In poker, a ‘draw’ refers to a hand that is incomplete and needs additional cards to become a strong hand, such as a straight or flush. Players with a draw may continue to bet in hopes of hitting the necessary cards on future rounds.
Draw Out: When a player improves their hand to win a pot after initially being behind in strength, often by catching a needed card.
A drawing hand in poker is a hand that is not yet complete but has the potential to become a strong hand if the right cards are dealt. Typically, it needs one or more specific cards to make a winning hand, such as a straight or flush.
Dry Ace: A situation in poker where a player holds an ace without any other cards of the same suit, often used in bluffing to represent a potential flush.
Dry: In poker, a ‘dry’ board refers to a community card layout that offers few opportunities for players to complete draws or strong hands. Typically, a dry board will lack coordinated cards such as connected or suited cards, making it less likely for opponents to have strong hands or draws.
In poker, a ‘dry pot’ refers to a side pot in which one or more players are all-in, and there is no additional betting possible. This pot cannot be increased further, and the players involved have no financial interest in any additional bets made in the main pot by other players.
A duel in poker refers to a one-on-one confrontation between two players. This typically occurs in heads-up play, where only two players compete against each other in a game or tournament, focusing on outplaying their opponent through strategic betting and bluffing.
Dynamic board: A type of poker board that has the potential to change significantly with future community cards, affecting hand strengths and strategies. Examples include boards with multiple draws or middle cards.
Face Card: A playing card that depicts a face, specifically the Jack, Queen, or King in a deck of cards.
False Cut: A deceptive technique used in card handling where the dealer appears to cut the deck without actually changing the order of the cards.
A Family Pot refers to a poker scenario where most or all players at the table choose to call or limp before the flop, resulting in a large pot with multiple players involved. This usually occurs in games with lower stakes or among casual players, where the cost to see the flop is low and encourages widespread participation.
Favorite: In poker, the player or hand most likely to win in a given situation based on current odds and probabilities.
A feeder is a poker player who consistently loses money to other players at the table, effectively “feeding” their chip stacks. This term often describes inexperienced or less skilled players who contribute to the winnings of others.
A feeler bet is a small bet made to gauge an opponent’s hand strength. It is often used to gain information about the opponents’ intentions or to test the waters without committing too many chips.
In poker, a ‘fill’ refers to completing a strong hand, usually a straight or flush, on the last card dealt.
Final Hand: The hand a player ends with after all betting rounds, used to determine the winner.
Fish Hook: A slang term in poker referring to the card Jack.
In poker, a ‘Fish’ is a player who is inexperienced or unskilled, often making poor strategic decisions and losing money to more skilled opponents.
Flat Call: A term in poker describing the action of matching a bet without raising, often indicating a player has a moderately strong hand but is cautious about the strength of their opponents’ hands.
In poker, a “flip” refers to a scenario where two players have roughly equal chances of winning a hand, typically occurring when one player has a pocket pair and the other has two overcards. It is considered a 50/50 situation.
In poker, a ‘float’ refers to calling a bet with a weak hand or a draw on the flop, with the intention of bluffing on later streets if the opponent shows weakness.
FD (Flush Draw): A situation in poker where a player has four cards of the same suit and needs one more to complete a flush.
Flush: A poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit, not in sequential order. The strength of a flush is determined by the highest card in the hand.
A for-profit player in poker is someone who plays the game primarily to make money rather than for entertainment. They focus on maximizing their winnings through strategic play, often analyzing opponents, using statistical data, and managing their bankroll effectively.
A forced bet is a mandatory wager placed by one or more players in a poker game, usually to initiate action. It typically includes blinds or antes, ensuring there is money in the pot at the beginning of a hand.
A foul hand in poker refers to a player’s hand that is not valid due to rule violations, such as having too many or too few cards, or other irregularities. This hand is disqualified from play.
A four bet is the fourth bet (wager) in a betting sequence during a poker hand. It typically occurs in a pre-flop scenario and is often used as a strong move to indicate a powerful hand.
Four Flush: A poker hand containing four cards of the same suit, one card short of a flush.
Four-Color Deck: A variation of a standard playing card deck where each suit is represented by a different color to enhance visibility and reduce confusion. Traditionally, hearts and diamonds are red, while spades and clubs are black. In a four-color deck, hearts remain red, diamonds are blue, spades are green, and clubs are black.
A ‘four-liner’ in poker refers to a situation on the board where four cards of the same suit or in sequence appear. It increases the chances of a flush or straight, affecting hand strengths and strategies.
Free Card: A card that is dealt without requiring a player to call a bet, often occurring when players check in a round of betting.
Freeroll: A poker tournament with no entry fee but offers real money or prizes.
A freeze-out tournament is a type of poker tournament format where players start with a fixed amount of chips and are eliminated when they lose all their chips. Once a player is out of chips, they cannot re-enter or buy more chips, and the tournament continues until one player has all the chips.
Full Barn: A poker term that refers to a Full House, which is a hand comprising three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
A full house in poker, often referred to as a ‘boat’, is a hand containing three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. For example, three queens and two jacks.
A Full House is a poker hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. It is ranked above a flush and below four of a kind in poker hand rankings.
FR (Full Ring Game): A poker game format typically involving 9 to 10 players seated at a table, contrasting with short-handed games which have fewer players.
Full Tub: A poker hand consisting of three of a kind and a pair, also known as a full house.
A ‘fun player’ is a poker player who plays primarily for enjoyment rather than profit. They are often less experienced or skilled, making decisions based on intuition or for entertainment value. These players might not adhere strictly to strategic play and can be unpredictable at the table.
A gap hand in poker refers to a starting hand where there is a gap of one or more ranks between the cards. For example, a hand like 9 and J is a gap hand because there is a gap of one rank (10) between them. Gap hands can affect the potential for creating straights and might influence betting strategies.
Ghost: In poker, a ‘ghost’ refers to an online assistant or advisor providing real-time advice to a player during a game, often considered unethical.
Gimp: A weak starting hand in poker, often perceived as unlikely to win unless improved significantly by the community cards.
Glimmer: A tell in poker when a player inadvertently reveals information about their hand or intentions through subtle physical or behavioral cues.
Gold Chip: A high-value poker chip used in casinos, often representing a denomination larger than standard chips.
A gray market in poker refers to a legal ambiguity where online poker operates in jurisdictions without clear laws against it. These markets are neither fully legal nor illegal, existing in a regulatory limbo.
Grinder: A player who consistently plays poker to earn a steady income over time, focusing on making small, incremental profits.
Guarantee: A promise by the poker event organizers that a tournament will have a minimum prize pool, regardless of the number of participants. If player buy-ins do not reach this amount, the organizer covers the shortfall.
Gutshot: A type of straight draw where a player needs a specific card rank to complete a straight, with four possible outs.
In poker, a ‘Half Bet’ refers to placing a bet that is half the size of the current full bet. This strategy is often used in situations where a player wants to control the pot size or induce action from opponents without committing too much to the pot.
Hand history: A record of all actions and decisions made during a poker hand, often used for analysis and review to improve strategy and performance.
A hand in poker refers to the combination of cards held by a player at any given time during the game. Each hand consists of five cards, and the strength of a hand is determined by the rankings of poker hands, from high card to royal flush.
Hand Range: The spectrum of possible hands a player might have in poker, based on their actions and the game situation.
Hanger: A card that sticks out slightly from a deck when dealing or shuffling, often suggesting possible cheating or error.
Hard Hand: A poker hand that does not have the flexibility of being improved by being treated as either a high or low card, typically in games like blackjack where hard hands can’t use an Ace as a value of 1 or 11.
Heads Up Display: A digital interface used in online poker that provides players with real-time statistics on their opponents, helping to make informed decisions during the game.
A heater is a poker term used to describe a prolonged winning streak where a player experiences a series of fortunate hands or outcomes, resulting in significant gains.
Help Card: A card that improves a player’s hand, making it more likely to win the round.
Hero call: A hero call is when a player makes a call on the river with a marginal or weak hand, often based on a strong read of their opponent, believing that their opponent is bluffing.
Hero Fold: A strategic decision in poker where a player makes a difficult fold, believing their hand is beat, even though it may appear strong. This move often involves folding high-value hands to avoid significant losses.
High card: In poker, when no player has a valid hand ranking, the winner is determined by the highest card held. If a tie remains, the next highest card is compared, continuing until the tie is broken.
High hand: A poker hand that ranks higher than other hands in comparison, often winning the pot if no other players have a better hand.
A high roller is a poker player who consistently wagers large amounts of money. These players often participate in high-stakes games or tournaments and are known for their willingness to risk significant sums.
Hitchhiker: A player who joins a poker game already in progress, typically bringing in extra chips to the table.
A hole cam is a small camera used in televised poker games to reveal players’ hole cards to the audience, providing viewers insight into the players’ strategies and decision-making during the game.
Home Game: A poker game played in a private setting, typically among friends or acquaintances, outside of a casino or card room environment.
Home Run Hitter: A player who takes big risks to win large pots, often through aggressive betting and high-stakes bluffs.
In poker, a ‘Hook’ refers to a Jack card, often used in the context of describing a pair of Jacks in one’s hand. It is a colloquial term among players.
Hot Deck: A situation in poker where the cards are running favorably for a player, often resulting in strong hands or good draws.
Hot Streak: A period during which a poker player experiences consistent wins or positive outcomes, often attributed to skill, luck, or a combination of both. Typically leads to increased confidence and aggressive play.
House: The entity or establishment that organizes and runs poker games, typically a casino or poker room. The house takes a small percentage of each pot as its fee, known as the rake.
HUD (Heads-Up Display): A tool used in online poker that provides real-time data and statistics about opponents’ gameplay. It displays information such as players’ tendencies, betting patterns, and win rates to assist in strategic decision-making during a game.
A Hyper Turbo tournament is a fast-paced poker tournament format characterized by very short levels and rapid blind increases, resulting in a high-speed game where players have less time to make decisions.
Jackpot: In poker, a jackpot refers to a large prize pool awarded under specific conditions, often involving a rare hand or a bad beat scenario, where a strong hand loses to an even stronger one.
Jackson Five: A poker hand consisting of a pair of Jacks and a Five. It is sometimes used humorously in reference to the famous musical group, The Jackson 5.
In poker, a ‘Jammed Pot’ refers to a situation where multiple players are aggressively betting and raising, leading to a large amount of money in the pot before the showdown.
Jinx: A superstition in poker where a player believes certain actions, words, or situations can negatively impact their luck or outcome in the game.
Jog: In poker, a jog refers to the action of slightly shuffling or rearranging cards in a non-standard manner during a game. It is often used as a technique to subtly control the order of cards, typically to gain an advantage in dealing or drawing.
In poker, a Joker is a wildcard that can be used to represent any card the player wishes. Its inclusion in a game varies, commonly used in home games or specific versions like Joker Poker.
Key Card: A card that significantly influences the outcome of a hand, often determining the strength or weakness of a player’s position.
A kibitzer is someone who observes a poker game without participating, often giving unsolicited advice or commentary.
A kicker is the card that does not directly form a part of a poker hand’s ranking but can be used to break ties between hands of the same rank. For example, in a pair, the kicker is the highest card not included in the pair.
In poker, a ‘kill button’ is used in certain limit games to increase the stakes temporarily when a player wins a specified number of consecutive pots. This rule is known as a ‘kill pot’ and aims to add excitement and strategy to the game.
A kill game is a variation of poker where a player can trigger a kill by winning a certain amount or number of pots. This usually leads to the stakes doubling for the next hand, adding more excitement and strategy to the game.
A kill hand is a special poker rule used to increase the stakes of a game. It is triggered when a player wins a certain number of consecutive hands or pots over a specific amount. When activated, the player posts a double bet, known as a kill blind, and the stakes for that hand are temporarily increased, often doubling the regular betting limits.
A ‘Kill’ is a forced bet made by a player after winning a certain number of consecutive hands or scooping a pot of a specified size. This rule is often used in split-pot games to increase the stakes temporarily.
King Crab: A poker hand consisting of a King and a 3, named for the resemblance of the letter ‘K’ and numerical ‘3’ to the claws and body of a crab.
In poker, the ‘kitty’ refers to a small fund or pool of money that is collected from the players. It is usually built from ante or small percentage of the pot. The kitty is used to cover expenses such as new decks of cards, snacks, or other game-related costs.
Knave, also known as a Jack, is a playing card which ranks between the 10 and the Queen. In poker, it holds no special significance beyond its rank in the deck.
Kojak refers to the poker hand consisting of a King and a Jack. The name comes from the similarity to the character “Kojak” from the TV series, as both start with ‘K’ and ‘J’.
Ladder: In poker, ‘ladder’ refers to the strategy of gradually moving up the payout structure in a tournament by surviving longer than other players, often by playing conservatively to avoid being knocked out and thus achieving a higher finishing position.
A lammer is a small marker, usually a plastic disc, used in poker tournaments to signify specific actions or purposes, such as indicating a player’s temporary absence, or marking reserved chips or a seat.
A Last Longer is a side bet in poker where players wager on who will stay in a tournament the longest. Each player contributes an equal amount to the pot, and the last player remaining in the tournament wins the entire pool.
Lead: In poker, ‘lead’ refers to the action of betting into an opponent who has previously shown strength, such as the player who starts the betting in a new round.
In poker, a ‘leak’ refers to a recurring mistake that reduces a player’s profitability. It can be a flaw in strategy, decision-making, or emotional control.
Legitimate Hand: A poker hand that is strong based on traditional hand rankings, often considered capable of winning without any deceptive play or bluffing.
Limp-Raise is a deceptive poker strategy where a player initially calls (limps) the big blind instead of raising, with the intention of re-raising if another player raises. This tactic is often used to disguise the strength of a strong hand and to extract more chips from aggressive opponents.
A ‘limper’ is a player who enters a round of poker by calling the minimum bet rather than raising. This action is known as ‘limping.’ It can indicate a cautious or speculative hand.
Line: A player’s strategic sequence of actions or decisions during a hand in poker.
Linear range: In poker, a linear range refers to a selection of hands that are consistently strong and playable, without including deceptive or weak hands. This range is typically used in straightforward strategies, focusing on value and strength.
Live Blind: A bet made before receiving cards, typically to start the action in a poker hand, often with the option to raise when the action returns.
Most Common
