Poker Glossary

As you discover more about poker, and as you play it with other people, you may come across certain words or phrases which could use explanation.

You might not need to understand them all to play well, but it might help you enjoy the game more when chatting with other players.

Add-on

The opportunity, offered by some tournaments, to buy additional chips.

Ante

This is the first bet posted by each Player before the cards are dealt.

All-in

To bet all the money that you have on the table. A player is considered to be All-In when they bet all their remaining chips.

Bad Beat

When a strong hand that is favourite loses to a weaker one by being outdrawn.

Blind Bet

A compulsory bet that is made at the start to bring action into the game. The player to the dealer's left posts the small blind bet equal to half the small bet, the player to his left posts the big blind equal to the small bet.

Board

The community cards in a poker game.

Button

A disk that signifies who is the nominated dealer for the hand. The button moves clockwise (to the left) each hand.

Call

To bet the same amount as the current bet.

Cap

The last raise permitted on a betting round.

Check

When there is no bet already on the table for that current round of betting, you can "check" bet zero and pass the action on to the next player. If everyone checks, then play moves onto the next round.

Community Cards

These are cards that all players can use to make their hands. In Texas Hold'em the Board cards are community cards.

Dealer Button

The player with "the button" is the nominated dealer for each hand. They don't actually deal, but is the last position on the table to bet, so it can be advantageous to keep this in mind.

Door Card

The third card dealt to each player, dealt face up, in a game of 7 Card Stud.

Draw

To receive a card.

Fifth Street

Also known as The River - the final board card in Texas Hold'em.

Fish

As opposed to a Shark, a weak unskilled player.

Flop

The first three board cards, used in Texas Hold'em or Omaha. They are turned up at the same time and start the second betting round.

Fold

To drop out of the hand.

Flush

When all five cards in your hand have a common suit, you have a Flush.

Full House

A strong hand that ranks between a Flush and Four of a Kind that consists of three cards of one value and two cards of another.

Heads Up

Situation where only two people remain in the hand.

Hole Cards

Also known as "Pocket Cards". The cards are dealt face down to each player. Hole cards are used in Texas Hold'em and Omaha.

Kicker

The high hole card that goes with a pair or two pair.

Loose

Apparently reckless style of play.

Maniac

A player who bets, raises and re-raises without regard to the quality of their hand.

Muck

The act of throwing your cards away because you cannot or did not win the pot. Disposing of your cards in this way means that other players cannot see what you had.

No Limit

A version of poker, where there is no limit to the maximum bet you can make in any betting round.

Nuts

The best possible hand given the cards available.

Open

To make the first bet in a hand.

Out

A card that will improve your hand.

Pocket Cards

See "Hole Cards".

Pocket Pair

A starting hand with two cards of the same rank.

Position

Your place at the table relative to the order of betting in the current hand.

Position Bet

A bet made relying on the strength of a player's position (where their seat is) relative to others' -rather than on the strength of the hand.

Post

To Post means to make a compulsory bet, like a blind, upon entering a poker game.

Pot

The total of all the chips in the centre of the table.

Pot-Limit

A game where the maximum bet is defined by the size of the pot at the time.

Raise

A bet that will increase the level of the current bet.

Rake

The money removed from each pot by the house, as a commission.

Re-buy

A variation of tournament play which allows players to buy back in after being eliminated or under certain conditions to top-up their chips.

Ring Games

A regular poker game where players can come and go as they choose.

River

Also known as Fifth Street - the last community card or "board card" in flop games.

Royal Flush

This is the highest ranked hand in poker: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 of the same suit.

Shark

A particularly talented, dangerous, player. See Fish.

Sit-in

To join a game that has already started.

Showdown

The showing of the hands to establish the highest hand.

Slow Play

Playing a strong hand weakly so more players will stay in the pot.

Split Pot

A pot which is split among players.

Starting Hand

The two Pocket Cards in Texas Hold'em or the first three cards in 7-Card Stud or the first four in Omaha. These cards can only be used by the player holding them.

Straight

A Straight is five cards of any suit in ascending order. The Ace can be either High or Low and in the event of a tie between players' hands the High Straight wins the tie. The Straight ranks between the Three of a Kind and a Flush.

Straight Flush

A hand consisting of five cards in ascending order of the same suit. The highest ranking behind a Royal Flush.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank.

Tight

A conservative style of play, minimising risk - opting to wait (so often folding) only for prime Hole Cards.

Tilt

To play wildly or recklessly having been upset by the outcome of preceding hands.

Turn

Also known as Fourth Street - the fourth board card or community card in a community game.

Under the Gun

The position of the player who is first to act.

Wheel

In Hi/Lo games Aces can be played both high or low so a player ending with 5 4 3 2 Ace, would have an unbeatable low hand and also a 5 high straight to play for the high hand. This hand is known as "The Wheel", and is a very powerful hand.