Poker Dictionary




38 Special
Pocket cards consisting of an Eight and a Three.



A


Action
Placing money into a pot or hand.

Act
To take your turn.

Add-on
Additional chips available for purchase during a tournament. To purchase additional chips during a tournament.

Advertise
To give the impression that you are a loose(er) player who will play mediocre hands. Strategy used to create action.

Aggressive
Strong betting style us consisting of frequent raising and reraising. Often used to describe the ‘bully.”

Ajax
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Jack.

All in
All of your chips wagered in a hand.

Amen
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Four.

America
Pocket cards consisting of a Seven and a Six.

American Airlines
Name given to pocket aces. Also known as pocket rockets, bullets, Alan Alda

Ante
A forced bet before the hands begin.

AO
Add on.

Arizona
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Deuce.

Ashtray
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Three.

Austin Squatty
Pocket pair consisting of a Jack and a Four.


B


B&M
Brick and Morter

Back in black
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Deuce, both black.

Back into
Completing an unexpected hand. He had a flush draw, but backed into a full house.

Backdoor
Requiring the turn and the river card to make a hand.

Bachelor’s hand
Pocket cards consisting of a King and a Jack.

Bad beat
A great hand beat by an incredible hand such as aces full beat by quads.

Bad Beat jackpot
A prize awarded when a qualifying bad beat occurs.

Bankroll
The funds set aside to finance a player’s wagering.

Baskin Robbins
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Three.

BB
Big Blind

Bed and Breakfast
Pocket cards consisting of a Six and a Deuce.

Belly Buster
See inside straight draw.

Berrypatch
A table full of unskilled players.

Bet
To place a wager.

Bet in the dark
To place a wager before looking at your cards.

Bet into
Unknowingly, betting against another player holding the winning hand.

Bet out
The first bet of a hand.

Bet the pot
A bet equal to the size of the assumed pot. Generally this is calculated by multiplying the previous bet by three and adding in the current pot(s) and any other bets out on the table that apply.

Big Blind
A forced bet, equal to the minimum bet amount, required to be placed by a player before the hand is dealt. This usually is the second position relative to the dealer button.

Big Chick
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Queen.

Big Lick
Pocket cards consisting of a Nine and a Six. Happy Meal.

Big Balls
Raising with an ace and deuce.

Big Slick
The name given to hole cards containing an Ace and a King.

Bitches
The name given to pocket Queens. Also known as Ladies.

Black
A $100 dollar chip. Also known as a Blackbird.

Blackjack
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Jack. Ajax.

Blank
An card that does not help make any player’s hand. An irrelevant card.

Blinded out
Losing your chips and/or being eliminated from a tournament by posting the blinds along.

Blinds
All the forced bets required by specific positions (relative to the dealer button) to be posted before a hand is dealt.

Blinds are good
Verbal verification that the required blinds are accurately posted.

Blocking Bet
A bet placed for no other reason than to prevent or deter another larger bet being made by someone else.

Bluff
A misrepresentation of your hand to make it appear as if you have a much stronger hand than you do.

Board
The cards that are dealt face up, visible to all the players. In Texas Holdem, Omaha and Crazy Pineapple it is the community cards shared by all the players consisting of the flop, turn and river cards. In stud games such as 7 card and Razz, the board cards are the streets delivered face up to each player.

Boat
See Full Boat

Bookends
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and a Ten.

Bottom pair
A pair involving the lowest denominational cards shown on the board.

Bounty
A predetermined amount awarded to a player for eliminating or knocking out another player in a tournament.

Box
The dealer’s seat. Also is the dealers procedure of cutting the deck into multiple sections.

Box Cars
Name given to pocket tens. Also known as Dimes, Binary, Dynamite, TNT, shotgun.

Brick
Similar to a Blank. An irrelevant card deemed useless by counterfeiting.

Bring In
A forced action to begin the betting for a hand. The position of a bring in is determined by the face value of the cards dealt out. In 7 card stud, the player with the lowest card showing on 3rd street will bring in the betting.

Broadway
Ace high straight.

Broderick
Pocket cards consisting of Ten and Four.

Broken
An incomplete straight or flush.

Brush
The person who coordinates seating and games in a poker room.

Bubble
The last person (or position) to be eliminated from a tournament without winning a prize. The line between winning a prize and not winning a prize.

Bullets
Pocket Aces.

Bump
To raise.

Buried pair
Pocket Pair

Burn
To discard a card.

Burn card
A card that is discarded from the deck before advancing to the next step in a game.

Busted
An incomplete straight or flush. To be all out of chips.

Button
Short for dealer button. A white, round disk labeled ‘button’ that rotates clockwise from player to player, advancing one seat per hand. The button is the last person to act.

Buy the button
Put up the necessary chips to resume your place in the blinds if you missed one. To outbet the players to your left so you are last to act.

Buy in
To sit down and purchase chips on a cash table. The amount it costs to play in a tournament.

Buy the pot
Place a high bet so all others will fold, regardless of your hand.


C



Call
To remain in the hand by matching the previous bet. To ‘see’ a bet.

Call down
To call a person’s bets all the way to the river.

Calling station
A loose or passive player who is constantly calling other bets regardless of his hand.

Canine
Pocket cards consisting of a King and a Nine.

Cap
The maximum amount you are allowed to bet.

Card protector
An object placed on your cards to prevent them from being mucked.

Card rankings
The hierarchy value of all 13 cards.

Cardroom
A designated area or placed solely for the purpose of playing cards.

Card speaks
The value of a hand based on the cards alone.

Case
The last remaining card of a particular rank.

Cash game
A game that is played with cash or chips with a cash value.

Cash out
Exchanging your chips for cash.

Catch
Getting a card to help your hand.

Caught speeding
When a bluff is exposed by a caller.

CB hand
Pocket cards consisting of a Ten and a Four.

Change list
A list of players who requested to move to another table.

Chase
Staying in a hand hoping to get a card to complete your hand.

Check
To pass the option to bet.

Check call
To call a bet after you checked.

Check fold
To check with the intention of folding if someone bets.

Check raise
To reraise a bet placed after you checked.

Check to the raiser
Passing the option to bet to the player who bet big during the previous round.

Checks
Chips.

Chipstack
The amount of chips you have on a table.

Chop
Split.

Cling
Staying in hands you should fold hoping to catch a card.

Clubs
One of four suits in a deck.

Coffee housing
Discussing your current hand to mislead others.

Cold call
Calling when it was bet and raised before it got to you.

Collusion
The act of working with another player or person to gain an illegal advantage in a game; to cheat together.

Color up
To exchange chips for larger valued chips.

Come alive
To bet after a long duration of passive play.

Come bet
The first bet of a round.

Come hand
A hand that needs to be improved.

Come out
To enter a pot.

Come over the top
To reraise.

Community card(s)
A card or cards that is visible to all the players and used by anyone.

Concealed pair
A pocket pair

Connectors
2 cards that can be used together in a straight.

Count Down
Pocket pair consisting of a Ten and a Nine.

Counterfeited
A card that cannot be used because another of equal value and strength is already being used.

Counting the stub
Counting the remaining cards to ensure a full deck.

Cowboys
Pocket Kings.

Crabs
Pocket threes.

Crack
To beat another hand.

Cracked
Beaten by another hand.

Cripple
To use up key cards in a deck making it more difficult or impossible for others to make their hand.

Crying call
A call made with little hope of winning the hand.

Cut card
A blank card used to protect the bottom of the deck from being seen.

Cut the deck
Split a deck in two and then placing the bottom half on top.

Cutoff
Seat to immediate right of the dealer. The second-to-last to act in a hand.


D



Dead button
A button that is placed at a seat which doesn’t contain a player.

Dead hand
A hand that cannot win regardless of the remaining cards it draws. A hand that is forced to be discarded before the hand is complete.

Dead card
A card that does not help a hand. A brick or blank.

Dead man’s hand
Pocket cards consisting of an Ace and an Eight. A five card poker hand consisting of a pair of aces, a pair of eights and a queen.

Dead money
Money or chips that goes directly to the pot and does not apply to any bet.

Deal
To distribute cards.

Dealer
The person who shuffles and distributes the cards in a game. Usually responsible for overseeing the game and maintaining the control and integrity of the game.

Dealer button
A white, round disk labeled ‘button’ that rotates clockwise from player to player, advancing one seat per hand. The button is the last person to act.

Dealer’s choice
A game where the dealer decides what to play.

Deal twice
To put up a second river card or second board. All players in the hand must agree to it, all betting stops before the second deal and only half the pot is wagered on the second deal.

Declare
Announce the value of your hand in declare games.

Deuce
A card with the face value of 2.

Deuce to seven
Lowball. A 5 card draw game where your goal is to have to lowest hand possible. 2-7 is the lowest possible hand.

Diamonds
One of the four suits in a deck of cards.

Dimes
Pocket tens.

Discard
To remove a card or cards from play.

Dog
Underdog.

Dolly Parton
Pocket cards consisting of a Nine and a Five.

Dominate
A starting hand that almost always will win against another.

Donkey
Slang used to describe an inexperienced, unknowledgeable player.

Door card
The first card dealt up in 7 card stud. Street three.

Down to the felt
Out of chips or all in.

Double Belly Buster
A drawing hand containing two inside straight draw possibilities.

Double Up
To double your chipstack.

Doyle Brunson
Pocket cards consisting of a ten and a deuce.

Draw
To receive additional cards.

Drawing dead
A hand that cannot win no matter what cards are drawn.

Drawing hand
A hand that needs to draw an additional card to complete it.

Drop
To lose a player.

Dry pot
The live pot (side pot) that has not been bet into yet.

Ducks
Pocket deuces.

Dutch Waiter
Pocket cards consisting of a Seven and a Three.


E


Early position
The first few positions to the left of the dealer button.

Edge
The advantage a player has over another.

Equity
Your share of the pot multiplied by your chance of winning the pot.

EO
Early out.

EV
Expected value.

Eight or better
Low hand must contain cards Ace through Eight. Can specifically mean Seven Card Stud Eight or better.

Expectation
The average profit or loss for any given act.

Exposed card
A card unintentionally dealt up.


F


Face card
Jacks, Queens and Kings. Also known as paint or monkey.

Face sitter
Pocket cards consisting of a Queen and an Eight.

Family pot
A pot involving all players at a table.

Fan
The spread the cards out on the table in one long sweeping motion.

Fast player
An aggressive player.

Favorite
The hand more likely to win.

Feeler bet
A small bet placed solely to see were the other players stand.

Felt
Table covering. Used in expressions when someone is out of chips.

Field
The total number of players in a tournament, or the total number of players in a hand in a cash game.

Fifth street
The fifth card dealt to players in stud games or the river card in Holdem.

Final table
The last table of players in a tournament.

Fire
A large bet made by an aggressive player.

Fish
A loose player.

Fixed limit
Poker games that have specific betting increments.

Flat
Used to describe a player that didn’t draw any cards or doesn’t need to draw any cards.

Flop
The first 3 cards on the board in a Hold’em game.

Flat call
To call a bet when a raise is more warrented.

Floorperson (Floor)
A cardroom employee responsible for the decision making and supervision of games.

Flush
Five cards of the same suit.

Fold
To discard your cards and drop out of a hand.

Fold Equity
The likelihood that all other players will fold multiplied by the pot.

Forced bet
A required bet such as blinds and bring in.

Fourth street
The forth card dealt out in stud games or the turn card in Holdem.

Foul hand
A hand no longer eligible to play. Also known as a dead hand.

Four color deck
A deck of cards where each suit has a different color vs. the usually red and black.

Foundation
The first group of down cards in stud. (Five card there is one, in seven and in Razz there are two.)

Four of a kind
All four cards of a particular rank. Quads.

Freeroll
A tournament that doesn’t cost anything to enter but has a cash prize or cash equivalent prize.

Freerolling
In a pot with another player holding identical cards except you have a flush draw.

Free card
A card you get without having to put in money in the pot.

Free ride
Winning a pot with a flush against another player with the same cards as you.

Freezeout
A tournament without rebuys and addons.

Full
Denotes the the three of a kind in a Full House.

Full House
A five card poker hand consisting of a three of a kind and a pair.

Full of
Denotes the pair in a Full House.


G


Game theory
In laymen’s terms it playing a player and not your cards.

Gap
The missing cards in a straight.

Gay Waiter
Pocket cards consisting of a Queen and a Three.

George
A good tipper.

Give action
Betting with weak hands; advertising.

Good game
A phrase used to describe a game full of poor players.

Good hand
A verbal acknowledgement of the winning hand.

Gorillas
Pocket Kings.

Grattitude
Pocket cards consisting of a Ten and a Queen.

Green
A $25 chip. Felt.

Grinder
A player that wins small amounts at a time so he/she must work hard or play long to win any significant amount.

Gutshot
A straight draw requiring one of the inside numbers of the straight.


H


Half bet rule
A bet less than half the required bet is considered only an action. A bet half the required amount or more is considered a full bet.

Half kill
A game that increases the limits by 1.5 times when a player wins two pots in a row. (usually the winning pots have to be equal to at least ten time the big blind in order to qualify as a win.)

Hand for hand
A point in a tournament where every table in a tournament plays each hand together. Every table is required to wait until all the other tables are done with the hand before proceeding to the next hand. This is to record the exact order players are eliminated to correctly award prizes.

Hand ranking
The hierarchy of hand values ranging from a high card to a royal flush.

Happy Meal
Pocket cards consisting of a Nine and a Six.

Heads up
Only two players in a hand.

Hearts
One of the four suits in a standard deck.

Heintz Catsup
Pocket cards consisting of a Five and a Seven.

Hi/Lo
A game involving both a winning high hand and a winning low hand.

Hidden pair
Pocket pair.

High card
The highest ranking card in view.

High limit
Limit games with higher betting increments.

High Society
The highest denomination of chips available.

Hit
Catch.

Hit and run
To join a game, win a few hands and leave right away with your winnings.

HO
Alternating Holdem and Omaha

Hockey sticks
Pocket Sevens.

HOE
A game alternating Holdem, Omaha and Eight or better.

Hole cards
Cards dealt face down to a player.

Hollywooding
Acting showy. Showing off.

Horse
A poker game alternating Limit Holdem, Omaha, Razz, 7 card stud and Stud Eight or better.

Hose
A poker game alternating Limit Holdem, Omaha, 7 card stud and Stud Eight or better.

House player
A player playing for the house, usually just to keep a cash game going. Also known as prop player or shill.

Hot
Doing well. Winning.

Hunting season
Pocket cards consisting of a Bullet and an Duck. (A2)

I

ignorant end, idiot end

In flop games, a player drawing to, or even flopping, a straight with undercards to the flop has the idiot end of it. A player with 8-9 betting on a flop of A-T-J puts himself at great risk, because many of the cards that complete his straight give credible opponents higher ones.

implied pot odds, implied 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.

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 middle

1. 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.
2. 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. Also "ITM".

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.

isolation

See isolation.

J

jackpot

1. 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.
2. A large pool of money collected by the house and awarded for some rare occurrence, typically a bad beat.

joker

A 53rd card used mostly in draw games. The joker may usually be used as an Ace, or a card to complete a straight or flush, in high games, and as the lowest card not already present in a hand at low. See bug. A joker may give a player a great many outs.

juice

Money collected by the house. Also "vig", "vigorish". See rake.

K

kicker

See kicker.

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

lag

A "loose aggressive" style of play in which a player plays a lot of starting hands and makes many small raises in hopes of out-playing his opponents.

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. Can also be used as a verb meaning to bet out into the pot, "to lead into the pot."

level

Used in tournament play to refer to the size of the blinds which are periodically increased. For example, in the first level the small blind / big blind may be $50 / $100, in the second level the blinds may be $100 / $200.

leg-up, leg-up button

The button used to signify who has won the previous hand in a kill game. Winning a pot in a "2 consecutive pots" kill game with the leg-up button in front of you, results in a kill.

light

A hand which is not likely to be best. Usually used as an action descriptor; "call light", "3-bet light". See semi-bluff.

limit

1. The minimum or maximum amount of a bet.
2. See fixed limit.

limp, limp in

To enter a pot by simply calling the bet to them instead of raising, called so because a player with a marginal hand may be willing to pay the minimum to see more cards, but would likely fold if the bet increased further.

limp-reraise

A reraise from a player that previously limped in the same betting round. I decided to limp-reraise with my pocket eights to isolate the all-in player. Also backraise.

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. See also live poker, below.

live poker

A retronym for poker played with at a table with cards, as opposed to video poker or online poker.

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".

low

1. The lowest card by rank.
2. 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.

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.

missed blind

A required bet that is not posted when it is a player's turn to do so, perhaps occurring when a player absents himself from the table. Various rules require the missed bet to be made up upon the player's return.

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

1. To fold.
2. 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.
3. The discard pile "There were only a couple of cards in the muck"

multi-way pot

A pot where several players compete for it. Also known as a family pot.

N

negative freeroll

See negative freeroll.

no-limit

Rules designating players are allowed to wager any or all of their chips in a single bet. See no-limit.

nut hand (the nuts)

The nut hand is the best possible hand in a given situation. 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-chip rule

A call of a previous bet using a chip of higher denomination than necessary is considered a call unless it is verbally announced as a raise.

one-eyed royals

See one-eyed royals.

open

To bet first. See open.

open-ended straight draw, open-ended

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.

open limp

Being the first person in the pot preflop, but not raising.

option

1. 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.
2. The right to raise possessed by the big blind if there have been no raises.

outs

See out.

outside straight draw

See outside straight draw. Also "two-way straight draw".

overbet

To make a bet that is more than the size of the pot in a no limit game.

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

1. A community card with a higher rank than a player's pocket pair.
2. 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 hold 'em, a pocket pair with a higher rank than any community card.

overs

An option to increase the stakes in limit games. Players may elect to play or not play overs; those who choose to play display some sort of token. If, at the beginning of a betting round after the first, only overs players remain in the hand, bets of twice the present limit are allowed. Most often used in home games as a compromise between aggressive and meek players.

P

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

Frivolous, 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.

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".

pocket cards

See "hole cards".

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 expression that does not reveal anything about the cards being held. Often used outside the world of poker.

position

See position.

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".

pot

See pot.

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.

pre-flop

On flop games refers to the time when players already have their pocket cards but no flop has been dealt yet. It's also the first round of bets.

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".

prop, proposition player

A player who 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.

protection, protect

See protection.

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. In some home games, there are qualifiers for high hands as well: "Seven stud, trips-eight".

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 a player is often putting in a third of the pot in the hope of winning a quarter of the pot back.

R

rabbit hunt

After a hand is complete, to reveal cards that would have been dealt later in the hand had it continued. This is usually prohibited in casinos because it slows the game and may reveal information about concealed hands. Also "fox hunt".

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.

rag

A low-valued (and presumably worthless) card. I don't like playing ace-rag from that position. Hence "ragged"/"raggy" - having a low value: The flop was pretty ragged, so I figured my queens were good. Though note that if a flop consists of consecutive or same-suited low-value cards then it is not ragged/raggy, as it could be valuable as part of a straight or flush.

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. "Going to the rail" usually means "Losing all one's money".

railbird

A non-participatory spectator of a poker game

rainbow

Three or four cards of different suits, especially said of a flop.

raise

See raise.

rake

See rake. 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.

range of hands

Term used for the list of holdings that a player considers a opponent might have when trying to deduce their holding. See also "put on".

rathole

To remove a portion of your chips from the table while the game is underway. Normally prohibited in public card rooms. Also "going south".

rebuy

An amount of chips purchased after the buy-in. In some tournaments, players are allowed to rebuy chips one or more times for a limited period after the start of the game, providing that their stack is at or under its initial level. Compare with "add-on".

redeal

To deal a hand again, possibly after a misdeal.

redraw

1. 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..
2. 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.

rock

1. A very tight player (plays very few hands and only continues with strong hands).
2. 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

An expert player who travels around to seek out high-stakes games

royal cards

Royal card are also known as face cards or picture cards. These cards consist of the Jack, Queen, and King of any suit.

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

A prolonged winning streak. A player who has won several big pots recently is said to be on a rush. Also "heater".

S

sandbag

See slow play.

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 could 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

When a player bluffs on one round of betting with an inferior or drawing hand that might improve in a later round. 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".

sevens rule

A rule in many A-5 lowball games that requires a player with a seven-low or better after the draw to bet, rather than check or check-raise. In some venues a violator loses any future interest in the pot; in others he forfeits his interest entirely.

shark

A professional player. See also card sharp.

shoe

A slanted container used to hold the cards yet to be dealt, usually used by casinos or in professional poker tournaments.

shill

See shill. Compare to "proposition player".

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.

short buy

In no-limit poker, to buy in to a game for considerably less money than the stated maximum buyin, or less than other players at the table have in play.

short stack

A stack of chips that is relatively small for the stakes being played.

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.

side game

A ring game running concurrently with a tournament made up of players who have either been eliminated or opted not to play the tournament.

side pot

A separate pot created to deal with the situation of one player going "all in". See table stakes.

sit and go

A poker tournament with no scheduled starting time that starts whenever the necessary players have put up their money. Single-table sit-and-goes, with nine or ten players, are the norm, but multi-table games are common as well. Also called sit n' gos and a variety of other similar spellings.

slow play

See slow play.

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.

smooth call

See "flat call".

snow

1. To play a worthless hand misleadingly in draw poker in order to bluff.
2. 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).

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 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.

squeeze play

A bluff reraise in no limit hold'em with marginal or poor cards, after another player or players have already called the original raise. The goal is to bluff everyone out of the hand and steal the bets. Assuming a standard raise of 3-4BB, a Squeeze bet is about 20BB.

stack

1. The total chips and currency that a player has in play at a given moment.
2. A collection of 20 poker chips of the same denomination, usually arranged in an orderly column.

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.

steam

A state of anger, mental confusion, or frustration in which a player adopts a less than optimal strategy, usually resulting in poor play and poor performance. See steam. 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

1. Poker hand: see straight.
2. 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

A call with one motion and a later raise with another, or a reach for more chips without stating the intended amount. String bets are prohibited in public cardroom rules. Compare to "forward motion". A player can (and should) defend himself against string bet complaints by declaring his intention before moving any chips. Note that the "I call, and raise..." cliche is a string bet.

structured

A structured betting system is one where the spread of the bets may change from round to round.

stud

1. A variant of poker. See stud poker.
2. A card dealt face up in Stud poker.

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.

tag

A "tight aggressive" style of play in which a player plays a small number of strong starting hands, but when in pots plays aggressively.

tell

A tell in poker is a detectable change in a player's behavior or demeanor that gives clues to that player's assessment of his hand. A player gains an advantage if he observes and understands the meaning of another player's tell, particularly if the tell is unconscious and reliable. Sometimes a player may fake a tell, hoping to induce his opponents to make poor judgments in response to the false tell. See tell.

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.

three bet, three betting, 3-bet, 3bet

To be the first player to put in a third unit of betting. For example, if Bob opens for $10, and Mary raises to make the bet $20, if Ted also raises to make the bet $30, this is to "three bet". (Before the flop, 3-betting means re-raising the first raiser.)

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 hold 'em, it is possible to "have" 4 pair in the same manner.

tight

1. See loose/tight play. Compare to "loose", "aggressive", "passive".
2. Having a tight is also slang for a "full house".

tilt

Emotional upset, mental confusion, or frustration in which a player adopts a less than optimal strategy, usually resulting in poor play and poor performance. See tilt. Compare with '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 kicker

In community card poker games, top kicker is the best possible kicker to some given hand. Usually it would be an Ace, but with an Ace on the board it would be a King or lower. Having "top pair, top kicker" is frequently enough to win a Texas hold 'em hand.

top pair

In community card poker games, top pair is a pair comprising a pocket card and 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 player's hole cards in Texas 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.

U

under the gun

The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in Texas hold 'em or Omaha hold 'em. 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.

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".

upcard

See upcard.

up the ante

Increase the stake. Also commonly used outside the context of poker.

upstairs

See raise.

V

value bet

A bet made by a player who wants it to be called (as opposed to a bluff or protection bet). This is typically because he has a superior hand that he expects to win at showdown, or a very good draw for which he can increase his pot equity by more than the amount of his bet. See value.

vigorish, vig

The rake. See vigorish.

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

1. A 5-high straight (A-2-3-4-5), with the Ace playing low. See wheel.
2. In deuce-to-seven lowball, the nut low hand (2-3-4-5-7).

wild card

See wild card. Compare to bug.

window card

An upcard in stud poker. The first window card in stud is called the "door card". In Texas hold'em and Omaha, the window card is the first card shown when the dealer puts out the three cards for the flop.

wrap

In Omaha hold 'em, an open ended straight draw comprising two board cards and three or four cards from a player's hand. A player holding 345A with the board 67K has 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" because it has twenty outs rather than thirteen, and is not at the idiot end.

This Poker Dictionary made possible by:
Donkhard.com member Debel of
casinodealercollege.com
and
Wikipedia's Poker Jargon Page

Stay tuned. More definitions coming soon...