Poker Terminology and Slang You Need To Know

Curious about the meaning behind common poker terms? Our poker glossary is here to help! Whether you’re a beginner learning the lingo or an experienced player brushing up on terminology, this guide covers everything you need to know. From classic Texas Hold’em phrases to popular video poker jargon, we break it all down in simple terms.

Explore key poker expressions, strategies, and definitions to improve your game at both live and online tables at Las Atlantis Casino. Use this page to navigate through essential poker terms and enhance your skills today!

A

Ace High – A hand where the highest card is an Ace, and there are no pairs or better combinations.

Action – Any move a player makes during a hand: bet, raise, call, check, or fold.

Aces Up – A two-pair hand, where one of the pairs is Aces.

Add-On – In tournaments, buying extra chips for a fixed amount (usually during a break).

A-Game – Playing your best poker, with focus and smart decisions.

Aggression Factor – A number showing how often a player bets or raises compared to just calling.

Alias – A player's screen name used in online poker.

All-in – Betting all of your remaining chips in one move.

Angle – A move that bends the rules to gain an unfair edge, but isn’t technically cheating.

Ante – A small forced bet everyone puts in before the hand starts.

Any Two Cards – Means the player doesn’t care what cards they have — they’ll still make the move.

Act – To make your move when it’s your turn in the hand.

Acting Out of Turn – Making a move (like betting or folding) before it’s your turn. Often considered bad etiquette.

Action Card – A card on the board that makes several players want to bet, usually because it helps multiple hands.

Active Players – Players who are still in the hand and haven't folded.

Advertising – Making a strange or obvious play to influence how others see your playing style.

Aggressive – A player who prefers to bet or raise instead of checking or calling.

Air – A very weak hand, often with no real chance to win (like a “9 high”).

Angle Shooting – Using sneaky tactics like acting out of turn on purpose to confuse or trick opponents.

Ante Off – In tournaments, when a player isn’t at the table but still pays forced bets until their chips run out.

B

Baby – The weakest possible version of a made hand. For example, the lowest full house on the board.

Backdoor – A hand that completes only if you hit two perfect cards in a row (turn and river).

Back in – To enter a pot by checking first, then calling someone else’s bet.

Back into – To win with a weak hand that you would’ve folded if someone had bet.

Backraise – When you call at first, but then re-raise after another player raises.

Backing – Giving money to a player to play poker in exchange for a share of their winnings.

Bad Beat – Losing a hand where you were the favorite to win.

Bad Beat Jackpot – A special prize awarded when a very strong hand loses to an even stronger one.

Balance – Playing strong and weak hands the same way so opponents can’t guess your cards.

Bank – The dealer or casino handling chips, money, and payouts in the game.

Bankroll – The money a player sets aside just for playing poker.

Bankroll Management (BRM) – Smart planning of how to use your poker funds to avoid going broke.

Barrel – Betting again on the turn or river after already betting on the flop (e.g., “double barrel”).

Behind – When your current hand is worse than your opponent’s.

Belly Buster – A straight draw that needs one specific card in the middle (also called a gutshot).

Bet – Placing chips into the pot as your action during a hand.

Betting Structure – The rules about how betting works in the game (limits, blinds, raises, etc.).

Big Bet – The larger fixed bet amount used on later streets in limit games.

Big Bet Game – A poker game with no-limit or pot-limit betting instead of fixed-limit.

Big Blind (BB) – A mandatory bet made by the player two seats left of the dealer before cards are dealt.

Big Blind Special – Winning a hand from the big blind with a weak hand because no one raised.

Big Full – The strongest full house possible in the current hand.

Big Stack – A player with a large amount of chips compared to others at the table.

Blank – A card that doesn’t help any player’s hand – often called a “dead” card.

Blaze – A hand of five face cards (J, Q, K) that beats a flush in some home games.

Bleed – Slowly losing chips over time due to poor play or bad luck.

Blind – A forced bet placed before the cards are dealt (small blind or big blind).

Blind Defense – Calling or raising from the big blind against a raise, often to stop aggressive players.

Blind Steal – Raising from a late position hoping to win the blinds because everyone folded.

Blind Stud – A version of stud poker where all cards are dealt face-down.

Blind Off – In tournaments, when absent players keep losing chips to blinds until they bust.

Blocker – A card in your hand that makes it less likely your opponent has a certain strong hand.

Blocking Bet – A small bet made to prevent an opponent from making a bigger bet.

Bluff – Betting with a weak hand to try to make opponents fold better hands.

Bluff Catcher – A hand that can only win if your opponent is bluffing.

Bluff Induce – Acting weak to trick your opponent into bluffing so you can call with a strong hand.

Board – The community cards that all players can use (in games like Hold’em and Omaha).

Boat – Another word for a full house (three of a kind + a pair).

Bomb Pot – A special hand where all players put chips into the pot before cards are dealt.

Both Ways – Winning both the high and low halves of the pot in split-pot games.

Bottom Dealing – Cheating by dealing cards from the bottom of the deck instead of the top.

Bottom End – The lowest possible straight, usually weaker than other straight combinations.

Bottom Pair / Bottom Set – Making a pair (or set) using the lowest-ranked card on the board.

Bounty – A cash reward for knocking out a specific player in a bounty tournament.

Box – The tray in front of the dealer holding chips; also refers to the dealer’s seat.

Boxed Card – A card that appears face-up in the deck during the deal. Usually discarded.

Break – 1) To fold a made hand in draw poker hoping to make a better one; 2) A pause in play.

Brick – A useless card that doesn’t improve any player’s hand.

Brick and Mortar – A real-life casino or poker room (not online).

Bridge Order – A ranking of suits used for certain rules: Spades > Hearts > Diamonds > Clubs.

Bring-In – A small forced bet in stud games, made by the player with the worst upcard.

Broadway – A straight from Ten to Ace (10-J-Q-K-A); also used to refer to those high cards.

Brush – A casino staff member who manages player lists, tables, and open seats in the poker room.

Bubble – The last place before players start getting prize money in a tournament.

Bubble Factor – The idea that tournament chips are worth more near the bubble, so players tighten up.

Buck – Another word for the dealer button (shows who is the dealer for that hand).

Bug – A limited wild card (often only works as an Ace or to complete a straight/flush).

Bully – A player who uses big bets to pressure others, often with a big chip stack.

Burn / Burn Card – A card removed (face down) before dealing the flop/turn/river to prevent cheating.

Busted – 1) A failed draw that didn’t complete; 2) A player who lost all their chips.

Button – A token that marks the dealer position; that player acts last after the flop.

Buy-in – The amount of money or chips needed to enter a game or tournament.

C

Call – Matching the current bet to stay in the hand.

Call the Clock – Asking the dealer to give a player a time limit to act if they’re taking too long.

Calling Station – A player who calls almost every bet but rarely raises, often with weak hands.

Cap – The maximum number of raises allowed in one betting round (usually 3–4).

Cap Game – A no-limit or pot-limit game where there's a maximum amount a player can bet per hand.

Card Protector – A small item (chip, charm, etc.) placed on cards to prevent them from being mucked accidentally.

Cards – The playing cards used in poker games. Casinos use durable plastic; home games often use paper cards.

Cards Speak – The rule that the best hand wins based on the actual cards, regardless of what a player says.

Case Card – The last card of a certain rank left in the deck. Example: the fourth Ace in the deck is the “case Ace.”

Cash Game – A poker game where chips represent real money, and players can buy in or leave anytime.

Cash Plays – When a player uses cash on the table (like $100 bills) to place bets before getting chips.

Cashing – Winning prize money in a tournament by finishing in a paid position.

Cashing Out – Exchanging your chips for money when you leave the game.

Catch – Getting a helpful card on the turn or river. Example: “I caught the flush on the river.”

Catch Up – Completing a drawing hand to beat someone who was previously ahead.

Catch Perfect – Hitting the only two cards that give you a winning hand, like a runner-runner straight flush.

Center Pot – The main pot, separate from any side pots if players are all-in.

Chase – Calling bets with a drawing hand, especially when the odds don’t justify it.

Check – Passing your turn without betting, but staying in the hand (only if no bet is made yet).

Check Out – Folding when there’s no bet to call. Often seen as bad etiquette or rule-breaking.

Check-Raise – Checking first, then raising if someone else bets. Often used as a bluff or trap.

Chip – A round token that represents money in poker. Comes in various colors for different values.

Chip Declare – A way to show whether you’re playing for the high or low hand in split-pot games.

Chip Dumping – An illegal tactic where one player loses chips on purpose to help another.

Chip Leader – The player with the most chips in a tournament.

Chip Race – Removing low-value chips from play during a tournament when they’re no longer needed.

Chip Up – 1) Exchanging small chips for larger ones. 2) Slowly growing your stack through small wins.

Chop – Splitting the pot evenly, either because of a tie or by player agreement.

Chopping the Blinds – When only the small blind and big blind remain, and they agree to take their bets back.

Click Raise – Making the smallest possible raise (usually by clicking the “raise” button online).

Closed – A betting round where no more raises are allowed.

Coffee Housing – Talking at the table to confuse opponents about your hand strength.

Coin Flip – A situation where two players have nearly equal odds of winning, like AK vs. QQ.

Cold Call – Calling a bet and raise at the same time without having put money in earlier that round.

Cold Deck – A “rigged” deck swapped in to produce a specific (often unfair) outcome.

Collusion – Cheating by working together with another player during a game.

Color Up – Exchanging small-denomination chips for bigger ones.

Combo / Combination – A specific hand makeup, like all possible ways to make a straight.

Combo Draw – A hand with both a flush draw and a straight draw.

Community Card – A shared card placed in the center of the table (used in games like Hold’em and Omaha).

Complete – To raise the bring-in in Stud, or to call in the small blind in Hold’em.

Connector – Two cards in sequence (like 7♣ 8♠) that can make a straight.

Continuation Bet (C-Bet) – A bet made on the flop by the player who raised before the flop.

Cooler – A tough hand where you lose with a strong hand that’s almost impossible to fold.

Countdown – The dealer counts all remaining cards to ensure the deck is complete.

Counterfeit – When community cards weaken your hand’s value, often in lowball or split-pot games.

Cow – A partner you split profits and losses with, usually in a backer-player arrangement.

Cripple – Having a hand so strong that it's nearly impossible for others to catch up or win.

Crying Call – Calling a bet even though you think you’re probably beat, just in case.

Cut – Splitting the deck before the deal to prevent cheating.

Cut Card – A solid card placed at the bottom of the deck to hide the bottom card during dealing.

Cutoff (CO) – The seat just right of the dealer button. A strong position, often used to steal blinds.

D

Dark Bet – Betting before seeing the next community card.

Deal – The act of distributing cards to players. Also refers to a single hand of poker or a prize-split agreement in a tournament.

Deal Twice – When two players agree to deal the remaining community cards twice (after going all-in) to reduce risk. The pot is split if each player wins one board.

Dealer – The person who gives out the cards. In home games, it's often a player. In casinos, it's a staff member. Also refers to the player in the dealer position (the button).

Dealer’s Choice – A poker game format where the dealer chooses the game type for each hand.

Dead Blind – A forced blind that doesn’t count as a live bet and can’t be raised by the player posting it.

Dead Button – A situation where the dealer button doesn’t move as usual, often due to players leaving or joining.

Dead Hand – A hand that can’t continue because of a mistake, like having the wrong number of cards or fouling another hand.

Dead Man’s Hand – A nickname for a hand with Aces and Eights. Associated with the legendary Wild Bill Hickok.

Dead Money – Chips in the pot from folded players or inexperienced players with little chance of winning.

Declare – Verbally stating your action or your intention to play high or low in a split-pot game.

Deep Stack – Having a large amount of chips compared to the blinds, allowing for more flexible play.

Defense – A play made to stop or challenge a bluff, forcing the opponent to risk more or fold.

Deuce – A card with a value of 2. Also called "duck" or "quack."

Deuce-to-Seven – A method for ranking low hands where the best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2 (no flush or straight).

Depolarized – A betting range that mostly includes strong and medium hands, with few bluffs.

Dirty Stack – A stack of chips mixed with different values. Usually bad etiquette or deceptive.

Discard – Throwing away unwanted cards, often during draw poker.

Dog – Short for “underdog.” A player or hand that’s less likely to win.

Dominated Hand – A hand that’s heavily behind against a better hand, like A♠Q♠ vs. A♣K♣.

Domination – When one hand is much stronger than another that looks similar.

Donk / Donkey – Slang for a weak or inexperienced player.

Donk Bet – A bet made out of position (usually early) by a player who didn’t take the lead in the last betting round.

Door Card – In Stud, the first face-up card dealt to a player.

Double Barrel – Betting again on the turn after already betting on the flop.

Double Belly Buster Draw – A draw with two inside-straight possibilities, offering more chances to hit a straight.

Double Board / Double Flop – A variant where two separate boards are dealt, and the pot is split between them.

Double Draw – A type of draw poker where players can draw cards twice in one hand.

Double Raise – The smallest possible raise in no-limit/pot-limit poker, equal to the last bet or raise amount.

Double Suited – In Omaha, a starting hand with two pairs of suited cards.

Double Up – Winning an all-in and doubling your chip stack.

Downbet – Betting a smaller amount than you did in the previous round.

Downcard – A card dealt face down that only you can see.

Downswing – A streak of bad luck where you lose more than expected.

Drag Light – Illegally pulling chips back from the pot to signal you don’t have enough to call (not allowed in casinos).

Draw – A hand that needs one or more specific cards to improve (like a flush draw or straight draw).

Drawing Dead – When no possible card can help you win the hand.

Drawing Live – You still have a chance to win the hand if you hit the right cards.

Drawing Thin – You have a small chance to win the hand because few cards can help you.

Drop – Folding your hand; can also mean the casino’s fee (rake).

Dry Ace – An Ace in your hand without another card of the same suit, often used as a bluff on flush boards.

Dry Board – A board with few straight or flush draws; hard for anyone to hit a strong hand.

Dry Pot – A side pot created when one player is all-in and another bets, but no one else adds chips to the side pot.

Duplicate – When a card on the board weakens your hand by copying a card already in your hand (also called “counterfeit”).

Ducks – A nickname for pocket Twos (2♦2♠) in Texas Hold’em.

E

Early Position – One of the first players to act. You usually need stronger hands here.

Effective Nuts – A hand that isn’t the absolute best, but strong enough to play like it is.

Effective Stack – The smaller chip stack between two players; it limits how much can be won or lost.

Eight or Better – In split-pot games, a hand must be 8-high or lower (no pairs) to qualify for the low half.

Equity – Your chance (in %) of winning the pot based on your hand.

Equity Calculator – A tool that shows how likely your hand is to win against others.

Expectation (EV) – The long-term value of a play. Positive EV = profitable over time, negative EV = losing over time.

Exposed Card – A card shown by mistake during the hand. Rules decide what happens next.

F

Face Card – A King, Queen, or Jack.

Family Pot – When many players call preflop and see the flop.

Fastplay – Betting and raising aggressively with a strong hand.

Favourite – The hand with the best odds to win.

Feeder Table – A table that sends players to the main game as seats open.

Felt – The surface of the poker table. Also used to describe going all-in (nothing left but felt).

Field – All players in a tournament.

Fifth Street – The fifth card dealt in Stud (or the river in Hold’em).

Fill / Fill Up – Completing a draw, like making a flush or full house.

Final Table – The last table of a tournament with the remaining players.

First Position – The first player to act preflop (also called Under the Gun).

Fish – A weak player who often makes bad calls.

Fish Hooks – Slang for pocket Jacks (J♠ J♦).

Five of a Kind – A hand with five cards of the same rank (only possible with wild cards).

Five-Bet – The fifth bet in a series of raises.

Fixed Limit – A betting format where bets and raises are set to fixed amounts.

Flash – Accidentally showing a card to other players.

Flat Call – Calling a bet instead of raising, even with a strong hand.

Float – Calling a bet with the plan to bluff on the next street.

Floorman – A casino staff member who handles rulings and table management.

Flop – The first three face-up community cards in Hold’em or Omaha.

Flop Game – A poker game that uses community cards (like Texas Hold’em).

Flush – Five cards of the same suit.

Fold – To give up your hand and leave the pot.

Fold Equity – The chance your opponent will fold if you bet.

Forced Bet – A required bet like a blind or bring-in.

Forced-Move – A rule where players must move from a side table to the main game as seats open.

Forward Motion – In some casinos, moving chips toward the pot can count as a committed action.

Fouled Hand – A hand that becomes unplayable due to an error (like too many cards).

Four-Flush – Four cards of the same suit (one card short of a flush).

Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank. Also called “quads.”

Four-Straight – Four cards in sequence (needs one more for a straight).

Fourth Street – The fourth card dealt in Stud (or the turn in Hold’em).

Free Card – Seeing the next card without having to call a bet.

Freeroll – A free tournament, or a hand that can’t lose but might tie or win.

Freezeout – A tournament where you can’t rebuy – you’re out when you lose your chips.

Full House (Full Boat) – A hand with three of a kind and a pair.

Full Ring – A game with 9 or more players at the table.

Full Bet Rule – A rule that says a raise must be at least the full amount of the previous bet.

G

Game Flow – How players adjust their strategy during the game based on how others are playing.

Gap – A missing rank between two cards (e.g., 9 and J is a one-gap hand, missing 10).

Gap Hand – A starting hand in Hold’em where the cards are not in direct sequence (e.g., Q-10 is a one-gap hand).

Get Away – Folding a strong hand because you believe your opponent has an even stronger one.

Going North – Illegally adding more chips to your stack during a hand (not allowed).

Going South – Sneaking chips off the table during a game to reduce risk (also called ratholing — not allowed).

Grinder – A player who plays a lot of hands, aiming for small, steady profits with low risk.

Grinding – Playing long hours consistently, focusing on small, reliable wins.

Guts / Guts to Open – A poker variant where there’s no hand requirement to open betting.

Gypsy – Another word for "limp," meaning to just call the big blind instead of raising.

Gutshot – A straight draw that needs one specific inside card to complete the straight (e.g., holding 6-7-9-10, needing an 8).

Gutshot Straight Draw – Same as above. Also called an “inside straight draw.”

H

Half Bet Rule – A rule where putting in chips equal to half or more of a full raise counts as a raise.

Hand – The cards a player holds, or one full round of play.

Hand for Hand – A tournament stage where all tables must finish their hands before the next one starts, used near the bubble to ensure fairness.

Hand History – A written or digital record of how a hand was played.

Hanger – When the bottom card sticks out during a deal — often seen as a sign of cheating.

Heads-Up – When only two players remain in a hand or at the table.

Heater – A hot streak where you keep winning hands one after another.

Hero – The player whose perspective is being shown or described in a hand.

Hero Call – Calling with a weak hand because you believe the opponent is bluffing.

Hero Fold – Folding a strong hand because you’re confident the opponent has you beat.

High Hand – The best hand using regular hand rankings (used in high-low games).

High Card – A hand with no pairs; the highest card decides who wins.

High-Low Split – A game where the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand (if someone qualifies).

Hijack – The seat two spots before the dealer button — a good position for stealing blinds.

Hit – Getting the card you need to improve your hand.

Hit and Run – Winning a big pot and leaving the game immediately — often seen as bad etiquette.

Hold’em – A popular poker game where players get two private cards and use five shared ones to make a hand.

Hole Cards – The face-down cards only you can see, dealt at the start of the hand.

Hole Cam – A camera showing players’ hole cards on televised poker games.

Hollywood – Overacting at the table to trick or influence your opponents.

Home Game – A private poker game played at someone’s house, not in a casino.

Horse – A player backed by someone else financially to play in a tournament or game.

H.O.R.S.E. – A mixed-game format that rotates through five poker variants: Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, and Stud Eight or Better.

House – The casino or platform that hosts the poker game and collects the rake.

Hyper Turbo – A fast-paced tournament with very quick blind increases and small starting stacks.

I

ICM (Independent Chip Model) – A system used in tournaments to estimate how much each chip stack is worth in real money based on prize payouts. Helps with making smart decisions near the money bubble.

Idiot End (Ignorant End) – The lowest possible straight someone can make, which is risky because opponents may have a higher straight.

Implied Odds – The idea that if you hit your draw, you could win even more money later — not just what's already in the pot.

Improve – Getting a better hand when a new card is dealt.

In Position – Being the last to act in a betting round, which gives you more information before making a decision.

In the Middle – When a new player joins a table and posts the blinds early instead of waiting for their turn.

In the Money (ITM) – Reaching the part of a tournament where you win prize money.

In Turn – It’s your proper time to act at the table.

Inside Straight Draw – A draw that needs one specific card in the middle to complete a straight (like 5-6-8-9 needing a 7). Also called a gutshot or belly buster.

Insurance – A side deal where a player protects themselves from losing a big hand by paying to lock in some winnings, usually in cash games.

Irregular Declaration – A vague or unclear action (like hand gestures) that may be treated as a real move depending on the house rules.

Irregularity – Anything unusual during the game, like an exposed card or a dealing mistake, that may need correction.

Isolation (Iso-Raise) – Raising to push other players out of the pot so you’re left playing heads-up against a specific opponent (often a weaker one).

J

Jackpot – A special bonus given when something rare happens, like losing with a very strong hand (called a “bad beat”). Some poker rooms also use “jackpot” rules where you need a pair of Jacks or better to open the betting.

Jam – Slang for going all-in with all your chips in one move.

Joker – A special card (usually with a jester) used in some poker games as a wild card that can act as an Ace or help complete straights or flushes.

Juice – The money taken by the house as a fee for hosting the game. Also called rake, vig, or vigorish.

Junk – A weak or worthless hand with almost no chance of winning.

K

Kicker – The extra card in your hand used to break ties when two players have the same main hand (like both having a pair of Kings — the highest side card wins).

Kill Button – A special button used in “kill games” to show who triggered the kill hand (usually the player who just won a big pot).

Kill Game / Kill Pot – A type of poker game where the stakes temporarily increase (usually doubled) when certain conditions are met — like a player winning two hands in a row.

Kill Hand – A hand played with higher blinds or bets due to the kill game rule being triggered.

Kitty – A small pot collected from certain hands in home games, used to pay for snacks, drinks, or cards. Like a friendly version of the rake.

L

LAG (Loose Aggressive) – A playing style where someone plays a lot of hands and bets or raises often, trying to outplay opponents with pressure.

Lammer – A plastic token used in live poker rooms to show things like who the dealer is or who pays the blinds.

Last Longer – A side bet in a tournament where the winner is the one who stays in the tournament the longest.

Last to Act – The player who gets to act last during a betting round, giving them the advantage of seeing everyone else’s move first.

Laydown – Folding a hand, especially when it’s strong but likely beaten.

Lead – The player who makes the first bet in a round. Also used as a verb, like “to lead the betting.”

Level (Tournament Level) – The current stage of a tournament defined by the size of the blinds or antes.

Levelling – Trying to outthink your opponent by guessing how they’re thinking — sometimes overthinking the situation.

Leverage – Using a big chip stack to put pressure on opponents, especially in all-in situations.

Light (Play Light) – Making a move like calling or raising with a weak or marginal hand.

Limit – A betting structure where the size of bets and raises is fixed (e.g. $2/$4 limit game).

Limit Poker – Poker games that use fixed-limit betting, meaning players can only bet or raise set amounts.

Limp – To just call the big blind instead of raising when you’re first to act.

Limp-Reraise – First limping (just calling), then re-raising after someone else raises.

Live Bet – A forced bet (like a blind or straddle) that still gives the player the right to raise.

Live Cards – Cards that could still come and help you win, because no one else seems to have them.

Live Hand – A hand that’s still in play and hasn’t been folded or made invalid.

Live Game – A cash game with lots of action and active players.

Live Poker – Regular, in-person poker played at a table (not online or video poker).

Lock Up a Seat – Saving your spot at a poker table by placing a chip or personal item there.

Loose – A player who plays many hands, even weak ones, compared to the average.

Low – The lowest-ranking card, or the lowest possible hand in games like lowball or split-pot formats.

Lowball – A type of poker where the lowest hand wins instead of the highest.

Low Hand – The best hand in games where low hands are rewarded, based on that variant’s rules.

M

Made Hand – A complete hand that doesn’t need any more cards to be strong, like a pair, straight, or better.

Maniac – A wild player who bets and raises constantly with weak hands. Hard to predict, but risky to copy.

Mark – A weak or inexperienced player that others target to win money from.

Match the Pot – Betting the same amount as what’s already in the pot.

Mechanic – Someone who handles cards skillfully, often linked with cheating tricks like dealing from the bottom.

Mental Game – The emotional and psychological side of poker — includes handling tilt, staying focused, and staying confident.

Middle Pair – A pair made with one of the middle-ranked cards on the board, not the highest or lowest.

Middle Position – A seat between early and late positions at the table. You’re not first, but also not last to act.

Mid Stakes – Games with medium buy-ins — not super cheap, but not the high roller level either.

Micro-Limit – Very low-stakes poker games, usually found online. Good for beginners learning the game.

Misclick – When you accidentally click the wrong button in online poker (like folding a great hand by mistake).

Misdeal – A mistake during dealing that makes the hand invalid — the dealer must re-deal.

Missed Blind – When you’re away from the table and miss posting your blind. You usually need to pay it when you return.

Monotone – A flop or board where all cards are the same suit. This often means someone could have a flush.

Monster – A very strong hand, like a full house or higher. Usually a hand you want to build a big pot with.

Move In – To go all-in by pushing all your chips into the pot.

M-ratio – A number that shows how healthy your chip stack is in a tournament. It tells you how many rounds you can survive just posting blinds and antes.

Muck – To fold your cards and not show them. Also refers to the discard pile.

Multi-Table Tournament (MTT) – A poker tournament with many tables and many players, where tables combine as players get knocked out.

Multi-Way Pot – A pot with more than two players involved in the hand.

Must Move – A side table where players wait until there's a seat available at the main game. Once a seat opens, they must move.

N

Nash Equilibrium – A game theory strategy where no player can improve by changing their plan unless others do too. Used in heads-up push/fold decisions.

Negative Freeroll – A risky situation where you can’t win more by calling, but you can lose if you’re wrong. Best avoided.

Nit – A very tight (cautious) player who only plays the strongest hands and avoids big risks.

No-Limit – A poker format where players can bet any amount of their chips at any time.

Nosebleed (Stakes) – Ultra high-stakes games, usually with blinds of $200/$400 or more. Only for top pros or very wealthy players.

Nothing – A hand with no pair, no straight, no flush — just high cards.

Nothing Card – A community card that doesn’t change the strength of anyone’s hand.

Nut Flush – The best possible flush, usually Ace-high when all community cards are of the same suit.

Nut Flush Draw – A draw to the best possible flush, often needing the Ace of a suit.

Nut-Low – The best possible low hand in games like Omaha Hi-Lo or Razz.

Nut Hand / The Nuts – The strongest possible hand at the moment. Can’t be beaten unless another player ties with the same nuts.

O

Offsuit – A starting hand where the two cards are of different suits (e.g., ♠K and ♦Q), which lowers your chances of making a flush.

Omaha – A poker variant where each player gets 4 hole cards and must use exactly 2 of them with 3 community cards to make the best 5-card hand.

OMC (Old Man Coffee) – A nickname for a tight, passive player, usually older, who plays only strong hands and avoids risky plays.

On the Button – The dealer position, which acts last in most betting rounds — the best seat at the table.

One-Gap – A starting hand where the card values skip by one (like 7♣-9♣), which is slightly weaker than connected cards like 7♣-8♣.

Open – To make the first bet in a round.

Open Limp – Being the first player to enter the pot by calling the big blind instead of raising.

Open-Raise – Being the first player to enter the pot and doing it with a raise, not just a call.

Open-Ended Straight Draw – A straight draw where you need one of two cards (like a 4 or 9 when holding 5-6-7-8) to complete your straight.

Option – The right of the big blind to raise if no one has raised before them. Also refers to optional draws or bets in some formats.

Orbit – One full round around the table, where every player pays the blinds once.

Out – A card that, if it appears, will likely give you the winning hand. For example, if you need one card for a flush and 9 are left, you have 9 outs.

Out of Position (OOP) – When you have to act before your opponent after the flop. This is considered a disadvantage.

Outside Straight Draw – Another name for an open-ended straight draw (you can hit the straight from either side).

Overbet – Betting more than the size of the pot to put extra pressure on opponents.

Overcall – Calling a bet after one or more other players have already called it.

Overcard – A card that’s higher than one of your cards or higher than the board cards. For example, having a Queen when the highest board card is a 10.

Overlimp – Calling the big blind after someone else has already limped (called without raising).

Overpair – A pocket pair that is higher than any of the cards on the board (e.g., having J♠J♦ when the flop is 8♥5♣2♠).

Overlay – When a poker room adds money to a tournament prize pool because not enough players entered to meet the guarantee.

Overs – An agreement in live limit games to raise the stakes if only players who agreed to “overs” are still in the hand.

P

Paint – A nickname for high cards: Jack, Queen, King, or Ace.

Pair – Two cards of the same rank, like two 9s.

Passive – A playing style where a player mostly checks or calls, rather than bets or raises.

Pat Hand – A hand that is already complete and strong (like a flush or straight) and doesn’t need more cards.

Pay Off – Calling a bet even if you think you're behind, usually because the pot is large.

Penny Ante – A very low-stakes game, usually just for fun.

Play the Board – When your best 5-card hand is made entirely from the community cards, not your own.

Pocket Aces – Two Aces as your starting hand — the strongest starting hand in Hold'em. Also called "rockets" or "bullets."

Pocket Cards – The two face-down cards dealt to each player in Texas Hold’em. Also called "hole cards."

Pocket Pair – When your two hole cards form a pair, like 7♠-7♦.

Poker Face – A neutral expression that hides your emotions or hand strength.

Polarised – A betting style where you have either a very strong hand or a bluff — nothing in between.

Position – Where you sit in relation to the dealer. Being "in position" means you act after your opponents, which is usually an advantage.

Post – To put out a required bet like the small blind or big blind before cards are dealt.

Postflop – All betting and action that happens after the flop (the first three community cards) is dealt.

Pot – The pile of chips in the middle of the table that players are trying to win.

Pot Committed – When you’ve already put so many chips in the pot that folding doesn’t make sense anymore.

Pot Odds – The comparison of the current size of the pot to the cost of a call. Helps decide whether a call is worth it.

Pot Limit – A game type where you can bet up to the current size of the pot.

Preflop – The first round of betting, before any community cards are revealed.

PRF (Preflop Raiser) – A stat showing how often a player raises before the flop.

Price – The amount you need to call to stay in the hand — often used when considering pot odds.

Probe Bet – A small bet made after the flop to see how the opponent reacts — often used if the other player has shown weakness.

Prop Player (Proposition Player) – A player hired by a casino to join games and keep them going. They play with their own money.

Protection – A bet or raise to make opponents fold weak drawing hands and protect your strong hand.

Push – Going all-in with your chips.

Put Someone On a Hand – Guessing what hand or range of hands your opponent has, based on how they’ve played.

Q

Quads – Another word for four of a kind — a very strong hand made of four cards of the same rank (like four 7s).

Qualify – In split-pot games (like Omaha Hi-Lo), a low hand must be made of five cards ranked 8 or lower to be valid and win the low half of the pot.

Quartered – When you tie with someone for half the pot but end up only getting one-fourth because you’re sharing your half with another player. This usually means you win less than you hoped for.

R

Rabbit Hunt – Looking at the next community cards after folding to see if your hand would’ve improved. Just for curiosity — it doesn’t affect the game.

Ragged – A flop or board with low, unconnected cards that don’t create many draw opportunities.

Rainbow – A board with all cards of different suits, making flushes harder to complete.

Raise – Increasing the current bet during a betting round.

Rake – A small fee taken from the pot by the poker room or casino.

Rakeback – A reward system that gives players back a percentage of the rake they paid.

Range – The collection of possible hands a player could have based on how they’ve played.

Rank – The value of a card, like Ace, 2, King, etc.

Ratholing – Taking chips off the table during a cash game to rejoin later with fewer. Usually against the rules.

Razz – A poker game where the lowest hand wins.

Read – A guess or deduction about what hand an opponent might have, based on their actions or behavior.

Rebuy – Buying more chips after losing your stack (in a cash game or during a special tournament phase).

Redraw – When you improve your hand and still have a chance to make it even better.

Regular – A player who plays frequently and is familiar with the games.

Represent – Playing in a way that makes it look like you have a certain hand, even if you don’t.

Reverse Implied Odds – When you might hit your draw but still lose money in future bets, because your opponent could have a better hand.

Re-raise – Raising after someone else has already raised.

Ring Game – A regular cash game where players can buy in or leave anytime (unlike a tournament).

River – The final (fifth) community card dealt in games like Hold’em or Omaha.

River Rat – A player who often wins by hitting a lucky card on the river.

Rock – A very tight player who only plays the best hands.

Rolled Up – In Stud, getting three cards of the same rank as your first three cards.

Royal Flush – The strongest possible hand: A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit.

Run – A series of hands. You can be "on a run" if you're winning a lot (hot) or losing a lot (cold).

Rundown – In Omaha, a starting hand with connected cards like 9-8-7-6, good for making straights.

Run It Twice – When players are all-in, they agree to deal the rest of the board two times to reduce luck. Each run is for half the pot.

Runner-Runner – Making a strong hand by hitting both the turn and river cards needed.

S

Sandbagging – Playing a strong hand passively (just checking or calling) to trick opponents into betting more.

Satellite – A small tournament where the prize is a seat in a bigger tournament.

Scare Card – A card that appears dangerous to opponents, like a third flush card or an overcard.

Semi-Bluff – Betting with a hand that’s not strong yet but could become strong with the next card (e.g., a flush draw).

Set – Three of a kind formed by a pocket pair and a matching card on the board.

Set over Set – When two players both hit sets, but one is higher. Usually leads to a big pot.

Sequence – Cards in consecutive order, like 5-6-7 (used in straights).

Short-Handed – A table with 6 or fewer players.

Short Stack – A player with a small chip count compared to others.

Shove – Slang for going all-in (betting all your chips).

Showdown – The moment at the end of a hand where players reveal their cards to see who wins.

Show Hand – Voluntarily revealing your cards after the hand ends.

Sick – Poker slang to describe a crazy, surprising, or unlucky situation (“That was a sick beat!”).

Side Pot – An extra pot created when someone goes all-in, but other players with more chips keep betting.

Sit and Go – A tournament that starts as soon as all the seats are filled, with no scheduled start time.

Sizing – Choosing how much to bet. Smart bet sizing is key to good strategy.

Slowplay – Playing a strong hand in a weak way to trap opponents into betting more.

Slowroll – Deliberately delaying showing a winning hand at showdown. Considered rude.

Soft Play – Avoiding aggressive moves against a friend or teammate. Not allowed in serious games.

Solver – A software tool that helps find mathematically optimal poker strategies.

Small Bet – The lower fixed amount in limit poker games.

Small Blind (SB) – The player to the left of the dealer who must post a small forced bet before the cards are dealt.

Snap Call – Calling instantly without thinking, usually when you're confident.

Splash the Pot – Throwing chips into the pot messily instead of stacking them. Bad etiquette.

Split – Dividing the pot between players due to a tie or in high/low games.

Split Pot – When two or more players tie and the pot is shared.

Spread Limit – A betting format where bets must fall within a defined range (e.g., $1–$5).

Squeeze – A re-raise made after a raise and one or more calls, often as a bluff.

SRP (Single Raised Pot) – A pot where there was one preflop raise and no re-raises.

Stab – A small bet made when the opponent shows weakness, hoping to steal the pot.

Stack to Pot Ratio (SPR) – Compares your chip stack to the pot size, used to guide bet sizing and commitment.

Staking – Giving a player money to play with in exchange for a share of their winnings.

Stand Pat – In draw games, keeping your original hand and drawing no cards.

Steam – Playing emotionally and badly after a frustrating loss or bad beat.

Stealing – Raising preflop to win the blinds without a showdown.

Steel Wheel – A straight flush from A to 5 — the best possible low hand in some games.

Stop and Go – Calling preflop with the plan to shove all-in on the flop, regardless of the cards.

Straddle – A voluntary blind bet before the cards are dealt to raise the stakes and get last action preflop.

Straight – Five cards in a row in rank, like 6-7-8-9-10.

Straight Flush – Five cards in a row and all the same suit — very strong.

Street Poker – An informal or aggressive style where players make bold or unpredictable moves.

String Bet – Putting chips in the pot in multiple motions without declaring a raise — not allowed.

Structure – The rules for betting, blinds, and payouts in a poker game or tournament.

Stud – A poker variant where players get some cards face-up and some face-down — no community cards.

Suck Out – Winning with a very lucky card when you were behind most of the hand.

Suited – Cards of the same suit, like King of hearts and 9 of hearts.

T

TAG (Tight Aggressive) – A playstyle where a player only plays strong starting hands but plays them aggressively with bets and raises.

Table Stakes – A rule that says players can only use the chips they had at the start of a hand — they can’t add more money mid-hand.

Tank – Taking a long time to think before making a decision in a hand.

Tell – A behavior, action, or expression that gives away information about a player’s hand.

Texture – Describes how connected or dangerous the community cards are (e.g., draw-heavy or “dry” boards).

Three-Bet – The third bet in a sequence (for example: bet → raise → re-raise = three-bet).

Three of a Kind – A hand with three cards of the same rank, like 7-7-7.

Three Pair – A term used in Omaha when a player has three pairs, but only two can count.

Tie – When two or more players have hands of the same value and split the pot evenly.

Tilt – Playing poorly due to anger, frustration, or emotion after a bad hand or losing streak.

Time Bank – Extra time in online poker that a player can use when they need longer to think.

Tournament – A structured competition where players start with equal chips and play until one person wins all the chips. Prizes depend on finishing position.

Tracking Software – Online tools used to analyze your poker play, track stats, and study opponents.

Trap – Playing a strong hand slowly to lure opponents into betting and then striking back later.

Trey – Another name for the number three card in poker (3♦, 3♠, etc.).

Trips – Three of a kind made when one hole card pairs a matching pair on the board (e.g., you hold 9♣ and the board has 9♠-9♦).

Turn – The fourth community card dealt in Hold’em and Omaha. Comes after the flop and before the river.

Two-Bet – Often refers to a standard preflop raise (after the big blind counts as the first bet).

Two Pair – A hand made up of two different pairs, like 8-8 and 5-5.

Two-Tone – A flop or board with only two suits, often leading to potential flush draws.

U

Under the Gun (UTG) – The first player to act in a betting round, sitting immediately left of the big blind. It's a tough position because you act before everyone else.

Underbet – A bet that’s less than half the size of the pot. It can be used to confuse opponents or to get cheap value.

Underdog – A player or hand that has a smaller chance of winning compared to the opponent. Often referred to as the "dog."

Underfull – A weaker full house where the three matching cards are of a lower rank than the pair. For example, 3-3-3-10-10 is an underfull compared to 10-10-10-3-3.

Up – In two pair hands, it refers to the higher pair. For example, “Kings up” means a hand with Kings and another lower pair.

Upcard – A card dealt face-up, visible to everyone. Common in Stud games where some cards are shown to all players.

Upswing – A period of good luck or strong performance where a player wins more than usual.

Up the Ante – Raising the minimum bet (the ante), usually in tournaments to increase action or pressure.

V

Value Bet – A bet made with a strong hand, hoping your opponent will call with a weaker one so you can win more chips.

Variance – The natural ups and downs in poker results over time. Even great players go through losing streaks due to variance.

Variant – A type or version of poker with its own set of rules, like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Stud.

Vig (Vigorish) – A small fee taken by the house from each pot. Also known as the rake.

Villain – A common term used to refer to your opponent in hand discussions or strategy analysis.

VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money in Pot) – A stat that shows how often a player puts chips into the pot preflop, not counting blinds. It helps reveal how tight or loose someone plays.

Vulnerable – A hand that is currently winning but can easily be beaten if the wrong community cards appear.

W

Wake Up – When a player suddenly gets a strong starting hand, often unexpectedly or after lots of folds.

Walk – When all other players fold and the big blind wins the hand without contest.

Wash – A method of shuffling where cards are spread out and mixed face-down on the table.

Weak Ace – An Ace with a low kicker (like A-2 or A-5), making it a risky hand if someone has a better kicker.

Weak Player – Someone who plays passively, makes frequent mistakes, and is easy to bluff or beat.

Webcam Poker – Online poker where players can see each other through webcams for a more “live” feel.

Wet Board – A board with many connected or suited cards, creating strong draw opportunities for straights or flushes.

Whale – A very wealthy but unskilled player who often loses big, especially at high-stakes games.

Wheel – A five-card straight from Ace to Five (A-2-3-4-5). It’s the best possible low hand in some games like Omaha Hi-Lo.

Wired – In Stud poker, when a player starts with a pocket pair hidden in their downcards.

Window Card – The first face-up card visible to all players in Stud, or the top card revealed on the flop in Hold’em.

Wrap – In Omaha, a powerful straight draw with many outs, often giving 9 or more ways to make a straight.

Wrap Around Straight – A straight that loops with the Ace in the middle (like Q-K-A-2-3), which is not valid in standard poker rules.

Wild Card – A card that can represent any other card, often used in home games to create extra action (rare in casinos).

WSOP (World Series of Poker) – The biggest and most famous poker tournament series, held annually in Las Vegas.

WTSD (Went to Showdown) – A stat showing how often a player takes a hand all the way to the final reveal.

WWSF (Won When Saw Flop) – A stat showing how often a player wins the pot after seeing the flop.