Absolute Nuts- The best possible hand, based on the board cards. Sometimes simply called “the nuts”.
Ace-High- A five card hand that contains one Ace, with no straight or flush or a hand with no pair in it.
Ace Magnets- A pair of kings as hole cards (K,K).
Aces Full- A full house with three aces and any pair.
Aces Up- A hand that contains two pairs, one of which is Aces.
Action- A game in which players are playing a lot of pots is considered an “action” game.
Active player- A player who is still in a pot.
Aggressive Player- A player who bets, raises, and re-raises a lot.
Air- A very weak hand.
All-in- The moment when all of your chips are in the middle and your fate is resting with the poker gods.
American Airlines- Having a pair of Aces as your hole cards.
Angling- Taking action or talking when it is not your turn in order to mislead your opponent. Some consider this to be cheating; others consider these tactics to be part of the game.
Animal- Nickname for a player that is loose-aggressive. Animals are involved in too many hands and will almost always bet and raise when given the opportunity, often with garbage hands. Also referred as a manic.
Ante- A term used in poker to refer to the first money wagered on a hand, or the minimum that each player is required to put into the pot before a new hand can begin.
Baby- A low-ranked card (usually 2 through 5.)
Back Door- A draw that requires two cards to complete a straight, flush, or full house. For example, to complete a flush the correct suit must hit on the turn and the river.
Backdoor Flush- A hand with three cards that would support a flush, but needs the remaining turn and river cards to make it happen.
Backdoor Straight- A hand with three cards that would support a flush, but needs the remaining turn and river cards for the straight.
Bad Beat- This refers to losing a hand when you were the strong odds favorite to win. An example of a bad beat would be holding pocket Aces against a player holding pocket 9’s, and your opponent ends up beating you by hit-ting another 9 on the last card.
Bad Beat Jackpot- A reward or promotion in which the card room or casino offers a jackpot to a player who has lost with a really big hand (usually Aces full or better).
Bankroll- The amount of money you have available with which to play poker over a particular period of time.
Behind- A player at the table, who acts after you. “I had three players acting behind me.”
Belly-Buster- This is also known as an inside straight draw or gut shot.
Best of It- To be a favorite to win.
Bet- To place money into the pot.
Bet the Pot- When a player bets the amount of the pot
Big Blind- The position two to the left of the button, who is forced to pay a full small bet prior to the hole cards being dealt in Texas Hold’em.
Big Slick- Refers to holding an Ace and King as your two private hole cards.
Big Sister- Refers to holding an Ace and Queen as your two pocket cards. This hand is also known as ‘Big Slick’s slutty sister.
Blank- A card that appears useless. Also known as a rag.
Blinds- Texas Hold’em Poker uses what’s called a “blind” structure, meaning that two people on the table must post a bet prior to seeing their cards. Since they are forced to bet without seeing their cards, they are playing “blind”, thus the name of those bets are called “blinds”. There are two blinds, the big blind and the small blind. The small blind position must post half the minimum bet and sits immediately to the left of the dealer. The big blind must post the full minimum bet, and sits immediately to the left of the small blind, two seats to the left of the dealer. As the deal rotates around the table, each player takes turns posting the small blind and the big blind bets. This blind structure forces the action on the table since there will always be a pot to win. So, for ex-ample, if you are seated at a $5-10 limit Hold’em table, the small blind must post $5 and the big blind must post $10 bet. As play rotates around the table, each player may choose to call that $10 bet, raise, or fold. When it’s the small blind’s turn, that player only needs to call $5 to play the hand.
Blind Raise- When a player raises without looking at his hand.
Bluff- To bet with an inferior hand in the hope that your players will fold.
Board- The board refers to the community cards that are dealt face up on the table. In Texas Hold’em, there will ultimately be five community cards on the “board”. The board does NOT include the two private card dealt to each player. So, if someone were to say, “the board plays”, the player means that the five community cards make his best poker hand and he is not using any of the two private cards dealt to the player.
Boat- Full House
Bottom Pair- Making a pair containing the lowest cards on the board.
Broadway- An Ace-high straight. A-K-Q-J-10
Bullets- A pair of Aces.
Bump it- To raise.
Burn Card- Any card placed in the discard rack without being entered into play. After the deck is shuffled and cut, one card is ‘burned.’
Button- Also called the “Dealer Button”, this is a white puck (usually with the word “Dealer” on it), that signifies the dealer’s position on the table. The dealer’s position is significant because he is the last player to act for that hand. The Dealer Button rotates around the table, so each player takes turns being “on the button”.
Buy-in- The minimum amount of money required to enter a game.
Call- To place an amount of money equal to a previous players bet.
Calling Station- A player who only calls bets and does not take advantage of their good hands by raising. They also will not fold very often, so you should not bluff them but you need to show down the best hand.
Card room- The room or area in a casino, where poker is held.
Cash Out- To leave a game and convert your chips to cash.
Check- To decline to bet or to pass, when it is your turn to act.
Check-Raise- The act of checking a hand, in hopes of luring the other player to bet, so that you may then raise over him and build a bigger pot to win.
Chop- To return the blinds to the players who posted them and move on to the next hand if no other players call. It also means to “split the pot”.
Collusion- When two or more players conspire to cheat in a poker game.
Community Cards- Cards placed in the middle of the table and shared by all players.
Connectors- A starting hand of two cards in sequence, such as Q-J, 7-6, or 9-10.
Cowboys- Two Kings.
Dead Man’s Hand- Two pair - Aces and Eights (Wild Bill Hickock was shot in the back while playing this hand).
Deuces- A pair of Twos.
Donkey- Someone who is very bad at poker.
Doyle Brunson- It’s a Hold’em hand consisting of a 10-2 (Brunson won the world championship two years in a row on the final hand with these cards).
Drawing Dead- Drawing to a hand that, even if it hits, will lose to a hand that is already better.
Drop- Fold.
Ducks- A pair of 2’s.
Equity- Your mathematical share of the pot and your chances of winning it. Say you have pocket Aces against two players, your pot equity is over 70 percent of the pot.
Expected Value (EV)- The average amount you will win when betting in the same situation numerous times.
Face Cards- The King, Queen or Jack of each suit.
Family Pot- When everyone at the table has entered the pot.
Favorite- To be a favorite, you have the best chance to win the current hand at play.
Fifth Street- Also known as the “river” card. In flop games, this represents the fifth community card on the table and the final round of betting.
Fill Up- To make a Full House from trips or a set.
Fish- A loose player who loses his or her money regularly.
Flash- To show one or more of your cards, usually when it is not required to do so.
Flat Call- Calling a bet without raising.
Floor man- An employee of the card room who makes rulings and decisions
Flop- In Texas Hold’em, each player has two cards dealt to them, and then shares five community cards. These five community cards, however, do not all get dealt at the same time. There are rounds of betting at certain intervals during the deal. After the first two cards are dealt to each player, there is a round of betting. Then, three of the five community cards are dealt at one time on the board. This is what’s known as the “flop” - the first three cards being dealt on the board. The fourth card is called the “turn”, and the final, fifth card is known as the “river”.
Flush- Any five cards of the same suit.
Flush Draw- A hand where you have 4 of the 5 cards needed to make a flush. For example, if you are holding two clubs, and the board flops two more clubs, you would be holding a flush draw. You would need to draw an additional club to complete the flush.
Fold- To throw your hand away when it’s your turn to act.
Four of a Kind- Four cards of the same number or face value (“quads”).
Four-Flushed- Having the four cards of a flush in your hand or on the board against you. When you have two of the four cards in your hand, your in great shape to make your flush.
Fourth Street- In flop games, it is the fourth community card dealt (also known as “the turn”) and represents the third round of betting.
Free Card Play- Betting or raising in late position on the flop in the hopes that the other players will check to you on the turn, giving you the option of seeing the river card for free.
Free Ride- A round in which no one bets.
Full House- Any three cards of the same number or face value, plus any other two cards of the same number or face value.
Gut Shot- A hand where you have 4 of the 5 cards needed to make a straight, but your 4 cards are not “connected” or in sequential order, so you need a single card in the middle of your straight to complete the straight. You’re holding 5-6, and the board shows 7, 9, 10. At that moment, you have a gut shot; only the 8 will make your straight. This type of hand is also known as an “inside straight draw” or a “belly-buster straight draw”.
Hand- The cards in a player’s hand or one game of poker in which a pot is won. When you hear or read this term, under-stand it in its context so you won’t be confused.
Hit- When the flop cards are helpful to your hand.
Hold ‘em- Also known as Texas Hold ‘em, where the players get two down cards and five community cards.
Hold up- When a hand that is leading manages to win the pot at the showdown.
Hole Cards- The first cards dealt to you that your opponents can’t see.
Hooks- A pair of jacks.
Image- The perception that the other players at the table have of your playing style.
Implied Odds- Bets that you can reasonably expect to collect in addition to the bets already in the pot if you hit your hand.
In Position- To have position on your opponent; is being able to act last post flop. UTG raises and you call on the button and will be in position for the rest of the hand.
Inside Straight- Four cards which require another between the top and the bottom card to complete a straight. Players who catch this card make an Inside Straight.
Inside Straight Draw- Also known as a belly-buster straight draw gut shot straight draw.
Keep Them Honest- To call at the end of a hand to prevent someone from bluffing.
Key Card- A card that gives you a big draw, or makes your hand.
Key Hand- In a session it is the one hand that ends up being a turning point for the player, either for better or worse.
Kicker- The kicker refers to your tie-breaking card. For exam-ple, if I am holding an Ace and King, and the board shows Ace, 5, 7, 2, J - I would have a pair of Aces with a King kicker. My opponent may have an Ace also, but with a weaker kicker, in which case I will win the showdown.
Kojak- A hand that contains a K-J.
Ladies- Two Queens.
Late Position- Position on a round of betting where the player must act after most of the other players have acted (usually considered to be the two positions next to the button).
Lay Down- When a player folds.
Lead- The first player to bet into a pot.
Limit- The set amount or amounts that may be bet, often expressed as 5/10 ($5 bets on the first two rounds and $10 bets thereafter).
Limp-In- To enter a hand with a call before the flop.
Limper- The first player who calls a bet.
Live Hand- A hand that could still win the pot.
Live One- A not so knowledgeable player who plays a lot of hands.
Look- When a player calls the final bet before the show-down.
Loose- To play more hands than should be played.
Main Pot- The center pot. Any other bets are placed in a side pot(s) and are contested among the remaining players. This occurs when a player(s) goes all-in.
Maniac- A very aggressive player who plays a lot of hands.
Middle Pair- To have a pair containing the second highest card on the board.
Middle Position- Somewhere between the early and late positions on a round of betting (the fifth, sixth and seventh seats to the left of the button).
Minimum Buy-In- The least amount you can start a game with.
Monster- A very big hand. In a tournament, a player who begins to accumulate chips after having a small stack is considered to be a monster.
Muck- To discard a hand.
No Limit- NL , a game where players can bet as much as they like (as long as they have it in front of them) on any round of betting.
Nuts- The best hand. The best hand. (“Nut Flush”).
Odds- The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making a hand.
Off suit- Cards of a different suit.
Omaha- A game in which each player is dealt four down cards with five community cards. To make your hand, you must play two cards from your hand and three from the board.
Open- To make the first bet.
Open-ended Straight- Four consecutive cards whereby one additional (consecutive) card is needed at either end to make a straight.
Option- When it is the Big Blind’s turn to act and he has the option of checking or raising.
Outs- Cards that can come that will improve your hand.
Over card- A card that is higher than other cards, usually in reference to the community cards.
Paints- Face cards
Pair- Two cards that are the same rank (such as two kings).
Playing the Board- When your best 5 card hand equals the 5 cards on the board. This usually occurs in 2 situations. The first is when there is a very high hand on the board. An example would be if the board was A-A-K-K-A. Assuming you didn’t have 4-of-a-kind then you would.
Pocket Rockets- Pair of Aces.
Position- Your place in the order of betting action. If you act first, you are in first position.
Post- To post a blind so you can enter the hand.
Pot- All the money that has been placed in the middle including all bets, blinds and antes.
Pot Odds- The mathematical computation of the odds of your hand improving, the amount of money in the pot, and the size of the bet you must call.
Prop- Someone who gets paid by a poker room to play in their games, usually to start games or play in shorthanded games.
Quads- Four of a kind (such as four aces).
Rags- Bad cards - usually low cards.
Railbird- Someone who is watching a game.
Raise- To place a higher bet than an opponent has already placed.
Rake- The amount a card room takes from each pot, usually a percentage that has a set upper limit.
Read- An assumption of what cards a player has. (“I had a good read on him and still lost”).
Re-raise- To raise after an opponent has raised.
River- The last remaining community card. There is one final round of betting.
Rivered- To get beat by a hand that is made on the river - usually a bad beat.
Rock- This is an extremely tight player at the table.
Round- When the button has moved completely around the table and everyone has had a chance to deal.
Rounders- A popular poker movie: starring Matt Damon. A ‘Must Watch’ if you’re reading this book.
Royal Flush- The best possible hand, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.
Runner-runner- To hit both the turn, and the river to make your hand. (“I went all-in with a straight, but he hit runner-runner spades and got a flush”).
Seat Charge- The amount of money some card rooms charge per hour to play in addition to, or in place of, a rake.
See- To call.
Semi bluff- To bet with a hand that may not be the best but has a good chance to improve to the best hand.
Set- Three of a kind (such as three jacks).
Short Stacked- To have the smallest stack of chips at the table.
Showdown- At the end of the final betting round, it’s when all active players turn their cards face up to see who has won the pot.
Side Pot- An additional pot made when one player is all in and 2 or more other players are still betting.
Small Blind- The amount put in the pot by the person immediately to the left of the dealer “button” prior to the cards being dealt.
Solid- A fairly tight player (and reasonably good).
Speed Limit- A pair of fives.
Stay- When a player remains in the game by calling, rather than raising.
Steal- To force the other player to fold when you don’t have the best hand.
Steel Wheel- A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.
Straddle- A straddle is a Blind bet which is usually double the size of the Big Blind (and that player may raise when the action gets to him).
Straight- Five consecutive cards of any suit.
Straight Flush- Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Stuck- A player who is losing in a game.
Suited- Cards of the same suit (such as 8 and 9)
Tell- An action that a player makes that gives away the strength of their hand.
Texas Hold’em- This is also the name for Hold’em, the most popular form of poker.
Three of Kind- Three cards of the same number or face value also called (“trips”).
Tight- To play fewer hands than normal.
Tilt- When a player is emotionally upset and starts making poor decisions.
Top Pair- When the player pairs one of his down cards with the highest card on board.
Treys- A pair of threes.
Trips- Three of a kind (such as three kings).
Turn- This is the fourth card dealt. It is the third round of betting.
Two Pair- A hand consisting of two different pairs.
Under the Gun- The first person who must act on the first round of betting.
Up Card- A card that is dealt face-up.
Walking Sticks- A pair of sevens.
Wired Pair- When your hole cards contain a pair.
Worst Hand- A losing hand.
WPT- The World Poker Tour
WSOP-World Series of Poker