Poker Terms And Phrases

Poker Slang Terms

1. Common Poker Terms
2. Poker Terms Explained
3. Gambling Terms And Phrases
4. Poker Lingo

The game of poker has its own slang or “poker talk.” If you are new to poker, learning the poker slang will greatly improve your knowledge of the game. From the small blind to the straight flush, here is a poker glossary of the important poker terms to know. Act: check, bet, raise, or fold.

Poker is a fascinating game which almost seems to have it’s own language. If you spend any time in a poker room, you’ll hear dozens of phrases and terms with no idea what people are on about. Have no fear! In this article, we will provide an A to Z on the most common poker slang terms used. So, when you next join a forum, chat with poker friends or visit a card-room you will be fluent in poker lingo.

ABC Poker

Texas Holdem Glossary. Newcomers to Texas holdem often get confused by some of the colorful slang and jargon used at the tables. We’ve put together this lengthy and (hopefully) comprehensive Texas holdem terms page to provide definitions for some of the words and phrases. An essential part of learning how to play poker online is to become acquainted with all the special vocabulary associated with this game. To ease your way, EasyPPPoker has composed this glossary where you can find the right explanations of the different poker slang terms players use. Poker Terms and Definitions The following is a glossary of poker terms used in the card game of poker. A big part of learning the game of poker is becoming acquainted with and knowing how to use special vocabulary associated with the game. Some poker terms and phrases are obvious in their meaning, while others are less apparent. Definition: an inscrutable face that reveals no hint of a person's thoughts or feelings Poker is not a terribly old card game, or at least the word for it is not, as it appears to only have begun being used in the 1830s. It didn't take long before we began to use the name of the game to describe the expressionless aspect of a person’s face when trying to not give away any details of what is.

This is straight forward basic poker. It is used as negative term at high stakes as it implies solid, fundamental poker and no more. ABC poker can be enough to win a low stakes game though.

Bad Beat

If you’ve ever lost a hand as a huge favourite, you may have taken a bad beat. There’s sometimes confusion between novices what a bad beat actually is. Read our article on bad beats for more information on what they are and how to handle them.

Bounty Tournament

A type of tournament that rewards players with cash prizes if you knock out an opponent. In order to offer this, a percentage of the buy-in acts goes to the bounty prize pool. Check out our bounty poker tournament guide.

Cold Call

Anyone who calls before the flop when they’ve not invested anything yet. It is commonly associated with a call from someone after there’s already been a bet and raise. Our article on cold calling explains more.

C Bet (Continuation Bet)

A bet made on the flop by the initial raiser, hence continue to bet. This is an essential part of poker. We have created the most in depth course on this. See below for more information.

Cooler

A hand where two very strong hands match up e.g. quads against a full house or aces against kings. Coolers are part of poker and hard to escape but it’s nice when you’re on the right side of them!

Donk Bet

A flop bet made from out of position into the raiser. The donk bet is scorned at by many but can sometimes be a genius bet.

Downswing

This refers to a run of losing sessions for a prolonged period of time.

Equity

This is the share of the pot based on the odds that you will win the pot at some point.

Freeroll

This is a tournament that costs nothing to enter, hence “free”. They offer cash prizes for the top spots or loyalty points with that website. A freeroll is commonly used by new players to learn how to play.

Gutshot

Despite it’s name, it’s not nothing to do with guns. It refers to an unlikely straight where one needs one card to complete the straight. It’s otherwise known as inside straight. I assume the name was given as it’s like a shot in the gut to be hit with a straight that unlikely. An example of a gutshot is holding 8c 10c on a 6h 7d Ac flop where only a 9 will complete your straight.

Hand History

Most poker sites let you download the hands you’ve played. This is the “hand history”. We offer hand history reviews to players keen to analyse and discuss hands they’ve played.

Heads-Up

Heads up is just one on one poker. This is how most tournaments are finished, with two players left facing off. However, online also offers heads up SNGS and cash games too.

Hero Call

A brave call made despite holding a hand that appears relatively weak e.g. ace high card or bottom pair. Making a hero call takes guts.

Home Game

Have you ever played poker at a friend’s house? Then you’ve played in a home game. They involve your own dealing, snacks and no house fee.

ITM

This is an abbreviation of “in the money”, the part of a tournament where one has reached the money places. Check out our ITM article for more details.

Jam

A poker slang term for moving all-in.

Kicker

This is the second card used when two hands are similar strength e.g. an ace king against an ace three on an: A-4-J-6-7. The king would form part of the hand and is a bigger “kicker”. Our article on poker kickers explains more.

LAG

An abbreviation for the “loose aggressive” poker playing style. A LAG plays a wide range of hands with an aggressive mentality.

Limp

To enter the pot with a flat call i.e. just completing the big blind. This is a common trait amongst weaker players, our article on why limping is bad explains why.

Multi-Way

If you get to the flop with more than one opponent, it’s a multi-way pot. It simply means several players are involved.

Nit

This is a nasty term used to describe very conservative players. They play very few hands and have a risk averse approach. We explain why nit poker is losing poker these days.

Open

An “open” is when someone enters the pot with a raise.

Probe Bet

These are smaller sized bets designed to win the pot now or elicit information. A probe bet is likely to be under 40% of the pot and is a common trait of small ball poker strategy.

Queens

A pair of queens in your hand. They’re the third best starting hand in Texas Hold’em.

Rake

This is the fee charged by the casino or poker-room to make money. It’s taken as a percentage of cash game pots or a fixed fee from tournament buy-ins.

Rakeback

A great way to get some rake “back” from the poker room you play on. You can sign up to rakeback schemes that pay back a percentage of rake to you.

Showdown

This is where the hand has no more betting involved and players must show their cards. It can be on the river after a bet and call, or in an all-in scenario in tournaments.

Slow Roll

An unethical move where a player with the winning hand slowly reveals their hand to the opponent. This is poor etiquette as we explain in our article on slow-rolling.

Snap Poker

A fast form of poker where you are moved between tables after folding. Snap poker the fastest form offered on 888 poker.

String Bet

A live poker move where one reaches back for chips multiple times instead of making a bet in one motion. This is sometimes unethical, but mostly accidental. The string bet article explains everything you need to know.

Tell

The tick or pattern of a player that indirectly reveals the strength of the hand. This is more common in live poker but there are online poker tells too.

Tilt

If someone loses a pot then proceeds to play terrible, they are known to go on tilt. It’s a terrible feeling as it can cost a lot of money.

Underpair

A small pocket pair is almost always going to be an underpair to the board. For instance, pocket twos on a board of K-3-J is an underpair.

Value Bet

This is a bet designed to extract value. Accurate value betting is fundamental to being a long term winner. We’ve explain the common mistakes of value betting before.

Variance

This is the difference between what you expect to win and what actually occurs. It is the short-term luck element that can be expressed through your poker tracking software. Variance is what keeps the bad players in the game so you should be grateful for this, if you are a winner.

Walk

Ever had the entire table fold to you in the big blind? This is otherwise known as a walk.

WSOP

This is abbreviation of the greatest poker tournament series, aka “World Series of Poker”.

Y

We couldn’t think of any poker slang terms for Y.

Zoom

This is the PokerStars equivalent of Snap.

Poker is a great game to play or to spend time with your friends or family. But, before you play poker you must be aware of some of the must know poker terms and phrases. Whether you play poker online or offline, you need to be aware of some of the basics poker terms and phrases. Without knowing these you will be at a disadvantage playing poker.

Poker can be pretty intimidating most of the times. But, if you prepare beforehand by knowing all the basics and covering the fundamentals, you can be much more confident when you are playing at a table or even playing poker online.

There are certain poker terms and phrases which will help you strengthen your fundamentals of poker. This will also help you in communicating with your opponents much easier. And thus will boost your confidence and morale when playing high stakes poker tournament or even to have a friendly relationship with your opponents.

Without any delay, lets take a look at the top 45 must know poker terms and phrases which will help you improve your game.

Top 45 must know poker terms and phrases

I will divide the poker terms that you must know into different sections. Such as Basic must know poker terms, Texas Hold’em must know poker terms, and Advanced must know Poker terms.

Basic Must know Poker Terms

There are certain basic poker terms that you as a poker player must be aware of. These terms are very much essential for you to get started with poker. Without knowing these poker terms, you’ll have a hard time understanding the basic fundamentals of the game. So, here are the basic must know poker terms:

1. Action

Action refers to playing the hand in poker. Also, it means to either bet, check, call or raise a hand. Even fold is a form of action when playing poker. At the end when everyone finishes betting, showing the cards to the dealer is also a form of action in poker.

For Example: If 2,3,4 are the flop and a lot of action is going on the table, then it is assumed that a player has had a straight. In general, action means opportunity to act. If a player doesn’t realise that it his his turn to play, then the dealer will say “Your Action” to him.

2. Ante

Ante is the basic amount (Poker chips) that each player has to pay before the game even begins. That is the amount that each player has to pay inorder to receive their poker cards. Usually, Ante will be 1/10th of the amount of big blind.

For example: If the big blind is $10, then the ante that each player has to pay will be $1.

3. All-In

All-In is a type of bet where the player bets all his money or poker chips. A player calles All-In when he runs of poker chips for betting. That is if the player bets all his poker chips on a particular hand, then that bet is known as All-In.

Usually, a player goes All-In when he is confident that he wins the hand or he is bluffing the opponent into thinking he has a solid winning hand. Either way, once you go All-In, there is no turning back.

4. Blind

Blinds are forced type of betting for the player who is sitting to the left of the dealer button in the flop style poker games. There are usually two types of blinds. Big Blind and Small blind. The player to the left of dealer button pays the small blind and the player left of small blind pays the big blind.

In case of only two players, the player with the dealer button pays the small blind and the other player pays the big blind. When only two players are involved, it is known as Heads-Up Game.

5. Buy-In

Buy-In is the amount that the players have to pay inorder to play the Sit & Go tournaments. There are usally different Buy-In’s with different prize pool. More the buy-in amount, the more the prize pool amount will be. It is basically the upfront payment that a player has to make inorder to enter a poker tournament.

Usually, the number of players competing will be more for buy in with less fees. And vice-verca for buy-in with more fees.

6. Check

Check is sort of Action in poker where the player doesn’t do any of the actions like bet, fold, or raise. If the player checks then the player left to the checked person gets the chance to play.

Also, check is only possible if none of the other players have started any bet or if the player has met the current betting amount, he has the option to check.

7. Raise

Raise is an action made by a player if he wishes to increase the current bet made by another player in the same betting round. A player can raise as many times as possible for a no-limit game.

The minimum raise for any player is equal to the amount of previous bet. For example if the bet made by a player is $10, then if another player wishes to raise the amount, it has to be minimum $10 more. That is the minimum bet he can make for a raise is $20. There is no maximum limit for a raise.

8. Check-Raise

A check-raise in poker is a common deceptive play in which a player checks early in a betting round, hoping someone else will open. The player who checked then raises in the same round.

Check-raise is a tactic used by many players to fool the opponents into thinking they have a weak hand. By playing check-raise the players can milk more amount from other players.

9. Dealer

A dealer is a person in poker where he takes action in distributing the cards in a poker table as well as managing actions during the game. When playing poker online, there will be a dealer dealing the cards automatically.

The dealer has to maintain the shuffle of the deck as well as decide on the winner at the end of each hand. A dealer must also keep an eye on poker chips of all the players and distribute to them once the game finishes.

Online poker sites use random number generators (RNG’s) when dealing the cards. This will ensure you a unpredicted hand for all the players. You can learn more about dealers from this link.

10. Fold

Fold is an action made by players to discard their cards when they do not want to call the bet made by another player. That is if the player decides that his cards are not worth betting for, then the player can fold his hand. Once the player discards his cards, he has to forfiet from the current pot that is on the table.

When folded, the player has the option to let the other player see his cards or not. Usually, when folded most of the players don’t reveal their hands.

11. Hand

Hand in poker is a term used to refer five sets of cards which has to be formed by the players using the given 2 pocket cards and 3 community cards. There are nine different hand rankings according to the standard poker rules. And the player with the best hand wins the round and gets all the money or poker chips on the table.

12. Pot

Pot in poker refers to the sum of money that players wager during a single hand or game, according to the betting rules of the variant being played. The player who wins the round gets to keep the pot amount on the table.

If there is a tie in a round then the pot is split between the players.

13. Heads-Up

When the players involved in the poker game is only two, then the game played between the two players is known as a heads-up game.

14. Dealer Button

In poker, the dealer button is a marker used to indicate the player who is dealing or, in casino games with a house dealer, the player who acts last on that deal. It is also known as buck and is made of plastic.

The dealer button moves one step in the close wise direction after each round of betting. The player left of dealer button is the small blind.

15. Poker Chips

Poker chips acts as a currency in poker. There are different chips indicating different value of currency. It is also known as casino tokens in some casinos.

These are the must know poker terms and phrases when it comes to Baics. These poker terms will help you get started in your poker career.

Texas Hold’em Must Know Poker Terms

Texas Hold’em poker is one of the most popular poker varient in the world. Usually people start playing Texas Hold’em when they get introduced to poker. It is very easy to learn and is super fun to play. Hence, a lot of players prefer Texas Hold’em over other poker varients.

However, there are certain must know poker terms when playing Texas Hold’em poker. Without having any knowledge for these terms, you won’t understand the game. Hence it is very important to learn these poker terms before you get start playing Texas Hold’em. So, here are the common poker terminology related to Texas Hold’em.

1. Big-Blind

Big blind is the forced bet posted by the player to the left of small blind. Big blind is the minimum amount that can be bet in a game.

Usually in a poker tournament, the big blind increases as the number of hands played increases. Where as it remains the same when you are involved in a cash game.

2. Small Blind

Small blind is the forced bet posted by the player to the left of dealer button. Small blind is the amount equal to the half of big blind. For example, if the big blind is $2, then the small blind is $1.

Usually in a poker tournament, the small blind increases as the number of hands played increases. Where as it remains the same when you are involved in a cash game.

3. Bet

Bet in poker refers to the the first chips placed in the pot on any street. In Texas hold’em, Pre-flop, the small blind would be classified as the first bet.

4. Flop

Flop is an action in poker where the dealer deales three cards face down when dealing cards to other players. These three cards are common to all the players playing in the table. These cards are known as the community cards.

Once the bets are placed in the first round, the flop is revealed to all the players.

5. Turn

When the flop cards are revealed, a betting round happens. Once the betting round finishes, the dealer deals another card face up on the table. This card is known as Turn card. Turn card is also a community card where the players can use this to make a hand.

6. River

When the turn card is revealed, a betting round happens again. Once the betting round finishes, the dealer deals the final card face up known as the river. Once this card is revealed another betting round proceeds. And once the betting round completes the winner is decided.

7. High Card

High card is a hand which neither has a pair or any other hand rankings according to the standard poker rules. It is the worst possible hand that a poker player can get.

If two players end up with high card, then the person with the higher value high card wins the round. The highest value card in poker is the Ace.

Example of a high card: A♠2♠5♥9♥J♦. Here the high card for the player is the A♠.

8. A Pair

A pair is a hand in poker which contains two of the same value cards. This is the second worst possible hand that can be formed in poker.

If two players end up with the a pair, then the player with the higher value pair wins the hand.

For Example: 4♠6♦7♠4♣2♣. Here the 4♠4♣ are considered as a pair.

9. Three of a kind

Three of a kind is a hand in poker where the player has a hand with 3 of the same value card. This hand is also known as set in poker. If two player ends up with three of a kind, then the player with the higher value three of a kind wins.

For Example: J♥Q♦J♦T♥J♣. Here J♥J♦J♣ are considered as a three of a kind.

10. Straight

Straight is a hand in poker with continuous sequence of value cards. You have to have 5 continuous sequence of value cards to form a straight. If two players has a straight then the player with the higher value card straight wins the round.

For Example: 5♠6♠7♥8♦9♣.

11. Flush

Flush in poker is a hand with same type of suit. A hand must consists of 5 cards of the same suit to form a flush. If two player ends up with a flush, then the player with the higher value flush card wins.

For Example: 7♥3♥T♥A♥2♥.

12. Full House

Full House is a hand containing both the three of a kind and a pair. It is basically the combination of two hands. If two player has a full house, then the player with the higher three of a kind wins.

For Example: 2♥3♦2♣3♣3♠. Here the 2♥2♣ is a pair and 3♦3♣3♠ is a three of kind. Both of these combined is a full house.

13. Four of a kind

Four of a kind is a hand in poker with 4 type of same value cards with different suits. If two player ends up with four of a kind, then the player with the higher value four of a kind wins.

For example: T♥T♣T♦T♠A♥. Here T♥T♣T♦T♠ are the four of a kind.

14. Straight Flush

Straight flush is a hand with both straight and flush. That is, it is a hand with 5 sequence cards of the same suit.

For example: A♦2♦3♦4♦5♦. The hand has 5 sequence cards as well of the same suit. Hence this hand is known as a straight flush.

15. Royal Flush

Royal Flush is the same as straight flush but of the highest value. That is, Royal flush is the ultimate hand in poker. No other hand can beat the Royal Flush.

Royal Flush Hand: A♣K♣Q♣J♣T♣.

These are the must know poker terms and phrases when it comes to Texas Hold’em Poker varient.

Advanced Must Know Poker Terms

Some of the most advanced must know poker terms for the intermediate players out there. With these terms you’ll be able to communicate with the players better. Also, you’ll have a better understanding of the game.

These advanced must know poker terms are not necessarily important for to get started in poker or if you are a beginner in poker. But, are definitely worth learning them. So, lets get straight to the advanced must know poker terms.

1. Backdoor

Backdoor is a term used in poker for catching both the turn and river card to make a drawing hand. Usually backdoors are used when a player either makes a flush or a straight through the turn and river cards.

For example, if the player makes a straight using the turn and river cards, then it is called as a backdoor straight.

2. Bad Beat

Bad Beat is a term used in poker when a player with a higher probability of victory loses the round to another player with a higher hand. Bad Beat is usually applicable to only Texas Hold’em poker. Also, to be a bad beat, the pot should have a minimum of $20.

For example, if the player has a King Full house, but gets beaten by Ace Full House. These kind of defeats are pretty rare in poker, hence it is called as a bad beat.

3. Calling Station

Calling station is a poker term used to pejoratively describe someone who consistently calls bets and rarely (if ever) raises, regardless of the strength of his or her hand. He is a weak passive player. These kinds of players are plenty in poker and are usually easy to manipulate.

4. Draw Dead

Draw dead is a term used in poker to describe a situation where there is no possible chance of winning for a player. For example, if the player is drawing to make a straight, but the opponent has a flush. This is a draw dead hand for you. Even if you make a straight, there is no chance of winning that round.

5. Fish

Fish is a poker term used for a player who doesn’t have much experience in poker and is always constantly losing pots and hands. Usually, you don’t want to be called as a fish. Also, these players are the most easy to win over in poker. Hence always keep an eye in poker to identify such players and go after them.

6. Full Ring

Common Poker Terms

Full Ring is a term used in poker for a table with more than 6 seats. Usually, most of the time full ring is used when the number of seats is exactly 9 or 10.

7. Hole cards

Hole cards is a term in poker which refers to the cards the players must hide from other players from seeing. These cards are known only to the card holders and not even to the dealers. Almost all the poker varients have hole cards in them.

In Texas Hold’em each of the players receive two hole cards at the start of the game. Similarly, the number of hole cards differs as per the various poker variants.

8. Kicker

Kicker is a poker term used to indicate the cards from the hand which do not itself involve in deciding the rank of the hand. That is, these cards are involved in final hand the player makes, but does not involve in deciding the hand rank. This poker term is also known as side cards.

For example, in the hand 7-4-4-3-T, 4-4 is a pair which decides the hand ranking. But the other three cards 7-3-T are the kicker cards. If a tie happens between two players, then the winner is decided by the kicker. Ace is the highest kicker possible in a hand.

9. Muck

Muck in Poker, most often refers to the discard pile into which players may throw their folded hands, and into which the dealer places burned cards. It also refers to when a player is folding his hand (face down) without saying anything.

Sometimes, In poker mucking is enforced to bluff the players and also to preserve your image on the table.

10. Offsuit

Offsuit are used in poker to describe the starting hands with different suits. For example, K♥T♦ as a starting hands are called as offsuit since both are of different suits.

11. On Suit

Offsuit are used in poker to describe the starting hands with same suits. For example, K♥T♥ as a starting hands are called as onsuit hands since both are of the same suits, in this case hearts.

12. Rainbow

Rainbow is a term used in poker to refer the flop cards with all different suits. Since flop is involved in omaha and Texas Hold’em, rainbow is often used in those poker varients. Also, a rainbow flop means there is no chance of a drawing a flush on the turn card.

Rainbow can also be used to refer the 5 community cards with no more than 2 cards of the same suit. Thus there is no chance of forming a flush from these cards.

13. Rake

Rake is a poker term used to refer the fees or commission the players have to pay when they win their hands. This way the casions or the online poker sites can make money when they conduct cash games.

Ususally the rake varies from 2%-10% depending on the poker site or casino. The lesser the rake, the more money you can make. So it is important to check out the rake rates when you are playing poker online or even playing in a casino.

14. Sit And Go

Sit and Go is a poker term used for tournaments with no set starting time. Instead Sit, & Go tournaments have a specific number of seats and when those seats are filled by the players, the tournament gets underway. It is one of the most popular type of tournament in poker.

15. Under The Gun (UTG)

Unter the gun also known as UTG is a popular poker term used to refer the position of the player to the left of the Big Blind. This is the player who acts first in the pre-flop betting round. That is the game is started from that player and moves in the clockwise direction.

These are the top 15 advanced must know poker terms for the intermediate or novice players in poker. These poker terms will help you communicate with the other players much easier than before.

These were top 45 must know poker terms and will definitely help you in understanding the game better. Hope you guys learnt something today. Make sure to check out other blogs on the site related to poker. And finally have a great day. Peace.

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