Walking chips refer to the situation in a poker game where a player, after winning a pot, takes their chips off the table and leaves the game temporarily or permanently. This can affect the dynamics of the game as it reduces the amount of money in play.
Walking Sticks’ is a slang term in poker referring to a pocket pair of sevens. The name is derived from the visual similarity of the number seven to a cane or walking stick.
Wedges: In poker, wedges refer to the small pieces or chips used to separate stacks of chips in a player’s pile. They help keep the stack organized and make it easier to count or manage the chips during the game.
Yellow chips: High-value poker chips, often representing $1,000 in casinos.
A chip and a chair: This phrase means that as long as a player still has at least one chip left, they are still in the game and have a chance to win. It reflects the idea that even with minimal resources, it’s possible to make a comeback and succeed.
According to Hoyle refers to playing games, particularly card games like poker, by the rules. The phrase originates from Edmond Hoyle, an 18th-century writer who authored books on the rules of card games.
In poker, ‘Act’ refers to a player’s turn to make a move during a hand. This can involve checking, betting, calling, folding, or raising.
In poker, ‘ammunition’ refers to the chips or money a player has available to wager during a game. It is essential for making bets, raises, or calls.
In poker, ‘Any Two’ refers to the idea that any two cards can win if played correctly. It’s often used in the context of games like Texas Hold’em, where players might justify playing a wide range of starting hands, regardless of their actual strength, based on the belief that skillful post-flop play can compensate for weak starting hands.
In poker, ‘as played’ refers to analyzing or discussing a hand based on how the player has played it up to a certain point. This term is often used in hand reviews to assess decisions given the specific actions taken in the hand.
In poker, a ‘blank’ refers to a community card that is dealt and does not appear to improve any player’s hand or change the current standings in the game. It is typically seen as irrelevant to the outcome of the round.
In poker, ‘bleed’ refers to the gradual loss of chips over time due to poor play, frequent calling, or making small, consistent mistakes. This often happens when a player is overly passive or fails to capitalize on strong hands.
In poker, ‘burn’ refers to the action of discarding the top card from the deck face down before dealing community cards. This is done to prevent any chance of players gaining an advantage by seeing or identifying the next card to be dealt. The burn card is not used in the game and remains unseen by the players.
Cards speak: A poker rule stating that the value of a player’s hand is determined by the visible cards, not by verbal declarations.
Chip and a Chair: A term used in poker to describe a player’s situation when they have a very small number of chips left but still have the chance to win, emphasizing the idea that as long as a player is still in the game with even a single chip, they have the potential to make a comeback and win the entire game.
In poker, ‘Closed’ refers to a betting round where no additional players can join the hand. This typically occurs in games like Texas Hold’em, when the betting round is completed, and the remaining players proceed to the next round.
Cold: In poker, ‘cold’ refers to a situation where a player calls multiple bets in a single action without having previously contributed to the pot. For example, calling a raise and a re-raise before the flop.
Cut it up: In poker, “cut it up” refers to the act of splitting a pot between players who have hands of equal value, resulting in each player receiving an equal share of the pot.
Dead: Refers to chips that are not actively being wagered by players, either because they have folded or are not part of the current betting round. Dead money can also refer to money in the pot that comes from players who have already folded, thus increasing the pot size without any active player’s contribution.
In poker, ‘deal in’ refers to the action of including a player in a round or hand by giving them cards. It is typically used when a player joins a game after it has started or if they missed a previous hand.
Deal Me In: A phrase used by players to request participation in a poker game, usually when they are joining a game already in progress.
In poker, ‘defend’ refers to the action of calling or raising in response to a bet, particularly when in a position such as the big blind, to protect one’s initial investment or to contest for the pot.
A ‘Donkey’ in poker refers to a weak or inexperienced player who often makes poor decisions at the table, typically betting and calling with suboptimal hands.
Double Up: A poker term used when a player wins a hand and doubles their chip stack, often by going all-in and winning against an opponent with an equal or greater amount of chips.
Down to the felt is a poker term used to describe a player who has lost almost all their chips and has only a very small amount left, similar to the bare felt of the poker table.
Driver’s Seat: Being in a position of power or control in a poker hand, often due to having the best cards or a strong betting position.
In poker, “drop” refers to a player folding their hand, thereby forfeiting any chance to win the current pot.
In poker, ‘fire’ refers to making a bet or continuation bet in a round of play. It implies aggression and an attempt to assert control over the hand.
Flash: In poker, ‘flash’ refers to an accidental, brief exposure of a card or cards to players who aren’t supposed to see them.
Get there: Achieving a winning hand by completing a draw on the turn or river.
Give the office is a phrase used in poker to discreetly communicate or signal information, often non-verbally, to a partner or teammate during a game. This can include gestures, facial expressions, or other subtle cues to indicate hand strength, strategies, or intentions.
Go: A term not commonly used in poker terminology. It may refer to a player’s decision to continue in a hand, akin to ‘calling’ or ‘going all-in,’ though its usage is not standard in poker.
In poker, “going south” refers to the unethical act of removing chips from the table during a game to protect them from being lost, which is against the rules in most poker games.
In poker, “Grand” typically refers to a high-stakes game or a large amount of money, often used to denote $1,000. It is commonly used in cash games or tournaments to describe significant bets or buy-ins.
A playful phrase used in poker to coax an opponent into making a bet or call, often implying that the player is trying to lure them into a trap.
Hit is a poker term used when a player receives a card that improves their hand, often completing a draw or enhancing a hand’s strength.
Hop the fence: This term in poker refers to a player calling a bet after previously folding in the same betting round. It usually occurs in informal games and is often considered poor etiquette or against the rules, as it goes against the established order of play.
In a Row: Refers to consecutive wins or losses during a poker session.
In Action: A player is said to be ‘in action’ when they are actively involved in a hand, making bets or decisions.
Playing ‘In Position’ means acting after your opponent in a betting round, providing strategic advantage by seeing their actions first.
In the Hole: Refers to the face-down cards dealt to a player, especially in games like Texas Hold’em or Seven-card Stud, where players have a combination of face-up and face-down cards to form a hand.
Jack it up in poker refers to the action of increasing the bet or raise, typically when holding a strong hand or to pressure opponents.
Jake in poker slang refers to a pair of jacks. This term is often used during gameplay to describe a starting hand or a pair on the board consisting of two jacks.
In poker, ‘Jobs’ refers to a nickname given to pocket Jacks, as the letter ‘J’ in the deck is associated with the name ‘Jack’, reminiscent of the iconic technology figure, Steve Jobs. This term is used colloquially among players when discussing their hands.
Joint in poker refers to a pair, typically meaning two cards of the same rank. It is often used in informal settings to describe a hand with a pair.
The term ‘keep (a bettor) honest’ in poker refers to calling or raising a bet to prevent a player from bluffing. It is used to ensure that a player is not trying to win the pot with a weak hand by forcing them to show their cards.
In poker, ‘Knock’ refers to a situation in draw poker where a player chooses not to draw any new cards, indicating satisfaction with their hand as it is.
In poker, “last to act” refers to the player who makes the final decision in a betting round. This position provides a strategic advantage, as the player can observe the actions of others before deciding their move.
Lid: In poker, the term ‘lid’ refers to the top card of the deck when it is placed face down. This card is typically used to protect the deck from being exposed or tampered with during play.
In poker, “light” refers to a situation where a player calls or raises with a hand that is weaker than what is typically expected. This strategy is often used to bluff or apply pressure on opponents.
Live’ refers to a poker game or tournament that takes place in a physical location with players present at the table, as opposed to online poker games. It involves direct human interaction, where players can observe each other’s behavior and physical tells.
Look in poker refers to the act of checking the hole cards or community cards to assess the strength of one’s hand.
M: In poker, ‘M’ refers to a player’s stack size relative to the blinds and antes in tournament play. It is calculated by dividing the player’s stack by the sum of the blinds and antes for a full round. A higher M means the player can afford to wait for better hands, while a lower M indicates urgency to act.
In poker, “Make” refers to the act of completing a particular hand combination or achieving a specific goal during gameplay, such as making a straight or flush.
Mark: In poker, a ‘mark’ refers to a player who is considered inexperienced or unskilled, making them an easy target for more seasoned players to exploit during the game.
In poker, ‘merged’ refers to a betting or raising range that includes both strong hands and some bluffs or weaker hands, making it harder for opponents to determine the strength of the player’s hand.
In poker, ‘miss’ refers to failing to improve a hand with the community cards. For example, if a player is drawing for a flush or straight and the necessary cards do not appear on the board, the player has ‘missed’ their draw.
Natural: In poker, a ‘natural’ refers to having a hand that does not rely on any community cards, wild cards, or additional draws to improve. It is a hand that is inherently strong based on the initial deal.
On the button: Refers to the position of the dealer button in a poker game, which is advantageous as the player acting from this position is the last to make a decision in each betting round, providing strategic insights on opponents’ actions.
In poker, ‘On the Come’ refers to situations where a player bets or raises with a drawing hand that has the potential to improve to a stronger hand. This often applies to flush or straight draws, where the player does not yet have a made hand, but is betting on the future possibility of completing their draw.
One time is a plea often used by poker players, typically when they are in a crucial hand and need a specific outcome or card to win. It reflects the player’s hope for luck or a favorable result in that particular moment.
In poker, ‘out of position’ refers to a player who must act before their opponents in a betting round. This position is considered disadvantageous as the player does not have information about other players’ actions when making their decision.
In poker, ‘Out’ refers to any card that will improve a player’s hand to a likely winner. Often used in plural as ‘outs,’ it helps players calculate their chances of hitting a winning hand in subsequent rounds.
Over the top: A poker term describing a situation where a player raises a previous bet or raise, often as a bluff or to exert pressure on opponents.
Peel: In poker, ‘peel’ refers to calling a bet with the intention of seeing the next card, particularly on the flop or turn, to evaluate the potential to improve one’s hand.
Peg: In poker, ‘peg’ refers to a fixed position or value, often related to betting or the position of the betting marker.
Play on your belly refers to a situation in poker where a player chooses to play passively, usually checking and calling rather than betting or raising. This can be a strategy to disguise the strength of their hand, often used when holding a strong hand to lure opponents into betting more.
In poker, ‘Play the Board’ refers to a situation in Texas Hold’em or Omaha where a player’s best hand is made up of the five community cards on the board, rather than using any of their own hole cards. This means the player’s hole cards do not improve their hand.
Play: In poker, ‘play’ refers to the action of participating in a hand, making strategic decisions like betting, calling, raising, or folding. It encompasses all the moves a player makes during a game to influence the pot and outcomes.
In poker, ‘Playing the Board’ refers to a situation in a community card game, such as Texas Hold’em, where a player’s best possible hand is made up entirely of the five community cards on the board. This often occurs when a player’s hole cards do not improve their hand beyond what is already available on the board. In such cases, any other player with the same board visibility also has the same hand strength, leading to a split pot if no player has a better hand using their hole cards.
Post Dead refers to the action of placing chips in the pot to compensate for missed blinds in poker. This is done when a player re-enters the game after missing one or more blinds, ensuring fairness and maintaining the integrity of the betting structure.
In poker, ‘push’ refers to going all-in with your chips, betting everything on your current hand.
In poker, ‘ragged’ refers to a community card board that is uncoordinated and unlikely to help any player improve their hand. It usually consists of low, disconnected cards, making it difficult to form strong combinations.
Read: In poker, ‘read’ refers to a player’s ability to interpret an opponent’s actions, expressions, or behavior to gain insights into their possible hand or intentions. This skill involves analyzing betting patterns, body language, and other tells to make informed decisions.
In poker, ‘Register’ refers to the process of signing up or enrolling in a poker tournament. This usually involves paying the buy-in fee to secure a spot in the event.
Roll: In poker, ‘roll’ often refers to a bankroll, which is the total amount of money a player has set aside for poker-related betting. It is crucial for managing risk and ensuring long-term gameplay sustainability. A player’s roll should be managed carefully to avoid going broke.
Run a Pot: In poker, ‘run a pot’ refers to the process of playing out the cards of a particular hand to determine the winner and distribute the pot. This can involve dealing the remaining community cards if necessary and revealing players’ hole cards at showdown.
Run it twice: In poker, ‘run it twice’ is an agreement between players to deal remaining community cards in two separate sets, usually to reduce variance in high-stakes situations. Each ‘run’ is treated as a distinct hand, and the pot is split between the winners of each run.
Running Good refers to a fortunate streak of winning hands or favorable outcomes in poker, often characterized by consistently drawing strong cards or winning consistently over a period of time.
See in poker refers to a player’s action of matching the current bet, also known as “calling.” This allows the player to continue in the hand and see the next card or the opponent’s hands at showdown.
In poker, ‘Set a Trap’ refers to a strategy where a player plays passively or deceptively with a strong hand to induce opponents to bet more aggressively, ultimately maximizing potential winnings.
Ship It: A term used to indicate shipping chips to the pot or another player, often as a declaration of winning a hand or going all-in.
In poker, ‘spew’ refers to making reckless or excessive bets and raises, often resulting in unnecessary loss of chips.
In poker, ‘Stay’ refers to a player’s decision to remain in the current hand without making any additional bets or actions. This is typically possible in games where checking is allowed, allowing the player to keep their cards and wait for the next round.
Tap: In poker, ‘tap’ refers to a player tapping the table to indicate a check, signaling they do not wish to bet or raise but want to continue in the hand.
Target: In poker, ‘target’ refers to the specific opponent or opponents a player aims to exploit or engage in a hand. This involves analyzing their weaknesses, tendencies, or stack sizes to maximize one’s own advantage and profit.
In poker, ‘tight’ refers to a playing style characterized by playing fewer hands and being selective about which hands to play. Tight players often fold marginal hands and wait for stronger ones, focusing on making fewer but more strategic bets.
In poker, “Time” refers to a request by a player for additional time to make a decision during a hand. It is often used in high-stakes situations where the player needs extra moments to consider their options. Players may call “time” to pause the game and think through their strategy before making a move.
In poker, “to go” refers to the amount a player needs to call in order to stay in the round after a bet or raise has been made.
In poker, “Up the Ante” means to increase the stakes or raise the amount of money that players must bet or contribute to the pot before a hand is dealt. This phrase can also be used metaphorically to describe raising the level of risk or commitment in a situation.
In poker, ‘value’ refers to the worth of a player’s hand relative to the potential bets they can win from an opponent. A player aims to extract maximum value by betting or raising with a strong hand to encourage opponents to call or raise, increasing the pot size.
Walk the Table: In poker, ‘Walk the Table’ refers to the situation where all players fold, allowing the player in the big blind position to win the blinds uncontested. This happens when no player chooses to raise or call before the flop, resulting in the big blind player collecting the pot without having to play further.
In poker, ‘wash’ refers to the process of mixing the deck thoroughly by spreading the cards face down on the table and moving them around in a circular motion before shuffling.
Way ahead / way behind is a poker term used to describe a situation where a player’s hand is either significantly stronger or much weaker than an opponent’s hand. It highlights situations where there is little chance of improving to win if behind, or losing if ahead, often leading to conservative play to avoid unnecessary risk.
In poker, a ‘Welcher’ refers to a player who fails to pay a bet or a debt. It’s a term used to describe someone who reneges on financial obligations, often considered unethical in the gambling community.
In poker, a ‘Well’ is a metaphorical expression used to describe a situation where a player is deep in thought or contemplation about their next move. It often implies the player is considering complex strategies or probabilities.
Went to Showdown: This term refers to the situation in poker where the remaining players reveal their cards after the final round of betting to determine the winner. It occurs when at least two players are still in the hand after the last betting round, and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
Won When Saw Flop’ is a poker statistic that indicates the percentage of hands a player wins after seeing the flop. It provides insight into a player’s post-flop skills and how effectively they play hands once they have invested in seeing the community cards.
Work the Broads refers to a poker strategy involving playing with broadway cards (face cards from ten to ace) to control the game flow. The term emphasizes strategic betting, bluffing, and reading opponents to maximize the potential of high-ranking hands.
The phrase ‘Working the Telegraph’ in poker refers to the practice of subtly signaling or communicating information about one’s hand strength or intentions to another player, often through non-verbal cues or gestures, in a deceptive manner.
Most Common
