Poker terminology / glossary
Refers to the decisions that a poker player can make. For instance, if a player decides to bet, he has made an "action". Possible actions: fold, check, bet, raise, re-raise, ...
Adjective to describe a player who raises and re-raises and rarely calls.
A small, enforced bet, posted by all players at the start of each hand. Antes are almost only used in tournaments.
A bet made by a player in which he puts all his chips in the pot, he is all-in.
The total amount of money that a player has on his account is called his bankroll.
When a hand with a mathmatically high chance of winning loses to one that is a massive underdog. Often, it can be argued that the person with the underdog hand should not have played it in the first place.
A forced bet that is placed by the player sitting in the second position, clockwise from the dealer, before any cards are dealt.
A forced bet (used to ensure there is always something in the pot to play for), posted by players before any cards are dealt. Usually posted by players to the left of the dealer button (Small Blind and Big Blind).
Another name for the five community cards dealt on the table.
To discard the top card from the deck, face down, before each new community card is dealt. The card that is discarted is called a "burn card".
Also known as the dealer button, it is a small round disk that is moved from player to player in a clockwise direction following each hand, to theoretically indicate the dealer of each hand.
If a player wants to call, they must match the size of the current bet.
The name given to a player that tends to call most hands, seldom making a raise or a fold.
If no previous bet has been made, a player can decide to check, meaning that they want to stay in the hand but don't want to invest any more chips at this point.
A strategic move in which a player first checks and then raises in a betting round. This is done in an attempt to trap an opponent into betting to extract more chips/money from them.
Cards that are turned face up in the middle of the table, and which belong to all players still in the hand. Also known as the board.
A starting hand in which the two cards are one apart in rank. For example: 7-6 or 10-J.
The person who handles the cards, gives out the pots, and monitors the game. As dealing in online poker is automatic, the dealer button is used simply to denote who the nominal dealer is, so that the blinds are posted by the correct players.
As in "play fast". To play a hand aggressively, betting and raising as much as possible.
The first three community cards that are dealt face-up in the center of the table all at one time.
If a player folds, they are choosing to take no further part in the hand, and must return their cards to the dealer. They can win no money from the pot, and also lose any amount they have already invested.
Another name for an inside straight. If a player has hole cards of 6-7, and there is a 3 and 4 on the flop, the player has a "Gutshot straight draw". If a 5 comes on the turn or river, the player has hit their Gutshot.
The term used to describe situations when there are only two people left in a hand or when two players decide to play a one-to-one game of poker.
To "hit" means to be dealt the cards that you were looking for. If you have pocket 7's and another 7 appears on the flop, you have hit "trips".
Name given to the cards dealt face down to each player at the start of each hand.
The highest unpaired side card in a players' hand. The "kicker" is used to determine who has the winning hand, if two players make the same combination.
To enter the pot by calling rather than raising. The usual concept of "Limp In" is when a player just calls the Big Blind.
Is a player who plays a lot hands. A loose player is always reluctant to make a raise, re-raise or additional bets and has a stubborn approach to the game.
To discard or throw away your hand face-down at the showdown.
Refers to poker games where players can bet and raise as many of their chips as they want, including all they have in front of them.
Phrase used to describe a hand that is unbeatable by any other player.
Refers to cards that are not of the same suit.
The number of cards left in the deck that will improve your hand.
A card higher than any card on the board. For instance, if you have KQ and the flop comes 9-7-3, you don't have a pair, but you have two overcards.
A pocket pair higher than any of the cards on the board.
Another name to describe a player's hole cards.
A pocket pair refers to when a player has a pair in their hole cards.
When you post a bet, you place your chips in the pot. For example, you must post the Blinds.
In poker games being played as pot limit, a player can only bet an amount equal to the size of the pot.
The amount of money in the pot compared to the amount you must put in the pot to continue playing. For example, suppose there is $80 in the pot. Somebody bets $8, so the pot now contains $88. It costs you $8 to call, so your pot odds are 11:1. If your chance of having the best hand is at least one out of twelve, you should call.
Nickname given to a four of a kind hand.
A flop that contains three different suits, thus no flush can be made on the turn. Can also mean a complete five card board that has no more than two of any suit.
If a player decides to raise, they are choosing to match the current bet and increase it by a greater amount.
The river is the final community card dealt on the board.
Another name for three of a kind.
If a player is described as short stacked, it means they have a chip count considerably lower than others at the table.
If more than one player is still left in a hand after all cards have been dealt and all betting rounds are complete, a showdown takes place, in which both players reveal/show their cards.
If a short stacked player has moved all-in, and there is more than one other opponent in the pot, a side pot is created.
A tactical move, in which a player plays a strong hand weakly so more players will stay in the pot.
A forced small bet by the person immediately to the left of the dealer prior to the cards being dealt.
A pot which is shared by two or more players because they have equivalent hands.
Refers to hole cards that are of the same suit.
Behavior as a result of losing, usually negative. A player can be described as being on "tilt" if they are playing in a way that they know isn't effective, calling with weak hands or bluffing too much.
Refers to when a player pairs one of their hole cards with the highest card on the flop.
Another name for three of a kind.
This is the fourth community card that is dealt on the board.
The name given to the player that has to act first in a betting round.