AA refers to a starting hand of two Aces in Texas Hold’em poker, also known as pocket Aces or American Airlines. It’s the strongest pre-flop hand, giving players the best odds of winning the pot at the start of a hand.
Ace Magnets: A pair of cards that frequently attract aces on the board during poker games.
Acepots: A poker side bet where players wager on whether they will be dealt pocket aces. The pot grows until a player wins by being dealt pocket aces, at which point the pot is awarded to them.
Aces and Spaces: In poker, this refers to a hand that contains a pair of aces and no other high-value cards or draws, making it difficult to improve the hand.
American Airlines: A nickname for a pair of Aces as starting hand in poker, considered the strongest hand pre-flop due to its high probability of winning against other hands.
Ante: A small forced bet each player must pay before a hand begins to create an initial pot. Straddle: An optional blind bet made before cards are dealt, typically double the big blind, to increase the stakes and action.
Bet Odds: The ratio of the amount you can win compared to the amount you must bet. Calculated as potential winnings divided by the bet amount, often expressed as a ratio or in decimal form.
Betting Limits: Betting limits in poker refer to the rules that dictate how much players can bet or raise during a hand. Common types include No Limit, where players can bet any amount up to their total chips; Pot Limit, where bets can be up to the current size of the pot; and Fixed Limit, where players can only bet or raise by a predetermined amount.
Betting Stakes: The amount of money a player is willing to risk in a particular round or game of poker. Stakes determine the minimum and maximum bets allowed and can vary depending on the type of game being played. Higher stakes games involve larger sums of money and potentially greater risks and rewards.
A compulsory bet made by one or more players before the cards are dealt to initiate the betting in a poker game. Blinds are typically posted by the two players to the left of the dealer button in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, known as the small blind and the big blind.
Bottom two: In poker, refers to the lowest two cards in a player’s hand forming a two-pair with two community cards.
Bullets: A poker term for being dealt two aces as a starting hand. Often considered the strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em, Bullets can give a player a significant advantage.
California games: A variant of poker games popular in California, often referring to games like Pai Gow Poker and California Lowball, which comply with state regulations. These games substitute cards with dominoes or use a joker as a wild card to meet legal requirements.
Case chips: The last chip of a particular denomination or type in play. Often used to describe a player’s final chip of a specific size.
Connector: A pair of consecutive cards, such as 7 and 8, that are close in rank and can form a straight.
Cowboys: A poker hand consisting of two Kings, often considered a strong starting hand in Texas Hold’em.
Crabs: A poker slang term for the starting hand of three and three (3-3) in Texas Hold’em. Also known as “pocket threes,” this hand is often considered weak due to its low rank, but can be valuable if it forms a set on the flop.
Dead Outs: A card that, if drawn, would not improve a player’s hand to win the pot. This term is often used in situations where the player is drawing to a hand but some of the outs they are counting on have already been folded or are out of play, rendering them useless.
Deuces: In poker, ‘deuces’ refers to a pair of two cards with the rank of two. It is considered a low pair and may be referred to as ‘ducks’ in some poker slang.
Diamonds: One of the four suits in a standard deck of cards, typically represented by a red diamond symbol. In poker, diamonds can form flushes or other hands when combined with cards of the same suit. Often associated with wealth due to the gemstone connotation.
Discounted Outs: The number of outs a player can use to improve their hand, adjusted for cards that might give an opponent a better hand.
Dominating Hands are poker hands that have a higher chance of winning against an opponent’s hand because they share similar cards, but with a higher kicker.
Ducks: In poker, ‘ducks’ refers to a pair of twos.
Eagles: A poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit, in sequence, including an Ace.
Edge Odds: The advantage a player gains from having more information, skill, or better strategy, allowing them to make more profitable decisions compared to their opponents.
End Strippers: A type of marked cards used in poker, where the edges are subtly trimmed to allow skilled players to identify certain cards.
Ethics or Etiquette: The unwritten rules and standards of behavior that players are expected to follow in poker to ensure fairness and respect among participants. This includes actions like not discussing hands in progress, acting in turn, and being polite to other players.
Face cards: In a standard deck of playing cards, face cards refer to the King, Queen, and Jack in each suit. These cards feature illustrations of faces and are sometimes called court cards.
False Openers: A poker hand where a player illegally claims to have a qualifying hand to open the betting in games like draw poker. If caught, penalties may apply, and the player may be disqualified from the round.
Five Bets: A series of five raises in a single betting round, often indicating a strong hand.
Flop Games: Poker variants where community cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. Players use these shared cards, along with their own hole cards, to form the best possible hand. Examples include Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Galfond bucks: A term used in the poker community to measure how much money a player can expect to win or lose against Phil Galfond, a renowned professional poker player. It is often used to evaluate and compare the skill levels of other players relative to Galfond.
Gappers are poker hands with cards that have one or more missing ranks between them, such as 7-9 (a one-gapper) or 6-9 (a two-gapper). Depending on the number of missing ranks, they are categorized as one-gappers, two-gappers, etc. Gappers can form strong hands when they connect with community cards to complete straights.
High-Stakes: Poker games or tournaments where the buy-in and betting amounts are significantly large, often involving substantial financial risk and reward.
Hockey Sticks: A poker slang term for the starting hand of 7-7. The shape of the number 7 resembles a hockey stick, hence the nickname. This hand is considered a middle pair, giving you a decent chance to form a strong hand depending on the community cards in games like Texas Hold’em.
Hole cards: In poker, these are the face-down cards dealt to each player that only they can see. They are used in combination with community cards to form the best possible hand.
Hot Hands: A situation in poker where a player is experiencing a winning streak with consistently strong hands.
House Rules: Specific regulations set by a casino or poker room that dictate how games are played. These rules may cover aspects like betting limits, player conduct, and game variations, and they can vary from one venue to another.
Ideal Edge Odds refer to the odds in poker that reflect the best possible advantage a player can have over opponents, maximizing potential profit by making statistically superior decisions based on the probability of winning a hand.
Implied Odds: A concept in poker that considers not only the current pot odds but also the potential future winnings if a draw is completed. It helps players decide whether to call a bet based on the expected payoff from future betting rounds.
Investment Odds: The ratio of the potential payout to the amount you need to bet. It assesses whether the potential reward justifies the risk based on the odds of winning.
junk: In poker, ‘junk’ refers to cards in a player’s hand that are considered weak or of low value, often having little to no potential for making a strong hand.
Knockout Bounty Tournaments: A poker tournament format where players receive a cash prize for eliminating opponents. Each player has a bounty on their head, which is added to the prize pool when they are knocked out. The main objective is to win both by collecting bounties and by surviving until the end of the tournament.
Lay Odds: The ratio of the amount a player is willing to risk compared to the amount they stand to win, usually in situations involving bets on opponents’ hands.
Live Card(s): In poker, a live card refers to a card that can still improve a player’s hand because it hasn’t been seen or used by other players. This is often used in contexts like drawing games or when discussing outs.
Long odds refer to the situation in poker where the probability of a particular hand or event occurring is low. In other words, the less likely it is for an outcome to happen, the longer the odds are said to be. Players often face long odds when they are hoping for a specific card draw that completes a rare or unlikely hand.
Low Stakes: Poker games with minimal financial risk, typically involving small buy-ins and bets. Suitable for beginners and casual players seeking entertainment without significant monetary commitment.
Marked Cards: Cards that have been altered or marked in a way that allows a player to identify them during a game. This can be done through scratches, bends, or subtle ink marks, and is considered cheating in poker.
Micro Stakes: Poker games with the smallest betting limits, often played by beginners or for recreational purposes. Typically feature blinds as low as $0.01/$0.02. Ideal for learning without significant financial risk.
Mid Stakes: Refers to poker games with medium-sized buy-ins, typically ranging from $1/$2 to $5/$10 in cash games, or tournaments with buy-ins between $200 and $1,000. These stakes attract a mix of recreational and semi-professional players, offering a balance of reasonable risk and reward.
Mixed games: A poker format where players rotate between different poker variants, such as Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, and others, in a single game session. This tests players’ versatility and skill across multiple styles.
Modified Outs: In poker, modified outs refer to the adjusted number of cards that can improve a player’s hand, considering factors such as opponents’ possible hands and community cards. This calculation helps in making more accurate decisions during gameplay.
Monsters under the bed refers to the strong pocket cards players suspect their opponents have, often causing hesitation or fear of betting aggressively.
Newlyweds: A starting poker hand consisting of a pair of Queens, typically referred to as a pair of “brides.”
Nosebleed stakes: Extremely high stakes in poker games, often involving large sums of money that can lead to significant financial risk. These games attract highly skilled players and are known for their intense competition.
Nucleus Players: A term used to describe a core group of poker players who consistently participate in a specific game or tournament. These players often have a significant impact on the dynamics and competitiveness of the poker environment.
Nuts: The best possible hand at a given point in a poker game, ensuring no other hand can beat it.
Odds: The ratio that compares the probability of a specific outcome to the probability of that outcome not occurring. In poker, odds are used to determine how likely it is to complete a hand versus how often that hand will not be completed. Understanding odds helps players make informed decisions about whether to bet, call, or fold.
One-Eyed Royals: In poker, refers to the King of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and Jack of Spades, as these face cards are depicted in profile, showing only one eye.
In poker, “openers” refer to the initial cards that give a player the right to open the betting round. Typically, in games like Draw Poker, a player must have a minimum combination such as a pair of jacks or better to open the betting.
Outs are the unseen cards that will complete a player’s hand to make it the best possible hand. For example, if a player has four cards to a flush, any card of that suit remaining in the deck would be considered an out.
In poker, ‘Paint’ refers to any face card, i.e., Jack, Queen, or King, in a deck of cards. These cards are called ‘paint’ because they are illustrated with pictures.
Pocket: Refers to the two hole cards dealt face down to each player in a poker game. These are private cards only visible to the player and are a crucial component in forming a poker hand.
Pocket Rockets: A poker hand comprising two Aces, considered one of the strongest starting hands in Texas Hold’em.
Poker chips are small discs used to represent money in poker games. They come in various colors and denominations, providing a convenient way to place bets and manage winnings. Typically made of clay, plastic, or composite materials, poker chips enhance the gaming experience by adding a tactile and visual element to the game. In casinos, they are standardized for security and uniformity, while in home games, they may vary in design and value.
Poker Hands: The ranking of combinations of cards, from highest to lowest – Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card. Each hand consists of five cards, and the higher-ranked hand beats a lower-ranked hand.
Poker streams: Live or recorded broadcasts of poker games, often featuring commentary and player insights, streamed on platforms like Twitch or YouTube.
Poker tools are software and applications designed to assist poker players in analyzing their games, improving strategies, and making informed decisions. Popular tool categories include:
Odds Calculators: Estimate the probability of winning a hand.
Hand Trackers: Record and analyze past hands to identify patterns and weaknesses.
Equity Calculators: Calculate the expected value of hands in various scenarios.
Range Analyzers: Help determine opponents’ possible hands based on their actions.
Pot odds: The ratio of the current size of the pot to the size of the bet you must call. Used to determine whether to call a bet when you are drawing to a hand.
Premium hands in poker refer to the strongest starting hands, typically consisting of high pairs like Aces or Kings, or high-value cards like Ace-King suited, which have a higher probability of winning.
Promotions: Special offers or incentives provided by poker rooms or platforms to attract and retain players. These can include bonuses, free tournaments, loyalty rewards, and other perks to enhance the playing experience and increase engagement.
Puppy feet or pups refer to a pair of fives in poker.
Quads, also known as four of a kind, is a poker hand containing all four cards of the same rank. It is one of the strongest hands in poker, ranking just below a straight flush. For example, having four aces would be referred to as “quad aces.”
RA (Rebuy/Add-on): In poker tournaments, ‘Rebuy’ allows a player to purchase additional chips if they lose all their initial chips during a specified period. ‘Add-on’ is an optional purchase of extra chips usually available at the end of the rebuy period. These options provide players with the opportunity to continue competing and potentially increase their stack size.
Reverse Implied Odds: A poker concept that estimates potential losses in future betting rounds due to drawing a hand that appears strong but is likely beaten. It helps players understand the risk of investing in a pot where their hand, if improved, could still be dominated by an opponent’s better hand.
Rolled-up trips is a poker term that refers to being dealt three of a kind in the first three cards of a seven-card stud game.
Royal cards: In a deck of playing cards, royal cards refer to the King, Queen, and Jack of each suit. These face cards often have higher value in games and feature ornate designs.
Sailboats: A poker slang term referring to a starting hand consisting of a pair of fours (4-4). This nickname originates from the visual resemblance of the number four to a sailboat.
Save bets: A strategy where a player bets a small amount on a strong hand to encourage opponents to call, minimizing potential losses if the hand doesnt improve.
SB (Small Blind / Small Bet):
Small Blind: A forced bet posted by the player to the direct left of the dealer button, typically half the size of the big blind, to initiate betting in a poker hand.
Small Bet: In limit poker games, refers to the smaller of the two fixed bet amounts used in early rounds of betting.
Seconds: A poker deal in which a dishonest dealer gives a player a second card from the top of the deck instead of the top card, usually to cheat and manipulate the outcome of the game.
Short Odds: Odds that are considered to be low or unfavorable in a betting context, indicating that a bet is less risky but offers lower potential returns.
Sklansky Bucks: A theoretical measure in poker to determine expected value based on probability rather than actual outcomes. It calculates how much a player should win on average when all cards are revealed, regardless of the actual hand results.
Snowmen: A nickname for a pair of eights in poker, derived from the resemblance of the number eight to a snowman’s shape.
Splitting Openers: A strategy where a player divides their opening cards into smaller hands, often used to increase the number of potential winning combinations.
Stone Cold Nuts: The best possible hand in a given situation, making it unbeatable by any other combination.
Suited Cards: A pair of hole cards in poker that are of the same suit, such as two hearts or two diamonds, increasing the potential for a flush.
Suited Connectors: Consecutive cards of the same suit, like 7 and 8, often used for drawing straights or flushes.
Suited Gappers: Hole cards in poker that are of the same suit and have a gap of one or more ranks between them, such as 8 and 10. These hands have potential for straights and flushes.
Table Cards: Community cards dealt face-up in the center of the poker table, shared by all players to form their best possible hand.
Table dynamics refer to the changing behaviors, strategies, and interactions among players at a poker table. These dynamics can influence decision-making and gameplay, as players adjust their tactics based on the tendencies and actions of their opponents.
Table stakes: A rule in poker where a player can only wager the chips or money they have on the table at the start of a hand, preventing them from reaching into their wallet or adding more during that hand.
Tainted outs: In poker, outs are cards that can improve a player’s hand. Tainted outs refer to these outs being compromised because they also improve an opponent’s hand, potentially turning their hand into a winning one.
Poker terminology for beginners: Poker is a card game with its own language. Key terms include ‘hand’ (the cards you hold), ‘flop’ (the first three community cards dealt), ‘turn’ (the fourth community card), ‘river’ (the fifth community card), ‘bluff’ (pretending to have a strong hand), ‘call’ (matching the current bet), ‘raise’ (increasing the bet), ‘fold’ (discarding your hand), ‘pot’ (the total amount of bets), ‘chip’ (poker currency), ‘blind’ (forced bets before cards are dealt), ‘all-in’ (betting all your chips), and ‘showdown’ (revealing hands to determine the winner). Understanding these basics will help you play and communicate effectively in poker.
Hand Rankings: In poker, hand rankings are used to determine the best hand from a standard deck of cards. The hierarchy from highest to lowest is: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.
Poker Rules: Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and can be played in various forms such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha. The basic objective is to win chips or money through betting rounds by having the highest-ranking hand or by convincing others to fold. The game starts with forced bets, and players are dealt cards. Betting rounds occur as players decide to call, raise, or fold. Hands are ranked from high card to royal flush, and the best hand at showdown wins the pot. Understanding hand rankings, betting structures, and specific game variations is crucial for playing effectively.
Trips: A three of a kind hand in poker, formed with one card in hand and two on the board.
Turkish Pocket Aces: A humorous poker term used to describe a starting hand of 7-2 offsuit, considered the worst hand in Texas Hold’em. The name implies that even though they may sound strong, like ‘pocket aces,’ they are actually very weak.
Two bets: In poker, ‘two bets’ refers to making a raise after an initial bet, effectively doubling the current wager during a round of betting.
Visible Cards refer to the playing cards that are face-up on the table in a poker game, allowing all players to see them. These cards are used alongside a player’s hidden cards to form the best possible hand.
Most Common
