Appendix:Glossary of poker terminology: difference between revisions
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The large and growing '''jargon of [[poker]]''' includes many terms. This page contains brief definitions of the most common terms you may encounter in text or at play. |
The large and growing '''jargon of [[poker]]''' includes many terms. This page contains brief definitions of the most common terms you may encounter in text or at play. The list has been trimmed to primarily those poker-specific terms one might find in poker texts or in common use in casinos. Some terms link to a more complete article on the topic. |
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Various [[poker hand]]s have been given many names, and these are listed in [[List of slang names for poker hands]]. Finally, this is not meant to be a formal dictionary; precise usage details and multiple closely related senses are omitted here in favor of concise treatment of the basics. |
Various [[poker hand]]s have been given many names, and these are listed in [[List of slang names for poker hands]]. Finally, this is not meant to be a formal dictionary; precise usage details and multiple closely related senses are omitted here in favor of concise treatment of the basics. See also [[:Category:Card game terminology|card game terminology]]. |
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__NOTOC__ |
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== 0–9 == |
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== A == |
== A == |
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; ace-to-five, ace-to-six |
; ace-to-five, ace-to-six |
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: Methods of evaluating low hands. See [[Rank of hands (poker)# |
: Methods of evaluating low hands. See [[Rank of hands (poker)#Ace-to-five|ace-to-five low]], [[Rank of hands (poker)#Ace-to-six|ace-to-six low]]. |
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<span id="act"> |
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; act |
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: To make a play (bet, call, raise, or fold) at the required time. ''It is Ted's turn to act.'' Compare to "in turn". |
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</span> |
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<span id="action"> |
<span id="action"> |
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# A player's turn to act. ''The action is on you''. |
# A player's turn to act. ''The action is on you''. |
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# A willingness to gamble. ''I'll give you action'' or ''There's plenty of action in this game'' |
# A willingness to gamble. ''I'll give you action'' or ''There's plenty of action in this game'' |
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# A bet, along with all the calls of that bet. For example, if one player makes a $5 bet and three other players call, he is said to have $5 "in action", and to have received $15 worth of action on his bet. Usually this term comes into play when figuring side pots when one or more players is all in. See [[ |
# A bet, along with all the calls of that bet. For example, if one player makes a $5 bet and three other players call, he is said to have $5 "in action", and to have received $15 worth of action on his bet. Usually this term comes into play when figuring side pots when one or more players is all in. See [[table stakes]]. |
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</span> |
</span> |
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; action button |
; action button |
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: A marker similar to a kill button, on which a player places an extra forced bet. |
: A marker similar to a kill button, on which a player places an extra forced bet. In a seven-card stud high-low game, the action button is awarded to the winner of a [[#scoop|scoop]] pot above a certain size, signifying that in the next pot, that player will be required to post an amount representing a completion of the [[Betting (poker)#Open|bring-in]] to a full bet. For example, in a stud game with $2 and $4 betting limits and a $1 bring-in, a player with the action button must post $2; after the cards are dealt, the player with the low card must still pay the $1 bring-in, then when the betting reaches the player who posted the $2, he is required to leave it in as a raise of the bring-in (and has the option to raise further). Players in between the bring-in and the action button can just call the bring-in, but they know ahead of time that they will be raised by the action button. |
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; action |
; action card |
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:In Texas Hold'em, a card in which two players hold that comes out on the Flop. |
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: Euphemism for a less skillful player who bets and calls frequently with inferior hands. Also "Action Junkie" (derogatory). |
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; action only |
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:In many cardrooms, with respect to an all-in bet, only a full (or half) bet can be reraised. Anything less than a full (or half) bet is considered to be ''action only'', that is, other players can call the bet but not raise it. For example, Alice bets $100. Bob calls. Carol goes all in for $119. When the action returns to Alice and Bob, they may only call the extra $19; they cannot raise it. Carol's raise is called ''action only''. Compare to "[[#full bet rule|full bet rule]]", "[[#half bet rule|half bet rule]]". |
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; add-on |
; add-on |
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: To make an obvious play or expose cards in such a way as to deliberately convey an impression to your opponents about your style of play. For example, to make a bad play or bluff to give the impression that you bluff frequently (hoping opponents will then call your legitimate bets) or to show only good hands to give the impression that you rarely bluff (hoping opponents will then fold when you do). |
: To make an obvious play or expose cards in such a way as to deliberately convey an impression to your opponents about your style of play. For example, to make a bad play or bluff to give the impression that you bluff frequently (hoping opponents will then call your legitimate bets) or to show only good hands to give the impression that you rarely bluff (hoping opponents will then fold when you do). |
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<span id="aggressive"> |
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; aggressive, aggression |
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: A player who frequently bets and raises. Compare to "passive", "loose", "tight". |
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: See [[aggression (poker)]]. Compare to "[[#loose|loose]]", "[[#tight|tight]]", "[[#passive|passive]]". |
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</span> |
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; air |
; air |
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: In a [[lowball]] game, "giving air" is letting an opponent who might otherwise fold know that you intend to draw one or more cards to induce him to call. |
: In a [[Lowball (poker)|lowball]] game, "giving air" is letting an opponent who might otherwise fold know that you intend to draw one or more cards to induce him to call. |
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<span id="all day"> |
<span id="all day"> |
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; all day |
; all day |
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: The total current posted bet. Used to indicate that the speaker is referring to the ''total'' bet, versus the ''difference'' the acting player would need to post. ''Action is on |
: The total current posted bet. Used to indicate that the speaker is referring to the ''total'' bet, versus the ''difference'' the acting player would need to post. ''Action is on Alice; twenty all day.'' Also "[[#altogether|altogether]]" or "[[#straight|straight]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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; |
; all in |
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: The act of betting all of your chips against another player. See [[Betting (poker)#"All in"|all in]]. |
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: Having bet one's entire stake. See [[Table stakes]]. |
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; alligator blood |
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: A tough player who plays well under pressure is said to have "alligator blood". |
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<span id="altogether"> |
<span id="altogether"> |
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; altogether |
; altogether |
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: The total current posted bet. Used to indicate that the speaker is referring to the ''total'' bet, versus the ''difference'' the acting player would need to post. ''Action is on |
: The total current posted bet. Used to indicate that the speaker is referring to the ''total'' bet, versus the ''difference'' the acting player would need to post. ''Action is on Alice; twenty dollars altogether.'' Also "[[#all day|all day]]" or "[[#straight|straight]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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<span id="ammo"> |
<span id="ammo"> |
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; ammo, ammunition |
; ammo, ammunition |
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: Chips in play. ''I'm going to need more ammo for this game.'' Compare to "fire". |
: Chips in play. ''I'm going to need more ammo for this game.'' Compare to "[[#fire|fire]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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: A technically legal, but borderline unethical, play. For example, deliberately miscalling one's own hand to induce a fold, or placing odd amounts of chips in the pot to confuse opponents about whether you mean to call or raise. A player employing such tactics is called an "angle shooter". |
: A technically legal, but borderline unethical, play. For example, deliberately miscalling one's own hand to induce a fold, or placing odd amounts of chips in the pot to confuse opponents about whether you mean to call or raise. A player employing such tactics is called an "angle shooter". |
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; [[Betting (poker)#Ante|ante]] |
; ante |
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: See [[Betting (poker)#Ante|ante]]. |
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: A type of forced bet before cards are dealt. |
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<span id="ante off"> |
<span id="ante off"> |
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; ante off |
; ante off |
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: In [[Poker tournament|tournament]] play, to force an absent player to continue paying antes, blinds, bring-ins, or other forced bets so that the contest remains fair to the other players. ''Go ahead and take that phone call. We'll ante you off until you get back.'' Also "blind off". |
: In [[Poker tournament|tournament]] play, to force an absent player to continue paying antes, blinds, bring-ins, or other forced bets so that the contest remains fair to the other players. ''Go ahead and take that phone call. We'll ante you off until you get back.'' Also "[[#blind off|blind off]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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== B == |
== B == |
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; baby |
; baby |
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: A low-ranked card, usually used in [[Lowball (poker)|lowball]] games. |
: A low-ranked card, usually used in [[Lowball (poker)|lowball]] games. Also "spoke" when between ace and five. |
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<span id="backdoor"> |
<span id="backdoor"> |
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; backdoor |
; backdoor |
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# A draw requiring two or more rounds to fill. For example, catching two consecutive cards in two rounds of [[ |
# A draw requiring two or more rounds to fill. For example, catching two consecutive cards in two rounds of [[seven-card stud]] or [[Texas hold 'em]] to fill a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straight]] or [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]]. |
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# A hand made other than the hand the player intended to make. ''I started with four hearts hoping for a flush, but I backdoored two more kings and my trips won.'' |
# A hand made other than the hand the player intended to make. ''I started with four hearts hoping for a flush, but I backdoored two more kings and my [[#trips|trips]] won.'' |
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</span> |
</span> |
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: To win a pot with a hand that would have folded to any bet. For example, two players enter a pot of draw poker, both drawing to [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]]es. Both miss, and check after the draw. The player with the ace-high draw "backs into" winning the pot against the player with only a king-high draw. Also to make a backdoor draw, for example, a player who starts a hand with three of a kind, but makes a runner-runner flush, can be said to back into the flush. |
: To win a pot with a hand that would have folded to any bet. For example, two players enter a pot of draw poker, both drawing to [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]]es. Both miss, and check after the draw. The player with the ace-high draw "backs into" winning the pot against the player with only a king-high draw. Also to make a backdoor draw, for example, a player who starts a hand with three of a kind, but makes a runner-runner flush, can be said to back into the flush. |
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<span id="backraise"> |
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; [[bad beat]] |
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; backraise |
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: An event in which a player with a high expectation of winning the pot loses. This expectation may be based on having an unusually strong hand beaten by an even stronger one, or by having an opposing player make an extremely unlikely draw. "Bad beat stories" are frequent topics of conversation at poker tables. [[Lou Krieger]] started a tradition among some players of charging $1 to listen to one. In some casinos there is a "bad beat jackpot" awarded to a player who suffers a particular beat, for example, having [[Rank of hands (poker)#Four of a kind|four of a kind]] beaten. |
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: A [[#reraise|reraise]] from a player that previously [[#limp|limped]] in the same betting round. ''I decided to backraise with my pocket eights to isolate the all-in player.'' |
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</span> |
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; bad beat |
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: See [[bad beat]]. |
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; bank |
; bank |
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: Also called the house, the person responsible for distributing chips, keeping track of the buy-ins, and paying winners at the end of the game. |
: Also called the house, the person responsible for distributing chips, keeping track of the buy-ins, and paying winners at the end of the game. |
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<span id="bankroll"> |
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; bankroll |
; bankroll |
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: The amount of money that a player has to wager for the duration of his or her poker career. |
: The amount of money that a player has to wager for the duration of his or her poker career. |
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</span> |
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; behind |
; behind |
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# Not currently having the best hand. ''I'm pretty sure my pair of jacks was behind Lou's kings, but I had other |
# Not (currently) having the best hand. ''I'm pretty sure my pair of jacks was behind Lou's kings, but I had other outs, so I kept playing.'' |
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# Describing money in play but not visible as chips in front a player. For example, a player may announce "I've got $100 behind" while handing money to a casino employee, meaning that he intends those chips to be in play as soon as they are brought to him. |
# Describing money in play but not visible as chips in front of a player. For example, a player may announce "I've got $100 behind" while handing money to a casino employee, meaning that he intends those chips to be in play as soon as they are brought to him. |
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<span id="belly buster"> |
<span id="belly buster"> |
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; belly buster |
; belly buster |
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: An |
: An [[Draw (poker)#Inside straight draw|inside straight draw]]. Also "[[#gutshot|gutshot]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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</span> |
</span> |
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; |
; betting structure |
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: See [[betting (poker)]]. |
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: The set of specific rules for any game covering how much one may or must bet at any point in the game, including forced bets, limits, and raising cap. |
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; |
; big bet |
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: See [[big bet]]. |
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: In a [[Betting (poker)#Fixed limit|fixed limit]] game where the limit is higher in later rounds than in early rounds, the higher amount is called a "big bet". ''That $10-$20 game looked good, but I only had 8 big bets in my pocket at the time.'' |
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; big bet game |
; big bet game |
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: A game played with a [[Betting (poker)#No limit|no limit]] or [[Betting (poker)#Pot limit|pot limit]] betting structure. |
: A game played with a [[Betting (poker)#No limit|no limit]] or [[Betting (poker)#Pot limit|pot limit]] betting structure. |
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; |
; big blind |
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: See [[blind (poker)]]. |
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: The larger of two [[Betting (poker)#Forced bets|forced bets]] required in games using a blind structure such as [[Texas hold'em]] and [[Omaha hold'em]]. The big blind is posted by the player to the left of the "small blind". |
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<span id="big blind special"> |
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; big blind special |
; big blind special |
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: A situation in which (assuming no raising) the player in the big blind is dealt weak hole cards, but ends up making the best hand because he or she was able to see the flop for free, often two pair with unusual cards such as 3-9 or 10-2. |
: A situation in which (assuming no raising) the player in the big blind is dealt weak hole cards, but ends up making the best hand because he or she was able to see the flop for free, often two pair with unusual cards such as 3-9 or 10-2. Compare to "[[#small blind special|small blind special]]". |
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</span> |
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<span id="blank"> |
<span id="blank"> |
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; blank |
; blank |
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: A card, frequently a [[community card]], of no apparent value. ''I suspected Margaret had a good draw, but the river card was a blank, so I bet again.'' Compare to "[[#brick|brick]]", "[[#bomb|bomb]]". |
: A card, frequently a [[community card]], of no apparent value. ''I suspected Margaret had a good draw, but the river card was a blank, so I bet again.'' Also "[[#rags|rag]]". Compare to "[[#brick|brick]]", "[[#bomb|bomb]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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; blaze |
; blaze |
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: A hand of five [[face card]]s that |
: A [[Non-standard poker hand#blaze|Non-standard poker hand]] of five [[face card]]s that outranks a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]]. |
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; bleed |
; bleed, bleeding chips |
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: To lose small amounts continually, so as to add up to a large loss. ''I won that large pot with my kings, but then I bled it all off over the next hour.'' |
: To lose small amounts continually, so as to add up to a large loss. ''I won that large pot with my kings, but then I bled it all off over the next hour.'' |
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<span id="blind"> |
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; blind |
; blind |
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# A type of forced bet. See [[ |
# A type of forced bet. See [[blind (poker)]]. |
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# In the "[[#dark|dark]]". |
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# A term applied to any action taken by a player before seeing some piece of information to which that player would normally be entitled before that action. For example, a player who would be first to act after the draw in a draw poker game might discard cards and then announce "''I bet $10 blind''" before looking at his replacement cards. One can similarly check blind, raise blind, etc. Also "dark", "in the dark". |
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<span id="blind crowley"> |
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; blind crowley |
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: Folding your hand when the action to check is an option before looking at your cards. Compare to "crowley", "lord crowley". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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: A [[stud poker]] game in which all cards are dealt face down. Was popular in [[California]] before legal rulings made traditional stud legal there. |
: A [[stud poker]] game in which all cards are dealt face down. Was popular in [[California]] before legal rulings made traditional stud legal there. |
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<span id="blind off"> |
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; blinded |
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; blind off, blinded |
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: See [[#ante off|ante off]]. |
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# To "[[#ante off|ante off]]". |
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# To have one's stack reduced by paying ever increasing blinds in tournaments. ''Ted had to make a move soon or he would be blinded away in three more rounds.'' |
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</span> |
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<span id="blocker"> |
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; [[Bluff (poker)|bluff]] |
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; blocker |
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: To bet an inferior hand, or one believed to be, on the hope that opponents will fold. |
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: In [[community card poker]], refers to holding one of the opponent's [[Out (poker)|outs]], typically when the board threatens a straight or straight draw. ''The board was A23 but with my pair of fives I held two blockers to the straight.'' Compare to "[[#dry ace|dry ace]]". |
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</span> |
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<span id="bluff"> |
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; bluff |
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: See [[bluff (poker)]]. |
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</span> |
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; bluff-catcher |
; bluff-catcher |
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# The set of all face-up cards in a stud game. ''I started with a flush draw, but there were already four other diamonds showing on the board, so I folded.'' |
# The set of all face-up cards in a stud game. ''I started with a flush draw, but there were already four other diamonds showing on the board, so I folded.'' |
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</span> |
</span> |
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; boat |
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: Slang for a full house. Named for its resemblance to a boat structure; the pair making up the bow and stern, and the three of a kind as the hull. |
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<span id="bomb"> |
<span id="bomb"> |
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; bomb |
; bomb |
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: |
: A "[[#brick|brick]]". Compare to "[[#blank|blank]]", "[[#rags|rags]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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: A chip, often of small denomination. |
: A chip, often of small denomination. |
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<span id="both ways"> |
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; both ways |
; both ways |
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: Both halves of a [[High-low split|split pot]], often declared by a player who thinks he or she will win both low and high. |
: Both halves of a [[High-low split|split pot]], often declared by a player who thinks he or she will win both low and high. |
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</span> |
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<span id="bottom end"> |
<span id="bottom end"> |
||
; bottom end |
; bottom end |
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: The lowest of several possible [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straights]], especially in a [[Community card poker|community card game]]. For example, in [[Texas hold'em]] with the cards 5-6-7 on the board, a player holding 3-4 has the bottom end straight, while a player holding 4-8 or 8-9 has a higher straight. Also "idiot end". |
: The lowest of several possible [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straights]], especially in a [[Community card poker|community card game]]. For example, in [[Texas hold'em]] with the cards 5-6-7 on the board, a player holding 3-4 has the bottom end straight, while a player holding 4-8 or 8-9 has a higher straight. Also "[[#idiot end|idiot end]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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; bottom pair, bottom set |
; bottom pair, bottom set |
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: In a [[Community card poker|community card game]], a pair (or set) made by matching the lowest-ranking board card with one (or two) in one's private hand. |
: In a [[Community card poker|community card game]], a pair (or set) made by matching the lowest-ranking board card with one (or two) in one's private hand. Compare [[#second pair|second pair]], [[#top pair|top pair]]. |
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; box |
; box |
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<span id="brick"> |
<span id="brick"> |
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; brick |
; brick |
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: A blank, though more often used in the derogatory sense of a card that is undesirable rather than merely inconsequential, such as a card of high rank or one that makes a pair in a low-hand game. |
: A "[[#blank|blank]]", though more often used in the derogatory sense of a card that is undesirable rather than merely inconsequential, such as a card of high rank or one that makes a pair in a low-hand game. Also "[[#bomb|bomb]]". Compare to "[[#rags|rags]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
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<span id="brick & mortar"> |
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; brick & mortar |
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: A poker game played in person with real physical cards at a traditional casino. The term is meant to distinguish brick and mortar games from [[online poker]] games. Abbreviated "B&M". |
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: A ''brick & mortar'' or ''B&M'' casino is a term referring to a "real" [[casino]] based in a building, as opposed to an [[online casino]]. This term is used to refer to many real world locations vs. their Internet counterparts. It is not just a poker term. |
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</span> |
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; bring in |
; bring in |
||
# To [[Betting (poker)#Open|open]] a betting round. ''Alice brought it in for $4, and Bob raised to $10.'' ''Ted posted the bring-in.'' |
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# A type of forced bet. Rather than (or in addition to) [[ante|antes]] or blinds, some games, like [[seven card stud]] use a bring-in. The advantage of bring-in games is that the player can look at their hand before betting and can then bet the minimum bring or a full bet (usually 2.5X the bring in amount). So even though it is a forced bet, it is not considered a [blind bet] because the player can look at their cards before acting. |
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; Broadway |
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: The Ace high [[Poker_hands#Straight|straight]]. AKQJT (offsuit) is Broadway. |
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; Broomcorn's Uncle |
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; [[Betting (poker)#Bring-ins|bring-in]] |
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: This is a colorful term for calling a player overly tight. |
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: A kind of forced bet. |
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:[[Mike Sexton]] used this term on the [[World Poker Tour]] Ladies Night 2006 episode. The pop-up defined it as "Losing all your chips by never playing a hand." [[Broomcorn]] is an other name for boring [[common millet]]. Also see "[[#ante off|ante off]]", "[[#blind off|blind off]]". |
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; brush |
; brush |
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; bubble |
; bubble |
||
: The last finishing position in a [[poker tournament]] before entering the payout structure. ''He was very frustrated after getting eliminated on the bubble.'' Also can be applied to other situations like if six players will make a televised final table the player finishing seventh will go out on the "TV bubble". |
: The last finishing position in a [[poker tournament]] before entering the payout structure. ''He was very frustrated after getting eliminated on the bubble.'' Also can be applied to other situations like if six players will make a televised final table the player finishing seventh will go out on the "TV bubble". Also used to describe any situation close to the payout structure. |
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; |
; buck |
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: See [[button (poker)]]. |
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: A token used to mark the position of the dealer. |
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; |
; bug |
||
: See [[bug (poker)]]. Compare to [[wild card (poker)]]. |
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: A [[Wild card (poker)|wild card]] that can serve to fill a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straight]] or [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]], but which otherwise plays as an ace. |
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<span id="bullet"> |
<span id="bullet"> |
||
; bullet |
; bullet |
||
# An ace. |
# An ace. |
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# A chip. Also "ammo". |
# A chip. Also "[[#ammo|ammo]]". |
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</span> |
</span> |
||
; bully |
; bully |
||
: |
: A player who repeatedly makes large bets. This prevents opportunities from getting free or cheap cards that may complete a drawing hand. Also see [[#buy the pot|buy the pot]]. Compare to "run over". |
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; bum deal |
; bum deal |
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Line 245: | Line 271: | ||
; bump |
; bump |
||
: To [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]]. '' |
: To [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]]. ''Alice bet $5 and Bob bumped it to $20.'' |
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; burn, |
; burn, burn card |
||
: See [[burn card]]. |
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: To deal a card directly into the discards, often at the start of the second and subsequent rounds of a multiple-round game (for example, before giving players their draws in a [[draw poker]] game, or before the flop in a [[Community card poker|community card game]]). This is done for several reasons, including protecting the players against marked cards, making it easier to recover from irregularities in the deal, and others. |
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<span id="busted"> |
<span id="busted"> |
||
Line 256: | Line 282: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
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; |
; button |
||
: See [[button (poker)]]. Also "buck" or "hat". |
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# A token (also called a buck) used to mark the position of the dealer. In casino games with a house dealer, a buck may still be used to mark the position of the player who acts last on that deal (which would normally be the dealer in a home game). |
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# The player currently seated in the position marked by the button. ''The button raised last round, so I checked into him.'' |
|||
<span id="buy-in"> |
<span id="buy-in"> |
||
; buy-in |
; buy-in |
||
: The minimum required amount of chips to become involved in a game (or tournament). For example, a $4-$8 [[Betting (poker)#Fixed limit|fixed limit]] game might require a player to buy at least $40 worth of chips to play. This is typically far less than an average player would expect to play with for any amount of time, but large enough that the player can play a number of hands without buying more, so the game isn't slowed down by constant chip-buying. |
: The minimum required amount of chips that must be "bought" to become involved in a game (or tournament). For example, a $4-$8 [[Betting (poker)#Fixed limit|fixed limit]] game might require a player to buy at least $40 worth of chips to play. This is typically far less than an average player would expect to play with for any amount of time, but large enough that the player can play a number of hands without buying more, so the game isn't slowed down by constant chip-buying. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
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: To buy into a game for an amount smaller than the normal buy-in. Some casinos allow this under certain circumstances, such as after having lost a full buy-in, or if all players agree to allow it. |
: To buy into a game for an amount smaller than the normal buy-in. Some casinos allow this under certain circumstances, such as after having lost a full buy-in, or if all players agree to allow it. |
||
<span id="buy the button"> |
|||
; buy the button |
; buy the button |
||
# A rule originating in northern California casinos in games played with [[Blind (poker)|blinds]], in which a new player sitting down with the [[Button (poker)|button]] to his right (who would normally be required to sit out a hand as the button passed him, then post to come in) may choose to pay the amount of both blinds for this one hand (the amount of the large blind playing as a [[#live|live blind]], and the amount of the small blind as [[Dead money (poker)|dead money]]), play this hand, and then receive the button on the next hand as if he had been playing all along. See [[public cardroom rules (poker)]]. |
|||
# In games with blinds, usually done by the person sitting to the immediate right of the dealer, who will make a position raise, acting much like the dealer might have done, when only the blinds are still in the hand. <i>Every time he dealt, the dealer let the blinds see the flop, so I started buying the button to force them to fold.</i> |
|||
</span> |
|||
; buy the pot |
; buy the pot |
||
: |
: Making a bet when no one else is betting so as to force the other players to fold in order to win the pot uncontested. |
||
== C == |
== C == |
||
; [[Betting (poker)#Call|call]] |
; call |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Call|call]]. |
|||
<span id="call the clock"> |
|||
: To match the current bet amount, maintaining one's interest in the pot. |
|||
; call the clock |
|||
: A method of discouraging players from taking an excessively long time to act. When someone calls the clock, the player has a set amount of time in which to make up his mind; if he fails to do so, his hand is immediately declared dead. In tournament play, a common rule is that if a player takes too long and no one calls the clock, the dealer or floor personnel will automatically do so. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; calling station |
; calling station |
||
: See [[calling station]]. |
|||
: A weak player who frequently checks and calls, but rarely raises. |
|||
; cap |
; cap |
||
Line 285: | Line 317: | ||
: Also, term for the chip, token, or object placed atop one's cards to show continued involvement with a hand. |
: Also, term for the chip, token, or object placed atop one's cards to show continued involvement with a hand. |
||
; cap game |
|||
; [[Cards speak (poker)|cards speak]] |
|||
: Similar to "cap" above, but used to describe a no-limit or pot limit game with a cap on the amount that a player can bet during the course of a hand. Once the cap is reached, all players remaining in the hand are considered all-in. For example, a no limit game could have a betting cap of 30 times the big blind.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/capGames.php | title=Cap Games | publisher=[[Full Tilt Poker]] | accessmonthday=[[November 29]] | accessyear=[[2006]]}}</ref> |
|||
# Describing a split-pot game, one without a [[Declaration (poker)|declaration]]. |
|||
# A common [[Public cardroom rules (poker)|house rule]] stating that properly shown hands at [[Showdown (poker)|showdown]] may be read by anyone, and need not be announced. |
|||
; cards speak |
|||
: See [[cards speak (poker)]]. |
|||
<span id="case card"> |
<span id="case card"> |
||
Line 295: | Line 329: | ||
; cash plays |
; cash plays |
||
: An announcement, usually by a dealer, that a player requested to buy chips and can bet the cash he has on the table in lieu of chips until he receives his chips. |
|||
: A rule permitting cash to be wagered in addition to (or instead of) chips. |
|||
<span id="catch"> |
<span id="catch"> |
||
; catch |
; catch |
||
: To receive needed cards on a draw. ''I'm down 300--I can't catch anything today.'' or ''Joe caught his flush early, but I caught the boat on seventh street to beat him.'' Often used with an adjective to further specify, for example "catch perfect", "catch inside", "catch smooth". |
: To receive needed cards on a [[Draw (poker)|draw]]. ''I'm down 300--I can't catch anything today.'' or ''Joe caught his flush early, but I caught the boat on seventh street to beat him.'' Often used with an adjective to further specify, for example "catch perfect", "catch inside", "catch smooth". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="catch up"> |
<span id="catch up"> |
||
; catch up |
; catch up |
||
: To successfully complete a [[Draw (poker)|draw]], thus defeating a player who previously had a better hand. ''I was sure I had |
: To successfully complete a [[Draw (poker)|draw]], thus defeating a player who previously had a better hand. ''I was sure I had Alice beat, but she caught up when that spade fell.'' |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="catch perfect"> |
<span id="catch perfect"> |
||
; catch perfect |
; catch perfect |
||
: To catch the only two possible cards that will complete a hand and win the pot, usually those leading to a straight flush. Usually used in [[Texas Hold 'Em]]. Compare with "runner-runner". |
: To catch the only two possible cards that will complete a hand and win the pot, usually those leading to a straight flush. Usually used in [[Texas Hold 'Em]]. Compare with "[[#runner-runner|runner-runner]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; center |
||
: Synonym for pot. "Chips in the center..." means the chips that are in the main pot. "I'm going to center your stack" means that a player is going to force all of an opponents chips into the pot. "My stack got centered" means that a player was forced to wager his/her remaining chips. |
|||
: In [[five-card draw]], a longshot draw requiring two desired cards to make a hand, specifically drawing two cards to a [[Straight (poker)|straight]] or [[Flush (poker)|flush]], or drawing two cards to a small pair and kicker to make a full house. |
|||
; center pot |
; center pot |
||
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<span id="chase"> |
<span id="chase"> |
||
; chase |
; chase |
||
# To continue to play a [[Draw (poker)|drawing]] hand over multiple betting rounds, especially one unlikely to succeed. '' |
# To call a bet to see the next card when holding a [[Draw (poker)|drawing hand]] when the [[pot odds]] do not merit it. |
||
# To continue to play a [[Draw (poker)|drawing]] hand over multiple betting rounds, especially one unlikely to succeed. ''Bob knew I made three nines on fourth street, but he chased that flush draw all the way to the river.'' |
|||
# To continue playing with a hand that is not likely the best because one has already invested money in the pot. |
# To continue playing with a hand that is not likely the best because one has already invested money in the pot. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 328: | Line 363: | ||
# A casino chip. |
# A casino chip. |
||
<span id="check out"> |
|||
; check out |
; check out |
||
: To fold, in turn, even though there is no bet facing the player. In some games this is considered a breach of etiquette equivalent to folding out of turn. In others it is permitted, but frowned upon. |
: To fold, in turn, even though there is no bet facing the player. In some games this is considered a breach of etiquette equivalent to folding out of turn. In others it is permitted, but frowned upon. Also known as a "French raise". |
||
</span> |
|||
; |
; check-raise |
||
: |
: See [[check-raise]]. |
||
; cheese |
; cheese |
||
: A poor hand. ''Throw that piece of cheese in the muck and move on to the next hand''. |
: A poor hand. ''Throw that piece of cheese in the muck and move on to the next hand''. |
||
; |
; chip |
||
: See [[poker chip]]. |
|||
: A token representing money used for betting. |
|||
; chip along |
; chip along |
||
: To bet or call the minimum required to stay in, often done with little or no |
: To bet or call the minimum required to stay in, often done with little or no thought. |
||
; chip declare |
; chip declare |
||
Line 349: | Line 386: | ||
: A form of collusion that happens during tournaments, especially in the early rounds. Two or more players decide to go all-in early. The winner gets a large amount of chips, which increases the player's chance of cashing. The winnings are then split among the colluders. |
: A form of collusion that happens during tournaments, especially in the early rounds. Two or more players decide to go all-in early. The winner gets a large amount of chips, which increases the player's chance of cashing. The winnings are then split among the colluders. |
||
; |
; chip race |
||
: See [[chip race]]. |
|||
: In [[Poker tournament|tournament]] play, the act of removing all the small chips from play by dealing random cards to players holding odd chips, and awarding a proportional number of larger chips to the highest-ranking cards. |
|||
; chip up |
; chip up |
||
Line 358: | Line 395: | ||
# To split a pot because of a tie, split-pot game, or player agreement. |
# To split a pot because of a tie, split-pot game, or player agreement. |
||
# To play a game for a short time and cash out. Also "hit and run". |
# To play a game for a short time and cash out. Also "hit and run". |
||
# A request made by a player to a dealer after |
# A request made by a player to a dealer after taking a large-denomination chip that he wishes the dealer to make change. |
||
# To chop blinds. |
# To chop blinds. |
||
# An agreement by all players remaining in a tournament to distribute the remaining money in the prize pool according to an agreed-upon formula instead of playing the tournament to completion. Usually occurs at the final table of a large tournament. |
|||
; |
; chopping the blinds |
||
: See [[chopping the blinds]]. |
|||
: An agreement between neighboring players having posted [[Blind (poker)|blinds]] that if all other players fold to them, they will each retrieve their respective blind amounts and discard their hands rather than playing out the hand. This is done to avoid excessive charges by the casino for small pots. It is generally frowned upon by casinos, so it usually takes the form of the small blind folding, and then the player with the large blind refunding the small blind amount while the dealer isn't looking. Agreement must be made ahead of time. |
|||
<span id="clean out"> |
|||
; [[Closed (poker)|closed]] |
|||
; clean out |
|||
# Describing a betting round, the condition that no player is eligible to raise, either because the last raise was called by all players, or because the cap was reached. |
|||
: A card that is likely to make your hand the best at the table. |
|||
# Describing a poker game, one in which each player's cards are concealed from all opponents. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; closed |
|||
; cockroach |
|||
: See [[closed (poker)]]. |
|||
:Euphemism for a player who frequently raises the pot in a blatant attempt to steal the antes or blinds. |
|||
; coffeehouse |
; coffeehouse |
||
Line 380: | Line 419: | ||
<span id="cold call"> |
<span id="cold call"> |
||
; cold call |
; cold call |
||
: To call an amount that represents a sum of bets or raises by more than one player. ''Alice opened for $10, Bob raised another $20, and |
: To call an amount that represents a sum of bets or raises by more than one player. ''Alice opened for $10, Bob raised another $20, and Carol cold called the $30''. Compare to "[[#flat call|flat call]]", "[[#overcall|overcall]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; cold deck |
; cold deck |
||
: See [[cold deck]]. Also "stacked deck", "ice" or "[[#cooler|cooler]]". |
|||
: A deck previously arranged to produce a specific outcome, then surreptitiously switched into the game. Called "cold" because such a deck switched in during play will not have been warmed by the dealer's hands. ''I can't believe Jim got those four kings the same time I got four sixes--it was like being cold-decked.'' Also "ice". |
|||
; collusion |
; collusion |
||
: A form of cheating involving cooperation among two or more players. See [[ |
: A form of cheating involving cooperation among two or more players. See [[cheating in poker]]. |
||
; color change, color up |
; color change, color up |
||
Line 398: | Line 437: | ||
: A bet or raise made with a [[Draw (poker)|drawing]] hand, building the pot in anticipation of filling the draw. Usually a weak "gambler's" play, but occasionally correct with a very good draw and large pot or as a semi-bluff. |
: A bet or raise made with a [[Draw (poker)|drawing]] hand, building the pot in anticipation of filling the draw. Usually a weak "gambler's" play, but occasionally correct with a very good draw and large pot or as a semi-bluff. |
||
<span id="come hand"> |
|||
; [[community card]] |
|||
; come hand |
|||
: A card dealt face-up to the center of the table (not to any one player's hand), which can be used in some way by multiple players according to specific game rules. See [[Community card poker]]. |
|||
: See [[#draw, drawing hand|drawing hand]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; community card |
|||
: See [[community card poker]]. |
|||
<span id="complete hand"> |
|||
; complete hand |
|||
: See [[made hand]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; completion |
; completion |
||
: To raise a small bet up to the amount of what would be a normal-sized bet. For example, in a $2/$4 stud game with $1 [[Bring-in (poker)|bring-in]], a player after the bring-in may raise it to $2, completing what would otherwise be a sub-minimum bet up to the normal minimum. Also in limit games, if one player raises all in for less than the normally required minimum, a later player might complete the raise to the normal minimum (depending on house rules). See [[ |
: To raise a small bet up to the amount of what would be a normal-sized bet. For example, in a $2/$4 stud game with $1 [[Bring-in (poker)|bring-in]], a player after the bring-in may raise it to $2, completing what would otherwise be a sub-minimum bet up to the normal minimum. Also in limit games, if one player raises all in for less than the normally required minimum, a later player might complete the raise to the normal minimum (depending on house rules). See [[table stakes]]. |
||
<span id="connectors"> |
<span id="connectors"> |
||
Line 411: | Line 460: | ||
<span id="continuation bet"> |
<span id="continuation bet"> |
||
; continuation bet |
; continuation bet |
||
: A bet made after the flop by the player who took the lead in betting before the flop (Hold' |
: A bet made after the flop by the player who took the lead in betting before the flop (Hold 'em and Omaha). Compare to "[[#probe bet|probe bet]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; cooler |
|||
: See [[#cold deck|cold deck]]. |
|||
; countdown |
; countdown |
||
# Especially in [[lowball]], two hands very nearly tied that must be compared in detail to determine a winner, for example, 8-6-5-3-2 versus 8-6-5-3-A. |
# Especially in [[Lowball (poker)|lowball]], two hands very nearly tied that must be compared in detail to determine a winner, for example, 8-6-5-3-2 versus 8-6-5-3-A. |
||
# The act of counting the cards that remain in the stub after all cards have been dealt, done by a dealer to ensure that a complete deck is being used. |
# The act of counting the cards that remain in the stub after all cards have been dealt, done by a dealer to ensure that a complete deck is being used. |
||
<span id="counterfeit"> |
|||
; counterfeit |
; counterfeit |
||
: See [[counterfeit (poker)]]. Also "[[#duplicate|duplicate]]". |
|||
: Most often used in [[Community card poker|community card games]], a card appearing on the board that doesn't change the value of one's own hand, but that makes it much more likely for an opponent to tie or beat you, often because it duplicates what was previously a valuable card in your hand. Also "duplicate". See [[Counterfeit (poker)]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; cow |
; cow |
||
Line 427: | Line 477: | ||
; crack |
; crack |
||
: To beat a better hand, mostly heard in reference to the best Hold em hole cards, AA. eg "My |
: To beat a better hand, mostly heard in reference to the best Hold em hole cards, AA. eg "My aces were cracked again" |
||
<span id="cripple"> |
|||
; cripple |
|||
: In some [[community card poker|community card games]], to ''cripple the deck'' means to have a hand that makes it virtually impossible for anyone else to catch up to. For example, in [[Texas hold 'em]], if your [[#hole, hole cards|hole cards]] are '''A-T''' and the [[#flop|flop]] is '''A-A-T''' you have "crippled the deck" and it is unlikely you will make much money from it. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="crossfire"> |
<span id="crossfire"> |
||
; crossfire |
; crossfire |
||
: When a player is caught in the middle between two raisers and is induced to call each bet because of the [[pot odds]]. Compare to "whipsaw". |
: When a player is caught in the middle between two raisers and is induced to call each bet because of the [[pot odds]]. Compare to "[[#whipsaw|whipsaw]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="crowley"> |
|||
; crowley |
|||
: Folding your hand when the action to check is an option. "You could have checked, why did you pull a crowley." Compare to "[[#b|blind crowley]]", "[[#l|lord crowley]]" |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 445: | Line 495: | ||
; cut |
; cut |
||
: See [[Cut (cards)|cut]]. |
|||
: Take some of the cards off the top of a deck and move them to the bottom. |
|||
<span id="cutoff"> |
<span id="cutoff"> |
||
Line 463: | Line 513: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; [[Betting (poker)#Dead button rule|dead button]] |
; dead button |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Dead button rule|dead button rule]]. |
|||
: A dealer button placed in a position where there is no player. This occurs in some casinos when the player who would otherwise be entitled to the button leaves the game (other casinos move the button forward to the next player). This occurs frequently during poker tournaments, due to player elimination. |
|||
<span id="dead hand"> |
<span id="dead hand"> |
||
Line 471: | Line 521: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; dead money |
||
: See [[dead money (poker)]]. |
|||
# Money placed into a pot that does not represent equal bets and calls by active players in the pot. This can be the earlier bets of players who have folded, or money placed in the pot before the deal. |
|||
# By extension, it is used as a derogatory term for money put in play by unskilled players who are legally eligible, but unlikely, to win it back. Can also refer to the player: ''Let's play that stud game--Joe and Diane are dead money.'' |
|||
; deadwood |
; deadwood |
||
Line 492: | Line 541: | ||
<span id="dealer"> |
<span id="dealer"> |
||
; dealer |
; dealer |
||
# The person dealing the cards. '''Give Alice the cards, she's dealing.''' |
|||
: The person dealing the cards, or the person who assumes that role for the purposes of betting order in a game, even though someone else might be physically dealing. In the latter case, that player is often marked with a button, and may be called "the button". |
|||
# The person who assumes that role for the purposes of betting order in a game, even though someone else might be physically dealing. Also "[[#button|button]]". Compare to "[[#buck|buck]]". |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 500: | Line 550: | ||
<span id="declare"> |
<span id="declare"> |
||
; declare |
; declare |
||
: To verbally indicate an action or intention. See [[ |
: To verbally indicate an action or intention. See [[declaration (poker)]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="decloak"> |
<span id="decloak"> |
||
; decloak |
; decloak |
||
: To raise after |
: To raise after [[Slow play (poker)|slow playing]] for a time (making it clear that you were, in fact, slow playing). See "[[#in the bushes|in the bushes]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 512: | Line 562: | ||
; defense |
; defense |
||
: See [[defense (poker)]]. |
|||
# Playing to minimize investment or loss rather than maximize a win; for example, with a drawing hand that is risky but that you think ''should'' call an opponent's bet, you might make a smaller "defensive bet" yourself that you think your opponent will just call, rather than checking and calling a larger bet, or showing weakness. |
|||
# Occasionally calling with weak hands to discourage opponents from bullying, especially when in the blinds. See [[Defense (poker)|Defense]] |
|||
; deuce |
; deuce |
||
# A 2-spot card. |
# A 2-spot card. Also called a duck, quack, or swan. |
||
# Any of various related uses of the number two, such as a $2 limit game, a $2 chip, etc. |
# Any of various related uses of the number two, such as a $2 limit game, a $2 chip, etc. |
||
; deuce-to-seven |
; deuce-to-seven |
||
: A method of evaluating low hands. See [[Deuce-to-seven low]]. |
: A method of evaluating low hands. See [[Deuce-to-seven low]]. |
||
; dirty stack |
|||
: A [[#stack|stack]] of [[Poker chip|chips]] that has a chip of the wrong denomination mixed in. |
|||
<span id="discard"> |
<span id="discard"> |
||
Line 528: | Line 580: | ||
; dog |
; dog |
||
: See [[#underdog|underdog]]. |
|||
: Underdog; that is, a player with a smaller chance to win than another specified player. Frequently used when the exact odds are expressed. ''Harry might have been bluffing, but if he really had the king, my hand was a 4-to-1 dog, so I folded.'' |
|||
; dominated hand |
; dominated hand |
||
: A hand that is extremely unlikely to win against another specific hand, even though it may not be a poor hand in its own right. Most commonly used in [[Texas hold 'em]]. A hand like A-Q, for example, is a good hand in general but is dominated by A-K, because whenever the former makes a good hand, the latter is likely to make a better one. A hand like 7-8 is a poor hand in general, but is not dominated by A-K because it makes different kinds of hands. |
: A hand that is extremely unlikely to win against another specific hand, even though it may not be a poor hand in its own right. Most commonly used in [[Texas hold 'em]]. A hand like A-Q, for example, is a good hand in general but is dominated by A-K, because whenever the former makes a good hand, the latter is likely to make a better one. A hand like 7-8 is a poor hand in general, but is not dominated by A-K because it makes different kinds of hands. See [[Dominating hand]]. |
||
; donation |
; donation |
||
: A [[Call (poker)|call]] made by a player who fully expects to lose; made either out of boredom or irrational optimism. |
: A [[Call (poker)|call]] made by a player who fully expects to lose; made either out of boredom or irrational optimism. |
||
<span id="donkey"> |
|||
; donk, donkey |
; donk, donkey |
||
: Epithet for an inexperienced, unskilled, or foolish poker player. ''I played that hand like a donkey.'' |
: Epithet for an inexperienced, unskilled, or foolish poker player. ''I played that hand like a donkey.'' |
||
</span> |
|||
; donk (verb) |
; donk, donk down (verb) |
||
: To play a hand poorly. ''I donked off 15 bucks on that last hand.'' |
: To play a hand poorly. ''I donked off 15 bucks on that last hand.'' |
||
; donk, donkbet |
|||
<span id="door card"> |
|||
: Betting when one doesn't have the [[#lead|lead]]. |
|||
; door card |
; door card |
||
: In a [[Stud poker|stud]] game, a player's first face-up card. ''Patty paired her door card on fifth street and raised, so I put her on [[#trips|trips]].'' |
|||
:In [[Hold'em]], the door card is the first visible card of the [[flop]]. |
|||
# Window card. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; double-ace flush |
; double-ace flush |
||
: Under unconventional rules, a flush with one or more [[Wild card (poker)|wild cards]] in which they play as aces, even if an ace is already present |
: Under [[Non-standard poker hand|unconventional rules]], a flush with one or more [[Wild card (poker)|wild cards]] in which they play as aces, even if an ace is already present. |
||
; double-board, double-flop |
; double-board, double-flop |
||
Line 557: | Line 612: | ||
: Any of several [[Draw poker]] games in which the draw phase and subsequent betting round are repeated twice. |
: Any of several [[Draw poker]] games in which the draw phase and subsequent betting round are repeated twice. |
||
; double belly buster, double gut-shot, double inside straight |
|||
: See [[Draw (poker)#Double inside straight draw|double inside straight draw]]. |
|||
; double gut-shot, double belly buster |
|||
: In games involving six or more cards, a draw to a [[Straight (poker)|straight]] that can be filled by two ranks, but that is not an open-ender. For example, K-J-10-9-7, which can become a straight with any Q or 8. |
|||
<span id="double suited"> |
|||
; double suited |
|||
: Used to describe an [[Omaha hold 'em|Omaha]] starting hand where two pairs of [[#suited|suited]] cards are held. May be abbreviated "ds" in written descriptions. ''AAJT (ds) is widely considered a premium [[Omaha hold 'em#Pot-limit Omaha|PLO]] starting hand.'' |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 576: | Line 634: | ||
: To pull chips away from the pot to indicate that you don't have enough money to cover the bet. If you win, the amount is ignored. If you lose, you must cover the amount from your pocket. |
: To pull chips away from the pot to indicate that you don't have enough money to cover the bet. If you win, the amount is ignored. If you lose, you must cover the amount from your pocket. |
||
; draw |
; draw, drawing hand |
||
: See [[draw (poker)]]. |
|||
# To replace one or more cards in one's hand with new ones from the deck stub, as in draw poker. |
|||
# The act of staying in a hand in hopes of improving, usually to a straight or flush--''on a draw''. |
|||
# A [[Draw (poker)|drawing hand]]. |
|||
; [[Draw (poker)|drawing hand]] |
|||
: In any game, an incomplete hand which is not likely to win unless future cards, received by whatever means the game specifies, improve it. For example, having four club-suited cards but no pair in a stud game, hoping that one of the cards to come will be a fifth club, making a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]]. |
|||
<span id="drawing dead"> |
<span id="drawing dead"> |
||
Line 597: | Line 649: | ||
<span id="drawing thin"> |
<span id="drawing thin"> |
||
; drawing thin |
; drawing thin |
||
: Not drawing completely dead, but chasing a draw in the face of poor odds. Example: a player who will only win by catching 1 or 2 specific cards is said to be drawing thin. |
: Not drawing completely dead, but [[#chase|chasing]] a draw in the face of poor odds. Example: a player who will only win by catching 1 or 2 specific cards is said to be drawing thin. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; drop |
; drop |
||
# To fold. |
# To fold. |
||
# Money charged by the casino for providing its services, often dropped through a slot in the table into a strong box. See "rake". |
# Money charged by the casino for providing its services, often dropped through a slot in the table into a strong box. See "[[#rake|rake]]". |
||
# To drop ones cards to the felt to indicate that one is in or out of a game. |
# To drop ones cards to the felt to indicate that one is in or out of a game. |
||
<span id="dry ace"> |
|||
; dry ace |
|||
: In [[Omaha hold 'em|Omaha]] or [[Texas hold 'em]], refers to an ace in one's hand without another card of the same suit. Used especially to describe the situation where the [[#board|board]] presents a flush possibility, when the player does not in fact have a flush, but holding the ace presents some [[Bluff (poker)|bluffing]] or [[Bluff (poker)#Semi-bluff|semi-bluffing]] opportunity. Compare to "[[#blocker|blocker]]". |
|||
</span> |
|||
; dry pot |
; dry pot |
||
: A side pot with no money |
: A side pot with no money created when a player goes all in and is called by more than one opponent, but not raised. |
||
; dump, dumped |
; dump, dumped |
||
Line 619: | Line 676: | ||
<span id="early position"> |
<span id="early position"> |
||
; early position |
; early position |
||
: See [[position (poker)]]. |
|||
: In a betting round with multiple players involved, those who bet first are said to be in early [[Position (poker)|position]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="eight or better"> |
|||
; eight or better |
|||
: A common qualifier in [[High-low split]] games that use Ace-5 ranking. Only hands where the highest card is an eight can qualify to win the low portion of the pot. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="equity"> |
<span id="equity"> |
||
; equity |
; equity |
||
: One's mathematical [[expected value]] from the current deal, calculated by multiplying the amount of money in the pot by one's probability of winning. For example, if the pot currently contains $100, and you estimate that you have a one in four chance of winning it, then your equity in the pot |
: One's mathematical [[expected value]] from the current deal, calculated by multiplying the amount of money in the pot by one's probability of winning. For example, if the pot currently contains $100, and you estimate that you have a one in four chance of winning it, then your equity in the pot is $25. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; expectation, expected value, EV |
|||
: See [[expected value]]. Often used in poker to mean "profitability in the long run". |
|||
; expectation |
|||
# [[Expected value]]. |
|||
# One's typical win rate for a particular game, ignoring variance. That is, how much one expects to win (or lose) per hour or per hand over the long run. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="expected value"> |
|||
; [[expected value]], EV |
|||
: In [[probability]] theory, the overall expected payoff of a particular event, calculated by multiplying the probability of each possible outcome by the payoff from each. For example, if there are two possible outcomes from an event (say, flipping a coin), one of which pays $2 and the other of which pays nothing, your EV for the event is $1 (in the long run, if this event happened many times, you would average $1 per event). In poker, one generally associates an EV with a particular ''action''. One's EV from calling a bet, for example, is the sum of all possible outcomes from calling the bet multiplied by the probability of each. Note that since a bet costs money to make, the payoff of some outcomes--and therefore the EV itself--may be negative. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="exposed card"> |
<span id="exposed card"> |
||
; exposed card |
; exposed card |
||
: A card whose face has been deliberately or accidentally revealed to players normally not entitled to that information during the play of the game. Various games have different rules about how to handle this irregularity. Compare to "boxed card". |
: A card whose face has been deliberately or accidentally revealed to players normally not entitled to that information during the play of the game. Various games have different rules about how to handle this irregularity. Compare to "[[#boxed card|boxed card]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 647: | Line 701: | ||
: A deal in which every (or almost every) seated player called the first [[Betting (poker)#Open|opening]] bet. |
: A deal in which every (or almost every) seated player called the first [[Betting (poker)#Open|opening]] bet. |
||
<span id="fast"> |
|||
; fast |
; fast |
||
: [[Aggression (poker)|Aggressive]]. ''I was afraid of too many chasers, so I played my trips fast.'' |
: [[Aggression (poker)|Aggressive]] play. ''I was afraid of too many chasers, so I played my trips fast.'' Compare to "[[#speeding|speeding]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
; feeder |
; feeder |
||
Line 660: | Line 716: | ||
<span id="fifth street"> |
<span id="fifth street"> |
||
; fifth street |
; fifth street |
||
# The last card dealt to the board in community card games. Also "river". |
# The last card dealt to the board in community card games. Also "[[River (poker)|river]]". |
||
# The fifth card dealt to each player in stud poker. |
# The fifth card dealt to each player in stud poker. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 676: | Line 732: | ||
<span id="fire"> |
<span id="fire"> |
||
; fire |
; fire |
||
: To make the [[Betting (poker)#Open|opening]] bet of a round, following the same analogy by which chips are called "ammo". ''I called Ken's bet on fourth with a draw, but I bricked, and when he fired again I had to fold.'' or ''I think Randy suspected my earlier bet was a bluff, but when I fired a second shot he let it go.'' |
: To make the [[Betting (poker)#Open|opening]] bet of a round, following the same analogy by which chips are called "[[#ammo|ammo]]". ''I called Ken's bet on fourth with a draw, but I bricked, and when he fired again I had to fold.'' or ''I think Randy suspected my earlier bet was a bluff, but when I fired a second shot he let it go.'' |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="fish"> |
|||
; fish |
; fish |
||
# An unskilled player |
# An unskilled player who plays loosely and passively, calling a lot of bets. |
||
# To risk money on a long-shot bet |
# To risk money on a long-shot bet. |
||
# The action of calling bets on the flop and the turn to make a hand on the river. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; five of a kind |
; five of a kind |
||
: A hand possible only in games with [[Wild card (poker)|wild cards]], defeating all other hands, comprising five cards of equal rank. |
: A hand possible only in games with [[Wild card (poker)|wild cards]], defeating all other hands, comprising five cards of equal rank. |
||
; |
; fixed limit, flat limit |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Fixed limit|fixed limits]]. |
|||
: A [[Betting (poker)#limits|betting structure]] in which a player never chooses the amount to bet, only whether to bet a fixed amount or not. |
|||
; flash |
; flash |
||
# To show the bottom card of the deck while shuffling. |
|||
# To show one or more downcards from one's hand. ''After everyone folded, Ted flashed his bluff to the other players.'' |
|||
<span id="flat call"> |
<span id="flat call"> |
||
; flat call |
; flat call |
||
: A [[Betting (poker)#Call|call]], in a situation where one might be expected to [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]]. ''Normally I raise with jacks, but with three limpers ahead of me I decided to flat call.'' |
: A [[Betting (poker)#Call|call]], in a situation where one might be expected to [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]]. ''Normally I raise with jacks, but with three limpers ahead of me I decided to flat call.'' Also "[[#smooth call|smooth call]]". Compare to "[[#cold call|cold call]]", "[[#overcall|overcall]]". See [[slow play (poker)]]. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="float"> |
|||
; float |
|||
: To call a bet with an inferior hand, with the intention of bluffing on a later betting round. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 702: | Line 767: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; flop |
||
: See [[flop (poker)]] |
|||
: In a [[Community card poker|community card game]], the first set of community cards dealt, and the betting round that follows. In [[Texas hold 'em]] and [[Omaha hold'em]] in particular, this involves a set of three community cards dealt before the game's second betting round. The verb flop is to catch something on the flop. |
|||
; flop game |
; flop game |
||
: [[Community card poker| |
: A [[Community card poker|community card game]]. |
||
; flush |
|||
; [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]] |
|||
: A hand comprising five cards of the same suit. |
: A hand comprising five cards of the same suit. See [[rank of hands (poker)]]. |
||
; [[Betting (poker)# |
; fold |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Fold|fold]]. |
|||
: To relinquish one's cards, forfeiting any further interest in the pot for this deal. |
|||
<span id="fold equity"> |
|||
; fold equity |
|||
: The extra value gained by forcing your opponents to fold, rather than seeing the showdown. See also [[#equity|equity]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; |
; forced bet |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Forced bets|forced bets]]. |
|||
: Money that a player is required to place into the pot by the rules of the game. The three common forms are [[Betting (poker)#Ante|antes]], [[Betting (poker)#Blinds|blinds]], and [[Betting (poker)#Bring-ins|bring-ins]]. |
|||
; forced-move |
; forced-move |
||
: In a casino where more than one table is playing the same game with the same betting structure, one of the tables may be designated the "main" table,and will be kept full by requiring a player to move from one of the feeder tables to fill any vacancies. Players will generally be informed that their table is a "forced-move" table to be used in this way before they agree to play there. Also "must-move". |
: In a casino where more than one table is playing the same game with the same betting structure, one of the tables may be designated the "main" table, and will be kept full by requiring a player to move from one of the feeder tables to fill any vacancies. Players will generally be informed that their table is a "forced-move" table to be used in this way before they agree to play there. Also "must-move". |
||
<span id="forward motion"> |
<span id="forward motion"> |
||
; forward motion |
; forward motion |
||
: A house rule of some casinos states that if a player in turn picks up chips from his stack and moves his hand toward the pot ("forward motion with chips in hand"), this constitutes a commitment to bet (or call), and the player may not withdraw his hand to check or fold. Such a player still has the choice of whether to call or raise. |
: A house rule of some casinos states that if a player in turn picks up chips from his stack and moves his hand toward the pot ("forward motion with chips in hand"), this constitutes a commitment to bet (or call), and the player may not withdraw his hand to check or fold. Such a player still has the choice of whether to call or raise. Compare to "[[#string bet|string bet]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="fouled hand"> |
<span id="fouled hand"> |
||
; fouled hand |
; fouled hand |
||
: A hand that is ruled unplayable because of an irregularity, such as being found with too many or two few cards, having been mixed with cards of other players or the muck, having fallen off the table, etc. Compare to "dead hand". |
: A hand that is ruled unplayable because of an irregularity, such as being found with too many or two few cards, having been mixed with cards of other players or the muck, having fallen off the table, etc. Compare to "[[#dead hand|dead hand]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 735: | Line 805: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; four of a kind |
||
: A hand containing four cards of equal rank. |
: A hand containing four cards of equal rank. Also "quads". See [[rank of hands (poker)]]. |
||
; four-straight |
; four-straight |
||
Line 749: | Line 819: | ||
<span id="fox hunt"> |
<span id="fox hunt"> |
||
; fox hunt |
; fox hunt |
||
: See [[#rabbit hunt|rabbit hunt]]. |
|||
: After a hand is over, a fox hunt means to reveal the next card that would have come up. If the next card would have been the final card, such as in a community card game with a fixed number of cards, this is called rabbit hunting. Such activity is usually prohibited in most casinos. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 757: | Line 827: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; freeroll |
||
: See [[freeroll (poker)]]. |
|||
# A situation in which a player is guaranteed to at least break even and may possibly profit. Common in split-pot games. |
|||
# A [[Poker tournament|tournament]] with no entry fee. Sometimes offered as a casino promotion, or as a reward for earlier play. |
|||
<span id="freezeout"> |
<span id="freezeout"> |
||
; freezeout |
; freezeout |
||
: |
: The most common form of [[Poker tournament|tournament]]. There's no [[Poker jargon#rebuy|rebuy]], play continues until one player has all the chips. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; full, full boat, full hand, |
; full, full boat, full hand, full house |
||
: A hand with three cards of one rank and two of a second rank. |
: A hand with three cards of one rank and two of a second rank. Also "boat", "tight". See [[rank of hands (poker)]]. |
||
<span id="full bet rule"> |
<span id="full bet rule"> |
||
; full bet rule |
; full bet rule |
||
: In some casinos, the rule that a player must wager the full amount required in order for his action to constitute a raise. For example, in a game with a $4 fixed limit, a player facing an [[Betting (poker)#Open|opening]] bet of $4 who wagers $7 is deemed to have flat called, because $8 is required to raise. Compare to "half bet rule". |
: In some casinos, the rule that a player must wager the full amount required in order for his action to constitute a raise. For example, in a game with a $4 fixed limit, a player facing an [[Betting (poker)#Open|opening]] bet of $4 who wagers $7 is deemed to have flat called, because $8 is required to raise. Compare to "[[#half bet rule|half bet rule]]". See [[Public cardroom rules (poker)]] and [[Betting (poker)#"All in"|"All in" betting]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
== G == |
== G == |
||
<span id="gap hand"> |
|||
; gap hand |
|||
: In [[Texas hold 'em]], a ''gap hand'' is a [[#hole|starting hand]] with at least one rank separating the two cards. Usually referred to in context of ''one-gap'' and ''two-gap'' hands. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; garbage |
; garbage |
||
# The muck. |
# The "[[#muck|muck]]". |
||
# A worthless hand. |
# A worthless hand. |
||
<span id="going south"> |
<span id="going south"> |
||
; going south |
; going south |
||
:To sneak a portion of your chips from the table while the game is underway. Normally prohibited in public card rooms. Also "ratholing". |
:To sneak a portion of your chips from the table while the game is underway. Normally prohibited in public card rooms. Also "[[#ratholing|ratholing]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; grinder |
; grinder |
||
: A player who earns a living by making small profits over a long period of consistent, conservative play. Compare to "rock". |
: A player who earns a living by making small profits over a long period of consistent, conservative play. Compare to "[[#rock|rock]]". |
||
; guts, guts to open |
; guts, guts to open |
||
Line 793: | Line 867: | ||
<span id="gutshot"> |
<span id="gutshot"> |
||
; gutshot |
; gutshot |
||
: An |
: An [[Draw (poker)#Inside straight draw|inside straight draw]]. ''Ted has a gutshot draw.'' Also "[[#belly buster|belly buster]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; gypsy |
; gypsy |
||
: To enter the pot cheaply by just calling the blind rather than raising. Also "limp". |
: To enter the pot cheaply by just calling the blind rather than raising. Also "[[#limp|limp]]". |
||
== H == |
== H == |
||
<span id="half bet rule"> |
<span id="half bet rule"> |
||
; half bet rule |
; half bet rule |
||
: In some casinos, the rule that placing chips equal to or greater than half the normal bet amount beyond the amount required to call constitutes a commitment to [[Raise (poker)|raise]] the normal amount. For example, in a game with a $4 fixed limit, a player facing a $4 [[Open (poker)|opening]] bet who places $6 in the pot is deemed to have raised, and must complete his bet to $8. Compare to "full bet rule". See [[Public cardroom rules (poker)]]. |
: In some casinos, the rule that placing chips equal to or greater than half the normal bet amount beyond the amount required to call constitutes a commitment to [[Raise (poker)|raise]] the normal amount. For example, in a game with a $4 fixed limit, a player facing a $4 [[Open (poker)|opening]] bet who places $6 in the pot is deemed to have raised, and must complete his bet to $8. Compare to "[[#full bet rule|full bet rule]]". See [[Public cardroom rules (poker)]] and [[Betting (poker)#"All in"|"all in" betting]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="half kill"> |
|||
; half kill |
|||
: A kill for less than double the normal limits. For example, a $6 game may have a kill for $9 rather than the usual $12. Compare to "kill pot". See [[Betting (poker)#Kill game|Kill game]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; half-pot limit |
|||
: A [[Betting (poker)|betting structure]] resembling [[pot limit]], but which allows maximum raises of half the amount in the pot rather than the full amount. |
|||
<span id="hammer"> |
<span id="hammer"> |
||
Line 818: | Line 884: | ||
# "Having the hammer" is being in last position, especially head up. ''You've got the hammer; I check to you.'' |
# "Having the hammer" is being in last position, especially head up. ''You've got the hammer; I check to you.'' |
||
# A "hammer lock" refers to a player with an almost 100% chance of winning the pot. |
# A "hammer lock" refers to a player with an almost 100% chance of winning the pot. |
||
# In [[Texas Hold'em]], [[ |
# In [[Texas Hold'em]], [[List of slang names for poker hands|The Hammer]] refers to a starting hand consisting of a '''7-2 offsuit'''. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; hand |
||
: See [[hand (poker)]]. |
|||
# The set of cards played by one player. |
|||
# A single instance of a game of poker, begun by shuffling the cards and ending with the award of a pot. Also "deal". |
|||
; |
; hand-for-hand |
||
: See [[hand-for-hand]]. |
|||
: In [[Poker tournament|tournament]] play, the act of equalizing the number of hands played at two or more tables by waiting for slower tables to finish each hand before beginning the next hand on every table. This is usually done to ensure an accurate finishing order to distribute prize money. |
|||
; hard |
; hard |
||
# Aggressive and uncompromising, said of one's play. ''Jim played me hard all night; I could never get a break.'' |
# Aggressive and uncompromising, said of one's play. ''Jim played me hard all night; I could never get a break.'' |
||
# Chips, as opposed to paper money. ''I gave the floorman $100 for $50 hard and $50 soft.'' |
# Chips, as opposed to paper money. ''I gave the floorman $100 for $50 hard and $50 soft.'' |
||
; hat |
|||
: See [[button (poker)]]. |
|||
<span id="heads up"> |
<span id="heads up"> |
||
Line 837: | Line 905: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; heater |
|||
<span id="here kitty kitty"> |
|||
: If one is consistently getting favorable cards, then he or she is said to be ''on a heater''. |
|||
; here kitty kitty |
; here kitty kitty |
||
: A conspicuously small bet made with a very powerful hand in the hope of getting a call from one or more opponents who would otherwise fold to a normal-sized bet. |
: A conspicuously small bet made with a very powerful hand in the hope of getting a call from one or more opponents who would otherwise fold to a normal-sized bet. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="high hand"> |
<span id="high hand"> |
||
; high, high hand |
; high, high hand |
||
: The best hand using traditional [[ |
: The best hand using traditional [[poker hand]] values, as opposed to [[Lowball (poker)|lowball]]. Used especially in high-low split games. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 852: | Line 921: | ||
# To randomly select a player for some purpose by having each draw one card, the highest of which is selected (for example, to decide who deals first). ''When all the players get here, we'll high card for the button.'' Often [[High card by suit (poker)|high card by suit]] is used for this purpose. |
# To randomly select a player for some purpose by having each draw one card, the highest of which is selected (for example, to decide who deals first). ''When all the players get here, we'll high card for the button.'' Often [[High card by suit (poker)|high card by suit]] is used for this purpose. |
||
; high-low, |
; high-low, high-low split |
||
: See [[high-low split]]. |
|||
: Any of several games in which the pot is divided between the player with the best conventional poker hand and the best [[lowball]] hand. |
|||
; high society |
; high society |
||
# Large-denomination chips. Also "society". |
# Large-denomination chips. Also "society". |
||
# $10,000 worth of chips. ''"Give me three stacks of high society."'' |
|||
; hit and run |
; hit and run |
||
Line 877: | Line 945: | ||
; Hollywood |
; Hollywood |
||
: Overt acting to deceive other players. ''Karl had a big smile when he bet, but it seemed too Hollywood to me, so I called anyway.'' |
: Overt acting to deceive other players. ''Karl had a big smile when he bet, but it seemed too Hollywood to me, so I called anyway.'' Also refers to taking excessive time to act — a common suspense-building feature of movies which highly irritates other players when carried out in real life. |
||
<span id="home game"> |
<span id="home game"> |
||
Line 892: | Line 960: | ||
: A player financially backed by someone else. ''I lost today, but Larry was my horse in the stud game, and he won big.'' |
: A player financially backed by someone else. ''I lost today, but Larry was my horse in the stud game, and he won big.'' |
||
; |
; H.O.R.S.E. |
||
: See [[H.O.R.S.E.]]. |
|||
: A combination game with five games played in rotation: [[Texas hold 'em]], [[Omaha hold'em]], [[Razz (poker)|razz]], [[seven-card stud]], and eight-or-better seven-card stud high-low. Other combinations of the letters are often seen as well: S.H.O.E., H.O.E., etc. |
|||
<span id="hunt"> |
<span id="hunt"> |
||
Line 903: | Line 971: | ||
<span id="idiot end"> |
<span id="idiot end"> |
||
; idiot end, ignorant end |
; idiot end, ignorant end |
||
: The bottom end of a straight. |
: The bottom end of a straight. Compare to "[[#sucker straight|sucker straight]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 909: | Line 977: | ||
: Unbeatable; often said of a hand that a player knows cannot be beaten under the circumstances of play. Also "lock", "nuts". |
: Unbeatable; often said of a hand that a player knows cannot be beaten under the circumstances of play. Also "lock", "nuts". |
||
<span id="implied pot odds"> |
|||
; implied odds, implied pot odds |
|||
: Similar to [[pot odds]], but including future bets one can reasonably expect to win. ''I only had 3-to-1 pot odds for a 5-to-1 draw, but I knew if I made it I'd get two extra bets from Jim, so I called for the implied odds.'' |
|||
: See [[Pot odds#Implied pot odds|implied pot odds]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="improve"> |
<span id="improve"> |
||
Line 917: | Line 987: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; inside straight |
|||
: See [[Draw (poker)#Inside straight draw|inside straight draw]]. Also "[[#belly buster|belly buster]]", "[[#gutshot|gutshot]]". Compare to [[Draw (poker)#Outside straight draw|outside straight draw]]. |
|||
; inside, inside straight |
|||
: A draw to a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straight]] with a single missing rank in the interior, for example, 8-9-J-Q, seeking a 10. Sometimes used to describe a one-end straight, which is mathematically equivalent. Also "belly buster", "gutshot". Compare to "open-ended". |
|||
</span> |
|||
; insurance |
; insurance |
||
: A "business" deal in which players agree to split or reduce a pot (roughly in proportion to the chances of each of them winning) with more cards to come rather than playing out the hand, or else a deal where one player makes a side bet against himself with a third party to hedge against a large loss. |
: A "business" deal in which players agree to split or reduce a pot (roughly in proportion to the chances of each of them winning) with more cards to come rather than playing out the hand, or else a deal where one player makes a side bet against himself with a third party to hedge against a large loss. |
||
<span id="in the bushes"> |
|||
; in the bushes, in the weeds |
; in the bushes, in the weeds |
||
: A player [[ |
: A player [[Slow play (poker)|slow playing]] is said to be "in the bushes" during the time he is quietly checking and calling while others bet aggressively. He will eventually "[[#decloak|decloak]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="in the middle"> |
<span id="in the middle"> |
||
Line 937: | Line 1,007: | ||
; in the money |
; in the money |
||
: To place high enough in a [[poker tournament]] to get prize money. |
: To place high enough in a [[poker tournament]] to get prize money. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="in the tank"> |
|||
; in the tank |
|||
: When a player is facing a bet or raise, typically a large one late in the hand, and takes a long time thinking about whether to call is said to have gone "in the tank." |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 952: | Line 1,027: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; isolation |
||
: See [[isolation (poker)]]. |
|||
: To play aggressively in order to drive out all but one specific opponent who you believe to be weak. ''I reraised to isolate Diane because she's been playing junk all day.'' |
|||
<span id="ITM"> |
|||
; ITM |
|||
: Abbreviation of [[#in the money|in the money]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
== J == |
== J == |
||
Line 966: | Line 1,046: | ||
; jam |
; jam |
||
: To [[Betting (poker)#Open|open]] or [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]] the maximum amount allowed. |
: To [[Betting (poker)#Open|open]] or [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]] the maximum amount allowed. Players who "jam a pot" in limit poker keep putting in raises until the cap is reached. |
||
; joint |
|||
: Jack-high straight. |
|||
<span id="juice"> |
<span id="juice"> |
||
; juice |
; juice |
||
: Money collected by the house. See [[Rake (poker)]]. |
: Money collected by the house. Also "[[#vigorish|vig]]", "[[#vigorish|vigorish]]". See [[Rake (poker)]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
== K == |
== K == |
||
; Kansas City low |
|||
: Deuce-to-seven [[Lowball (poker)|lowball]]. |
|||
; keep (a bettor) honest |
; keep (a bettor) honest |
||
: To call a final bet while not expecting to win, for the primary purpose of discouraging future bluffs. |
: To call a final bet while not expecting to win, for the primary purpose of discouraging future bluffs. |
||
; |
; kicker |
||
: See [[kicker (poker)]]. |
|||
# A card not directly involved in evaluating a hand, but that may be used for breaking ties. Also "side card". |
|||
# A non-paired card kept before the draw in [[draw poker]] in hope of pairing it. |
|||
; kill, kill pot |
; kill game, kill pot |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Kill game|kill game]]. |
|||
# An occasional hand played at double the usual stakes at an agreed-upon time; often when a player wins two hands in a row, or when a player scoops in a split-pot game. The "lucky" player is often required to post an extra [[Blind (poker)|blind]] for double the usual blind amount. Compare to "half-kill". See [[Betting (poker)#Kill game|Kill game]]. |
|||
# The custom of dealing one card face down to the side for each card dealt face up as community in community games. The cards dealt face down (not to any players) are out of play (have been killed) and ensure that the deck is not stacked. See [[Burn card]]. |
|||
; kitty |
; kitty |
||
Line 996: | Line 1,076: | ||
: A tough choice to fold a good hand in anticipation of superior opposition. |
: A tough choice to fold a good hand in anticipation of superior opposition. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="lead"> |
|||
; lead |
|||
: The player who makes the last bet or raise in a round of betting is said to have the lead at the start of the next round.</span> |
|||
; limit |
; limit |
||
: The minimum or maximum amount of a bet. |
: The minimum or maximum amount of a bet. |
||
<span id="limp |
<span id="limp"> |
||
; limp in |
; limp, limp in |
||
: To enter a pot by simply calling instead of raising. |
: To enter a pot by simply calling instead of raising. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="live"> |
<span id="live bet"> |
||
; live |
; live bet |
||
: |
: A bet posted by a player under conditions that give him the option to raise even if no other player raises first; typically because it was posted as a [[#blind|blind]] or [[#straddle bet|straddle]], or to enter a new game. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="live cards"> |
|||
; live cards |
|||
: In [[stud poker]] games, cards that will improve your hand that have not been seen among anyone's upcards, and are therefore presumably still available. In games such as [[Texas hold'em]], a player's hand is said to contain "live" cards if matching either of them on the board would give that player the lead over his opponent. Typically used to describe a hand that is weak, but not [[#dominated hand|dominated]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="live game"> |
|||
; live game |
|||
: A game with a lot of [[#action|action]], usually including many unskilled players, especially [[#maniac|maniacs]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="live one"> |
|||
; live one |
|||
: A weak player, especially a [[#maniac|maniac]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="lock up"> |
|||
; lock up |
|||
: To "lock up" a seat in a cash game means to place a poker chip, player's card, or other personal effect on the table in front of the seat, to signify that the seat is occupied even though the player may not be present. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="loose"> |
<span id="loose"> |
||
; loose |
; loose |
||
: |
: See [[Poker strategy#Loose/tight play|loose/tight play]]. Compare to "[[#tight|tight]]", "[[#aggressive|aggressive]]", "[[#passive|passive]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; loose cannon |
; loose cannon |
||
: A player who is not afraid to put money in the pot; one who is "gambling" a lot and liable to lose all his money at any given time. |
: A player who is not afraid to put money in the pot; one who is "gambling" a lot and liable to lose all his money at any given time. |
||
<span id="lord crowley"> |
|||
; lord crowley |
|||
: Folding your hand out of turn when the action to check is an option. Compare to "[[#b|blind crowley]]", "[[#c|crowley]]" |
|||
</span> |
|||
; low |
; low |
||
# The lowest card by rank. |
# The lowest card by rank. |
||
# The low half of the pot in a high-low split. |
# The low half of the pot in a [[high-low split]]. |
||
== M == |
== M == |
||
; M-ratio |
|||
; [[made hand]] |
|||
: See [[M-ratio]]. |
|||
: A hand that does not need to improve. Compare to "[[drawing hand]]". |
|||
; made hand |
|||
: See [[made hand]]. Compare to a [[drawing hand]]. |
|||
<span id="maniac"> |
|||
; maniac |
; maniac |
||
: A loose and aggressive player. A player who bets constantly and plays many inferior hands. |
: A loose and aggressive player. A player who bets constantly and plays many inferior hands. |
||
</span> |
|||
; match the pot |
; match the pot |
||
: To put in an amount equal to all the chips in the pot. |
: To put in an amount equal to all the chips in the pot. |
||
<span id=" |
<span id="micro-limit"> |
||
; micro-limit |
|||
: Internet poker games with stakes so small that real cardrooms couldn't possibly profit from them, are said to be at the "micro-limit" level (e.g. 25¢-50¢). |
|||
</span> |
|||
; misdeal |
; misdeal |
||
: A deal which is ruined for some reason and must be redealt. |
: A deal which is ruined for some reason and must be redealt. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="move in"> |
<span id="move in"> |
||
; move in |
; move in |
||
: In a no-limit game, to "move in" or to "go all in" means to bet one's entire stake on the hand in play. See [[ |
: In a no-limit game, to "move in" or to "go all in" means to bet one's entire stake on the hand in play. See [[table stakes]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,053: | Line 1,156: | ||
# To fold. |
# To fold. |
||
# To discard one's hand without revealing the cards. Often done after winning without a [[Showdown (poker)|showdown]] or at a showdown when a better hand has already been revealed. |
# To discard one's hand without revealing the cards. Often done after winning without a [[Showdown (poker)|showdown]] or at a showdown when a better hand has already been revealed. |
||
# The discard pile |
# The discard pile "There were only a couple of cards in the ''muck''" |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
== N == |
== N == |
||
; natural card |
; natural card |
||
: A card that isn’t wild or otherwise modified by the game rules. In |
: A card that isn’t wild or otherwise modified by the game rules. In most houses, a natural hand beats an equivalent hand that uses wild cards. For example, a pair comprising a wild card and a natural (Joker, 2♠) would lose to one made from two naturals of the same number (<span style="color:red">2♥</span>, 2♣). |
||
; no-limit |
|||
: See [[Betting (poker)#No limit|no-limit]]. |
|||
; negative freeroll |
|||
: A betting structure where players may wager as much as they like. |
|||
: See [[negative freeroll]]. |
|||
; |
; nuts, the |
||
: See [[nut hand]]. |
|||
: The best possible hand given the cards on the board. |
|||
== O == |
== O == |
||
Line 1,072: | Line 1,175: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; one-eyed royals |
||
: See [[one-eyed royals]]. |
|||
: Face cards with only one eye visible: J♠, <font color=red>J♦</font>, <font color=red>K♦</font>. |
|||
; open |
|||
; [[Betting (poker)#Open|open]] |
|||
: To bet first. |
: To bet first. See [[Betting (poker)#Open|open]]. |
||
; |
; open ended, open ended straight draw |
||
: |
: An [[Draw (poker)#Outside straight draw|outside straight draw]]. Also "two-way straight draw". |
||
; openers |
; openers |
||
Line 1,093: | Line 1,196: | ||
: A game which gives the players the ability to add more money to their stack in the middle of a hand. See [[Table stakes]]. |
: A game which gives the players the ability to add more money to their stack in the middle of a hand. See [[Table stakes]]. |
||
<span id="outrun"> |
|||
; [[Out (poker)|outs]] |
|||
; outrun |
|||
: Cards remaining in the deck that can improve a hand. |
|||
: To beat another hand, usually by being dealt extra cards after the initial deal. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; outs |
|||
: See [[out (poker)]]. |
|||
; outside straight, outside straight draw |
|||
: See [[Draw (poker)#Outside straight draw|outside straight draw]]. Also "two-way straight draw". |
|||
<span id=" |
<span id="overcall"> |
||
; overcall |
|||
; [[Open-ended (poker)|outside straight]] |
|||
: To call a bet after others have called, esp. big bets. ''Jim bet, Alice called, then Ted overcalled.'' Compare to "[[#cold call|cold call]]", "[[#flat call|flat call]]", "[[#smooth call|smooth call]]". |
|||
: A [[Draw (poker)|draw]] to a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straight]] with a single missing rank in the exterior, for example, 10-J-Q-K, seeking an ace or a 9. Also "open-ended", "two-way straight draw". |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,112: | Line 1,223: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="over the top"> |
|||
; over the top |
; over the top |
||
: |
: To [[#reraise|reraise]]. ''Ted raised $20, then Alice came over the top for $60 more.'' |
||
</span> |
|||
== P == |
== P == |
||
<span id="paint"> |
<span id="paint"> |
||
; paint |
; paint |
||
: The face cards, Jacks, Queens, and Kings, in a deck. In [[Texas hold'em]], a flop can be said to be "all paint" if it consists of only these cards. |
: The face cards, Jacks, Queens, and Kings, in a deck. In [[Texas hold'em]], a flop can be said to be "all paint" if it consists of only these cards. This is also called a "[[List of slang names for poker hands#Flop slang|Picasso Flop]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; [[Rank of hands (poker)#One pair|pair]] |
; pair |
||
: See [[Rank of hands (poker)#One pair|one pair]] |
|||
: Two of the same cards in a given hand. |
|||
<span id="passive"> |
<span id="passive"> |
||
; passive |
; passive |
||
: |
: A style of play characterized by checking and calling. Compare to "[[#aggressive|aggressive]]", "[[#loose|loose]]", "[[#tight|tight]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="pat"> |
<span id="pat"> |
||
; pat |
; pat |
||
: Already complete. A hand is a pat hand when, |
: Already complete. A hand is a pat hand when, for example, a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Flush|flush]] comes on the first five cards dealt in [[Draw poker]]. Also see made hand. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="pay off"> |
|||
; pay off |
|||
: To call a bet when you are most likely [[#drawing dead|drawing dead]] because the [[#pot odds|pot odds]] justify the call. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="penny ante"> |
|||
; penny ante |
|||
: Frivilous, low stakes, or "for fun" only; A game where no significant stake is likely to change hands. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="perfect"> |
|||
; perfect |
|||
: The best possible cards, in a lowball hand, after those already named. For example, 7-perfect would be 7-4-3-2-A, and 8-6-perfect would be 8-6-3-2-A. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; Picasso flop |
|||
: Slang for "paint". See [[List of slang names for poker hands#Flop slang|Flop Slang]]. |
|||
; pick-up |
; pick-up |
||
Line 1,140: | Line 1,267: | ||
; pigeon |
; pigeon |
||
: |
: A bad player. Also "[[#donkey|donkey]]", "[[#fish|fish]]". |
||
<span id="play the board"> |
|||
; play the board |
|||
: In games such as [[Texas Hold 'Em]], where 5 community cards are dealt, if your best hand is on the [[#board|board]] and you go to the [[#showdown|showdown]] you are said to "play the board". |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="play twice"> |
<span id="play twice"> |
||
; play twice |
; play twice |
||
: See |
: See [[#deal twice|deal twice]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="pocket pair"> |
<span id="pocket pair"> |
||
; pocket pair |
; pocket pair |
||
: In [[ |
: In [[community card poker]] or [[stud poker]], when two of a player's private cards make a pair. Also "[[#wired pair|wired pair]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,157: | Line 1,289: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; porch |
||
: In [[seven-card stud]], the four cards dealt face up to the player. |
|||
: Cards that are not of the same suit. This is the antonym of the term "suited", and is primarily used in the game of Texas Hold'em. |
|||
; |
; position |
||
: See [[position (poker)]]. |
|||
: The order in which players are seated around the table, and the strategic and tactical consequences of this. ''Ted had position on Alice.'' |
|||
<span id="position bet"> |
<span id="position bet"> |
||
Line 1,170: | Line 1,302: | ||
<span id="post"> |
<span id="post"> |
||
; post |
; post |
||
: To make the required small or big [[Blind (poker)|blind]] bet in [[ |
: To make the required small or big [[Blind (poker)|blind]] bet in [[Texas Hold 'em]] or other games played with blinds rather than antes |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,178: | Line 1,310: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; post oak bluff |
||
: See [[post oak bluff]]. |
|||
: To [[Bluff (poker)|bluff]] with a very small bet, in the hope that it will be perceived as a ''here-kitty-kitty'' bet. |
|||
; |
; pot |
||
: See [[pot (poker)]]. |
|||
:* The already-bet money or chips that players in the hand can win. |
|||
:* To agree with a group of other players that the next pot-winner will pay for something, typically drinks or refreshments. ''Joe, let's pot for the next round.'' |
|||
<span id="pot-committed"> |
|||
; [[Betting (poker)#Pot limit|pot limit]] |
|||
; pot-committed |
|||
: A limit where the maximum amount one can bet is the amount in the pot. |
|||
: More often in the context of a [[#no limit|no limit]] game; the situation where you can no longer fold because the size of the [[#pot|pot]] is so large compared to the size of your [[#stack|stack]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; |
; pot limit |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Pot limit|pot limit]]. |
|||
: The size of the pot in comparison to the bet. Example: in Hold 'em, the pot contains $100, Joe bets $10, and Ed ponders a call. Ed is getting pot odds of $110:$10, or 11:1 |
|||
; pot odds |
|||
: See [[pot odds]]. |
|||
<span id="price"> |
|||
; price |
|||
: See [[#pot odds|pot odds]]. ''"The price was right for me to call."'' |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="probe bet"> |
<span id="probe bet"> |
||
Line 1,199: | Line 1,340: | ||
: A player that gets paid an hourly rate to start poker games or to help them stay active. Prop players play with their own money, which distinguishes them from shills, who play with the casino's money. |
: A player that gets paid an hourly rate to start poker games or to help them stay active. Prop players play with their own money, which distinguishes them from shills, who play with the casino's money. |
||
; protect |
; protect, protection |
||
: See [[protection (poker)]]. |
|||
# To put an object on one's cards to prevent them from being mucked. |
|||
# To bet in order to drive out [[Draw (poker)|drawing]] hands when one holds a [[made hand]]. See [[Protection (poker)]]. |
|||
<span id="push"> |
<span id="push"> |
||
; push |
; push |
||
: To put yourself all-in. |
: To put yourself all-in. |
||
</span> |
|||
;put the clock (on someone) |
|||
: See [[#call the clock|call the clock]]. |
|||
<span id="put on"> |
|||
; put on |
|||
: To ''put someone on'' a hand is to deduce what hand they have based on their actions and your knowledge of their gameplay. See also [[#tell|tells]]. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,212: | Line 1,360: | ||
; quads |
; quads |
||
: [[Rank of hands (poker)#Four of a kind|Four of a kind]]. |
: [[Rank of hands (poker)#Four of a kind|Four of a kind]]. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="qualifier"> |
|||
; qualifier, qualifying low |
|||
: A qualifying [[lowball (poker)|low hand]]. [[High-low split]] games often require a minimum hand value, such as 8-high, in order to award the low half of the [[pot (poker)|pot]]. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,228: | Line 1,381: | ||
: 1. A collection of 100 chips of the same denomination, usually arranged in 5 stacks in a plastic tray. |
: 1. A collection of 100 chips of the same denomination, usually arranged in 5 stacks in a plastic tray. |
||
: 2. A plastic tray used for storing a rack of chips. |
: 2. A plastic tray used for storing a rack of chips. |
||
<span id="ragged"> |
|||
; ragged |
|||
: In [[community card poker]] games, if the [[community card]]s are likely to be of little or no use to anyone, they are said to be ''ragged''. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="rags"> |
<span id="rags"> |
||
; rags |
; rags |
||
: Worthless (or apparently worthless) cards. Most often refers to small cards in high-hand games, while high cards in low games are more often called |
: Worthless (or apparently worthless) cards. Most often refers to small cards in high-hand games, while high cards in low games are more often called "[[#brick|bricks]]" or "[[#bomb|bombs]]". Also "[[#blank|blank]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="rail"> |
|||
; rail |
; rail |
||
: The rail is the sideline at a poker table - the (often imaginary) rail separating spectators from the field of play. Watching from the rail means watching a poker game as a spectator. People on the rail are sometimes called railbirds. |
: The rail is the sideline at a poker table - the (often imaginary) rail separating spectators from the field of play. Watching from the rail means watching a poker game as a spectator. People on the rail are sometimes called railbirds. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="rainbow"> |
<span id="rainbow"> |
||
; rainbow |
; rainbow |
||
: Three or four cards of different suits, especially said of a |
: Three or four cards of different suits, especially said of a [[Flop (poker)|flop]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="raise"> |
|||
; [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]] |
|||
; raise |
|||
# To put in more money than the existing bet. |
|||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Raise|raise]]. |
|||
# The amount raised. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; |
; rake |
||
: See [[rake (poker)]]. Also "[[#juice|juice]]", "[[#vigorish|vig]]", "[[#vigorish|vigorish]]". |
|||
: A fee taken by the house. |
|||
<span id="rakeback"> |
|||
; rakeback |
; rakeback |
||
: Rebate/repayment to a player of a portion the rake paid by |
: Rebate/repayment to a player of a portion of the rake paid by that player, normally from a non-cardroom, third-party source such as an affiliate. Rakeback is paid in many ways by online poker rooms, affiliates or brick and mortar rooms. Many use direct money payments for online poker play. Brick and Mortar rooms usually use rate cards to track and pay their rakeback. |
||
</span> |
|||
; ram and jam |
; ram and jam |
||
: To aggressively bet, raise, and reraise |
: To aggressively bet, raise, and reraise. |
||
<span id="ratholing"> |
<span id="ratholing"> |
||
; ratholing |
; ratholing |
||
: |
: To "[[#going south|go south]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,269: | Line 1,428: | ||
; redeal |
; redeal |
||
: To deal a hand again, possibly after a misdeal. |
: To deal a hand again, possibly after a misdeal. |
||
; redraw |
|||
# To make one hand and have a draw for a better hand. ''Ted made a straight on the turn with a redraw for a flush on the river.''. |
|||
# Second or later draws in a draw game with multiple draws. |
|||
<span id="represent"> |
|||
; represent |
|||
: To ''represent'' a hand is to play as if you hold it (whether you actually hold it or are bluffing). |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="reraise"> |
<span id="reraise"> |
||
; reraise |
; reraise |
||
: Raise after one has been raised. Also |
: Raise after one has been raised. Also coming "over the top". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; ring game |
||
: See [[ring game]]. |
|||
: A non-tournament poker game played for stakes. |
|||
; |
; river |
||
: See [[river (poker)]]. |
|||
: The fifth card dealt in [[community card poker|communal card games]] such as [[Texas hold 'em]], or the seventh card dealt in [[seven-card stud]]. The verb river is to catch a winning card on the river. |
|||
; river rat |
; river rat |
||
: A |
: A player whose hand was dominated from the start, but improves his hand on the river to win the pot. See "[[#suck out|suck out]]". |
||
<span id="rock"> |
|||
; rock |
; rock |
||
# A very [[#tight|tight]] player (plays very few hands and only continues with strong hands). |
|||
# A bundle of chips held together with a rubber band, or other token signifying an obligatory [[Betting (poker)#Straddle bets|live straddle]]. If the player [[#under the gun|under the gun]] has the rock, he must use it to post a live straddle. The winner of the pot collects the rock and is obligated to use it in turn. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="rolled-up trips"> |
|||
; rolled-up trips |
; rolled-up trips |
||
: In [[ |
: In [[seven-card stud]], three of a kind dealt in the first three cards. |
||
</span> |
|||
; |
; rounder |
||
: See [[rounder]]. |
|||
: A gambler who makes their living entirely at cards. Rounding used to be illegal in the United States due to gaming laws, however many states have eased these and allowed "home" poker games to take place. |
|||
; runner |
; runner |
||
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<span id="runner-runner"> |
<span id="runner-runner"> |
||
; runner-runner |
; runner-runner |
||
: |
: A hand made by hitting two consecutive cards on the [[Turn (poker)|turn]] and [[River (poker)|river]]. Also "[[#backdoor|backdoor]]". Compare to "[[#bad beat|bad beat]]" and "[[#suck out|suck out]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; rush |
; rush |
||
: |
: Winning streak. A player who has won several big pots recently is said to be ''on a rush''. |
||
== S == |
== S == |
||
; |
; sandbag |
||
: See [[slow play (poker)]]. |
|||
: To play your hand slowly to gain an advantage in a tournament with a timed blinds structure. Sandbagging can also refer to wasting time before checking in a hand to lure opponents into thinking you have a poor hand. |
|||
<span id="satellite"> |
|||
; satellite |
; satellite |
||
: A tournament in which the prize is a free entrance to another (larger) tournament. |
: A tournament in which the prize is a free entrance to another (larger) tournament. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="scare card"> |
<span id="scare card"> |
||
; scare card |
; scare card |
||
: A card |
: A card dealt face up (either to a player in a game such as stud or to the board in a community card game) that appears to create a strong hand for someone. ''The Jack of spades on the turn was a scare card because it put both flush and straight possibilities on the board.'' |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="scoop"> |
|||
; scoop |
; scoop |
||
: In high-low split games, to win both the high and the low half of the pot. |
: In high-low split games, to win both the high and the low half of the pot. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="second pair"> |
|||
; [[Bluff (poker)#Semi-bluff|semi-bluff]] |
|||
; second pair |
|||
: A large bet on a [[Draw (poker)|drawing]] hand. A strategy used because of its dual purpose of both possibly winning the pot immediately by forcing your opponents to fold, but still having the potential to win if you are called and subsequently make your hand. |
|||
: In [[community card poker]] games, a pair of cards of the second-top rank on the [[#board|board]]. Compare [[#bottom pair|bottom pair]], [[#top pair|top pair]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="sell"> |
|||
; sell |
|||
: In [[#spread limit|spread limit]] poker, to ''sell'' a hand is to bet less than the maximum with a strong hand, in the hope that more of your opponents will call the bet. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; semi-bluff |
|||
: See [[Bluff (poker)#Semi-bluff|semi-bluff]]. |
|||
<span id="set"> |
<span id="set"> |
||
; set |
; set |
||
: [[Rank of hands (poker)#Three of a kind|Three of a kind]], esp. |
: [[Rank of hands (poker)#Three of a kind|Three of a kind]], esp. the situation where two of the cards are concealed in the player's [[#hole|hole]] cards. Compare to "[[#trips|trips]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,334: | Line 1,513: | ||
: A deck that has been ordered, usually King to Ace by suit (spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds). In casinos, it is customary to use a set-up deck when introducing a new deck to the table. The set-up is spread face up for the players to demonstrate that all of the cards are present before the first shuffle. Also called to "spade the deck". |
: A deck that has been ordered, usually King to Ace by suit (spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds). In casinos, it is customary to use a set-up deck when introducing a new deck to the table. The set-up is spread face up for the players to demonstrate that all of the cards are present before the first shuffle. Also called to "spade the deck". |
||
; shark |
|||
; [[shill]] |
|||
: A professional player. |
|||
: In a legal casino, a shill is a person who plays using the casino's money in order to keep games (e.g. especially poker) going when there are not enough players. (This is different from a proposition player who is paid a salary by the casino for the same purpose, but bets with their own money.) Compare to "proposition player". |
|||
; shill |
|||
: See [[shill]]. Compare to "proposition player". |
|||
; ship it |
|||
: Same as "send it." Phrase sometimes exclaimed by the winner of a big pot. |
|||
<span id="shootout"> |
|||
; shootout |
; shootout |
||
: A [[poker tournament]] format where the last remaining player of a table goes on to play the remaining players of other tables. Each table plays independently of the others; that is, there is no balancing as players are eliminated. This format is particularly common in European televised poker programs, including [[Late Night Poker]]. |
: A [[poker tournament]] format where the last remaining player of a table goes on to play the remaining players of other tables. Each table plays independently of the others; that is, there is no balancing as players are eliminated. This format is particularly common in European televised poker programs, including [[Late Night Poker]]. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="short stack"> |
|||
; short stack |
|||
: A [[#stack|stack]] of [[#chips|chips]] that is relatively small for the stakes being played. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; shorthanded |
|||
: A poker game that is played with around six players or less, as opposed to a full ring game, which is usually nine or ten players. |
|||
; |
; showdown |
||
: See [[showdown (poker)]]. |
|||
: When the cards are revealed at the end of the game. Also used outside [[poker]] to mean facing up to an opponent. |
|||
<span id="side pot"> |
<span id="side pot"> |
||
; side pot |
; side pot |
||
: A separate pot created to deal with the situation of one player going "all in". See [[ |
: A separate pot created to deal with the situation of one player going "all in". See [[table stakes]]. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="sit and go"> |
|||
; sit and go |
|||
: A "Sit and Go" is a [[poker tournament]] which has no starting time that will start as soon as a set number of players, usually 9 or 10, sign up. Also called ''sit n' gos'' and a variety of other similar spellings. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; 16-way straight draw |
; 16-way straight draw |
||
: A hand in [[draw poker]] such as <font color=red> |
: A hand in [[draw poker]] such as <font color=red>6♥ 7♥</font> <font color=black>8♠ (Joker)</font>, in which any of sixteen cards (4 fours, 4 fives, 4 nines, 4 tens) can fill a straight. |
||
; |
; slow play |
||
: See [[slow play (poker)]]. Also "sandbag". |
|||
: A strategy whereby good cards are played conservatively, with hopes that other players will keep playing the hand and build a larger pot. |
|||
; slow roll |
; slow roll |
||
: To delay or avoid showing one's hand at showdown, forcing other players to expose their hands first. When done while holding a good hand likely to be the winner, it is considered poor etiquette, because it often gives other players "false hope" that their hands might win before the slow-roller's is exposed. |
: To delay or avoid showing one's hand at showdown, forcing other players to expose their hands first. When done while holding a good hand likely to be the winner, it is considered poor etiquette, because it often gives other players "false hope" that their hands might win before the slow-roller's is exposed. |
||
<span id="small blind"> |
|||
; small blind |
|||
: The smaller of two [[Betting (poker)#Blinds|forced bets]] required in games using a blind structure such as [[Texas Hold'em]] and [[Omaha Hold'em]]. The small blind is posted by the player to the left of the [[Buck (poker)|dealer button]]. |
|||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Blinds|blinds]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="small blind special"> |
|||
; small blind special |
; small blind special |
||
: A situation in which (assuming no raising) a player is dealt weak hole cards in the small blind, but ends up making the best hand because they got to see a relatively inexpensive flop. Compare to "big blind special". |
: A situation in which (assuming no raising) a player is dealt weak hole cards in the small blind, but ends up making the best hand because they got to see a relatively inexpensive flop. Compare to "[[#big blind special|big blind special]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="smooth call"> |
|||
; smooth call |
|||
: See "[[#flat call|flat call]]". |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="snow"> |
|||
; snow |
|||
# To play a worthless hand misleadingly in [[draw poker]] in order to [[Bluff (poker)|bluff]]. |
|||
# The worthless hand in question. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="soft-play"> |
|||
; soft-play |
|||
: To intentionally go easy on a player (e.g. not betting or raising against him when you usually would). |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="speeding"> |
|||
; speeding |
; speeding |
||
: To play very loose with no identifiable pattern, or to bluff frequently. Also known as speeding around. |
: To play very loose with no identifiable pattern, or to bluff frequently. Also known as speeding around. Compare to "[[#fast|fast]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="spike"> |
|||
; spike |
; spike |
||
: When a flop is spread out, if the first card revealed is the card an underdog needs, they spike that card. More loosely, if any of the flop cards help you, then you spike it. ''I had Q9 to my opponent's pocket jacks, but I spiked a queen on the flop to take the lead.'' |
: When a flop is spread out, if the first card revealed is the card an underdog needs, they spike that card. More loosely, if any of the flop cards help you, then you spike it. ''I had Q9 to my opponent's pocket jacks, but I spiked a queen on the flop to take the lead.'' |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="splash the pot"> |
<span id="splash the pot"> |
||
Line 1,374: | Line 1,598: | ||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; split |
||
: |
: See [[split (poker)]] and [[high-low split]]. |
||
<span id="split two pair"> |
|||
; split two pair |
|||
: In [[community card poker]], a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Two pair|two pair]] hand, with each pair made of one of your [[#hole, hole cards|hole cards]], and one community card. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; spread |
; spread |
||
: The range between a table's minimum and maximum bets. |
: The range between a table's minimum and maximum bets. |
||
<span id="spread-limit"> |
|||
; spread-limit |
|||
: A form of [[#limit|limit]] poker where the bets and raises can be between a minimum and maximum value. The [[#spread|spread]] may change between rounds. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="stack"> |
|||
; stack |
; stack |
||
: A collection of 20 [[poker chip |
: A collection of 20 [[poker chip]]s of the same denomination, usually arranged in an orderly column. |
||
</span> |
|||
; stacked deck |
|||
: See [[cold deck]]. |
|||
; stakes |
; stakes |
||
: The definition of the amount one buys in for and can bet. For example, a "low stakes" game might be a $10 buy-in with a $1 maximum raise. |
: The definition of the amount one buys in for and can bet. For example, a "low stakes" game might be a $10 buy-in with a $1 maximum raise. |
||
<span id="stand pat"> |
|||
; stand pat |
; stand pat |
||
: In [[draw poker]], playing the original hand using no draws, either as a bluff or in the belief it is the best hand. |
: In [[draw poker]], playing the original hand using no draws, either as a bluff or in the belief it is the best hand. |
||
</span> |
|||
; |
; starting hand |
||
: See [[starting hand]]. |
|||
: The initial set of cards dealt to a player before any voluntary betting takes place. |
|||
<span id="steal"> |
|||
; steal |
|||
: In poker, the term steal is often used as merely a synonym for bluff, but there is a more specific use of the term. |
|||
: See [[steal (poker)]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="steam"> |
|||
; steam |
; steam |
||
: Act of playing recklessly when one is frustrated. Compare to "tilt". |
: Act of playing recklessly when one is frustrated. Compare to "[[#tilt|tilt]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
; stop |
; stop and go |
||
: |
: ''Stop and go'' or ''stop 'n' go'' is when a player bets into another player who has previously raised or otherwise shown [[Aggression (poker)|aggression]]. Example: On the flop, Bill bets into Tom, Tom raises, and Bill just calls. On the turn, Bill bets into Tom again. Bill has just pulled a ''stop 'n' go'' play. |
||
: Another version of the "stop and go" is in tournament poker when a player raises pre-flop with the intention of going all in after the flop regardless of the cards that fall. This is typically done when the blinds are high and every chip becomes vital. |
|||
; [[Betting (poker)#Straddle bets|straddle |
; straddle bet |
||
: See [[Betting (poker)#Straddle bets|straddle bets]]. |
|||
: An optional live blind bet in a [[Ring game|cash game]], where the next player from the big blind posts an extra blind (2 × big blind), and gets to act last before the flop. |
|||
; [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straight]] |
; straight |
||
# Poker hand: see [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight|straight]]. |
|||
# When used with an amount, indicates that the speaker is referring to the total bet, versus the amount being raised. ''Alice bets twenty. Bob raises to fifty straight.'' Also "[[#altogether|altogether]]" or "[[#all day|all day]]". |
|||
: Hand of five consecutive cards which are not all the same [[Suit (cards)|suit]]. |
|||
; [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight flush|straight flush]] |
; straight flush |
||
: See [[Rank of hands (poker)#Straight flush|straight flush]]. |
|||
: Hand of five consecutive cards of a single suit. The highest of these is the [[Rank of hands (poker)#Royal flush|royal flush]], or 10 through Ace of one suit. |
|||
; strategy card |
; strategy card |
||
Line 1,417: | Line 1,660: | ||
<span id="string bet"> |
<span id="string bet"> |
||
; string bet |
; string bet |
||
: To call with one motion and raise with another, or to reach for more chips in the middle of laying a bet/raise without stating the intended amount. |
: To call with one motion and raise with another, or to reach for more chips in the middle of laying a bet/raise without stating the intended amount. String bets are prohibited in [[Public cardroom rules (poker)|public cardroom rules]]. Compare to "[[#forward motion|forward motion]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="structured"> |
|||
; structured |
|||
: A structured betting system is one where the [[#spread|spread]] of the bets may change from round to round. |
|||
</span> |
</span> |
||
Line 1,424: | Line 1,672: | ||
; stud |
; stud |
||
# A variant of poker. See [[ |
# A variant of poker. See [[stud poker]]. |
||
# A card dealt face up in Stud poker. |
# A card dealt face up in Stud poker. |
||
Line 1,432: | Line 1,680: | ||
<span id="sucker straight"> |
<span id="sucker straight"> |
||
; sucker straight |
; sucker straight |
||
: |
: In [[community card poker]] variants, a straight completed on the low end of the possible straight on the board. Compare to "[[#idiot end|idiot end, ignorant end]]". |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
<span id="suited"> |
<span id="suited"> |
||
; suited |
; suited |
||
: Having the same suit. |
: Having the same suit. See [[Suit (cards)|card suits]]. |
||
</span> |
</span> |
||
; |
; suited connectors |
||
: See [[suited connectors]]. |
|||
: Cards that are both "suited" and "connected" (same suit, adjacent ranks), usually referring to a Texas hold'em starting hand. ''9♣8♣ are suited connectors.'' |
|||
; super satellite |
; super satellite |
||
: A multi-table [[poker tournament]] in which the prize is a free entrance to a satellite tournament or a tournament in which all the top finishers gain entrance to a larger tournament. |
: A multi-table [[poker tournament]] in which the prize is a free entrance to a satellite tournament or a tournament in which all the top finishers gain entrance to a larger tournament. |
||
; sweat |
|||
: To sweat someone is to watch them play from the rail, in order to lend your support. |
|||
== T == |
== T == |
||
<span id="table stakes"> |
|||
; table stakes |
|||
: A rule that states that only money on the table at the beginning of a hand is playable, and that a player may not retrieve money from his or her wallet or purse during the play of a hand. |
|||
: See [[table stakes]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="tell"> |
|||
; [[Tell (poker)|tell]] |
|||
; tell |
|||
: A motion or statement that gives away information about one's cards. |
|||
: See [[tell (poker)]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="third man walking"> |
|||
; third man walking |
|||
: A player who gets up from his seat in a cash game, after two other players are already away from the table, is referred to as the "third man walking". In a casino with a "third man walking rule", this player may be required to return to his seat within 10 minutes, or one rotation of the deal around the table, or else his seat in the game will be forfeited if there is a waiting list for the game. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="throwing a party"> |
|||
; throwing a party |
; throwing a party |
||
: A player who is playing like a fool and gambling all of their money away. |
: A player who is playing like a fool and gambling all of their money away is said to be ''throwing a party''. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="three of a kind"> |
|||
; three of a kind |
|||
: Three cards of the same rank. Also "trips", "set". |
|||
: See [[Rank of hands (poker)#Three of a kind|three of a kind]]. Also "[[#trips|trips]]", "[[#set|set]]". |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="three pair"> |
|||
; three pair |
|||
: In a seven card game, such as seven card stud or Texas hold 'em, it is possible for a player to have 3 pairs, although a player can only play two of them as part of a standard 5-card poker hand. This situation may jokingly be referred to as a player having a hand of three pair. Note that in Omaha, it is possible to "have" 4 pair in the same manner. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="tight"> |
|||
; tight |
; tight |
||
: |
: See [[Poker strategy#Loose/tight play|loose/tight play]]. Compare to "[[#loose|loose]]", "[[#aggressive|aggressive]]", "[[#passive|passive]]". |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="tilt"> |
|||
; [[Tilt (poker)|tilt]] |
|||
; tilt |
|||
: To make reckless betting decisions as a result of frustration. Players showing this behavior are often said to be ''on tilt''. |
|||
: See [[tilt (poker)]]. Compare to "[[#steam|steam]]". |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="to go"> |
|||
; tourettes |
|||
; to go |
|||
: To be dealt AK suited, only to see the remainder of the cards fail to give a hand any better than Ace High. ''Mark was always suffering from tourettes.'' |
|||
: A term used to describe the amount that a player is required to call in order to stay in the hand, ''"Alice was deciding whether to call now it was $50 to go."'' |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="toke"> |
|||
; toke |
|||
: In a [[#brick and mortar|brick and mortar]] casino, a ''toke'' is a "tip" given to the dealer by the winner of the pot. Tokes often represent a large percentage of a dealer's income. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="top pair"> |
|||
; top pair |
|||
: In [[community card poker]] games, ''top pair'' is a [[Rank of hands (poker)#Pair|pair]] of the same rank as the highest ranking card on the [[#board|board]]. Compare [[#second pair|second pair]], [[#bottom pair|bottom pair]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="top two"> |
|||
; top two |
|||
: A [[#split two pair|split two pair]], matching the highest-ranking two flop cards. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; trey |
; trey |
||
: A 3-spot card. Casino personnel refer to the |
: A 3-spot card. Casino personnel refer to the 3♣ as the "trey of clubs". |
||
<span id="trips"> |
|||
; trips |
; trips |
||
: |
: When one of a players hole cards in hold 'em connects with two cards on the board to make three of a kind. This differs from a set where three of a kind is made when a pocket pair connects with one card on the flop to make three of a kind. |
||
: [[Rank of hands (poker)#Three of a kind|Three of a kind]]. Compare to "[[#set|set]]". |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="turn"> |
|||
; [[Turn (poker)|turn]] |
|||
; turn |
|||
: The fourth card dealt in [[community card poker|communal card games]] such as [[Texas hold 'em]]. Also used to describe the sixth card dealt in [[seven-card stud]]. |
|||
: See [[turn (poker)]]. |
|||
</span> |
|||
<span id="12-way straight draw"> |
|||
; 12-way straight draw |
; 12-way straight draw |
||
: A hand in [[draw poker]] such as <font color=red> |
: A hand in [[draw poker]] such as <font color=red>6♥ 7♥</font> <font color=black>(Joker) 9♣</font>, in which any of twelve cards (4 fives, 4 eights, 4 tens) can fill a straight. |
||
</span> |
|||
== U == |
== U == |
||
<span id="under the gun"> |
|||
;under the gun |
;under the gun |
||
:The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in [[Texas hold 'em]] or [[ |
:The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in [[Texas hold 'em]] or [[Omaha hold'em|Omaha ]]. The player who is under the gun must act first on the first round of betting. |
||
</span> |
|||
<span id="underdog"> |
|||
; underdog |
|||
: An ''underdog'' or ''dog'' is a player with a smaller chance to win than another specified player. Frequently used when the exact odds are expressed. ''Harry might have been bluffing, but if he really had the king, my hand was a 4-to-1 dog, so I folded.'' |
|||
</span> |
|||
; underfull |
|||
: In a [[Community card poker|community card]] game, a full house that is one of the lowest full houses possible. For example: in [[Texas hold 'em]], a player holding a pair of deuces with a final board of 2A33Q holds an underfull (Deuces full of Treys). The highest possible full house is Aces full of Treys. Also "underboat". |
|||
; up |
|||
: When used with a card rank to describe a poker hand, refers to [[Rank of hands (poker)#Two pair|two pair]] with the named card being the higher pair. For example, a hand of QQ885 might be called "queens up". |
|||
; up and down straight draw |
|||
: An [[#open ended|open ended]] straight draw. Also called an 'up and down' or an 'up and down draw'. |
|||
<span id="upcard"> |
|||
; upcard |
; upcard |
||
: See [[upcard]]. |
|||
: A card that is dealt faceup. |
|||
</span> |
|||
; up the ante |
; up the ante |
||
Line 1,494: | Line 1,803: | ||
== V == |
== V == |
||
; |
; value bet |
||
: See [[value (poker)]]. |
|||
:A bet made for the purpose of increasing the size of the pot, and which the player wants his opponents to call. This is in contrast to a [[Bluff (poker)|bluff]] or a [[Protection (poker)|protection]] bet (though some bets may have a combination of these motives). |
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<span id="vigorish"> |
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; vig, vigorish |
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# The [[Rake (poker)|rake]]. |
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: The [[rake (poker)|rake]]. See [[vigorish]]. |
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# The [[expected value]] associated with a play. ''If the blinds are rocks, stealing from the button has good vig.'' |
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</span> |
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; vnh |
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:Abbreviation for "very nice hand", used in [[ |
: Abbreviation for "very nice hand", used in [[online poker]] chat. |
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== W == |
== W == |
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<span id="wake up"> |
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; wake up |
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: To "wake up with a hand" means to discover a strong starting hand, often when there has already been action in front of the player. |
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</span> |
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<span id="walk"> |
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; walk |
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: A walk is the situation where all players fold to the big blind. |
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</span> |
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<span id="wash"> |
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; wash |
; wash |
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: To mix the deck by spreading the cards face down on the table and mixing them up. A dealer may wash the deck before shuffling. |
: To mix the deck by spreading the cards face down on the table and mixing them up. A dealer may wash the deck before shuffling. |
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</span> |
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<span id="weak ace"> |
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; weak ace |
; weak ace |
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: An ace with a low kicker (e.g. four). Also "small ace |
: An ace with a low kicker (e.g. four). Also "small ace," "soft ace," "ace-rag." |
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</span> |
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; wheel |
; wheel |
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: A 5-high straight, with the Ace playing low. See [[Rank of hands (poker)#Wheel|wheel]]. |
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# In [[Deuce-to-seven low]], a 5 card hand of 2,3,4,5,7. |
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<span id="whipsaw"> |
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; whipsaw |
; whipsaw |
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: When a player is caught in the middle between two raisers and must call each bet because of the pot odds. Compare to "crossfire". |
: When a player is caught in the middle between two raisers and must call each bet because of the pot odds. Compare to "crossfire". |
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</span> |
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<span id="wild card"> |
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; wild card |
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: a card designated by the dealer before dealing (for instance all sevens) that may be used as any of the 52 cards to fill a hand. In some cases, wildcards can also be used to make five of a kind, a hand that is not possible using the standard 52-card deck. Compare to "[[Bug (poker)|bug]]". |
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: See [[wild card (poker)]]. Compare to [[bug (poker)]]. |
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</span> |
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; window card |
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;wired pair |
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: |
: An upcard in [[stud poker]]. The first window card in stud is called the "door card". |
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<span id="wired pair"> |
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== X == |
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; wired pair |
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: A "[[#pocket pair|pocket pair]]". |
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</span> |
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<span id="wrap"> |
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; wrap |
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: In [[Omaha hold 'em|Omaha]], the term for an open ended straight that consists of two board cards and three or four cards from a player's hand. An example would be a player holding 345A with the board 67K is said to have a "wrap" as any 3, 4, or 5, or 8 will make a straight. A hand of 4589 would also be a wrap draw, but would often be referred to as a "big wrap" due to twenty cards making the straight as opposed to thirteen in the first example. |
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</span> |
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== X == |
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== Y == |
== Y == |
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== Z == |
== Z == |
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; z-game |
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: The lowest-stakes game in the house. |
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==Notes and references== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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<references/> |
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</div> |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Appendices]] |
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[[Category:Move to Wiktionary 2007-02]] |
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[[eo:Pokera terminaro]] |
Revision as of 00:56, 11 February 2007
The large and growing jargon of poker includes many terms. This page contains brief definitions of the most common terms you may encounter in text or at play. The list has been trimmed to primarily those poker-specific terms one might find in poker texts or in common use in casinos. Some terms link to a more complete article on the topic.
Various poker hands have been given many names, and these are listed in List of slang names for poker hands. Finally, this is not meant to be a formal dictionary; precise usage details and multiple closely related senses are omitted here in favor of concise treatment of the basics. See also card game terminology.
A
- A-B-C, A-B-C-D
- A sequence of the lowest cards in a lowball game. For example, the hand 8-6-3-2-A might be called an eight-six-a-b-c.
- Uncreative or predictable play. He's an a-b-c player.
- ace-to-five, ace-to-six
- Methods of evaluating low hands. See ace-to-five low, ace-to-six low.
- act
- To make a play (bet, call, raise, or fold) at the required time. It is Ted's turn to act. Compare to "in turn".
- action
- A player's turn to act. The action is on you.
- A willingness to gamble. I'll give you action or There's plenty of action in this game
- A bet, along with all the calls of that bet. For example, if one player makes a $5 bet and three other players call, he is said to have $5 "in action", and to have received $15 worth of action on his bet. Usually this term comes into play when figuring side pots when one or more players is all in. See table stakes.
- action button
- A marker similar to a kill button, on which a player places an extra forced bet. In a seven-card stud high-low game, the action button is awarded to the winner of a scoop pot above a certain size, signifying that in the next pot, that player will be required to post an amount representing a completion of the bring-in to a full bet. For example, in a stud game with $2 and $4 betting limits and a $1 bring-in, a player with the action button must post $2; after the cards are dealt, the player with the low card must still pay the $1 bring-in, then when the betting reaches the player who posted the $2, he is required to leave it in as a raise of the bring-in (and has the option to raise further). Players in between the bring-in and the action button can just call the bring-in, but they know ahead of time that they will be raised by the action button.
- action card
- In Texas Hold'em, a card in which two players hold that comes out on the Flop.
- action only
- In many cardrooms, with respect to an all-in bet, only a full (or half) bet can be reraised. Anything less than a full (or half) bet is considered to be action only, that is, other players can call the bet but not raise it. For example, Alice bets $100. Bob calls. Carol goes all in for $119. When the action returns to Alice and Bob, they may only call the extra $19; they cannot raise it. Carol's raise is called action only. Compare to "full bet rule", "half bet rule".
- add-on
- In a live game, to buy more chips before you have busted. In tournament play, a single rebuy for which all players are eligible regardless of their stack size. This is usually allowed only once, at the end of the rebuy period.
- advertising
- To make an obvious play or expose cards in such a way as to deliberately convey an impression to your opponents about your style of play. For example, to make a bad play or bluff to give the impression that you bluff frequently (hoping opponents will then call your legitimate bets) or to show only good hands to give the impression that you rarely bluff (hoping opponents will then fold when you do).
- aggressive, aggression
- See aggression (poker). Compare to "loose", "tight", "passive".
- air
- In a lowball game, "giving air" is letting an opponent who might otherwise fold know that you intend to draw one or more cards to induce him to call.
- all day
- The total current posted bet. Used to indicate that the speaker is referring to the total bet, versus the difference the acting player would need to post. Action is on Alice; twenty all day. Also "altogether" or "straight".
- all in
- The act of betting all of your chips against another player. See all in.
- altogether
- The total current posted bet. Used to indicate that the speaker is referring to the total bet, versus the difference the acting player would need to post. Action is on Alice; twenty dollars altogether. Also "all day" or "straight".
- ammo, ammunition
- Chips in play. I'm going to need more ammo for this game. Compare to "fire".
- angle
- A technically legal, but borderline unethical, play. For example, deliberately miscalling one's own hand to induce a fold, or placing odd amounts of chips in the pot to confuse opponents about whether you mean to call or raise. A player employing such tactics is called an "angle shooter".
- ante
- See ante.
- ante off
- In tournament play, to force an absent player to continue paying antes, blinds, bring-ins, or other forced bets so that the contest remains fair to the other players. Go ahead and take that phone call. We'll ante you off until you get back. Also "blind off".
B
- baby
- A low-ranked card, usually used in lowball games. Also "spoke" when between ace and five.
- backdoor
- A draw requiring two or more rounds to fill. For example, catching two consecutive cards in two rounds of seven-card stud or Texas hold 'em to fill a straight or flush.
- A hand made other than the hand the player intended to make. I started with four hearts hoping for a flush, but I backdoored two more kings and my trips won.
- back in
- To enter a pot by checking and then calling someone else's open on the first betting round. Usually used in games like Jackpots, meaning to enter without openers.
- To enter a pot cheaply or for free because of having posted a blind.
- back into
- To win a pot with a hand that would have folded to any bet. For example, two players enter a pot of draw poker, both drawing to flushes. Both miss, and check after the draw. The player with the ace-high draw "backs into" winning the pot against the player with only a king-high draw. Also to make a backdoor draw, for example, a player who starts a hand with three of a kind, but makes a runner-runner flush, can be said to back into the flush.
- backraise
- A reraise from a player that previously limped in the same betting round. I decided to backraise with my pocket eights to isolate the all-in player.
- bad beat
- See bad beat.
- bank
- Also called the house, the person responsible for distributing chips, keeping track of the buy-ins, and paying winners at the end of the game.
- bankroll
- The amount of money that a player has to wager for the duration of his or her poker career.
- behind
- Not (currently) having the best hand. I'm pretty sure my pair of jacks was behind Lou's kings, but I had other outs, so I kept playing.
- Describing money in play but not visible as chips in front of a player. For example, a player may announce "I've got $100 behind" while handing money to a casino employee, meaning that he intends those chips to be in play as soon as they are brought to him.
- belly buster
- An inside straight draw. Also "gutshot".
- berry patch
- A game with many unskilled or "live" players; a lucrative opportunity for profit.
- bet
- Any money wagered during the play of a hand.
- More specifically, the opening bet of a betting round.
- In a fixed limit game, the standard betting amount. There were six bets in the pot when I called.
- betting structure
- See betting (poker).
- big bet
- See big bet.
- big blind
- See blind (poker).
- big blind special
- A situation in which (assuming no raising) the player in the big blind is dealt weak hole cards, but ends up making the best hand because he or she was able to see the flop for free, often two pair with unusual cards such as 3-9 or 10-2. Compare to "small blind special".
- blank
- A card, frequently a community card, of no apparent value. I suspected Margaret had a good draw, but the river card was a blank, so I bet again. Also "rag". Compare to "brick", "bomb".
- blaze
- A Non-standard poker hand of five face cards that outranks a flush.
- bleed, bleeding chips
- To lose small amounts continually, so as to add up to a large loss. I won that large pot with my kings, but then I bled it all off over the next hour.
- blind
- A type of forced bet. See blind (poker).
- In the "dark".
- blind stud
- A stud poker game in which all cards are dealt face down. Was popular in California before legal rulings made traditional stud legal there.
- blind off, blinded
- To "ante off".
- To have one's stack reduced by paying ever increasing blinds in tournaments. Ted had to make a move soon or he would be blinded away in three more rounds.
- blocker
- In community card poker, refers to holding one of the opponent's outs, typically when the board threatens a straight or straight draw. The board was A23 but with my pair of fives I held two blockers to the straight. Compare to "dry ace".
- bluff
- See bluff (poker).
- bluff-catcher
- On the last betting round, a hand that cannot win if the opponent is making a legitimate value bet, but that might win if the opponent's bet was a pure bluff. It looked like Jim and I were both drawing for a flush. I missed and he bet, but I figured the pair of nines I caught along the way made a bluff-catcher, so I called.
- board
- The set of community cards in a community card game. If another spade hits the board, I'll have to fold.
- The set of face-up cards of a particular player in a stud game. Zack's board didn't look too scary, so I bet into him again.
- The set of all face-up cards in a stud game. I started with a flush draw, but there were already four other diamonds showing on the board, so I folded.
- boat
- Slang for a full house. Named for its resemblance to a boat structure; the pair making up the bow and stern, and the three of a kind as the hull.
- bone
- A chip, often of small denomination.
- both ways
- Both halves of a split pot, often declared by a player who thinks he or she will win both low and high.
- bottom end
- The lowest of several possible straights, especially in a community card game. For example, in Texas hold'em with the cards 5-6-7 on the board, a player holding 3-4 has the bottom end straight, while a player holding 4-8 or 8-9 has a higher straight. Also "idiot end".
- bottom pair, bottom set
- In a community card game, a pair (or set) made by matching the lowest-ranking board card with one (or two) in one's private hand. Compare second pair, top pair.
- box
- The chip tray in front of a house dealer, and by extension, the house dealer's position at the table. You've been in the box for an hour now; don't you get a break?
- boxed card
- A card encountered face-up in the assembled deck during the deal, as opposed to one overturned in the act of dealing. Most house rules treat a boxed card as if it didn't exist; that is, it is placed aside and not used. Different rules cover cards exposed during the deal.
- break
- In a draw poker game, to discard cards that make a made hand in the hope of making a much better one. For example, a player with J-J-10-9-8 may wish to break his pair of jacks to draw for the straight, and a lowball player may break his 9-high 9-5-4-2-A to draw for the wheel.
- To end a session of play. The game broke at about 3:00.
- brick
- A "blank", though more often used in the derogatory sense of a card that is undesirable rather than merely inconsequential, such as a card of high rank or one that makes a pair in a low-hand game. Also "bomb". Compare to "rags".
- brick & mortar
- A brick & mortar or B&M casino is a term referring to a "real" casino based in a building, as opposed to an online casino. This term is used to refer to many real world locations vs. their Internet counterparts. It is not just a poker term.
- bring in
- To open a betting round. Alice brought it in for $4, and Bob raised to $10. Ted posted the bring-in.
- A type of forced bet. Rather than (or in addition to) antes or blinds, some games, like seven card stud use a bring-in. The advantage of bring-in games is that the player can look at their hand before betting and can then bet the minimum bring or a full bet (usually 2.5X the bring in amount). So even though it is a forced bet, it is not considered a [blind bet] because the player can look at their cards before acting.
- Broadway
- The Ace high straight. AKQJT (offsuit) is Broadway.
- Broomcorn's Uncle
- This is a colorful term for calling a player overly tight.
- Mike Sexton used this term on the World Poker Tour Ladies Night 2006 episode. The pop-up defined it as "Losing all your chips by never playing a hand." Broomcorn is an other name for boring common millet. Also see "ante off", "blind off".
- brush
- A casino employee whose job it is to greet players entering the poker room, maintain the list of persons waiting to play, announce open seats, and various other duties (including brushing off tables to prepare them for new games, hence the name).
- To recruit players into a game. Dave is brushing up some players for tonight's game.
- bubble
- The last finishing position in a poker tournament before entering the payout structure. He was very frustrated after getting eliminated on the bubble. Also can be applied to other situations like if six players will make a televised final table the player finishing seventh will go out on the "TV bubble". Also used to describe any situation close to the payout structure.
- buck
- See button (poker).
- bug
- See bug (poker). Compare to wild card (poker).
- bullet
- An ace.
- A chip. Also "ammo".
- bully
- A player who repeatedly makes large bets. This prevents opportunities from getting free or cheap cards that may complete a drawing hand. Also see buy the pot. Compare to "run over".
- bum deal
- A mis-deal
- bump
- To raise. Alice bet $5 and Bob bumped it to $20.
- burn, burn card
- See burn card.
- busted
- Not complete, such as four cards to a straight that never gets the fifth card to complete it.
- Out of chips. To "bust out" is to lose all of one's chips.
- button
- See button (poker). Also "buck" or "hat".
- buy-in
- The minimum required amount of chips that must be "bought" to become involved in a game (or tournament). For example, a $4-$8 fixed limit game might require a player to buy at least $40 worth of chips to play. This is typically far less than an average player would expect to play with for any amount of time, but large enough that the player can play a number of hands without buying more, so the game isn't slowed down by constant chip-buying.
- buy short
- To buy into a game for an amount smaller than the normal buy-in. Some casinos allow this under certain circumstances, such as after having lost a full buy-in, or if all players agree to allow it.
- buy the button
- A rule originating in northern California casinos in games played with blinds, in which a new player sitting down with the button to his right (who would normally be required to sit out a hand as the button passed him, then post to come in) may choose to pay the amount of both blinds for this one hand (the amount of the large blind playing as a live blind, and the amount of the small blind as dead money), play this hand, and then receive the button on the next hand as if he had been playing all along. See public cardroom rules (poker).
- In games with blinds, usually done by the person sitting to the immediate right of the dealer, who will make a position raise, acting much like the dealer might have done, when only the blinds are still in the hand. Every time he dealt, the dealer let the blinds see the flop, so I started buying the button to force them to fold.
- buy the pot
- Making a bet when no one else is betting so as to force the other players to fold in order to win the pot uncontested.
C
- call
- See call.
- call the clock
- A method of discouraging players from taking an excessively long time to act. When someone calls the clock, the player has a set amount of time in which to make up his mind; if he fails to do so, his hand is immediately declared dead. In tournament play, a common rule is that if a player takes too long and no one calls the clock, the dealer or floor personnel will automatically do so.
- calling station
- See calling station.
- cap
- A limit on the number of raises allowed in a betting round. Typically three or four (in addition the opening bet). In most casinos, the cap is removed if there are only two players remaining either (1) at the beginning of the betting round, or (2) at the time that what would have otherwise been the last raise is made.
- Also, term for the chip, token, or object placed atop one's cards to show continued involvement with a hand.
- cap game
- Similar to "cap" above, but used to describe a no-limit or pot limit game with a cap on the amount that a player can bet during the course of a hand. Once the cap is reached, all players remaining in the hand are considered all-in. For example, a no limit game could have a betting cap of 30 times the big blind.[1]
- cards speak
- See cards speak (poker).
- case card
- The last available card of a certain description (typically a rank). The only way I can win is to catch the case king., meaning the only king remaining in the deck.
- cash plays
- An announcement, usually by a dealer, that a player requested to buy chips and can bet the cash he has on the table in lieu of chips until he receives his chips.
- catch
- To receive needed cards on a draw. I'm down 300--I can't catch anything today. or Joe caught his flush early, but I caught the boat on seventh street to beat him. Often used with an adjective to further specify, for example "catch perfect", "catch inside", "catch smooth".
- catch up
- To successfully complete a draw, thus defeating a player who previously had a better hand. I was sure I had Alice beat, but she caught up when that spade fell.
- catch perfect
- To catch the only two possible cards that will complete a hand and win the pot, usually those leading to a straight flush. Usually used in Texas Hold 'Em. Compare with "runner-runner".
- center
- Synonym for pot. "Chips in the center..." means the chips that are in the main pot. "I'm going to center your stack" means that a player is going to force all of an opponents chips into the pot. "My stack got centered" means that a player was forced to wager his/her remaining chips.
- center pot
- The main pot in a table stakes game where one or more players are all in.
- chase
- To call a bet to see the next card when holding a drawing hand when the pot odds do not merit it.
- To continue to play a drawing hand over multiple betting rounds, especially one unlikely to succeed. Bob knew I made three nines on fourth street, but he chased that flush draw all the way to the river.
- To continue playing with a hand that is not likely the best because one has already invested money in the pot.
- check
- To bet nothing. See check.
- A casino chip.
- check out
- To fold, in turn, even though there is no bet facing the player. In some games this is considered a breach of etiquette equivalent to folding out of turn. In others it is permitted, but frowned upon. Also known as a "French raise".
- check-raise
- See check-raise.
- cheese
- A poor hand. Throw that piece of cheese in the muck and move on to the next hand.
- chip
- See poker chip.
- chip along
- To bet or call the minimum required to stay in, often done with little or no thought.
- chip declare
- A method of declaring intent to play high or low in a split-pot game with declaration. See declaration.
- chip dumping
- A form of collusion that happens during tournaments, especially in the early rounds. Two or more players decide to go all-in early. The winner gets a large amount of chips, which increases the player's chance of cashing. The winnings are then split among the colluders.
- chip race
- See chip race.
- chip up
- To exchange lower-denomination chips for higher-denomination chips. In tournament play, the term means to remove all the small chips from play by rounding up any odd small chips to the nearest large denomination, rather than using a chip race.
- chop
- To split a pot because of a tie, split-pot game, or player agreement.
- To play a game for a short time and cash out. Also "hit and run".
- A request made by a player to a dealer after taking a large-denomination chip that he wishes the dealer to make change.
- To chop blinds.
- An agreement by all players remaining in a tournament to distribute the remaining money in the prize pool according to an agreed-upon formula instead of playing the tournament to completion. Usually occurs at the final table of a large tournament.
- chopping the blinds
- See chopping the blinds.
- clean out
- A card that is likely to make your hand the best at the table.
- closed
- See closed (poker).
- coffeehouse
- To make annoying smalltalk during a game, to make comments about a hand in progress, or to make deceptive comments about one's own play.
- cold
- Consecutive. I caught three cold spades for the flush.
- Unlucky. I've been cold all week.
- cold call
- To call an amount that represents a sum of bets or raises by more than one player. Alice opened for $10, Bob raised another $20, and Carol cold called the $30. Compare to "flat call", "overcall".
- collusion
- A form of cheating involving cooperation among two or more players. See cheating in poker.
- color change, color up
- To exchange small-denomination chips for larger ones.
- combo, combination game
- A casino table at which multiple forms of poker are played in rotation.
- come bet, on the come
- A bet or raise made with a drawing hand, building the pot in anticipation of filling the draw. Usually a weak "gambler's" play, but occasionally correct with a very good draw and large pot or as a semi-bluff.
- come hand
- See drawing hand.
- community card
- See community card poker.
- complete hand
- See made hand.
- completion
- To raise a small bet up to the amount of what would be a normal-sized bet. For example, in a $2/$4 stud game with $1 bring-in, a player after the bring-in may raise it to $2, completing what would otherwise be a sub-minimum bet up to the normal minimum. Also in limit games, if one player raises all in for less than the normally required minimum, a later player might complete the raise to the normal minimum (depending on house rules). See table stakes.
- connectors
- Two or more cards of consecutive rank.
- continuation bet
- A bet made after the flop by the player who took the lead in betting before the flop (Hold 'em and Omaha). Compare to "probe bet".
- cooler
- See cold deck.
- countdown
- Especially in lowball, two hands very nearly tied that must be compared in detail to determine a winner, for example, 8-6-5-3-2 versus 8-6-5-3-A.
- The act of counting the cards that remain in the stub after all cards have been dealt, done by a dealer to ensure that a complete deck is being used.
- counterfeit
- See counterfeit (poker). Also "duplicate".
- cow
- A player with whom one is sharing a buy-in, with the intent to split the result after play. To "go cow" is to make such an arrangement.
- crack
- To beat a better hand, mostly heard in reference to the best Hold em hole cards, AA. eg "My aces were cracked again"
- cripple
- In some community card games, to cripple the deck means to have a hand that makes it virtually impossible for anyone else to catch up to. For example, in Texas hold 'em, if your hole cards are A-T and the flop is A-A-T you have "crippled the deck" and it is unlikely you will make much money from it.
- crossfire
- When a player is caught in the middle between two raisers and is induced to call each bet because of the pot odds. Compare to "whipsaw".
- crying call
- A call made reluctantly on the last betting round with the expectation of losing (but with some remote hope of catching a bluff).
- cut
- See cut.
- cutoff
- The seat immediately to the right of the dealer button. Also "pone".
D
- dark
- Describing an action taken before receiving information to which the player would normally be entitled. I'm drawing three, and I check in the dark. Compare to "blind".
- dead blind
- A blind that is not "live", in that the player posting it does not have the option to raise if other players just call. Usually refers to a small blind posted by a player entering, or returning to, a game (in a position other than the big blind) that is posted in addition to a live blind equal to the big blind.
- dead button
- See dead button rule.
- dead hand
- A player's hand that is not entitled to participate in the deal for some reason, such as having been fouled by touching another player's cards, being found to contain the wrong number of cards, being dealt to a player who did not make the appropriate forced bets, etc.
- dead money
- See dead money (poker).
- deadwood
- The muck.
- deal
- To distribute cards to players in accordance with the rules of the game being played.
- A single instance of a game of poker, begun by shuffling the cards and ending with the award of a pot. Also called a "hand" (though both terms are ambiguous).
- An agreement to split tournament prize money differently from the announced payouts.
- deal twice
- In a cash game, when two players are involved in a large pot and one is all-in, they might agree to deal the remaining cards twice. If one player wins both times he wins the whole pot, but if both players win one hand they split the pot.
- dealer
- The person dealing the cards. Give Alice the cards, she's dealing.
- The person who assumes that role for the purposes of betting order in a game, even though someone else might be physically dealing. Also "button". Compare to "buck".
- dealer's choice
- A version of poker in which the deal passes each game and each dealer can choose, or invent, a new poker game each hand.
- declare
- To verbally indicate an action or intention. See declaration (poker).
- decloak
- To raise after slow playing for a time (making it clear that you were, in fact, slow playing). See "in the bushes".
- deep
- Describing a large amount of money, either in play or having been lost. How deep are you? (meaning "How much money do you have", in anticipation of making a very large bet). I won that large pot, but I'm in much deeper than that.
- defense
- See defense (poker).
- deuce
- A 2-spot card. Also called a duck, quack, or swan.
- Any of various related uses of the number two, such as a $2 limit game, a $2 chip, etc.
- deuce-to-seven
- A method of evaluating low hands. See Deuce-to-seven low.
- discard
- To take a previously dealt card out of play. The set of all discards for a deal is called the "muck" or the "deadwood".
- dog
- See underdog.
- dominated hand
- A hand that is extremely unlikely to win against another specific hand, even though it may not be a poor hand in its own right. Most commonly used in Texas hold 'em. A hand like A-Q, for example, is a good hand in general but is dominated by A-K, because whenever the former makes a good hand, the latter is likely to make a better one. A hand like 7-8 is a poor hand in general, but is not dominated by A-K because it makes different kinds of hands. See Dominating hand.
- donation
- A call made by a player who fully expects to lose; made either out of boredom or irrational optimism.
- donk, donkey
- Epithet for an inexperienced, unskilled, or foolish poker player. I played that hand like a donkey.
- donk, donk down (verb)
- To play a hand poorly. I donked off 15 bucks on that last hand.
- donk, donkbet
- Betting when one doesn't have the lead.
- door card
- In a stud game, a player's first face-up card. Patty paired her door card on fifth street and raised, so I put her on trips.
- In Hold'em, the door card is the first visible card of the flop.
- double-ace flush
- Under unconventional rules, a flush with one or more wild cards in which they play as aces, even if an ace is already present.
- double-board, double-flop
- Any of several community card game variants (usually Texas hold 'em) in which two separate boards of community cards are dealt simultaneously, with the pot split between the winning hands using each board.
- double-draw
- Any of several Draw poker games in which the draw phase and subsequent betting round are repeated twice.
- double belly buster, double gut-shot, double inside straight
- See double inside straight draw.
- double suited
- Used to describe an Omaha starting hand where two pairs of suited cards are held. May be abbreviated "ds" in written descriptions. AAJT (ds) is widely considered a premium PLO starting hand.
- double through, double up
- In a big bet game, to bet all of one's chips on one hand against a single opponent (who has an equal or larger stack) and win, thereby doubling your stack. I was losing a bit, but then I doubled through Sarah to put me in good shape.
- downcard
- A card that is dealt facedown.
- down to the felt
- All in, or having lost all of one's money. Refers to the green felt surface of a poker table no longer obscured by chips.
- drag light
- To pull chips away from the pot to indicate that you don't have enough money to cover the bet. If you win, the amount is ignored. If you lose, you must cover the amount from your pocket.
- draw, drawing hand
- See draw (poker).
- drawing dead
- Playing a drawing hand that will lose even if successful (a state of affairs usually only discovered after the fact or in a tounament when two or more players are "all in" and they show their cards). I caught the jack to make my straight, but Rob had a full house all along, so I was drawing dead.
- drawing live
- Not drawing dead; that is, drawing to a hand that will win if successful.
- drawing thin
- Not drawing completely dead, but chasing a draw in the face of poor odds. Example: a player who will only win by catching 1 or 2 specific cards is said to be drawing thin.
- drop
- To fold.
- Money charged by the casino for providing its services, often dropped through a slot in the table into a strong box. See "rake".
- To drop ones cards to the felt to indicate that one is in or out of a game.
- dry ace
- In Omaha or Texas hold 'em, refers to an ace in one's hand without another card of the same suit. Used especially to describe the situation where the board presents a flush possibility, when the player does not in fact have a flush, but holding the ace presents some bluffing or semi-bluffing opportunity. Compare to "blocker".
- dry pot
- A side pot with no money created when a player goes all in and is called by more than one opponent, but not raised.
- dump, dumped
- To lose a large quantity of ones stack to another player on a particular hand or set of hands in short succession. I dumped half my stack to John after he cracked my Kings.
- duplicate
- To counterfeit, especially when the counterfeiting card matches one already present in the one's hand.
E
- early position
- See position (poker).
- eight or better
- A common qualifier in High-low split games that use Ace-5 ranking. Only hands where the highest card is an eight can qualify to win the low portion of the pot.
- equity
- One's mathematical expected value from the current deal, calculated by multiplying the amount of money in the pot by one's probability of winning. For example, if the pot currently contains $100, and you estimate that you have a one in four chance of winning it, then your equity in the pot is $25.
- expectation, expected value, EV
- See expected value. Often used in poker to mean "profitability in the long run".
- exposed card
- A card whose face has been deliberately or accidentally revealed to players normally not entitled to that information during the play of the game. Various games have different rules about how to handle this irregularity. Compare to "boxed card".
F
- family pot
- A deal in which every (or almost every) seated player called the first opening bet.
- fast
- Aggressive play. I was afraid of too many chasers, so I played my trips fast. Compare to "speeding".
- feeder
- In a casino setting, a second or third table playing the same game as a "main" table, and from which players move to the main game as players there leave. Also called a "must-move table."
- fence-hopper
- Compare to "hop the fence".
- fifth street
- The last card dealt to the board in community card games. Also "river".
- The fifth card dealt to each player in stud poker.
- fill, fill up
- To successfully draw to a hand that needs one card to complete it, by getting the last card of a straight, flush, or full house. Jerry made his flush when I was betting my kings up, but I filled on seventh street to catch up.
- final table
- In a multi-table tournament: to remain in the game long enough as to make it to the last round of players that can fit at one standard tournament table (usually 9 or 10 players).
- fire
- To make the opening bet of a round, following the same analogy by which chips are called "ammo". I called Ken's bet on fourth with a draw, but I bricked, and when he fired again I had to fold. or I think Randy suspected my earlier bet was a bluff, but when I fired a second shot he let it go.
- fish
- An unskilled player who plays loosely and passively, calling a lot of bets.
- To risk money on a long-shot bet.
- The action of calling bets on the flop and the turn to make a hand on the river.
- five of a kind
- A hand possible only in games with wild cards, defeating all other hands, comprising five cards of equal rank.
- fixed limit, flat limit
- See fixed limits.
- flash
- To show the bottom card of the deck while shuffling.
- To show one or more downcards from one's hand. After everyone folded, Ted flashed his bluff to the other players.
- flat call
- A call, in a situation where one might be expected to raise. Normally I raise with jacks, but with three limpers ahead of me I decided to flat call. Also "smooth call". Compare to "cold call", "overcall". See slow play (poker).
- float
- To call a bet with an inferior hand, with the intention of bluffing on a later betting round.
- floorman, floorperson
- A casino employee whose duties include adjudicating player disputes, keeping games filled and balanced, and managing dealers and other personnel. Players may shout "floor!" to call for a floorperson to resolve a dispute, to ask for a table or seat change, or to ask for some other casino service.
- flop
- See flop (poker)
- flop game
- A community card game.
- flush
- A hand comprising five cards of the same suit. See rank of hands (poker).
- fold
- See fold.
- fold equity
- The extra value gained by forcing your opponents to fold, rather than seeing the showdown. See also equity.
- forced bet
- See forced bets.
- forced-move
- In a casino where more than one table is playing the same game with the same betting structure, one of the tables may be designated the "main" table, and will be kept full by requiring a player to move from one of the feeder tables to fill any vacancies. Players will generally be informed that their table is a "forced-move" table to be used in this way before they agree to play there. Also "must-move".
- forward motion
- A house rule of some casinos states that if a player in turn picks up chips from his stack and moves his hand toward the pot ("forward motion with chips in hand"), this constitutes a commitment to bet (or call), and the player may not withdraw his hand to check or fold. Such a player still has the choice of whether to call or raise. Compare to "string bet".
- fouled hand
- A hand that is ruled unplayable because of an irregularity, such as being found with too many or two few cards, having been mixed with cards of other players or the muck, having fallen off the table, etc. Compare to "dead hand".
- four-flush
- Four cards of the same suit. A non-standard poker hand in some games, an incomplete drawing hand in most.
- four of a kind
- A hand containing four cards of equal rank. Also "quads". See rank of hands (poker).
- four-straight
- Four cards in rank sequence; either an open-ender or one-ender. A non-standard poker hand in some games, an incomplete drawing hand in most. Sometimes "four to a straight".
- fourth street
- The fourth card dealt to the board in community card games. Also "turn".
- The fourth card dealt to each player in stud.
- fox hunt
- See rabbit hunt.
- free card
- A card dealt to one's hand (or to the board of community cards) after a betting round in which no player opened. One is thereby being given a chance to improve one's hand without having to pay anything. I wasn't sure my hand was good, but I bet so I wouldn't give a free card to Bill's flush draw.
- freeroll
- See freeroll (poker).
- freezeout
- The most common form of tournament. There's no rebuy, play continues until one player has all the chips.
- full, full boat, full hand, full house
- A hand with three cards of one rank and two of a second rank. Also "boat", "tight". See rank of hands (poker).
- full bet rule
- In some casinos, the rule that a player must wager the full amount required in order for his action to constitute a raise. For example, in a game with a $4 fixed limit, a player facing an opening bet of $4 who wagers $7 is deemed to have flat called, because $8 is required to raise. Compare to "half bet rule". See Public cardroom rules (poker) and "All in" betting.
G
- gap hand
- In Texas hold 'em, a gap hand is a starting hand with at least one rank separating the two cards. Usually referred to in context of one-gap and two-gap hands.
- garbage
- The "muck".
- A worthless hand.
- going south
- To sneak a portion of your chips from the table while the game is underway. Normally prohibited in public card rooms. Also "ratholing".
- grinder
- A player who earns a living by making small profits over a long period of consistent, conservative play. Compare to "rock".
- guts, guts to open
- A game with no opening hand requirement; that is, where the only requirement to open the betting is "guts", or courage.
- Any of several poker variants where pots accumulate over several hands until a single player wins. See guts.
- gutshot
- An inside straight draw. Ted has a gutshot draw. Also "belly buster".
- gypsy
- To enter the pot cheaply by just calling the blind rather than raising. Also "limp".
H
- half bet rule
- In some casinos, the rule that placing chips equal to or greater than half the normal bet amount beyond the amount required to call constitutes a commitment to raise the normal amount. For example, in a game with a $4 fixed limit, a player facing a $4 opening bet who places $6 in the pot is deemed to have raised, and must complete his bet to $8. Compare to "full bet rule". See Public cardroom rules (poker) and "all in" betting.
- hammer
- To bet and raise aggressively. Nora kept hammering, so I folded.
- "Having the hammer" is being in last position, especially head up. You've got the hammer; I check to you.
- A "hammer lock" refers to a player with an almost 100% chance of winning the pot.
- In Texas Hold'em, The Hammer refers to a starting hand consisting of a 7-2 offsuit.
- hand
- See hand (poker).
- hand-for-hand
- See hand-for-hand.
- hard
- Aggressive and uncompromising, said of one's play. Jim played me hard all night; I could never get a break.
- Chips, as opposed to paper money. I gave the floorman $100 for $50 hard and $50 soft.
- hat
- See button (poker).
- head up, heads up
- Playing against a single opponent. After Lori folded, Frank and I were heads up for the rest of the hand.
- heater
- If one is consistently getting favorable cards, then he or she is said to be on a heater.
- here kitty kitty
- A conspicuously small bet made with a very powerful hand in the hope of getting a call from one or more opponents who would otherwise fold to a normal-sized bet.
- high, high hand
- The best hand using traditional poker hand values, as opposed to lowball. Used especially in high-low split games.
- high card
- A no pair hand, ranked according to its highest-ranking cards.
- To defeat another player by virtue of high-ranking cards, especially kickers.
- To randomly select a player for some purpose by having each draw one card, the highest of which is selected (for example, to decide who deals first). When all the players get here, we'll high card for the button. Often high card by suit is used for this purpose.
- high-low, high-low split
- See high-low split.
- high society
- Large-denomination chips. Also "society".
- hit and run
- To play for a short time, make money, and leave. Also called "chopping" a game.
- hog, hogger
- To win all of the pot in a split-pot game, for example, by having both the best high hand and best low hand simultaneously. Also called "scooping" the pot.
- hole, hole cards
- Face-down cards. Also "pocket cards". I think Willy has two more queens in the hole.
- A seat, often preceded by a number relative to the button. Sara opened from the 2-hole.
- hole cam
- a camera that displays a player's face-down cards ("hole cards") to television viewers. Also "pocket cam".
- Hollywood
- Overt acting to deceive other players. Karl had a big smile when he bet, but it seemed too Hollywood to me, so I called anyway. Also refers to taking excessive time to act — a common suspense-building feature of movies which highly irritates other players when carried out in real life.
- home game
- A game played at a private venue (usually the home of one of the players), as opposed to a casino or public cardroom.
- hop the fence
- The enter the pot with a cold call.
- horse
- A player financially backed by someone else. I lost today, but Larry was my horse in the stud game, and he won big.
- H.O.R.S.E.
- See H.O.R.S.E..
- hunt
- Looking further into the deck after the hand is over to see what cards would have come next. Also "fox hunt", "rabbit hunt".
I
- idiot end, ignorant end
- The bottom end of a straight. Compare to "sucker straight".
- immortal
- Unbeatable; often said of a hand that a player knows cannot be beaten under the circumstances of play. Also "lock", "nuts".
- implied odds, implied pot odds
- See implied pot odds.
- improve
- To achieve a better hand than one currently holds by adding or exchanging cards as provided in the rules of the game being played. I didn't think Paula was bluffing, so I decided not to call unless I improved on the draw.
- inside straight
- See inside straight draw. Also "belly buster", "gutshot". Compare to outside straight draw.
- insurance
- A "business" deal in which players agree to split or reduce a pot (roughly in proportion to the chances of each of them winning) with more cards to come rather than playing out the hand, or else a deal where one player makes a side bet against himself with a third party to hedge against a large loss.
- in the bushes, in the weeds
- A player slow playing is said to be "in the bushes" during the time he is quietly checking and calling while others bet aggressively. He will eventually "decloak".
- in the middle
- In a game with multiple blinds, an incoming player may sometimes be allowed to post the blinds "in the middle" (that is, out of their normal order) rather than having to wait for them to pass.
- A player being whipsawed is said to be "in the middle".
- in the money
- To place high enough in a poker tournament to get prize money.
- in the tank
- When a player is facing a bet or raise, typically a large one late in the hand, and takes a long time thinking about whether to call is said to have gone "in the tank."
- in turn
- A player, or an action, is said to be in turn if that player is expected to act next under the rules. Jerry said "check" while he was in turn, so he's not allowed to raise.
- irregular declaration
- An action taken by a player in turn that is not a straightforward declaration of intent, but that is reasonably interpreted as an action by other players, such as pointing a thumb up to signify "raise". House rules or dealer discretion may determine when such actions are meaningful and/or binding.
- irregularity
- Any of a number of abnormal conditions in play, such as unexpectedly exposed cards, that may call for corrective action. See Public cardroom rules (poker).
- isolation
- See isolation (poker).
- ITM
- Abbreviation of in the money.
J
- jack it up
- To raise.
- jackpot
- A game of "jackpot poker" or "jackpots", which is a variant of five-card draw with an ante from each player, no blinds, and an opening requirement of a pair of jacks or better.
- A large pool of money collected by the house and awarded for some rare occurrence, typically a bad beat.
- jam
- To open or raise the maximum amount allowed. Players who "jam a pot" in limit poker keep putting in raises until the cap is reached.
- joint
- Jack-high straight.
- juice
- Money collected by the house. Also "vig", "vigorish". See Rake (poker).
K
- keep (a bettor) honest
- To call a final bet while not expecting to win, for the primary purpose of discouraging future bluffs.
- kicker
- See kicker (poker).
- kill game, kill pot
- See kill game.
- kitty
- A pool of money built by collecting small amounts from certain pots, often used to buy refreshments, cards, and so on. The home-game equivalent of a rake.
L
- laydown
- A tough choice to fold a good hand in anticipation of superior opposition.
- lead
- The player who makes the last bet or raise in a round of betting is said to have the lead at the start of the next round.
- limit
- The minimum or maximum amount of a bet.
- limp, limp in
- To enter a pot by simply calling instead of raising.
- live bet
- A bet posted by a player under conditions that give him the option to raise even if no other player raises first; typically because it was posted as a blind or straddle, or to enter a new game.
- live cards
- In stud poker games, cards that will improve your hand that have not been seen among anyone's upcards, and are therefore presumably still available. In games such as Texas hold'em, a player's hand is said to contain "live" cards if matching either of them on the board would give that player the lead over his opponent. Typically used to describe a hand that is weak, but not dominated.
- live game
- A game with a lot of action, usually including many unskilled players, especially maniacs.
- live one
- A weak player, especially a maniac.
- lock up
- To "lock up" a seat in a cash game means to place a poker chip, player's card, or other personal effect on the table in front of the seat, to signify that the seat is occupied even though the player may not be present.
- loose
- See loose/tight play. Compare to "tight", "aggressive", "passive".
- loose cannon
- A player who is not afraid to put money in the pot; one who is "gambling" a lot and liable to lose all his money at any given time.
- low
- The lowest card by rank.
- The low half of the pot in a high-low split.
M
- M-ratio
- See M-ratio.
- made hand
- See made hand. Compare to a drawing hand.
- maniac
- A loose and aggressive player. A player who bets constantly and plays many inferior hands.
- match the pot
- To put in an amount equal to all the chips in the pot.
- micro-limit
- Internet poker games with stakes so small that real cardrooms couldn't possibly profit from them, are said to be at the "micro-limit" level (e.g. 25¢-50¢).
- misdeal
- A deal which is ruined for some reason and must be redealt.
- move in
- In a no-limit game, to "move in" or to "go all in" means to bet one's entire stake on the hand in play. See table stakes.
- muck
- To fold.
- To discard one's hand without revealing the cards. Often done after winning without a showdown or at a showdown when a better hand has already been revealed.
- The discard pile "There were only a couple of cards in the muck"
N
- natural card
- A card that isn’t wild or otherwise modified by the game rules. In most houses, a natural hand beats an equivalent hand that uses wild cards. For example, a pair comprising a wild card and a natural (Joker, 2♠) would lose to one made from two naturals of the same number (2♥, 2♣).
- no-limit
- See no-limit.
- negative freeroll
- See negative freeroll.
- nuts, the
- See nut hand.
O
- offsuit
- Cards that are not of the same suit. The ace of clubs and the king of spades are called ace-king offsuit
- one-eyed royals
- See one-eyed royals.
- open
- To bet first. See open.
- open ended, open ended straight draw
- An outside straight draw. Also "two-way straight draw".
- openers
- The cards held by a player in a game of "jackpots" entitling him to open the pot. "Splitting openers" refers to holding onto one of your openers after discarding it to prove you had the necessary cards to open should you win the pot.
- option
- An optional bet or draw, such as getting an extra card facedown for 50 cents or raising on the big blind when checked all the way around.
- The right to raise possessed by the big blind if there have been no raises.
- out of pocket
- A game which gives the players the ability to add more money to their stack in the middle of a hand. See Table stakes.
- outrun
- To beat another hand, usually by being dealt extra cards after the initial deal.
- outs
- See out (poker).
- outside straight, outside straight draw
- See outside straight draw. Also "two-way straight draw".
- overcall
- To call a bet after others have called, esp. big bets. Jim bet, Alice called, then Ted overcalled. Compare to "cold call", "flat call", "smooth call".
- overcard
- A community card with a higher rank than a player's pocket pair.
- A higher card. Ted held two overcards to Jill's pair with two cards to come.
- overpair
- In community card games such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, a pocket pair with a higher rank than any community card.
- over the top
- To reraise. Ted raised $20, then Alice came over the top for $60 more.
P
- paint
- The face cards, Jacks, Queens, and Kings, in a deck. In Texas hold'em, a flop can be said to be "all paint" if it consists of only these cards. This is also called a "Picasso Flop".
- pair
- See one pair
- passive
- A style of play characterized by checking and calling. Compare to "aggressive", "loose", "tight".
- pat
- Already complete. A hand is a pat hand when, for example, a flush comes on the first five cards dealt in Draw poker. Also see made hand.
- pay off
- To call a bet when you are most likely drawing dead because the pot odds justify the call.
- penny ante
- Frivilous, low stakes, or "for fun" only; A game where no significant stake is likely to change hands.
- perfect
- The best possible cards, in a lowball hand, after those already named. For example, 7-perfect would be 7-4-3-2-A, and 8-6-perfect would be 8-6-3-2-A.
- Picasso flop
- Slang for "paint". See Flop Slang.
- pick-up
- When the house picks up cash from the dealer after a player buys chips.
- play the board
- In games such as Texas Hold 'Em, where 5 community cards are dealt, if your best hand is on the board and you go to the showdown you are said to "play the board".
- play twice
- See deal twice.
- pocket pair
- In community card poker or stud poker, when two of a player's private cards make a pair. Also "wired pair".
- poker face
- A blank face that does not reveal anything about the cards being held. Often used metaphorically outside the world of poker.
- porch
- In seven-card stud, the four cards dealt face up to the player.
- position
- See position (poker).
- position bet
- A bet that is made more due to the strength of the bettor's position than the strength of the bettor's cards.
- post
- To make the required small or big blind bet in Texas Hold 'em or other games played with blinds rather than antes
- post dead
- To post a bet amount equal to the small and the big blind combined (the amount of the large blind playing as a live blind, and the amount of the small blind as dead money). In games played with blinds, a player who steps away from the table and misses his turn for the blinds must either post dead or wait for the big blind to re-enter the game. Compare to "dead blind".
- post oak bluff
- See post oak bluff.
- pot
- See pot (poker).
- pot-committed
- More often in the context of a no limit game; the situation where you can no longer fold because the size of the pot is so large compared to the size of your stack.
- pot limit
- See pot limit.
- pot odds
- See pot odds.
- price
- See pot odds. "The price was right for me to call."
- probe bet
- A bet after the flop by a player who did not take the lead in betting before the flop (and when the player that did take the lead in betting before the flop declined to act). Compare to "continuation bet".
- proposition player, prop
- A player that gets paid an hourly rate to start poker games or to help them stay active. Prop players play with their own money, which distinguishes them from shills, who play with the casino's money.
- protect, protection
- See protection (poker).
- push
- To put yourself all-in.
- put the clock (on someone)
- See call the clock.
- put on
- To put someone on a hand is to deduce what hand they have based on their actions and your knowledge of their gameplay. See also tells.
Q
- quads
- Four of a kind.
- qualifier, qualifying low
- A qualifying low hand. High-low split games often require a minimum hand value, such as 8-high, in order to award the low half of the pot.
- quarter
- To win a quarter of a pot, usually by tying the low or high hand of a high-low split game. Generally, this is an unwanted outcome, as it seldom wins enough money to cover the amount bet during the hand.
R
- rabbit hunt
- After a hand is over, a rabbit hunt means to reveal the last card that would have come up in a community card game with a fixed number of cards. Such activity is usually prohibited in casinos.
- rack
- 1. A collection of 100 chips of the same denomination, usually arranged in 5 stacks in a plastic tray.
- 2. A plastic tray used for storing a rack of chips.
- ragged
- In community card poker games, if the community cards are likely to be of little or no use to anyone, they are said to be ragged.
- rags
- Worthless (or apparently worthless) cards. Most often refers to small cards in high-hand games, while high cards in low games are more often called "bricks" or "bombs". Also "blank".
- rail
- The rail is the sideline at a poker table - the (often imaginary) rail separating spectators from the field of play. Watching from the rail means watching a poker game as a spectator. People on the rail are sometimes called railbirds.
- rainbow
- Three or four cards of different suits, especially said of a flop.
- raise
- See raise.
- rake
- See rake (poker). Also "juice", "vig", "vigorish".
- rakeback
- Rebate/repayment to a player of a portion of the rake paid by that player, normally from a non-cardroom, third-party source such as an affiliate. Rakeback is paid in many ways by online poker rooms, affiliates or brick and mortar rooms. Many use direct money payments for online poker play. Brick and Mortar rooms usually use rate cards to track and pay their rakeback.
- ram and jam
- To aggressively bet, raise, and reraise.
- ratholing
- To "go south".
- rebuy
- An amount of chips purchased after the buy-in.
- redeal
- To deal a hand again, possibly after a misdeal.
- redraw
- To make one hand and have a draw for a better hand. Ted made a straight on the turn with a redraw for a flush on the river..
- Second or later draws in a draw game with multiple draws.
- represent
- To represent a hand is to play as if you hold it (whether you actually hold it or are bluffing).
- reraise
- Raise after one has been raised. Also coming "over the top".
- ring game
- See ring game.
- river
- See river (poker).
- river rat
- A player whose hand was dominated from the start, but improves his hand on the river to win the pot. See "suck out".
- rock
- A very tight player (plays very few hands and only continues with strong hands).
- A bundle of chips held together with a rubber band, or other token signifying an obligatory live straddle. If the player under the gun has the rock, he must use it to post a live straddle. The winner of the pot collects the rock and is obligated to use it in turn.
- rolled-up trips
- In seven-card stud, three of a kind dealt in the first three cards.
- rounder
- See rounder.
- runner
- A tournament entrant, a contestant.
- runner-runner
- A hand made by hitting two consecutive cards on the turn and river. Also "backdoor". Compare to "bad beat" and "suck out".
- rush
- Winning streak. A player who has won several big pots recently is said to be on a rush.
S
- sandbag
- See slow play (poker).
- satellite
- A tournament in which the prize is a free entrance to another (larger) tournament.
- scare card
- A card dealt face up (either to a player in a game such as stud or to the board in a community card game) that appears to create a strong hand for someone. The Jack of spades on the turn was a scare card because it put both flush and straight possibilities on the board.
- scoop
- In high-low split games, to win both the high and the low half of the pot.
- second pair
- In community card poker games, a pair of cards of the second-top rank on the board. Compare bottom pair, top pair.
- sell
- In spread limit poker, to sell a hand is to bet less than the maximum with a strong hand, in the hope that more of your opponents will call the bet.
- semi-bluff
- See semi-bluff.
- set
- Three of a kind, esp. the situation where two of the cards are concealed in the player's hole cards. Compare to "trips".
- set-up
- A deck that has been ordered, usually King to Ace by suit (spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds). In casinos, it is customary to use a set-up deck when introducing a new deck to the table. The set-up is spread face up for the players to demonstrate that all of the cards are present before the first shuffle. Also called to "spade the deck".
- shark
- A professional player.
- shill
- See shill. Compare to "proposition player".
- ship it
- Same as "send it." Phrase sometimes exclaimed by the winner of a big pot.
- shootout
- A poker tournament format where the last remaining player of a table goes on to play the remaining players of other tables. Each table plays independently of the others; that is, there is no balancing as players are eliminated. This format is particularly common in European televised poker programs, including Late Night Poker.
- shorthanded
- A poker game that is played with around six players or less, as opposed to a full ring game, which is usually nine or ten players.
- showdown
- See showdown (poker).
- side pot
- A separate pot created to deal with the situation of one player going "all in". See table stakes.
- sit and go
- A "Sit and Go" is a poker tournament which has no starting time that will start as soon as a set number of players, usually 9 or 10, sign up. Also called sit n' gos and a variety of other similar spellings.
- 16-way straight draw
- A hand in draw poker such as 6♥ 7♥ 8♠ (Joker), in which any of sixteen cards (4 fours, 4 fives, 4 nines, 4 tens) can fill a straight.
- slow play
- See slow play (poker). Also "sandbag".
- slow roll
- To delay or avoid showing one's hand at showdown, forcing other players to expose their hands first. When done while holding a good hand likely to be the winner, it is considered poor etiquette, because it often gives other players "false hope" that their hands might win before the slow-roller's is exposed.
- small blind
- See blinds.
- small blind special
- A situation in which (assuming no raising) a player is dealt weak hole cards in the small blind, but ends up making the best hand because they got to see a relatively inexpensive flop. Compare to "big blind special".
- smooth call
- See "flat call".
- snow
- To play a worthless hand misleadingly in draw poker in order to bluff.
- The worthless hand in question.
- soft-play
- To intentionally go easy on a player (e.g. not betting or raising against him when you usually would).
- speeding
- To play very loose with no identifiable pattern, or to bluff frequently. Also known as speeding around. Compare to "fast".
- spike
- When a flop is spread out, if the first card revealed is the card an underdog needs, they spike that card. More loosely, if any of the flop cards help you, then you spike it. I had Q9 to my opponent's pocket jacks, but I spiked a queen on the flop to take the lead.
- splash the pot
- To throw one's chips in the pot in a disorderly fashion. Not typically allowed, because the dealer can't tell how much has been bet.
- split
- See split (poker) and high-low split.
- split two pair
- In community card poker, a two pair hand, with each pair made of one of your hole cards, and one community card.
- spread
- The range between a table's minimum and maximum bets.
- spread-limit
- A form of limit poker where the bets and raises can be between a minimum and maximum value. The spread may change between rounds.
- stack
- A collection of 20 poker chips of the same denomination, usually arranged in an orderly column.
- stacked deck
- See cold deck.
- stakes
- The definition of the amount one buys in for and can bet. For example, a "low stakes" game might be a $10 buy-in with a $1 maximum raise.
- stand pat
- In draw poker, playing the original hand using no draws, either as a bluff or in the belief it is the best hand.
- starting hand
- See starting hand.
- steal
- See steal (poker).
- steam
- Act of playing recklessly when one is frustrated. Compare to "tilt".
- stop and go
- Stop and go or stop 'n' go is when a player bets into another player who has previously raised or otherwise shown aggression. Example: On the flop, Bill bets into Tom, Tom raises, and Bill just calls. On the turn, Bill bets into Tom again. Bill has just pulled a stop 'n' go play.
- Another version of the "stop and go" is in tournament poker when a player raises pre-flop with the intention of going all in after the flop regardless of the cards that fall. This is typically done when the blinds are high and every chip becomes vital.
- straddle bet
- See straddle bets.
- straight
- Poker hand: see straight.
- When used with an amount, indicates that the speaker is referring to the total bet, versus the amount being raised. Alice bets twenty. Bob raises to fifty straight. Also "altogether" or "all day".
- straight flush
- See straight flush.
- strategy card
- A wallet sized card that is commonly used to help with poker strategies in online and casino games.
- string bet
- To call with one motion and raise with another, or to reach for more chips in the middle of laying a bet/raise without stating the intended amount. String bets are prohibited in public cardroom rules. Compare to "forward motion".
- structured
- A structured betting system is one where the spread of the bets may change from round to round.
- stuck
- Having lost money. I'm stuck $300 right now.
- stud
- A variant of poker. See stud poker.
- A card dealt face up in Stud poker.
- suck out
- To draw a winning hand despite poor odds.
- sucker straight
- In community card poker variants, a straight completed on the low end of the possible straight on the board. Compare to "idiot end, ignorant end".
- suited
- Having the same suit. See card suits.
- suited connectors
- See suited connectors.
- super satellite
- A multi-table poker tournament in which the prize is a free entrance to a satellite tournament or a tournament in which all the top finishers gain entrance to a larger tournament.
T
- table stakes
- See table stakes.
- tell
- See tell (poker).
- third man walking
- A player who gets up from his seat in a cash game, after two other players are already away from the table, is referred to as the "third man walking". In a casino with a "third man walking rule", this player may be required to return to his seat within 10 minutes, or one rotation of the deal around the table, or else his seat in the game will be forfeited if there is a waiting list for the game.
- throwing a party
- A player who is playing like a fool and gambling all of their money away is said to be throwing a party.
- three of a kind
- See three of a kind. Also "trips", "set".
- three pair
- In a seven card game, such as seven card stud or Texas hold 'em, it is possible for a player to have 3 pairs, although a player can only play two of them as part of a standard 5-card poker hand. This situation may jokingly be referred to as a player having a hand of three pair. Note that in Omaha, it is possible to "have" 4 pair in the same manner.
- tight
- See loose/tight play. Compare to "loose", "aggressive", "passive".
- tilt
- See tilt (poker). Compare to "steam".
- to go
- A term used to describe the amount that a player is required to call in order to stay in the hand, "Alice was deciding whether to call now it was $50 to go."
- toke
- In a brick and mortar casino, a toke is a "tip" given to the dealer by the winner of the pot. Tokes often represent a large percentage of a dealer's income.
- top pair
- In community card poker games, top pair is a pair of the same rank as the highest ranking card on the board. Compare second pair, bottom pair.
- top two
- A split two pair, matching the highest-ranking two flop cards.
- trey
- A 3-spot card. Casino personnel refer to the 3♣ as the "trey of clubs".
- trips
- When one of a players hole cards in hold 'em connects with two cards on the board to make three of a kind. This differs from a set where three of a kind is made when a pocket pair connects with one card on the flop to make three of a kind.
- Three of a kind. Compare to "set".
- turn
- See turn (poker).
- 12-way straight draw
- A hand in draw poker such as 6♥ 7♥ (Joker) 9♣, in which any of twelve cards (4 fives, 4 eights, 4 tens) can fill a straight.
U
- under the gun
- The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in Texas hold 'em or Omaha . The player who is under the gun must act first on the first round of betting.
- underdog
- An underdog or dog is a player with a smaller chance to win than another specified player. Frequently used when the exact odds are expressed. Harry might have been bluffing, but if he really had the king, my hand was a 4-to-1 dog, so I folded.
- underfull
- In a community card game, a full house that is one of the lowest full houses possible. For example: in Texas hold 'em, a player holding a pair of deuces with a final board of 2A33Q holds an underfull (Deuces full of Treys). The highest possible full house is Aces full of Treys. Also "underboat".
- up
- When used with a card rank to describe a poker hand, refers to two pair with the named card being the higher pair. For example, a hand of QQ885 might be called "queens up".
- up and down straight draw
- An open ended straight draw. Also called an 'up and down' or an 'up and down draw'.
- upcard
- See upcard.
- up the ante
- Increase the stake. Also commonly used outside the context of poker.
V
- value bet
- See value (poker).
- vnh
- Abbreviation for "very nice hand", used in online poker chat.
W
- wake up
- To "wake up with a hand" means to discover a strong starting hand, often when there has already been action in front of the player.
- walk
- A walk is the situation where all players fold to the big blind.
- wash
- To mix the deck by spreading the cards face down on the table and mixing them up. A dealer may wash the deck before shuffling.
- weak ace
- An ace with a low kicker (e.g. four). Also "small ace," "soft ace," "ace-rag."
- wheel
- A 5-high straight, with the Ace playing low. See wheel.
- whipsaw
- When a player is caught in the middle between two raisers and must call each bet because of the pot odds. Compare to "crossfire".
- wild card
- See wild card (poker). Compare to bug (poker).
- window card
- An upcard in stud poker. The first window card in stud is called the "door card".
- wired pair
- A "pocket pair".
- wrap
- In Omaha, the term for an open ended straight that consists of two board cards and three or four cards from a player's hand. An example would be a player holding 345A with the board 67K is said to have a "wrap" as any 3, 4, or 5, or 8 will make a straight. A hand of 4589 would also be a wrap draw, but would often be referred to as a "big wrap" due to twenty cards making the straight as opposed to thirteen in the first example.
X
Y
Z
- z-game
- The lowest-stakes game in the house.