Starting Hands
Poker Glossary
A
ace-high
A hand that has no special card rankings (pairs, full house etc.) and the highest card is an ace.
aces full
A hand with 3 aces and a pair of any other value.
aces up
A hand that contains two pairs: one pair of aces and another pair of any other value.
action
A check, bet, call, fold or raise.
active player
A player who is in the pot.
all-in
When a player bets all his or her chips.
all-in over the top
Raising with all of your chips after an opponents bet.
american airlines
Pair of Aces
angle
An action using unfair tactics.
ante
The total number of chips, or amount of money being wagered, also known as the pot.
B
back into a hand
To draw cards that make a hand that is different from the hand you were originally trying to make.
back-door flush
When you have three cards that would support a flush, but you need the turn and river to make a flush.
back-door straight
When you have three cards that would support a straight, but you need the turn and river to make a straight.
bad beat
When a lucky hand beats a strong hand.
bankroll
The amount of money that a player has to wager for the duration of his or her poker career.
battle of the blinds
When everyone folds to the players who have forced bets.
behind
When your hand is not the best hand before all the cards have been dealt.
bet
To put money in the pot of your own free will.
bet for value
When you bet in order to increase the pot size, not to make your opponents fold.
bet the pot
To make a bet that is the size of the pot.
big 'dog
An underdog. The person who has a very low chance of winning.
big blind
The forced bet that is made by the person sitting two seats to the left of the button. This is the largest forced bet. In World Poker Tour (tournament play) this amount increases after each timed round.
big slick
Poker slang for A, K; a very strong starting hand.
blank
A card that is not of value to the players hand.
blind
A mandatory bet placed by the two players to the left of the dealer button.
bluff
To raise or bet a weak hand in order to make your opponent think you have a strong hand.
bust a player
To eliminate a player from the game by taking all of his or her chips.
bust out
To lose all your chips and thus be eliminated from a tournament.
button
A white disc-shaped object that moves clockwise around the table each hand and indicates where the action begins.
buy-in
A minimum amount of money that must be paid in order to play in a tournament and live games.
C
call
To match (rather than raise) the previous bet.
cap
The number of raises allowed in a game.
change gears
To strategically alternate your play between conservative and aggressive.
check
To not bet, reserving the option to call or raise later in the betting round.
come over the top
To raise or re-raise another players bet.
community cards
The cards that are played face up on the center of the table, and which can be used by all of the active players.
connectors
Consecutively ranked cards that can help a player make a straight.
D
dead man's hand
A pair of aces and a pair of eights; Wild Bill Hickock was shot holding this hand.
dead money
Money that was put into the pot by players who have since folded.
double up
Betting all your chips and winning, ending up with twice as many chips.
down cards
The players cards which are dealt face down.
drawing dead
When you cannot win, no matter what cards come up.
E
early position
First player to bet in a round. This is a disadvantaged position.
F
fifth street
The final round of betting and the fifth card on the table, the river.
fish
A poor player who is losing all of his or her money, a sucker.
flop
The first three cards placed in the center of table that anyone may use to form a hand.
fold
To withdraw from the game, and give up your cards rather than continue betting.
four of a kind
Four cards with the same value. (Ex: J, J, J, J)
fourth street
The fourth card on the table, and the third round of betting. This is also known as the turn.
freeze out
A game or a tournament that is played until one player has all the chips.
full house
A hand that contains three-of-a-kind and a pair. (Ex: J, J, J, 2, 2)
G
get full value
To raise, bet or re-raise with the intention of getting the maximum pot odds if you win the hand.
grinding
Playing Tight, or conservatively, to minimize risk, usually resulting in modest positive results.
gut shot straight draw
Four cards of a straight with a card in the middle missing. (ex: If you have a 9 and an 8 and the flop contains a 7, then you need a 6 in the turn or river. If a 6 comes, then you have made the gut shot straight draw.)
H
hand
A players best five cards made by combining his or her cards with the community cards.
heads-up
When there are only two players left, and the number of betting rounds is unlimited.
high card
If none of the players have one of the hands listed above, the High Card is used to determine the winner. Cards are ranked in value from Ace, as the highest card, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, to the lowest card, 2.
high limit
A Poker game with high wagers.
hole card
The two cards dealt face down to every player at the start of a hand.
house, the
The location of the game, such as a casino or a web site in online gambling.
I
image
The perception other players have of you.
J
jammed pot
A pot that has been raised the maximum number of times.
jackpot
A prize earned by a player who fulfills a certain requirement, such as a particular hand.
K
key hand
In a tournament, this is a hand that proves to be a turning point - for better or for worse.
kicker
The highest card in a players hand that is not being used in some other way (to create three-of-a-kind, a pair, etc).
kill game
A Poker game with higher stakes due to predetermined requirements.
L
late position
A position in a round of betting where a player can act after most or all of the other players have acted. This is an advantaged position.
lay down
Folding a strong hand in a critical situation.
legitimate hand
A strong hand. A hand that is not a bluff.
limp in
When a player enters the round by only calling, rather than raising, a bet.
live hand
A hand that is eligible to win the pot.
long odds
When there is a very low probability that something will happen.
loose play
Playing many weak hands.
low limit
A low wager game.
M
main pot
When a player goes all-in, he or she is eligible to win the main pot. Any betting that is done after that is done in a side pot.
maverick
A Pocket Hand containing a Queen and Jack, regardless of suit.
mechanic
A cheater who is able to manipulate cards in their favor.
middleposition
Between Early Position and Late Position.
mneumonics
Names for groups of cards, such as Maverick or Dead Man's Hand.
monster
A hand that has a high probability of winning.
muck
To discard a hand; also the pile of discarded hands.
N
no limit hold'em table stakes
At any time, any player can bet any or all of his or her chips.
nut flush
The best flush available within each hand.
nut flush draw
When one card will give you the best possible flush.
nuts
A hand that cant be beaten no matter what comes. Also used as a superlative (e.g. Youre the nuts!)
O
odds
The probability of making versus not making a hand.
on a short stack
When a player has very few chips.
on the button
The best table position in Hold Em, benefiting from acting last. The player who acts last in a round.
on tilt
Playing recklessly due to frustration.
open card
A card that is dealt face-up.
open end straight draw
Four consecutive cards, such as 9-10-J-Q. In this example, any King or 8 would make a straight.
open pair
Two cards of the same value that are dealt face-up.
out
A card that is still in the deck that could improve your hand.
out of position
Being at the disadvantage of having to act before your opponent.
outdraw
When one person beats his or her opponent by drawing a better hand.
outs
The cards that will turn the statistical underdog into a winner.
over the top
Making a large raise.
P
pair
Two cards that have the same value (Ex: 3, 3).
pass
When a player folds his or her hand.
play fast
To bet aggressively on a hand.
playing the board
When your best five-card hand is the five cards on the board.
position
Where a player sits in relation to the dealer, which determines his or her betting order.
pot
The chips that have been bet.
pot odds
The amount of money in the pot vs the amount of money it costs to continue playing.
pre-flop
The first two rounds, including being dealt the Pocket Cards, until the deal of the Flop.
protect a hand
To bet in order to convince other players to fold, and reduce the risk of having them outdraw you.
putting on the heat
To pressure the other players by betting aggressively.
Q
quads
Four of a kind.
R
ragged flop
Flop cards that do not help any players hand.
rank
The value of the card or hand.
re-raise
To raise on top of a previous raise within the same hand.
river
The final community card dealt; all players may use it to form their best hand.
rock
A tight and conservative player.
round of betting
The period in which each active player has the opportunity to check, bet or raise.
rounder
A professional player who frequents high-stakes tournaments.
royal flush
A hand containing: A, K, Q, J, 10 in the same suit.
running bad
On a losing streak.
running good
On a winning streak.
S
see
To call a bet.
short odds
When there is a very high probability that something will happen.
short stack
The player with the fewest chips at the table has the short stack.
showdown
After the final round of betting, the players cards are turned face-up to see who won.
side pot
A separate pot contested by other players when one player is all-in.
slow roll
Stalling before showing a winning hand to frustrate your opponent.
small blind
The forced bet that is made by the person sitting one seat to the left of the button. This bet is half the size of the big blind.
steaming
Playing recklessly due to frustration.
straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits
straight flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
structure
The schedule by which the antes and blinds (forced bets) increase.
suited connectors
Two cards that are consecutive in rank and of the same suit.
T
table stakes
A rule that states that you are only allowed to play with the money you have at the table.
tell
An involuntary gesture or expression that indicates the strength of your hand.
three of a kind
Three identically ranked cards of the same value, with two other random cards that do not match the Three of a Kind. If two or more players have a Three of a Kind, the hand with the higher three cards is the winning hand.
tight player
A conservative player who only plays strong hands.
tilt, on
Typically negative behavior demonstrated by someone who is losing.
top pair
A Pair consisting of the highest community card and a Pocket Card.
top twopair
Pocket Cards matching the highest community cards.
turn
Sometimes called fourth street, the turn is the fourth common card played.
Table, The - The actual surface, or board, on which the Poker game is played, or the actual players themselves.
two pair
A hand containing two different Pairs of cards of different ranks. A hand with two Pairs of the same rank would be a Four of a Kind. The fifth card would be different from any of the four other cards. If two or more players have Two Pairs, the hand with the highest Pair is the winning hand. If the players' hands contain the same high Pair, the second highest Pair is used. If the players' hands have the same Two Pairs, the fifth card is used to determine the winning hand.
U
under the gun
Being in the Early Position, thus being the first to act.
underpair
A Pair of Pocket Cards that are ranked lower than any community card on the board.
W
wired pair
When your two hole cards form a pair.
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