Poker Dictionary
This glossary of poker terms is presented, for convenience, in alphabetical
order, although reference to later terms may be necessary in order to gain a
complete understanding of each.
Aces Full
A full house that includes 3 Aces.
Aces Up
A pair of aces with any other pair.
Action
The opportunity to act, by checking, calling or raising.
Active Player
An active player is one that remains in the action of a hand.
Aggressive Player
An aggressive player tends to raise regularly.
Ajax
“Hole cards,” (see below) comprising an Ace and a Jack.
All In
A player betting all their on-table chips on a hand.
American Airlines
AA, namely a pair of Aces.
Ante
A small bet made by each player to start the pot at the beginning of a poker
hand. Most Texas Hold ‘Em games do not have an ante, but use “blinds” (see
“Big Blind” and “Small Blind,” below) to get opening money into the pot.
Backdoor
Achieving an unpredicted hand whilst aiming for another. For example,
following the flop a player may have two pairs and bet on the potency of
such a hand. The turn card and river card may promote the hand to a straight
or flush.
Backraise
An unanticipated raise from a player who has already called in a particular
betting round.
Bad Beat
To be beaten by a hand with a low statistical chance of success. A player
holding, say, 3 Aces following the flop can (although improbable) be beaten
by a player with a 2 and a 5 completing a low straight or flush with the
turn and river cards.
Bankroll
The money a player has available with which to wager.
Bicycle
A straight (see below) consisting of Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Big Blind
An obligatory bet at the commencement of a hand. It follows the small blind,
is twice the size and placed by the player two places to the left of the
dealer.
Big Slick
Hole cards consisting of an Ace and a King.
Blank
A community card that fails to improve a hand. Following a flop of the Ace
of Spades, Jack of Diamonds and 10 of Spades, the 2 of Hearts would be
considered a blank, whist the 2 of Spades would not.
Blind
A compulsory bet put in by one or more players before cards are dealt.
Usually blinds are contributed by the player(s) immediately to the left of
the dealer.
Blind Raise
A raise made by a player before determining the value of their hole cards.
Bluff
Raising in the hope that other players will believe a hand is substantially
better than it is and thus fold their own hand.
Board
All the community cards in a Texas Hold ‘Em game, comprising the flop, turn
and river cards.
Bottom Pair
A pair consisting of a player’s lowest value hole card and one of the
community cards.
Broadway
A straight consisting of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10.
Bullets
Aces.
Burn
For the sake of security, between rounds of betting, the top card from the
deck is discarded, before dealing the next community card(s). This prevents
players from catching sight of the next card to be dealt onto the board.
Button
A small acrylic disk that denotes the nominal dealer.
Buy
1. A player may bluff, hoping to “buy the pot” without being called.
2. A player may attempt to “buy the button,” by betting or raising,
endeavouring to make intervening players prior to the dealer fold their
hands, thus ensuring last action in later rounds of betting.
Call
Matching a bet made by a preceding player, hence remaining in the hand.
Calling Station
A player who continually calls and is hence difficult to bluff.
Case
The last card of a certain value remaining in the deck.
Case Chips
A player’s last chips.
Cash In or Cash Out
Exiting the game and swapping chips for their monetary equivalent.
Check
If no player has made a bet in a particular betting round, a player may
choose to “check,” the equivalent of betting nothing. Action moves to the
following player, although the player who has checked may still call or
raise later on in the round of betting.
Check Raise
A player checks and then raises when the action returns to them.
Community Cards
These are dealt face up in the middle of the table and shared amongst
players in games such as Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha.
Connector
Hole cards that are consecutive in value, such as Jack, Queen or 9, 10.
Counterfeit
To make a hand less valuable because community cards duplicate a player’s
hole cards. For example, as player may have hole cards of 10, Jack and
completes a straight with a flop of 8, 9, Queen. However, a further Queen on
the turn counterfeits the hand, making it of insignificant worth.
Cowboys
Kings.
Cripple the Deck
This means that a player holds most or all of the desirable cards to
accompany the board. Hole cards of a pair of Queens, with a flop containing
the other two, cripples the deck.
Dead Man’s Hand
The dead man’s hand is a two pair poker hand, namely aces and eights. The
hand gets its name from reputedly being the 5-card draw poker hand held by
Wild Bill Hickok at the time of his shooting in August1876. It is widely
accepted that the hand comprised the aces and eights of both black suits,
with a Queen of Clubs “kicker,” although no contemporary citation has been
found.
Deuces or Ducks
Twos.
Dominated Hand
Many players choose to play a hand such as King, 3, even though it is
dominated by, say, King, Queen. With the exception of a “lucky” flop
containing a King and a 3, or a pair of 3s, King, 3 will always be bettered
by King, Queen.
Down Cards
These are the cards dealt face down so that only the receiving player has
sight of them.
Doyle Brunson
2, 10 hole cards in a Texas Hold ‘Em hand. Professional poker veteran
Brunson won the No Limit Hold ‘Em event at the World Series of Poker in
consecutive years (1976 and 1977) with this combination of cards, in each
case completing a full house.
Draw
Playing a hand that is not particularly good, but could improve greatly if
the community cards fall kindly.
Drop
See “Fold,” below.
Early Position
An early player must make a decision to make a bet or fold their hand prior
to the remaining players.
EPT
European Poker Tour
Fifth Street
The 5th and final community card dealt, commencing the last betting round of
a hand. It is generally known as the “River” card.
Fill Up
To “Fill Up” means successfully converting 2 pairs or 3 of a kind into a
full house (see below).
Fishhooks
Jacks, originating from the shape of a “J.”
Flat Tyre
Hole cards comprising a Jack and a four, as in, “What is a jack for?”
Flop
The first community cards to be dealt. 3 cards are placed face up in the
middle of the table and each player can use these cards, in conjunction with
their hole cards, to form the best possible hand.
Flop Games
Games such as Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha employ a flop.
Flush
Any 5 cards of the same suit.
Flush Draw
A player has a “Flush Draw” when holding 4 cards of the same suit, with one
or more community cards remaining to be dealt.
Fold
Relinquishing a hand, along with any bets made on that hand.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same denomination.
Fourth Street
The fourth community card to be dealt, also known as the “Turn” card.
Freeroll
A poker tournament with free entry.
Freezeout
In a “Freezeout” poker tournament, once a player has lost all their original
chips, they are not allowed to purchase further chips in order to remain in
the tournament.
Full House
A 5-card hand containing three cards of one denomination and two cards of
another value, for example three 9s with a pair of 2s.
Gut Shot
Also known as a “Belly Buster,” a card that makes up an inside straight, for
example, a 10 if the player has 7,8,9, Jack,
Hand
A player’s best five cards; in games like Omaha and Texas Hold ‘Em, a
players hole cards are used with the community cards to form a hand.
Have the Nuts
A player is said to “have the nuts” when holding the best available hand at
any time in a game. For example, if a player with a pair of Aces as hole
cards, followed by a flop of Ace, Ace, King, no other player can conceivably
hold a better hand at that point.
Heads Up
Only two players remain in the betting on a particular hand.
Hit and Run
A “Hit and Run” poker player tends to leave the game immediately after
winning a large pot.
Hole Cards
These are cards dealt to a player face down. The term is most commonly used
for first two cards in Texas Hold ‘Em and the first four in Omaha.
Inside Straight
When the denomination of the last card required to form a straight falls
between the other cards held. For example, a player holding 6,7,9,10 forms
an inside straight if an 8 is one of the remaining community cards dealt. At
best, this is a dodgy proposition and not one in which to invest heavily.
Isolate
Raising to leave only 2 players in the betting.
Jacks or Better
A type of poker game that requires a player to hold a pair of Jacks or a
stronger hand in order to start the betting.
Keep Them Honest
A player calling on the last community (river) card, despite the fact that
they probably do not hold the best hand.
Key Card
A “key” card is a card that creates a very strong hand. For example, for a
player holding two pairs, King, King, 10, 10, a King or 10 is a key card, as
either will create a full house.
Kicker
The highest card held by a player that does not contribute significantly to
the hand. For example, a hand containing Queen, Queen, Queen, 9, 2 is
referred to as “3 Queens with a 9 kicker.”
Knock
A player may knock on the table indicating that they want to check.
Kojak
Hole cards comprising a King and a Jack.
Ladies
Queens
Late Position
A player in a “late position” is one of the last to bet (see “Buy,” above),
giving them the advantage of judging the strengths of the other players’
hands by the kind of action they take.
Lay Down Your Hand
See “Fold,” above.
Limit Poker
Limit poker games have rules regarding the amounts that players can bet and
raise.
Limp In
Calling the big blind, as opposed to raising it in the initial round of
betting.
Live Hand
A “live hand” is one considered strong enough to win the pot.
Loose
A “loose” player plays more hands than average.
Low Limit
A Limit poker game with small stakes.
Lowball
A type of poker in which the lowest hand wins.
Main Pot
If betting on a hand carries on after a player has gone “all in,” a separate
“side pot” (see below) is created. Should the all in player win the hand,
they may only collect the chips in the main pot.
Maniac
An aggressive player who plays most hands and raises frequently.
Maverick
Hole cards consisting of a Queen and a Jack.
Meet
See “Call,” above.
Middle Pair
A pair formed by the middle denomination flop card and one of a player’s
hole cards.
Monster
A very strong, probable winning hand.
Muck
To fold so that other players do not see the cards held.
No Limit
In a “No Limit” poker game, players can bet as many chips as desired in each
bet.
Off suit
Hole cards belonging to different suits.
Omaha
A type of poker which utilises four hole cards, of which two are required to
form a final hand.
On the Button
The player “on the button” is the nominal dealer and the last player in the
round of betting.
Open-ended or Outside Straight
Four consecutive cards requiring a card at either the upper or lower end to
complete a straight. For example, a player holding 6,7,8,9 needs either a 5
or a 10 to achieve an outside straight. This is far easier to achieve and a
better betting proposition than the above-mentioned inside straight.
Overpair
A pair of hole cards superior to anything amongst the community cards.
Paints
Picture cards, namely Jacks, Queens or Kings.
Pair
Two cards of the same denomination.
Pass
See “Fold,” above.
Pay Off
A player calling or raising despite considering that they do not hold the
strongest hand
Play Back
A player raising or re-raising a raise made by a player earlier in the round
of betting.
Playing the Board
A player holding, say, a pair of 3s, with a board showing 6,6,10,10, Ace
must “play the board” as the best available hand fails to utilise the
player’s hole cards, with the community cards forming the strongest hand.
The best possible result in this situation is a tie, with the pot split
amongst all the players remaining in the hand.
Pocket Cards
See “Down Cards” and “Hole Cards,” above.
Pocket Rockets
Hole cards consisting of a pair of Aces.
Position
A player’s seat position relative to that of the dealer.
Post
To bet
Pot
The “pot” contains all the chips bet on a particular hand.
Pot Limit
In a “Pot Limit” game, a player’s wager cannot exceed the total chips
already in the pot.
Quads
Four of a kind.
Rainbow
A flop delivering cards of 3 different suits.
Raise
Increasing the value of a previous player’s wager, such that following must
at least match that sum in order to remain in the hand.
Rank
Card values, e.g. a King is of higher rank to a Jack.
Rap
Knocking on the table, in order to check (see “Check” and “Knock,” above).
Re-buy
Money paid buy a player to purchase further chips to add to their stack.
Re-raise
Raising again after being raised by a previous player.
Reading
Scrutiny of the manner in which other players operate
Ring Game
A “ring” game is any non-tournament poker game.
River
The fifth, final community card dealt, sometimes referred to as Fifth
Street.
Rock
A player who tends to play only when holding a strong hand.
Round of Betting
The stage in the game where each player is given the opportunity to check,
bet, call or raise depending on their opinion of the cards held.
Rounders
Professional poker players who make a living by playing the game.
Royal Flush
The best possible hand, comprising Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 of the same
suit.
Rush
A player who wins a number of hands in a short time is said to be “on a
rush.”
Sandbagging
Betting in a reserved manner on a strong hand in order to encourage other
players to stay in the pot and increase their betting. It is also known as
slow play.
Scare Card
A “scare” card greatly devalues a strong hand. A player holding, for
example, the 8 and 10 of Clubs, with a flop consisting of the Queen / Jack
of Diamonds and the 9 of Spades would probably hold the best hand (a 9-Queen
straight). A scare card would be the 10 of Diamonds on the turn, leaving the
other players with a possible flush draw or a potential higher straight.
Second Pair
The second highest community cards is the same denomination as a one of a
player’s hole cards.
See
See “Call,” above.
Semi-Bluff
Bluffing in the knowledge that a hand may improve later in the game, given
the right community cards.
Set
A pair of hole cards of the same value as one of the community cards.
Seven-Card Stud
A form of poker where players are dealt 7 cards, the first two closed, then
four open, the last closed.
Seventh Street
The final card dealt in Seven-Card Stud poker.
Short-Handed
A “Short-Handed” game has few players.
Showdown
The point at which all players remaining in the hand reveal their hole cards
to determine who has the best hand, i.e. on completion of the 4th round of
betting. If the final bet or raise in the hand is not called, there is no
showdown.
Short Stack
A player with a “short stack” has relatively few chips compared to the other
players at the table.
Side Pot
If a player goes all in, further chips bet on the hand go into a “side pot.”
Should the all in play win the hand, they are only entitled to the main pot,
with the side pot going to the best hand amongst the remaining players.
In the event of a win by one of the players involved in the further betting,
that player collects both pots.
Sixth Street
The 6th card dealt in Seven-Card Stud poker.
Slow Play
Betting weakly on a strong hand, usually producing more action from other
players, a larger pot and less chance of other players folding their hands.
Small Blind
The first compulsory bet, placed prior to any cards being dealt. The small
blind is usually equal to ½ the minimum table stake.
Solid
See “Rock,” above.
Speed Limit
A pair of 5s, named after the speed limit in the United States.
Split
A tied hand, resulting in the pot being split between the winning hands.
Stack
The number of on-table chips possessed by a player.
Stay
See “Call,” above.
Steal Raise
A player in a late position may raise in an attempt to persuade other
players to fold their hands, thus “stealing” the pot.
Steel Wheel
A straight flush comprising Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Straight
5 cards with consecutive values, regardless of the suit of each.
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Stuck
A losing player.
Suit
Each of the sets of 13 cards that comprise a deck, namely Hearts, Clubs,
Diamonds and Spades.
Suited
Texas Hold ‘Em hole cards of the same suit.
Tell
A clue or hint that a player unwittingly gives about their hand’s strength
of, their next action and so on. The term may derive from “telegraph.”
Texas Hold ‘Em
A type of poker where the player is dealt two face down, hole cards and 5
community cards are dealt. A player must then compile the best 5-card hand
from these seven cards.
Thirty Miles
Three 10s.
Three of a Kind
3 cards of the same denomination.
Tight
See “Rock,” above.
Tilt
A player who is “On tilt” has allowed their behaviour to become erratic
because of losing. This may result in wild, reckless play, playing too many
hands, bluffing and raising on bad hands.
Top Pair
One of a player’s hole cards is the same value as the highest community
card.
Top Two Pair
Two pair, with a player’s two hole cards pairing the two highest cards on
the board.
Treys
Threes
Trips
Three of a kind
Turn Card
The fourth community card, also known as Fourth Street.
Two Pair
A hand containing 2 pairs of different denominations, such as Queen, Queen,
Jack, Jack.
Under the Gun
The position of the first player to act in a betting round, following the
“blind” bets. The player to the left of the big blind is said to be “under
the gun” prior to the flop.
Underpair
A pair of hole cards lower in value than the community cards.
Up Card
A card dealt face up.
Walking Sticks
Sevens, because of the shape of the number.
WPT
World Poker Tour
WSOP
The World Series of Poker is a world-famous series of poker tournaments held
annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.
