Glossary of Select Poker Terms
The following are a list of common poker terms I will use on this newsletter. All terms and definitions are taken from Wikipedia and used under the Attribution-Sharealike License. For ranking of poker hands, go here.
Angle shooting: Intentionally using an angle to exploit an opponent such as obscuring the size of their chip stack or acting out of turn. See acting out of turn.
Ante: A forced bet required, in some types of poker, of all players before the hand begins.
Backdoor: A draw requiring two or more rounds to fill; a hand made other than the hand the player intended to make
Bad beat: To lose a hand where one hand is considerably ahead of the eventual winning hand. See main article: bad beat.
Balance: Playing very different hands in the same way, with the aim of making it more difficult for an opponent to gain useful information about the cards a player has.
Barreling: When the preflop raiser continuation bets the flop, then bets again on the turn. Sometimes called firing a second barrel or a double barrel. Betting the flop, turn and river is referred to as triple barreling
Behind: Not (currently) having the best hand; money on the table but not currently in the pot, which can be bet later in the hand; money in play but not visible as chips in front of a player
Big blind: The larger of two forced bets in certain types of poker. See main article: blind.
Blank: A card, frequently a community card, of no apparent value. Compare with rag, brick, bomb.
Blocker: In community card poker, holding one of the opponent's outs, typically when the board threatens a straight or straight draw. A blocker is also having a combination of cards that turn an opponent's outs into one's own.
Blocking bet: An abnormally small bet made by a player out of position intended to discourage a larger bet by an opponent
Bluff: A bet made with a hand that is mathematically unlikely to be the best hand, either to make money or to disguise play patterns.
Bluff catcher: A hand that can only beat a bluff.
Bluff induce: To make an action with a strong hand that represents a weak hand with the intention of encouraging an opponent to try to bluff off of the hand with a big bet.
Board: The set of community cards in a community card game
Boat: Another name for a full house
Bomb pot: A hand where each player agrees to place a predetermined bet amount into the pot before the hand is dealt.
Brick: A blank, though more often used in the derogatory sense of a card that is undesirable rather than merely inconsequential,. Also known as a bomb. Compare with rags.
Broadway: A 10 through ace straight. Can also include any group of cards from 10 to ace.
Bubble: The last finishing position in a poker tournament before entering the payout structure
Call: To match a bet or raise. See main article: call.
Call the clock: A method of discouraging players from taking an excessively long time to act. When someone calls the clock, the player has a set amount of time in which to make up their mind; if they fail to do so, their hand is immediately declared dead. In tournament play, any player can call a clock.
Calling station: A player who frequently calls bets, but rarely raises them. A calling station is usually a loose passive player. See main article: calling station.
Cap: A limit on the number of raises allowed in a betting round. Typically three or four (in addition to the opening bet). In most casinos, the cap is removed if there are only two players remaining either at the beginning of the betting round, or at the time that what would have otherwise been the last raise is made.
Also, term for the chip, token, or object placed atop one's cards to show continued involvement with a hand
Card protector: In games where all of a player's cards are facedown, some players use items like specialty chips or glass figures to place on top of their cards to protect them from being accidentally discarded.
Chase: To call a bet to see the next card when holding a drawing hand when the pot odds do not merit it. To continue to play a drawing hand over multiple betting rounds, especially one unlikely to succeed. To continue playing with a hand that is not likely the best because one has already invested money in the pot. See sunk cost fallacy.
Check: To bet nothing. See main article: check.
Check-raise: Deceptive play whereby a player initially checks with the intention of raising should another player bet. See main article: check-raise.
Chip up: To exchange lower-denomination chips for higher-denomination chips. In tournament play, the term means to remove all the small chips from play by rounding up any odd small chips to the nearest large denomination, rather than using a chip race.
To steadily accumulate chips in tournament play, typically by winning small pots with minimal risk-taking.
Chop: To split a pot because of a tie, split-pot game, or player agreement
Chopping the blinds: Ending a hand when all players have folded to the blinds with the blinds being returned to those who paid them. See main article: chopping the blinds.
Coin flip: A situation where two players have invested all their money in the pot and have a roughly even chance of winning. Also race.
Cold call: To call an amount that represents a sum of bets or raises by more than one player without previously calling or making a bet in the same round. Compare with flat call, overcall.
Cooler: A situation in which a player holds the second best hand, so strong considering the circumstances, that they are apt to lose the maximum with it no matter how they play it
Counterfeit: In community card poker, a player or hand is said to be counterfeited when a community card does not change the value of their hand, but makes it more likely that an opponent will beat it.
Crying call: Calling when a player thinks they do not have the best hand
Cutoff: The seat immediately to the right of the button. Name derived from its positional strength, obtaining absolute position when the button folds.
Dead money: The amount of money in the pot other than the equal amounts bet by active remaining players in that pot. Examples of dead money include money contributed to the pot by players who have folded, a dead blind posted by a player returning to a game after missing blinds, or an odd chip left in the pot from a previous deal. For example, eight players each ante $1, one player opens for $2, and gets two callers, making the pot total $14. Three players are now in the pot having contributed $3 each, for $9 "live" money; the remaining $5 (representing the antes of the players who folded) is dead money. The amount of dead money in a pot affects the pot odds of plays or rules of thumb that are based on the number of players. The term "dead money" is also used in a derogatory sense to refer to money put in the pot by players who are still legally eligible to win it, but who are unlikely to do so because they are unskilled, increasing the expected return of other players. This can also be applied to the player himself: "Let's invite John every week; he's dead money". The term "dead money" also applies in tournaments, when many casual players enter events with virtually no chance of winning.
Dominated hand: A hand that is extremely unlikely to win against another specific hand, even though it may not be a poor hand in its own right. Most commonly used in Texas hold 'em. See also domination.
Donk bet: A bet made in early position by a player who did not take the initiative in the previous betting round.
Donkey: a weak player, also known as fish or donk
Door card: In Texas hold 'em, the door card is the first visible card of the flop.
Downswing: A period during which a player loses more than expected. See also: upswing.
Drawing dead: Playing a drawing hand that will lose even if successful. Playing a hand that can never improve beyond the opponent's hand
Drawing live: Not drawing dead; that is, drawing to a hand that will win if successful
Drawing thin: Not drawing completely dead, but chasing a draw in the face of poor odds
Effective nuts: A hand that is not the actual nut hand but strong enough to be played like it.
Effective stack: The smallest stack size among two players, in a heads-up pot the effective stack determines the maximum amount either player can lose.
Equity: One's mathematical expected value from the current deal, calculated by multiplying the amount of money in the pot by one's probability of winning. If a split is possible, the equity also includes the probability of winning a split times the size of that split.
Expectation, expected value, EV: See main article: expected value. Used in poker to mean profitability in the long run.
Feeder: In a casino setting, a second or third table playing the same game as the main table, and from which players move to the main game as players are eliminated. Also called a must-move table.
Felt: The cloth covering of a poker table, whatever the actual material. Metonymically, the table itself. Showing down a hand while all-in (so there is only felt left in front of the player); either betting all-in and getting called or calling all-in.
First position: The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in Texas hold 'em and Omaha hold 'em, also known as under the gun. The player in first position must act first on the first round of betting.
Fish: A weak player. See also donkey.
Hero: In hand histories the player from whose perspective the hand is played, as opposed to villain.
Hero call: Calling when a player has a relatively weak hand but suspects their opponent may be bluffing
Hijack seat: The seat to the right of the cutoff seat, or second to the right of the button. Name derived from its positional strength, obtaining absolute position when the button and the cutoff folds.
Hit and run: Cashing out of a ring game shortly after winning a large pot. Considered poor etiquette by most players barring extenuating circumstances.
Hole cards, hole: Face-down cards. Also pocket cards.
Hollywood: To "Hollywood" (used as a verb) refers to acting or talking in an exaggerated way so as to encourage a specific reaction from an opponent during a hand.
ICM: Independent chip model. The act of assigning a monetary value to a chip stack in tournaments or sit n gos. This value dictates the decision making process especially in push/fold situations.
Implied pot odds, implied odds: Implied pot odds, or simply implied odds, are calculated the same way as pot odds, but take into consideration estimated future betting. Implied odds are calculated in situations where the player expects to fold in the following round if the draw is missed, thereby losing no additional bets, but expects to gain additional bets when the draw is made. See main article: implied pot odds.
In position: A player is said to be in position, if the player is last to act on the flop, turn and river betting rounds. Compare with out of position
In the money: To finish high enough in a poker tournament to win prize money
Kicker: A kicker, also called a side card, is a card in a poker hand that does not itself take part in determining the rank of the hand, but that may be used to break ties between hands of the same rank. See main article: kicker
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 their opponents
Laydown: The choice to fold a strong 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.
Limp, limp in: To enter a pot by simply calling a bet instead of raising
Limp-reraise: A reraise from a player that previously limped in the same betting round. Also backraise
Made hand: A hand that does not need improvement to win. Compare with a drawing hand.
Maniac: A very loose and aggressive player, who bets and raises frequently, and often in situations where it is not good strategy to do so. Opposite of rock.
Mark: A person at a poker table that is the focus of attention, often due to their inexperience
Muck: To fold. 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. The discard pile
multi-way pot
A pot where several players compete for it. Also known as a family pot, although family pot sometimes means a pot where all players participate.
Nit: A player who is unwilling to take risks and plays only premium hands in the top range.
On the button: Being in the dealer position. As the position whose turn to bet comes last, it is the most advantageous and profitable position in poker.
Open limp: Being the first person in the pot preflop by calling the big blind.
Option: An optional bet or draw. The right to raise possessed by the big blind if there have been no raises.
Orbit: A full rotation of the blinds at a table, equal to the number of people at the table.
Out of position: A player is said to be out of position, if they are either first to act, or are not last to act in a betting round.
Overbet: To make a bet that is more than the size of the pot in a no limit game.
Overpair: In community card games such as Texas hold 'em and Omaha hold 'em, a pocket pair with a higher rank than the highest community card.
Polarized: When someone's range is split into either very strong hands or bluffs
Pot-committed: More often in the context of a no limit game; the situation where one can no longer fold because the size of the pot is so large compared to the size of one's stack.
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
Race: See coin flip
Rag: A low-valued (and presumably worthless) card. Hence ragged – having a low value
Rail: The rail is the sideline at a poker table—the (often imaginary) rail separates 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.
Redraw: To make one hand and have a draw for a better hand
Represent: To represent a hand is to play as if it were held (whether it is or not).
River: The river or river card is the final card dealt in a poker hand, to be followed by a final round of betting and, if necessary, a showdown. In Texas hold 'em and Omaha hold'em, the river is the fifth and last card to be dealt to the community card board, after the flop and turn. A player losing the pot due only to the river card is said to have been rivered.
Rock: A very tight player (plays very few hands and only continues with strong hands).
Run it twice, running it twice: A gentleman's agreement (not allowed in some casinos) where the players (usually two or three) agree to draw each remaining card to come in two different occasions instead of just once after all parties have gone all-in (two flops, turns and river for example for a total of 10 community cards in two sets of five). The winner of one run gets half the pot while the winner of the second run gets the other half. Running it twice is done to minimize bad beats and reduce bankroll swings. Running it twice is a form of insurance.
Runner-runner: A hand made by hitting two consecutive cards on the turn and river. Also backdoor. Compare with bad beat and suck out
Semi-bluff: In a game with multiple betting rounds, a bet or raise made with a hand that has decent chance of improving, but with the intention of making a better hand fold on the current betting round.
Shove: To bet all in
Showdown: When, if more than one player remains after the last betting round, remaining players expose and compare their hands to determine the winner or winners. See main article: showdown
Showdown value: A poker hand has showdown value, when compared to the opponent's range of hands, it has a realistic chance of winning at showdown.[3]
Side pot: A separate pot created to deal with the situation of one player going "all in". See Betting in poker
Slow roll: To delay or avoid showing the winning hand at showdown, it is widely regarded as poor etiquette.
Snap call: When a player makes a swift call without any forethought (usually against an all-in) because of the high strength of their hand.
Squeeze play: A bluff reraise in no limit hold'em with less-than-premium 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.
Street: A street is another term for a dealt card or betting round.
String bet A call with one motion and a later raise with another, or a reach for more chips without stating the intended amount.
Suck out: situation when a hand heavily favored to win loses to an inferior hand after all the cards are dealt. The winning hand is said to have sucked out. Compare with bad beat
Suited: Having the same suit.
Suited connectors: Suited connectors is a poker term referring to pocket cards that are suited and consecutive, for example Q♥ J♥
Tank, in the tank: To take an excessive amount of time to act.
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 their hand. See main article: tell
Texture: How well coordinated the community cards are to one another. This is used to estimate relative hand strength. See also static board and dynamic board
Third man walking: A player who gets up from their 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 their seat within 10 minutes, or one rotation of the deal around the table, or else their seat in the game will be forfeited if there is a waiting list for the game.
Turn: The turn, turn card or fourth street is the fourth of five cards dealt to a community card board, constituting one face-up community card that each of the players in the game can use to make up their final hand. See also flop and river
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.
Value bet: A bet made by a player who wants it to be called (as opposed to a bluff or protection bet).
Variance: The statistical measure of how far actual results differ from expectation.
Villain: In hand histories any opponent as seen from hero's perspective.
VPIP: Voluntary put money in pot. Represents the percentage of hands with which a player puts money into the pot pre-flop, without counting any blind postings. VPIP is an excellent measure of how tight or loose a player is.
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 situation where all players fold to the big blind.
Wet board: A board where many draws are available. Where hands can easily change value on future streets.
Whale: A particularly weak player with a very large stack or bankroll that can be targeted with minimal risk.
Wheel: A five-high straight (A-2-3-4-5), with the ace playing low.
Window 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.