Poker Terminology

The ABC's of poker

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: When a player bets all of his chips on one hand. If a player makes a great hand and bets the rest of his chips, he is all-in. The option to bet any amount and go all-in is the key distinction between limit and no-limit Texas Holdem.

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.

Ante: The forced amount that all players must put into the pot before the hand begins. Some games use blinds, some use antes, and others use a combination of both. (See: Blinds)

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: When you lose to a statistically worse hand. If only two cards will complete your opponent's hand and he catches one of them, you will suffer a bad beat.

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.

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: 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.

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, or the cards everyone can use, turned face up on the table.

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.

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: The small disc that travels around the table to indicate who is the dealer for the hand. This player is also the last one to act in every betting round after the flop, which means it's the best positioning to have at the table.

Buy-In: The amount of money that a player spends to play a certain poker game.

Buying The Pot: Placing a huge bet to scare everyone into folding.

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.

Chasing: Waiting for a card to be dealt that will complete your hand.

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.

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.

Community Cards: The cards that are turned face up on the table and can be used by any of the players in the hand. (Same as the board.)

Cowboys: Kings.

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 two cards that are dealt face down to each player at the beginning of every hand.

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: When a player holds a hand that cannot possibly win against an opponent's hand, no matter what remaining cards are dealt.

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.

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: The first three community cards simultaneously turned over by the dealer.

Flush Draw: When a player holds four cards of a certain suit and is waiting for a fifth suited card to complete his flush.

Fourth Street: The fourth community card turned over, also known as the turn card.

Freeroll: A poker tournament where players are not forced to risk any money to play, but are able to win real money or prizes.

Full House: A poker hand consisting of three 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.

Grinder: A poker player who plays tight but wins consistently.

Gutshot: An inside straight draw. (See: Belly Buster)

Heads Up: When all but two of the players have been eliminated and the game is being played one-on-one.

High Card: When the winner of a hand is determined by whoever has the highest card. This only occurs when no players have a pair or better.

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.

Hooks: Pair of Jacks

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.

In The Dark: Making a move before you even see the next card. See also: Bet Blind and Check Blind.

Jackal: Slang term for a player who makes erratic, unexplainable bets and raises. Jackals are also known as manics.

Kicker: The card that is used to break ties when two players have the same hand or high card.

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 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: At the beginning of every hand, all chips are placed in the main pot. If a player goes all-in and there are other players still in the hand, a side pot is formed. The player who is all-in is only eligible to win the money in the main pot.

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: To fold your hands by throwing them face-down into the pile of folded cards without showing the competition.

No-Limit: Variation of poker that has no limits on how much money can be spent. At any point in time, any player can bet all his chips on a single hand.

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.

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.

Passive: A player who doesn't like to bet or raise much. These players will call, but are not aggressive with their play.

Pocket: The two face-down cards dealt to all players at the start of the hand, also known as the hole cards.

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 Committed: Staying in a hand against logic because you have already bet too many chips to fold.

Pot-Limit: Variety of poker where the bet cannot exceed the size of the current pot.

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.

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 money that a poker room or casino takes from every pot as profit.

Ran Down: When one loses a lot of chips in a hand to an inferior hand with a lucky draw.

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.

Re-Buy: When a tournament allows you to buy more chips even after you have been eliminated from the game.

Represent The Flop: Betting as though the flop strengthened your hand.

River: The fifth and final card dealt out on the table.

Rock: A very tight player.

Rockets: A pair of aces.

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.

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: At the end of the hand, after all the action is over, when the players turn over their cards to determine the winner of the hand.

Side Pot: The pot used to hold bets after a player has already gone all-in. The remaining players put their bets into a side pot that the all-in player is ineligible to win.

Slow Play: Playing a strong hand like it was weak in an effort to entice other players to make large bets.

Small Blind: The smaller of two forced bets to ensure betting on every hand.

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.

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.

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.

The Nuts: The best possible cards for the hand. You have the nuts when no hand can possibly beat yours.

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.

Trap: When you play so another player bets when you have the stronger hand.

Trips: Three of a kind.

Turn/River: The last two cards dealt after the flop.

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.

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 straight using the ace as a low card: A, 2, 3, 4, 5.