increases from 2 through 10, followed
in order by Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. In High/Low
games, the Ace may be used both for its high rank and
as the lowest rank card.
Re-buy
To get more chips during a game but
not during a hand that you are in. This applies to real
money and tournament play.
Read:
When you can tell what a player is holding based on his behavior and betting.
Reagan:
When you are dealt 3-9 as your pocket cards.
Reducing
The act of removing chips from a table
and returning immediately with fewer chips. Reducing
is considered poor etiquette.
Registration
We ask you to select a screen name
to serve as your poker room identity, a password, and
to provide a location and email address to create an
account. This is your registration.
Represent The Flop:
Betting as though the flop strengthened your hand.
River
The fifth and final community card. This card is also known as Fifth Street.
Rock:
A very tight player.
Rockets:
A pair of aces.
Round
This refers to the dealing of a set of cards and associated betting.
For example, the dealing of the river and the bets that follow are a round.
Royal Flush
The best possible high hand. This is a straight flush from 10 through to Ace of the same suit.
Run:
When a player begins to win several hands in a row and has momentum working for him. Also known as a rush.
Runner-Runner:
When a player has to catch two specific cards in a row in order to make their hand.
Scare Card:
A card that could complete an opponents hand and make his cards stronger than yours. For instance, let’s you have pocket Kings and the flop comes out: 8, A, 10. The Ace is a scare card because someone with an Ace will now have a better hand than you.
Screen Name
The identity you select by which you
are known in the poker room. We only allow one player
to use a screen name so please understand if the one
you have selected is already taken.
Self-install
The term used to describe how the
file you download from our web site is automatically
installed and configured on your computer when you double-click
on the file.
Server
The computer, or set of computers,
providing a service to client computers. In this case
the service is the poker room.
Set:
Three of a kind.
Semi-Bluff:
When a player makes a bet to win the pot with a mediocre hand or draw.
Semi-Connectors:
Cards that are separated by one card. 7 and 9 are semi connectors.
Short Man Table:
When the table that table that you are playing at has had some players eliminated leaving less than the normal amount of players.
Short Stack:
The player at the table with the fewest chips.
Shorthanded:
When a table has less than 6 players remaining.
Showdown
After the final bet, when all players
show their hands or muck, is known as the showdown.
Side Pot
This is a pot created when a player
goes all-in. The side pot is the pot available to those
players not all-in at that point. There can, on occasion,
be more than one side pot.
Single Table Tournament
A poker table at which you may buy-in
to a seat. All buy-in money goes to the prize pool.
The prize pool is returned to the top finishers per
the payout table on the tournaments page. A fee is normally
required to play at this table. Players are staked to
equal numbers of chips and play one player has won all
the chips. Single table tournaments begin as soon as
the table has filled.
Sit Out
We permit you to hold your seat at
a table while not participating in some hands. Under
most conditions, we limit the time you may sit out.
In blind games, you may be asked to post the equivalent
of the blind if you return to your seat prior to the
blind reaching you. To sit out you click a check box
on the table screen. To return, you unclick the "sit
out" check box.
Slow Play:
Playing a strong hand like it was weak in an effort to entice other players to make large bets.
Small Blind
In Hold'em and Omaha, this is the mandatory bet required of the player to the left of the dealer.
Smooth Call:
When a player calls a bet even though his hand is strong enough to raise with. This is to trick the opponents into thinking his hand is weak.
Split Pot:
When two players have hands of equal value, the pot is split and each player gets an equal amount.
Stakes
See buy-in.
Straight
A hand in which the player has five cards in rank order. Suit does not matter. For example, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen.
Straight Flush
A straight all of the same suit.
String Bet:
An illegal move by players to place chips into a pot, then put more in a moment later. Instead players must put their entire bet in at one time or call out the amount of their bet before they put any chips into the pot.
Stud
The generic term for poker games where players receive the first card(s) down followed by some up cards where those up cards are
exclusively for the use of that player. There may be a further down card as in 7 Card Stud.
Suit
One of Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, or Spades.
Suited Connectors:
Two sequential cards that are of the same suit (examples: 8h, 9h or Js, Qs).
Table Talk:
Chatting with opponents to intimidate or confuse them.
Tell:
A signal, habit, or mannerism that tells other players at the table the strength or weakness of your hand.
Texas Hold'em
The poker game where each player gets
two down cards followed by five community cards face-up.
The Nuts:
The best possible cards for the hand. You have the nuts when no hand can possibly beat yours.
Three of a kind
A hand consisting three cards of the same rank.
Tight:
A player who doesn’t play a lot of hands. These players are the opposite of loose players.
Tilt:
An emotional state where players act irrationally because they are upset about the game or a previous hand.
Tournament Buy-In
The cost to enter a tournament. All buy-in money is returned to the players via the prize pool.
Tournament Entry-Fee
A small fee the house charges to enter a tournament.
Trap:
When you play so another player bets when you have the stronger hand.
Trips
A nickname for three of a kind.
Turn
The nickname for the fourth community card in Hold'em and Omaha.
Two Pair
A hand in which the player has two pairs of cards.
Under-raise
This occurs when a player raises a prior bet but has to go all-in to do so with an amount less than the full raise
Under The Gun:
The first person to act in the hand before the flop. This person is directly to the left of the big blind.
Up Card
A card dealt face up, so that all players may see it.
Value Bet:
A bet made to increase the size of the pot, but not scare weak opponents away, when a player has a solid hand.
Verbalizing:
Stating to yourself the reasoning for a certain move.
Wheel
A nickname for the best low hand 5, 4, 3, 2, A.
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