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ACTION n. Money that is being bet. "No action" means
a hand or game has few bettors and fewer raisers. "Gimme
some action" is ostensibly a plea for calls and raises.
ALL-IN adj. To have all of one's chips in
the pot. A player who is all-in cannot be forced out of the
pot by more betting, but is only eligible to win that portion
of the pot he has contributed to. Generally, a SIDE POT is
created each time a player is all-in.
ANTE n. A small bet all players are required
to make before a hand is dealt. Not all games have an ante.
Related terms: BLIND, FORCED BET.
BLIND n. A mandatory bet made by certain
player(s) usually sitting left of the BUTTON before each new
hand is dealt. Used in place of antes or in conjunction with
antes.
BUY-IN n. The minimum amount of money necessary
to join a game. Also, the amount of money one actually used
to join the game. See also: REBUY.
BUY IN v.i. To purchase chips at the start
of a game. Thus in a game with a $100 buy-in one might buy
in for $147.
CALL v.t. To put in to the pot the minimum
amount of money necessary to continue playing.
CHECK v.i. To bet zero, when it is legal
to do so. Frequently a sign of only a fair hand, but may be
a bluff.
CHECK RAISE v. To check initially, then
raise a bet made later on in the same betting round. Frequently
a sign of strength, but may be a bluff.
COMMUNITY CARDS n. Cards that are available
for every player to use in making a hand. Usually dealt face
up somewhere in the middle of the table.
COLD CALL n. Calling both a bet and raise
at the same time, as opposed to calling a bet then later calling
a raise made after the call.
DEAD MONEY n. Money contributed to the pot
by players who have folded.
DOYLE BRUNSON n. In Hold'em, 10-2 in the
hole. So named because Doyle Brunson won two straight WSOPs
(q.v.) in 1975 and 1976 with 10-2 on the last hand. (Suited
(spades) in 1975, unsuited in 1976).
DRAW OUT v.i. To catch a card that improves
your situation from a losing hand to a winning hand, especially
when you beat someone holding a hand that usually figures
to win.
EVEN-MONEY adj. A bet that pays off exactly
the amount wagered. E.g., "Double or nothing" is
an even-money bet.
FISH n. A player who loses money. An old
saying is "If you can't spot the fish at the table, *you*
are the fish."
FLOP n. In Hold'em, the first three community
cards, dealt simultaneously.
FLAT CALL v.t. To call a bet. Emphasizes
that the caller did not raise.
FLUSH n. A poker hand consisting of five
cards all one suit.
FOUR FLUSH n. Four cards to a flush.
FOUR OF A KIND n. A hand containing all
four cards of the same rank.
FREEZE-OUT n. A table-stakes game that continues
until a small number of players (possibly only one) has all
the money. The major event in The World Series of Poker is
a freeze-out game.
FULL HOUSE n. A hand consisting of 3-of-a-kind
and a (different) pair.
GIVING AWAY v.t. Revealing one's hand by
obvious play.
HEADS UP adj. Playing a single opponent.
HIT n. To make a hand or catch a card or
cards that improves one's hand. "I hit a gut-shot draw
on the river."
HOLD'EM n. [1] Generic name for a class
of poker games where the players receive a certain number
(2 to 4) of hole cards and 5 community cards. Usually there
are betting rounds after dealing the hole cards, then after
dealing 3 upcards (FLOP), after dealing a 4th upcard (TURN)
and finally after dealing a 5th upcard (RIVER).
HOLE CARDS n. In stud and Hold'em, the face-down
cards dealt to each player.
INSIDE STRAIGHT n. Four cards to a straight,
where only one rank will complete the hand. E.g., 4-5-6-8
is an inside straight since only a 7 will fill (i.e., complete)
the hand. Often called a GUT-SHOT.
LATE BLIND n. In addition to "regular"
blinds, some games allow a player (particularly a new one)
to post a blind bet in return for the right to enter the game
immediately and act last on the first betting round. The amount
of the blind is determined by house rules, usually somewhere
between the last blind and double the last blind. It is frequently
a LIVE BLIND.
LITTLE SLICK n. In Hold'em, hole cards of
A-2, suited or not.
MAIN POT n. The main pot, as related to
one or more side pots, when there are one or more all-in player(s).
The main pot is the one in which all active players participate.
MUCK n. A collection of face-down cards
near the dealer composed of discards, i.e., folded hands,
burns and discards for drawing purposes.
NO-LIMIT POKER n. A game where there is
no maximum bet; a player can wager any amount (perhaps above
some minimum) up to whatever money is on the table in front
of him.
NUT adj. The best possible hand of a given
class. The "nut flush" is the highest possible flush,
but might still lose to, e.g., a full house. Usually used
in Hold'em games.
OMAHA n. A variant of Hold'em where each
player receives 4 hole cards and must use exactly two of them
(together with 3 of 5 board cards) to make a hand. Often played
high-low split with an 8 qualifier for low.
ON THE COME adj. A situation where the player
does not have a complete hand but hopes to make one if the
right cards come up.
OPEN-ENDED STRAIGHT n. Four cards to a straight
which can be completed by drawing a card at either end. E.g.,
6-7-8-9 is an open-ended straight.
OPEN-HANDED n. A category of games characterized
by a part of each player's hand being exposed.
OVERPAIR n. In Hold'em, a pair in the hole
that is larger than any community card on the board.
PAIR n. Two cards of the same rank.
PASS v.i. Opposite of bet. To check, if
checked to. To fold, if bet to.
POCKET [CARDS] n. Hole cards in stud and
Hold'em.
POCKET ROCKETS n. In Hold'em, a pair of
aces for hole cards.
POCKET PAIR n. Generic Hold'em term for
2 hole cards of the same rank.
QUADS n. Four of a kind.
RAINBOW adj. In flop games, a flop in which
no two cards are of the same suit. "The flop was A 9
7 rainbow."
RAISE v.t. To wager more than the minimum
required to call, forcing other players to put in more money
as well.
ROYAL FLUSH n. An ace-high straight flush,
the best possible hand in regular poker.
RUSH n. A winning streak. Also "ON
A RUSH".
SANDBAG v.i. Playing a strong hand as if
it were only a fair one.
SEE v.t. To call, as in: "I'll see
you" or "I'll see that bet".
SHORT-STACKED adv. Playing with a only a
small amount of money, thus limiting one's risk and reward.
SMALL BLIND n. In games with two blinds
the first blind is the SMALL BLIND because it is usually one-half
(or less) the second or large blind.
STAND OFF v.i. To call a raise. "Opener
raises, I stand off."
STRAIGHT n. A hand consisting of 5 cards
in sequence but not in suit.
STRAIGHT FLUSH n. A hand consisting of 5
cards in sequence and the same suit.
TABLE STAKES n. A standard rule whereby
during a hand players can only bet the money they have on
the table. If the bet to a player is more than the player's
stack, that player may call with all his chips and be eligible
to win only that portion of the pot he contributed to equally.
A side pot is created, for which only the remaining players
may compete.
THREE OF A KIND n. Three cards all the same
rank.
TRIPS n. Three of a kind. In Hold'em the
term SET is used when two of the three cards are hole cards.
TURN n. The fourth community card in Hold'em.
TWO FLUSH n. Two suited cards.
UNDER THE GUN n. The position that has to
act first in a round of betting.
UP adj. Designates the higher card of a
hand consisting of two pair. Thus, "Queens up" refers
to two pair, of which the higher pair is queens and the lower
pair is unspecified. See also OVER.
WALK n. A pot won by the last blind when
no one opens. |
