Glossary of Poker Terms

Aces Up

A poker hand consisting of two pair, one of which is aces.

Ante

The amount of money (usually symbolised by poker chips) which is invested in the pot at the beginning of a hand before any cards have been dealt.

Back-in

When a player checks a strong hand, waits for another to bet, and then raises. This is only possible in games which allow players to check and raise.

Back-to-back

When a five-card stud player holds a pair with one of his hole cards and his first up-card. A back-to-back is also known as a "wired" hand.

Bad-beat

A term used to describe a loss despite having a very good hand.

Betting-the-pot

This means betting the same amount as the current pot in pot-limit poker games.

Bicycle

The lowest possible holding (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) in high-low poker and lowball games. This is also referred to as a wheel in some circles.

Blind

A forced bet in games such as Texas Hold'em that needs to be made before cards are dealt. Failure to pay a blind means that the player cannot continue to participate in the game.

Big Blind

The larger of two forced bets, normally in Texas Hold'em. The smaller forced bet is called the Small Blind.

Blind bet

A blind bet is one made before the hand has been seen. The player in this position is sometimes referred to as being "under the gun"

Bluff

A bet made to give the impression that you have a better hand than you really do, usually with the hope that your opponents will fold.

Board

The open or community cards in games such as Texas Hold'em amd Omaha poker.

Bonus

An additional prize paid to players having a specific, and usually rare, hand such as a Royal Flush.

Bring it in

To open a round of betting by making a forced bet (blind).

Bull

Informal term for an Ace.

Burn a card

To discard the top card of a deck before dealing.

Bust

To have a hand which cannot possibly win.

Button

The device used to mark the dealer in a game where a house dealer deals on their behalf. The button shows who the dealer is for purposes of betting at the right time.

Buy

To receive a card in stud poker. Synonomous with "buy a card".

Call

To match a bet made previously by another player in order to stay in the game. Calling a bet is also referred to as "seeing" a bet.

Calling a hand

To match a final bet made by an opponent at the showdown in order to see their hand.

Cards speak

Where cards are shown to decide who wins the pot at the end of a hand (as opposed to players simply declaring their hand).

Case card

The last remaining card of a specific rank or suit. For example, if a player buys a Queen and three are already known to be out, that player is said to have bought the case Queen.

Check

Where no previous player has bet and the current player does not wish to bet, he can check. This is effectively calling a bet of zero, and can also be referred to as a "pass".

Check-and-Raise

When a player checks, waits for another to bet, and then raises. This is only possible in some games.

Cowboy

Informal term for a King.

Cut

To split the deck after shuffling. The shuffled deck is placed on the table and the player to the right of the dealer takes the top half of the deck (by estimate only) and places it next to the bottom half. The dealer then places the bottom half of the deck on the top half and sqaures the deck before dealing.

Deadwood

The pile of cards that have been discarded by players during a hand.

Deuce

Informal term for a 2.

Discard pile

The pile of cards that have been discarded by players during a hand. Also referred to as "deadwood".

Draw

Cards dealt after the first round of betting in games of draw poker.

Drawing hand

A potentially good hand which needs one more card to be a probable winner. For example, a four flush is drawing hand because one more card of a particular suit would make a flush.

Drop

To fold your cards and thereby "drop" out of a particular hand.

Face card

Any jack, queen or king (because they all have a face on them).

False openers

When a player opens a round of betting in jackpots with a poor hand. Players should have jacks or better to open.

Fold one's cards

To drop out of a hand, hence the synonymous term "drop".

Flop

The first three community cards dealt in a game of Texas Hold'em after the first round of betting has ended.

Fold

To drop out of a hand and put your cards in the discard pile.

Four flush

Four cards of the same suit. This is a drawing hand requiring one more card of the same suit to be a flush.

Free ride

Where all players at the table check in a betting round, and thereby get a "free ride" to the next round.

High

The highest ranked card at the table. In games of stud poker, the player with the high card bets first.

High hand

The hand ranked highest in a particular game.

Hole card

The card or cards dealt face down to players.

Inside straight

A drawing hand where one middle ranked card is required to make a straight. For example, 3, 4, 6, 7 is an inside straight because the player needs a 5 for the straight.

Jackpots

A form of draw poker in which a pair of jacks or better is required to open the betting. See also "false opener".

Joker wild

A form of poker in which jokers are treated as wild cards and can therefore be used in place of any other card and the player's discretion.

Kicker

The highest unpaired card held by a player. The kicker is sometimes used to determine who wins a tied pot.

Limit

In limit games, this is the highest amount than can be bet or raised in a particular round of betting.

Live blind

A blind that can be raised when play reaches the player in that position.

Nuts

A poker hand that is/was impossible to beat in the circumstances, for example, "He had the nuts!"

Offsuit

Cards of different suits.

Open

The first bet in the first round of betting (thus "opening" the betting).

Open-ended straight

A drawing hand in which a player needs a card at either the bottom or top of a four card straight to make a straight. For example, if a player has 4, 5, 6, 7 then he needs a 3 or 8 to make a straight.

Openers

The cards required to open betting in jackpots, generally jacks or better. See false openers.

Pass

Synonymous with "check".

Pat hand

A winning hand (for instance, a straight or flush) that is dealt to you, usually in draw poker.

Pigging it

The act of calling both "high" and "low" in a game of high-low poker, thereby "greedily" claiming both halves of the pot, like a pig.

Pocket cards

A term sometime used in Texas Hold'em In Texas to refer to the hole cards - the two cards dealt face down to each player at the beginning of a particular game.

Pot

The total of chips (or money in some cases) bet by players in a particular hand of poker.

Pot limit

A limit game where players can bet no more than the current value of the pot.

Pot odds

The odds a player would get by betting a specific amount compared with the size of the pot on offer.

Raise

A bet bigger than any previous bet in a round of betting. The raise must be matched by all other players in order for them to stay in the hand.

Rake

The percentage of each pot that is retained by the house in order to make a profit. There is usually a maximum rake which may vary according to the game and stakes played for.

Royalties

Synonymous with "bonus" - an additional prize paid to players having a specific, and usually rare, hand such as a Royal Flush.

Scare cards

Cards visible to opponents that look intimidating.

Seeing a bet

Matching a bet made by a previous player in order to stay in the game. Also referred to as "calling".

Showdown

The last stage of a poker hand where players reveal their cards and discover who wins the pot.

Sweetening the pot

Getting a pot started by posting an ante.

Table stakes

The maximum amount of money that a player can bring to the table. A player can bet no more than he has at the table.

Tell

A physiological characteristic or habit (usually unconscious, such as a "nervous tic") which reveals how a player feels about the cards he is holding.

Under the gun

The player seated to the immediate left of the dealer and who must act first in each round of betting.

Wired

When a five-card stud player holds a pair with one of his hole cards and his first up-card. A wired hand is also known as a "back to back" hand.

Wild card

A card, usually a joker or deuce, which can be used as if it were any other card, at the discretion of the player.