Glossary
Ace-High
A hand that has no special card rankings (pairs, full
house etc.) and the highest card is an ace.
Aces Full
A hand with 3 aces and a pair of any other value.
Aces Up
A hand that contains two pairs: one pair of aces and
another pair of any other value.
Action
A check, bet, call, fold or raise.
Active Player
A player who is in the pot.
All-In
When a player bets all his or her chips.
All-In Over the Top
Raising with all of your chips after an
opponents bet.
Back Into a Hand
To draw cards that make a hand that is different
from the hand you were originally trying to make.
Back-Door Flush
When you have three cards that would support a
flush, but you need the turn and river to make a flush.
Back-Door Straight
When you have three cards that would support a
straight, but you need the turn and river to make a straight.
Bad Beat
When a lucky hand beats a strong hand.
Bankroll
The amount of money that a player has to wager for the
duration of his or her poker career.
Battle of the Blinds
When everyone folds to the players who have
forced bets.
Behind
When your hand is not the best hand before all the cards
have been dealt.
Bet
To put money in the pot of your own free will.
Bet for Value
When you bet in order to increase the pot size, not
to make your opponents fold.
Bet the Pot
To make a bet that is the size of the pot.
Big Dog
An underdog. The person who has a very low chance of
winning.
Big Blind
The forced bet that is made by the person sitting two
seats to the left of the button. This is the largest forced bet. In World Poker
Tour (tournament play) this amount increases after each timed round.
Big Slick
Poker slang for A, K; a very strong starting hand.
Blank
A card that is not of value to the players hand.
Blind
A mandatory bet placed by the two players to the left of the
dealer button.
Bluff
To raise or bet a weak hand in order to make your opponent
think you have a strong hand.
Bust a Player
To eliminate a player from the game by taking all of
his or her chips.
Bust Out
To lose all your chips and thus be eliminated from a
tournament.
Button
A white disc-shaped object that moves clockwise around the
table each hand and indicates where the action begins.
Buy-In
A minimum amount of money that must be paid in order to play
in a tournament and live games.
Call
To match (rather than raise) the previous bet.
Cap
The number of raises allowed in a game.
Change Gears
To strategically alternate your play between
conservative and aggressive.
Check
To not bet, reserving the option to call or raise later in
the betting round.
Come Over the Top
To raise or re-raise another players bet.
Community Cards
The cards that are played face up on the center of
the table, and which can be used by all of the active players.
Connectors
Consecutively ranked cards that can help a player make a
straight
Dead Man’s Hand
A pair of aces and a pair of eights; Wild Bill
Hickock was shot holding this hand.
Dead Money
Money that was put into the pot by players who have
since folded.
Double Up
Betting all your chips and winning, ending up with twice
as many chips.
Down Cards
The players cards which are dealt face down.
Drawing Dead
When you cannot win, no matter what cards come up.
Early Position
A position in a round of betting where a player must
act before the other players. This is a disadvantaged position.
Fifth Street
The final round of betting and the fifth card on the
table, the river.
Fish
A poor player who is losing all of his or her money, a
sucker.
Flop
The first three cards placed in the center of table that
anyone may use to form a hand.
Fold
To withdraw from the game, and give up your cards rather than
continue betting.
Four of a Kind
Four cards with the same value. (Ex: J, J, J, J)
Fourth Street
The fourth card on the table, and the third round of
betting. This is also known as the turn.
Freeze Out
A game or a tournament that is played until one player
has all the chips.
Full House
A hand that contains three-of-a-kind and a pair. (Ex: J,
J, J, 2, 2)
Get Full Value
To raise, bet or re-raise with the intention of
getting the maximum pot odds if you win the hand.
Gut Shot Straight Draw
Four cards of a straight with a card in the
middle missing. (ex: If you have a 9 and an 8 and the flop contains a 7, then
you need a 6 in the turn or river. If a 6 comes, then you have made the gut shot
straight draw.)
Jammed Pot
A pot that has been raised the maximum number of
times.
Key Hand
In a tournament, this is a hand that proves to be a
turning point - for better or for worse.
Kicker
The highest card in a players hand that is not being used in
some other way (to create three-of-a-kind, a pair, etc).
Late Position
A position in a round of betting where a player can
act after most or all of the other players have acted. This is an advantaged
position.
Lay Down
Folding a strong hand in a critical situation.
Legitimate Hand
A strong hand. A hand that is not a bluff.
Limp In
When a player enters the round by only calling, rather than
raising, a bet.
Live Hand
A hand that is eligible to win the pot.
Long Odds
When there is a very low probability that something will
happen.
Loose Play
Playing many weak hands.
Main Pot
When a player goes all-in, he or she is eligible to win
the main pot. Any betting that is done after that is done in a side pot.
Monster
A hand that has a high probability of winning.
Muck
To discard a hand; also the pile of discarded hands.
No Limit Hold-em Table Stakes
At any time, any player can bet any
or all of his or her chips.
Nut Flush
The best flush available within each hand.
Nut Flush Draw
When one card will give you the best possible
flush.
Nuts
A hand that can’t be beaten no matter what comes. Also used as
a superlative (e.g. You’re the nuts!)
Odds
The probability of making versus not making a hand.
On a Short Stack
When a player has very few chips.
On the Button
The best table position in Hold Em, benefiting from
acting last. The player who acts last in a round.
On Tilt
Playing recklessly due to frustration.
Open Card
A card that is dealt face-up.
Open End Straight Draw
Four consecutive cards, such as 9-10-J-Q. In
this example, any King or 8 would make a straight.
Open Pair
Two cards of the same value that are dealt face-up.
Out
A card that is still in the deck that could improve your
hand.
Out of Position
Being at the disadvantage of having to act before
your opponent.
Outdraw
When one person beats his or her opponent by drawing a
better hand.
Outs
The cards that will turn the statistical underdog into a
winner.
Over the Top
Making a large raise.
Pair
Two cards that have the same value (Ex: 3, 3).
Pass
When a player folds his or her hand.
Play Fast
To bet aggressively on a hand.
Playing the Board
When your best five-card hand is the five cards
on the board.
Position
Where a player sits in relation to the dealer, which
determines his or her betting order.
Pot
The chips that have been bet.
Pot Odds
The amount of money in the pot vs the amount of money it
costs to continue playing.
Protect a Hand
To bet in order to convince other players to fold,
and reduce the risk of having them outdraw you.
Putting on the Heat
To pressure the other players by betting
aggressively.
Quads
Four of a kind.
Ragged Flops
Flop cards that do not help any players hand.
Rank
The value of the card or hand.
Re-Raise
To raise on top of a previous raise within the same
hand.
River
The final community card dealt; all players may use it to
form their best hand.
Rock
A tight and conservative player.
Round of Betting
The period in which each active player has the
opportunity to check, bet or raise.
Rounder
A professional player who frequents high-stakes
tournaments.
Royal Flush
A hand containing: A, K, Q, J, 10 in the same suit.
Running Bad
On a losing streak.
Running Good
On a winning streak.
See
To call a bet.
Short Odds
When there is a very high probability that something
will happen.
Short Stack
The player with the fewest chips at the table has the
short stack.
Showdown
After the final round of betting, the players cards are
turned face-up to see who won.
Side Pot
A separate pot contested by other players when one player
is all-in.
Slow Roll
Stalling before showing a winning hand to frustrate your
opponent.
Small Blind
The forced bet that is made by the person sitting one
seat to the left of the button. This bet is half the size of the big blind.
Steaming
Playing recklessly due to frustration.
Straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Structure
The schedule by which the antes and blinds (forced bets)
increase.
Suited Connectors
Two cards that are consecutive in rank and of the
same suit.