Worst of It refers to a situation in poker where a player has an unfavorable position, hand, or odds compared to their opponents. It typically indicates that the player is at a disadvantage in the hand or betting round.
A Tournament Director (TD) is responsible for overseeing the smooth operation of a poker tournament. They enforce rules, handle disputes, and ensure fair play. A TD manages the tournament’s setup, structure, and scheduling.
In poker, a ‘Zombie’ refers to a player who is eliminated from a tournament but is allowed to re-enter or continue playing due to a re-buy or similar rule.
Aces cracked: A situation in poker where a player’s pocket aces, the strongest starting hand, are beaten by another player’s hand.
Aces Over: In poker, this refers to a full house hand where the three of a kind is made up of aces, such as three aces and two kings.
Acting Out of Turn: This occurs when a player makes a move before it is their turn to act in the betting sequence, disrupting the order of play. It can lead to penalties or the action being voided until the proper turn.
Action Checking/Playing/Raising: This refers to the sequence of actions a player can take during their turn in a poker hand. Checking means passing the action to the next player without betting, playing involves making a bet, and raising increases the current bet amount.
Adjusting in poker refers to the strategic changes a player makes in response to the playing styles and tendencies of opponents, the dynamics of the game, or specific situations encountered at the table. This can involve altering betting patterns, hand selection, or positional play to gain an advantage and optimize performance.
Advantage: A favorable condition in poker that increases a player’s chance of winning. This can be due to skill, position, or a superior understanding of the game’s dynamics.
Advertise: To deliberately show a bluff or a strong hand in poker to mislead opponents about your playing style.
Ahead: In poker, being ahead refers to having a stronger hand or being in a better position than your opponent at a given point in the game. It indicates a favorable situation where your current cards give you an advantage over the other players.
AK: Refers to a starting hand in poker consisting of an Ace and a King. It’s considered a strong hand, often called ‘Big Slick.’
Alligator Blood: A term used in poker to describe a player who remains calm and composed under pressure, often making a comeback when facing adversity.
Ammo: In poker, ‘ammo’ refers to a player’s chips or money used to place bets during a game. It is essential for staying active in the game and making strategic plays.
An Ace Working: A poker strategy term used in Texas Hold’em, indicating that an ace in the player’s hand is actively contributing to a winning hand, such as making a high pair or better.
Ante Up is a term used in poker that refers to the initial mandatory bet placed by all players before the hand begins. This amount is generally small and ensures that there is a pot to play for.
ATC (Any Two Cards): A poker strategy where a player is willing to play any combination of two hole cards, regardless of their rank or suit. Often used in aggressive play styles to exert pressure on opponents.
B&M: Refers to physical casino establishments as opposed to online platforms. These venues include traditional poker rooms and casinos where players gather to play live poker games.
Back Into a Hand: Achieving a winning hand by drawing cards unexpectedly, often through luck, rather than strategic play.
In poker, ‘balance’ refers to a strategy where a player mixes their play style to prevent opponents from predicting their actions. By balancing their range, a player makes it difficult for others to exploit their tendencies, maintaining unpredictability in betting and overall gameplay.
Barrel: To make a bet on the flop, turn, or river in poker, often as a continuation bet after raising pre-flop. Multiple barrels indicate successive rounds of betting on later streets.
BB (Big Blind / Big Bet): In poker, the BB refers to the ‘Big Blind,’ a mandatory bet placed by the player two seats left of the dealer in games like Texas Hold’em. It sets the minimum bet for the round. In limit games, ‘Big Bet’ represents the larger bet amount usually allowed in later betting rounds.
Beat into the pot: To contribute chips to the pot when required, often reluctantly and due to pressure from the game’s rules or other players.
Beat the Board: In poker, this term refers to a situation where a player’s hand wins by having a better combination than the community cards on the board.
Bet Into: In poker, it refers to making a bet when another player is expected to bet or has a stronger position, often used as a strategy to disrupt the flow or gain information.
Bet the Limit: In limit poker games, this refers to placing the maximum allowable bet or raise during a specific betting round. The amount is predetermined based on the game’s structure.
In poker, ‘Big Dog’ refers to a player or hand that is significantly trailing in odds of winning compared to opponents. It is often used in situations where a player has a low chance of winning a hand due to the strength of other players’ hands or the community cards.
Bink: In poker, ‘bink’ is a slang term used to describe hitting a much-needed card, often on the river, that significantly improves a player’s hand and typically leads to winning the pot.
Blind Off: In tournament play, when a player is absent and their chips are used to post mandatory blinds or antes, gradually reducing their stack.
Blow up: A player loses emotional control, leading to poor decision-making and significant losses.
Break even: A situation where a player’s wins equal their losses, resulting in no net profit or loss over a defined period or number of games.
Broke: A slang term in poker referring to a player who has lost all their money or bankroll, effectively having no funds left to continue playing.
Buck: A term used in poker to refer to the dealer button, which indicates the player in the dealer position for that hand.
Bullet: In poker, ‘bullet’ refers to an Ace card. It is commonly used in the context of starting hands, such as ‘pocket bullets,’ which means having two Aces as your hole cards.
Bump: A term used in poker to indicate raising the bet in a round of betting.
Bust a Player: To eliminate a player from a poker game by winning all their chips.
Bust: In poker, to bust means to lose all of your chips in a cash game or to be eliminated from a tournament by losing all your chips.
Bust out: To lose all of one’s chips in a poker game, resulting in elimination from the game or tournament.
Buy Short: When a player buys into a poker game with less than the required minimum buy-in amount.
Buy the Pot: Making a large bet or raise to force opponents to fold, thereby winning the pot without further contest.
Calling Your Bluff: This term refers to the act of a player making a bet with a weak hand, trying to deceive opponents into folding stronger hands. If an opponent suspects this bluff, they may ‘call’ to see the cards, revealing the truth.
In poker, ‘capping a raise’ refers to the action of making the final allowable raise in a betting round, reaching the maximum number of raises set by the rules.
Card Dead: A situation in poker where a player consistently receives poor or weak cards, limiting their ability to make strong hands.
Cash in: The act of exchanging poker chips for their equivalent cash value at the end of a game or session.
Catch: In poker, to complete a draw by getting the necessary card or cards on the board.
Change Gears: Altering playing style during a poker game, such as shifting from aggressive to conservative play or vice versa, to keep opponents off balance and unpredictable.
Check (CK): In poker, checking is a move available to players when no bet has been made in the current betting round. It allows a player to pass the action to the next player without placing a bet. Checking can only occur if no other player has bet during that round.
Check Back: In poker, this is when a player decides not to bet when given the option, usually in a situation where they are in position and choose to check after their opponent has checked on the current street.
Check Behind: In poker, when a player chooses not to bet when given the opportunity, opting instead to pass the action to the next player or to end the betting round if they are last to act.
Check Blind: A player checks without looking at their cards, typically before the flop in Texas Hold’em. This is often done for strategic reasons or for fun.
Chip up: The process of increasing one’s stack of chips, typically through winning pots or strategic play.
Chopping Blinds: In poker, chopping blinds refers to a situation where players in the small blind and big blind positions agree to take back their respective blinds and not play the hand. This usually happens in cash games when all other players have folded, reducing the risk for the blind players and speeding up the game.
Clean: A term used in poker to describe a board or situation that is straightforward, without any complicated draws or potential for unexpected outcomes. It often refers to community cards that do not present a threat to a player’s current hand.
Click: In poker, a “click” refers to a small raise, often the minimum allowed. It’s typically used to convey strength or to build the pot incrementally.
Clicking Buttons: Refers to playing poker online without a clear strategy, making random bets and raises without logic or reasoning.
Clicking it Back: A poker term used when a player makes a minimum raise, often as a strategic move to gauge opponents’ strength or induce action.
In poker, ‘committed’ refers to a situation where a player has already invested a significant portion of their chips into the pot, making it difficult or unwise to fold. Typically, this occurs when the remaining stack of the player is so small compared to the pot that folding would result in a severe disadvantage. A committed player is likely to continue playing the hand despite potential risks.
Complete the Bet: In poker, this action occurs in limit games when a player raises an incomplete bet to the full required amount. This typically happens when a player goes all-in with a bet or raise that is less than the minimum amount, and the next player increases it to the full amount to complete the bet.
Coordinated: A poker term referring to a board with cards that are connected or suited, potentially allowing for straights or flush draws. Example: A flop of 7, 8, 9 is considered coordinated.
Cover: In poker, ‘cover’ refers to having a larger stack of chips than another player. It means you can potentially win all of that player’s chips in a hand.
Crack: To win a hand with a weaker starting hand against a stronger one, often unexpectedly.
Cracking Aces: In poker, this refers to the act of winning a hand against pocket aces, which are the highest possible starting hand in Texas Hold’em.
Cripple refers to when a players hand significantly limits the chances of other players forming strong hands, often because it includes key cards from the deck that others need to complete their draws.
Cripple the deck: This refers to a situation in poker where a player holds a combination of cards that makes it highly unlikely or impossible for opponents to complete certain hands, often because the necessary cards are all in the player’s hand.
Cut the pot: Refers to the act of dividing the pot between two or more players in a poker game when a tie occurs, ensuring each player receives their fair share of the pot.
Deal Me Out: A request by a player to be temporarily excluded from a game or hand, often due to needing a break or handling a personal matter.
Deal Off: Refers to the act of distributing cards to players in a poker game, typically done by the dealer at the beginning of a hand.
Dime: A poker slang term used to refer to a bet or raise of $1,000, often used in the context of high-stakes games.
Dog: In poker, a ‘dog’ (short for ‘underdog’) refers to a player or hand that is statistically less likely to win compared to the opponent or competing hands.
In poker, a hand is said to be ‘dominated’ when it is likely to lose to a better hand with similar cards. For example, holding K-Q against K-A means the K-Q hand is dominated because it shares the same high card (King) but has a weaker kicker (Queen versus Ace), reducing its chances of winning.
Domination: In poker, domination refers to a situation where one player’s hand has a strong advantage over another’s because they share similar cards, but one has a higher kicker. For example, having AK against AQ results in the AK dominating the AQ, as the hands are similar, but the higher kicker gives AK a significant edge.
Donk: A term used in poker to describe a situation where a player makes a bet in a manner that is considered poor strategy, typically leading out with a bet from out of position after the flop, especially when the player had not been the aggressor in the previous betting round.
Double Down: In poker, this term refers to an aggressive bet or raise that aims to increase the stakes, often used to apply pressure on opponents and potentially double one’s winnings in a single hand. While more commonly associated with blackjack, in poker, it symbolizes a strategic move to amplify one’s position or benefits.
Double: In poker, ‘double’ generally refers to the action of doubling one’s bet size. It can also imply doubling the stakes or the amount in a specific poker variant or situation, such as doubling down in some variations of poker games.
Down and Dirty: A colloquial term in poker referring to the final community card dealt in a game of Texas Hold’em or Omaha, commonly known as the ‘river’.
Draw Dead: In poker, attempting to complete a hand that, even if successful, will not win against an opponent’s already made or potential superior hand.
Draw Live: In poker, to draw live means a player’s hand can improve to win the pot, even if they are currently behind. It indicates the player still has outs, or potential cards, to catch up and beat opponents.
In poker, “Drawing Dead” refers to a situation where a player is trying to complete a hand but has no chance of winning because the opponent’s hand is already unbeatable regardless of what cards are dealt next.
Drawing Live: In poker, this term refers to a situation where a player still has a chance to win the hand despite not currently having the best hand. It means the player’s drawing hand can improve to beat the opponent’s hand with the right community cards.
Drawing thin: A situation in poker where a player is chasing a drawing hand with very few outs, making it unlikely to improve their hand and win the pot.
Drawy refers to a board (community cards) in poker that presents multiple opportunities for players to complete a drawing hand, such as a straight or flush draw. A drawy board typically contains cards that are connected or suited, increasing the potential for drawing hands.
Drop Out: This term refers to a player choosing to fold their hand in poker, thereby forfeiting any chance to win the current pot.
Elimination: In poker, elimination refers to when a player is knocked out of a tournament after losing all their chips, unable to continue in the competition.
Face-up refers to a style of play or situation where a player’s actions are predictable or transparent, often indicating the strength of their hand.
Fade: Refers to avoiding or not hitting certain cards or outcomes that would be unfavorable, often used in the context of hoping an opponent does not improve their hand.
Fast: Playing aggressively by betting and raising rather than checking or calling, often used to pressure opponents and control the pace of the game.
In poker, “Fill Up” refers to the action of improving a Two Pair to a Full House by catching a third card of the same rank as one of the pairs.
First in vigorish: A poker term used to describe the player who is the first to bet or raise in a betting round, typically when no other player has yet to make an aggressive action. The term originates from the concept of ‘vigorish’ in gambling, which refers to the house’s advantage or commission.
First to Act refers to the player who is required to make the first move in a betting round. This position is usually considered a disadvantage because the player must act without knowing how opponents will play their hands.
Flick In: A casual, nonchalant way to place chips into the pot, often used to describe a player’s physical action when betting or calling.
Fold: The action of discarding one’s hand and forfeiting any chance of winning the pot in a poker game.
Garbage: A hand or set of cards that has little to no chance of winning.
George: A nickname for the number four in poker, often used when referring to a hand such as a four of a kind.
GG: Abbreviation for ‘Good Game,’ a polite expression used in poker and other games to acknowledge an enjoyable or well-played match.
Go All In: A poker move where a player bets all their remaining chips on a single hand, usually as a strategic decision to maximize winnings or pressure opponents.
Good Game: A polite expression used by players at the end of a poker session or tournament, often abbreviated as GG, to acknowledge the efforts and sportsmanship of their opponents.
Graveyard: A term used in poker to refer to a situation or position where players have lost all their chips or are eliminated from the game.
Grind: Playing poker for extended periods to gradually accumulate winnings. Often involves low stakes and a focus on consistent, steady earnings rather than big wins.
Heart: One of the four suits in a standard deck of playing cards, represented by a red heart symbol. In poker, it is considered a “red” suit, along with diamonds.
Heinz: In poker, ‘Heinz’ refers to the hand 5-7, derived from the iconic Heinz 57 sauce, suggesting the numerical combination.
Most Common
