Poker Terms

Below we have detailed for you, what is quite possibly one of the most comprehensive poker terms listings that you are likely to find online!

Aces Full
A full house with three aces and any pair.

Ace-High
A five card hand that contains one Ace, with no straight or flush or a hand with no pair in it.

Aces Up
A hand which contains two pairs, one of which is Aces.

Action
A fold, check, call, bet, or raise. In some situations, doing anything at all that may convey information about your hand may also be considered as having taken action, for example showing your cards at the end of a hand.

Active Player
Any player who is still in the hand.

Add-on
Certain tournaments offer all players the option to purchase additional chips at a specific period during the course of the tournament. Generally an add-on purchase is offered during a re-buy tournament, after the end of the re-buy phase (directly after the last re-buy level has ended).

Advance Action
To help keep the pace of the games moving nicely, we have provided advance action capabilities. When you know what you will do next, you can use these to indicate your next action prior to the bet reaching you. These advance action options will always present the correct options for the context of the play. Using Advance Action buttons will help keep the pace of the game exciting.

Aggressive Action
A wager that could enable a player to win a pot without a showdown (a bet or raise).

All Blue
A flush containing either clubs or spades.

All-in
When you run out of chips during a hand, but don't wish to fold, you are all-in. This means you have the potential to win a share of the pot up to and including your last contribution to that pot. You cannot share in any bets added beyond that point. These bets form a side-pot. The all-in is also used for situations where a player in a hand loses connection to the server.

All Pink
A flush containing either diamonds or hearts.

American Airlines
Two Aces.

Ante
The small stake required from each player to participate before a hand is dealt. The ante is used in 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud High/Low on our site. In Hold'em and Omaha, a blind is used as opposed to an ante. The ante is not part of a player's bet whereas a blind is.

Avatar
A term from computer gaming for an image or figure used to represent a person.

Away-from-table
In tournaments, you may not "sit out". Rather, you may be "away-from-table" which means you are dealt into every hand, posting blinds when your turn, and then folded when there is a raise before the flop, or a bet after the flop. When you are in a tournament and need to leave, time-out, or lose your connection, you are automatically marked as "away-from-table".

Back Door
Making a hand that the player wasn't drawing at.

Back Raise
To re-raise another players raise.

Bad Beat
To be a heavy favorite in a hand and lose to an opponent who was a severe underdog statically speaking

Belly Buster
A draw and/or catch to an Inside Straight.

Bet
To place chips into the pot.

Bet the Pot
This term is used in pot limit games. It means your bet matches the current amount in the pot. If, when your turn to bet, the pot was at $217, and you bet the pot, your bet is $217.

Bicycle
A straight that is A-2-3-4-5.

Big Blind
In games using a blind to put money in play, the big blind is generally equal to the lower amount of the stakes for that game. In a $5/$10 game, the big blind is $5. The big blind follows the small blind, which is put up by the first player to the left of the dealer.

Big Slick
A hand that contains an A-K.

Blank
A card that has little value to the hand.

Blind
This term refers to the required bets, called the small blind and the big blind used to put money into play. The blinds are mandatory bets and rotate around the table.

Blind Game
A game which utilizes a blind.

Blind Raise
When a player raises without looking at his hand.

Bluff
To make other players believe that one has a better hand than he/she might otherwise have by betting or raising when they do not have the best hand.

Board
The community cards in Hold'em are collectively known as the board.

Boardcard
A community card in the center of the table.

Bottom Pair
When a player uses the lowest card on the flop to make a pair with one of his own cards.

Boxed Card
A card that appears face-up in the deck where all other cards are face-down.

Bring-in
In ante games, the bring-in is a mandatory bet, normally half the lower stake value. The player with the lowest face-up card must either bet the lower stake, or the bring-in to start the hand.

Broadway
An Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10).

Bring-In
The forced bet made on the first round of betting by the player who is dealt the lowest card showing in Seven Card Stud and Stud 8 or Better.

Bring It In
To start the betting on the first round.

Broken Game
A game that is no longer in action

Broomcorn's Uncle
A player who antes himself broke.

Buddy List
A feature of our poker room allowing players to identify other players, with permission, as buddies. Buddies will be marked to reflect which table they are playing at, making it easier for you to find the people you enjoy playing poker with.

Bullets
A pair of Aces.

Bump
To raise.

Button
Also known as the "dealer button"; it is a small round disk that is moved from player to player in a clockwise direction following each hand, to theoretically indicate the dealer of each hand.

Button Game
A Game in which a dealer button is used.

Burn
In physical poker rooms, the top card of the deck is discarded prior to each round of dealing. The intent is to minimize the risk of cheating by knowing the next card. There is no possibility of this happening in our poker room; therefore we do not burn cards.

Button
A marker, usually disk-shaped, to indicate which player is the virtual dealer. The button is used in games where position relative to the dealer is important.

Buy-in
There is a minimum chip value required to sit at any given table. Normally the minimum is 10 times the higher stake for that game. For some special games, that value may be higher. The minimum value required to be seated is called the buy-in. The amount of money you sit down in a game with. All games have a minimum buy-in, typically 10 times the big blind.

California Lowball
Ace-to-five lowball with a joker.

Call
When a player matches the prior bet on the table, that action is termed the call.

Call Cold
To call both a bet and raise(s).

Cap
The last permitted raise in a betting round is called the cap. We allow three raises beyond the initial bet in limit games. The third raise is the cap.

Cardroom
The room or space in a casino where poker is played.

Cards Speak
The face value of a hand in a showdown is the true value of the hand, regardless of a verbal announcement.

Case Chips
A player's last chips.

Cash Out
To leave a game and convert your chips to cash.

Chase
To play a hand that is most likely worse than at least one other player's.

Check
If there is no bet on the table and you do not wish to place a bet, that action is termed a check. You may only check when there are no pending bets.

Check-Raise
When a player first checks and then raises in a betting round.

Chop
To return the blinds to the players who posted them and move on to the next hand if no other players call. It also means to "split the pot".

Client
The term for the software that you download to your computer, allowing you to interact with the poker room's servers.

Collection
The fee charged in a game (taken either out of the pot or from each player).

Collection Drop
A fee charged for each hand dealt.

Collusion
A form of cheating where two or more players attempt to gain an unfair advantage by sharing information.

Color Change
A request to change the chips from one denomination to another.

Common Card
A card dealt face-up to be used by all players at the showdown in the games of stud poker whenever there are insufficient cards left in the deck to deal each player a card individually.

Community Cards
Face up cards on the table that are shared by all players are termed community cards. Texas Hold'em and Omaha always have community cards. In stud games, a community card is dealt in place of the last down card when too few cards remain in the deck for each player to receive a down card.

Complete The Bet
To increase an all-in bet or forced bet to a full bet in limit poker.

Cowboys
Two Kings.

Cut
To divide the deck into two sections in such a manner as to change the order of the cards.

Cut-Card
Another term for the bottom card.

Dead Blind
In a situation where you have missed your blinds and wish to re-enter the game before your turn to post the big blind. You must post both blinds and the small blind is termed a dead blind, meaning it does not count towards calling a bet.

Dead Hand
A hand no longer in the game.

Dead Man's Hand
Two pair - Aces and Eights (Wild Bill Hickock was allegedly shot in the back while playing this hand).

Door Card
The first face-up card dealt with the two down cards in 7 Card Stud games.

Down Cards
The face-down cards dealt to a player.

Doyle Brunson
It's a Holdem hand consisting of a 10-2 (Named after Brunson who won the world championship two years in a row on the final hand with these cards).

Drawing Dead
This describes the situation when a player is trying to draw a card to complete a hand when there is already a hand that will beat it, even if made.

Draw Lowball
Poker where each player is dealt five cards with the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones and the low hand wins.

Draw Poker
Poker where each player is dealt five cards down with the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones to attempt to make a better hand.

Drop
To drop your hand when you decide not to go further with your hand; to return your cards to the muck. The same as 'fold'.

Ducks
A pair of Twos.

Deuces
A pair of Twos.

Early Position
Considered to be the position on a round of betting where the player must act before most of the other players at the table. (Typically the two positions located to the left of the Blinds.)

Face Card
A king, queen, or jack.

Face Down
Dealt cards that are not visible to other players.

Face Up
Dealt cards that are visible to all players.

Fifth Street
The term for the fifth card in 7 Card Stud and the fifth board card in Hold'em.

Fixed Limit
Any betting structure where the amount of the bet on each particular round is pre-set.

Flop
In Texas Hold'em, the set of 3 face-up community cards; the first three cards on the board, all dealt at the same time.

Flush
Any 5 cards in one hand that are all the same suit.

Fold
Withdraw from further participation in the current hand. Also see drop.

Forced Bet
A mandatory bet. In certain games, a player is required to bet, having sat-in the game. Also see bring-in.

Fouled Hand
A dead hand.

Four of a Kind
A great hand ... all 4 of one rank. For example, 4 Tens.

Fourth Street
The term for the fourth card in 7 Card Stud and the fourth board card in Hold'em.

Freeroll
This term applies to poker tournaments where the entry fee, the stakes, or both the entry fee and stakes are waived. In some non-freeroll tournaments, the house may guarantee a minimum prize pool.

Full Buy
A buy-in of at least the minimum requirement of chips needed for a particular game.

Full House
A hand in which you have a combination of 3 of a kind, and a pair.

Graphics
The term for the artwork used to present you with the images of a poker room, including the table, chairs, avatars, cards, and chips.

Gut Shot
To draw to and/or hit an inside straight.

Hand
A set of cards used by a player during a single round. Another word for a single round of shuffling, dealing, and betting.

Heads Up
A game where only two players remain in contention for the pot.

Head to Head
A game where only two players may participate.

High Card
The card with the highest rank.

High/Low
A variation of a game where the pot is split between the best hand and the worst hand. The worst hand is comprised of the 5 lowest cards. Most poker rooms, including this one, consider 5, 4, 3, 2, A (the wheel) as the lowest possible hand, despite it also being a straight.

Hold'em
Also called Texas Hold'em. One of the most popular poker games. Each player gets 2 down cards and can use 3,5, or 5 of the community cards.

Hole Cards
The down cards in a player's hand.

House
The casino or cardroom that is hosting the poker game.

In
A term for being an active player; one who has not folded.

Inside Straight
The term applied when a player has 4 of 5 cards needed for a straight with the missing card being inside the sequence rather than at either end, and gets the missing card. For example, a player holding 3, 4, 5, 7 needs a 6 to complete the straight. Getting that 6 is termed "making the inside straight."

Insurance
A side agreement when someone is all-in for a player in a pot to put up money that guarantees a payoff of a set amount in case the opponent wins the pot.

Jackpot
A bonus opportunity to win under specific circumstances set by the poker room.

Jacks or Better
A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair of jacks to open the
betting.

Kansas City Lowball
Form of lowball poker in which the worst poker hand (2, 3, 4, 5, 7 of different suits) is the best hand. It's also known as Deuce to Seven.

Keep Them Honest
To call at the end of a hand to prevent someone from bluffing.

Key Card
A card that gives you a big draw or makes your hand.

Key Hand
In a session or tournament, the one hand that ends up being a turning point for the
player, either for better or worse.

Kicker
The term for the card used to break ties between two of a kind or between Two Pair.

Kick It
Raise

Kill Button
A button used in a lowball game to indicate a player who has won two pots in a row and is required to kill the pot.

Kill Pot
A method to stimulate action. It is a forced bet by someone who has just won a pot(s).

Knock
Check

Kojak
A hand that contains a K-J.

Ladies
Two Queens.

Late Position
Position on a round of betting where the player must act after most of the other players have acted (usually considered to be the two positions next to the button).

Lay Down Your Hand
When a player folds.

Lead
The first player to bet into a pot.

Leg Up
Being in a situation equivalent to having won the previous pot, and thus liable to have to kill the following pot if you win the current pot.

Limit Poker
A game that has fixed minimum and maximum betting intervals along with a prescribed number of raises.

Limper
The first player who calls a bet.

Limp In
To enter the pot by calling rather than raising. (The usual concept of "Limp In" is when the first person to speak just calls the Big Blind.)

List
The ordered roster of players waiting for a game.

Live Blind
A blind that counts towards any bet you call or raise.

Live Card(s)
In Stud Games, cards that have not yet been seen and are presumed to still be in play.

Live Hand
A hand that could still win the pot.

Live One
A not so knowledgeable player who plays a lot of hands.

Lock-Up
A chip marker that holds a seat for a player.

Look
When a player calls the final bet before the showdown.

Loose
A player who plays a lot hands.

Loose Game
A game with a lot of players in most hands.

Lowball
A form of draw poker in which the lowest hand wins the pot.

Lowcard
The lowest upcard at seven-card stud, which is required to bet.

Main Pot
The initial pot of money. When one or more players go all-in, a side pot is created for each all-in player.

Make
To make the deck is to shuffle the deck.

Maniac
A very aggressive player who plays a lot of hands.

Middle Pair
In flop games, when a player makes a pair with one of his/her down cards and the middle card on the flop.

Middle Position
Somewhere between the early and late positions on a round of betting (the fifth, sixth and seventh seats to the left of the button).

Minimum Buy-In
The least amount you can start a game with.

Miscall
An incorrect verbal declaration of the ranking of a hand.

Misdeal
A mistake on the dealing of a hand which causes the cards to be reshuffled and a new hand to be dealt.

Missed Blind
A required bet that is not posted when it is your turn to do so.

Monster
A very big hand. In a tournament, a player who begins having a small stack is considered to be a monster.

Muck
As a noun, this refers to the pile of folded cards and discarded cards. As a verb, at showdown time, the act of returning a losing hand to the dealer face-down.

Multi-Table Tournament
A tournament where players at more than one table compete, starting with equal numbers of chips, until one player has won all the chips. Prize payouts are a function of the number of entrants, and are posted on the tournaments page. Multi-table tournaments have a posted start time, and require registration in advance.

Must-Move
In order to protect the main game, this is a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur.

No Limit
A variation of the betting rules in which each bet is unlimited up to the number of chips a player has on the table (NL).

Nuts
The best possible hand at any point of the game - a hand that cannot be beat.

Odds
The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making a hand.

Offsuit
Cards of a different suit.

Omaha
A game in which each player receives 4 face-down cards and shares 5 community cards. The winning hand must use exactly 2 down cards and 3 community cards. This game also has a High/Low variant.

Omaha High/Low
This game allows players to compete for a pot split between the highest and the lowest hands using 2 down cards and 3 community cards. A player may use different sets of cards to make up the best high and the best low hands.

On the button
This term means you are in the dealer position in Texas Hold'em and Omaha games. The dealer position is marked by a "button" with a "D" in the center.

One on One
See head to head.

Open
To make the first bet.

Opener
The player who made the first voluntary bet.

Opener
In jacks-or-better draw, the cards held by the player who opens the pot that show the hand qualifies to be opened. Example: You are first to bet and have a pair of kings; the kings are called your openers.

Opener Button
A button used to indicate who opened a particular pot in a draw game.

Open-ended Straight
Four consecutive cards whereby one additional (consecutive) card is needed at either end to make a straight.

Open Card
A card that is dealt face-up.

Open Pair
A pair that has been dealt face-up.

Option
This term refers to the option given the big blind player the option of raising before the flop.

Out Button
A disc placed in front of a player who wishes to sit out a hand(s) but remain in the game.

Outs
The cards that will improve a hand to win.

Overblind
Also called oversize blind. A blind used in some pots that is bigger than the regular big blind, and usually increases the stakes proportionally.

Overcard
In stud, if you assume your opponent has a pair of sevens, then every card above seven in your hand is considered an overcard.

Overpair
Two hole cards paired and higher than any card on the board.

Paints
Face or picture cards (Jack, Queen and King).

Pair
Also called two of a kind. This is a hand where the player's best hand is made up of 2 cards of the same rank.

Pass
Can be used in place of either pass or fold depending on the context.

Passive
Checking and calling hands rather betting and raising hands.

Pat
Not drawing any cards in a draw game.

Pay Off
To call on the final round of betting when you may or may not think you have the best hand.

Picture Cards
Face cards (Jack, Queen and King).

Play Back
To raise or re-raise another player's bet.

Play Behind
Have chips in play that are not in front of you (allowed only when waiting for chips that are already purchased). This differs from table stakes.

Play Chips
The chips used for play money games. Play chips have no monetary value.

Play Over
To play in a seat when the occupant is absent.

Playover Box
A clear plastic box used to cover and protect the chips of an absent player when someone plays over that seat.

Playing the Board:
Using all the community cards in Hold'em as your best hand.

Pocket
The down cards or hole cards.

Pocket Cards
The term for the two down cards at the start of the hand.

Pocket Rockets
A pair of Aces in the pocket or hole.

Position
Where a player is seated in relation to the dealer, therefore establishing that player's place in the betting order.

Post
When you post a bet, you place your chips in the pot. (You must post the Blinds.)

Pot
The chips available to win in any given hand.

Pot Limit
A variation on betting where each player may bet up to the current amount in the pot (PL).

Potting Out
Agreeing with another player to take money out of a pot, often to buy food, cigarettes, or drinks, or to make side bets.

Profile
A term describing the information a player may enter about himself/herself that may be available, at the player's option, to other players in the poker room. Your profile may include your favorite hobby, favorite web site, favorite quote, and more.

Prop
A person hired by the cardroom to work as a shill.

Proposition Bets
Side bets between players that are not related to the outcome of the hand.

Protected Hand
A hand of cards that the player is physically holding, or has topped with a chip or some other object to prevent a fouled hand.

Push
When the dealer pushes the chips to the winning player at the end of a hand. It's also when dealers rotate to other tables.

Pushing Bets
The situation in which two or more players make an agreement to return bets to each other when one of them wins a pot in which the other or others play. Also called saving bets.

Put Down
To fold a hand.

Quads
Four of a kind.

Qualifier
In High-Low games, it is a requirement the Low hand must meet to win the pot.

Rack
A tray that holds 100 poker chips in five stacks of twenty chips each.

Rags
Cards generally not worth playing. E.g.: 2,7 in Texas Hold'em.

Rail
The rim of a poker table or a barrier outside a poker area.

Railbird
Someone who hangs around a poker room who watches the games and/or is looking to get into action.

Raise
The act of increasing the amount bet by a prior bettor.

Rake
The amount of money, in chips, taken by the house as the service fee.

Rank
The value of a card. The rank of the 2 of Spades is 2. The rank of the Queen of Hearts is Queen. Rank value increases from 2 through 10, followed in order by Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. In High/Low games, the Ace may be used both for its high rank and as the lowest rank card.

Rap
When a player knocks on the table indicating that he/she has checked.

Razz
Seven Card Stud where the lowest five cards win the pot.

Rebuy
To get more chips during a game but not during a hand that you are in. This applies to real money and tournament play.

Reducing
The act of removing chips from a table and returning immediately with fewer chips. Reducing is considered poor etiquette, and is not permitted in our poker room.

Registration
We ask you to select a screen name to serve as your poker room identity, a password, and to provide a location and email address to create an account. This is your registration.

Re-raise
To raise a raise.

Ring Game
A "live" game that is not a tournament.

River
The fifth and final community card. This card is also known as fifth street.

Round
This refers to the dealing of a set of cards and associated betting. For example, the dealing of the river and the bets that follow are a round.

Rounders
Guys who hustle for a living. This is also the name of a popular poker movie starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton.

Royal Flush
The best possible high hand. This is a straight flush from 10 through to Ace of the same suit.

Satellite
It is a mini-tournament to gain an entry into a larger tournament.

Saving Bets
Same as pushing bets.

Scoop
To win both the high and the low portions of a pot in a split-pot game.

Scramble
A facedown mixing of the cards.

Screen Name
The identity you select by which you are known in the poker room. We only allow one player to use a screen name so please understand if the one you have selected is already taken.

Seating List
A waiting list. A player would put his or her name on this list if there were no seats at the table at which they wish to play.

Second Pair
In flop games, when you pair the second highest card on the board.

See
This is a synonym of call. It is often used in conjunction with the term raise, as in "I'll see your $10 and raise you $10."

Self-install
The term used to describe how the file you download from our web site is automatically installed and configured on your computer when you double-click on the file.

Server
The computer, or set of computers, providing a service to client computers. In this case the service is the poker room.

Setup
Two suited decks, each with different colored backs, to replace the current decks in a game.

Seven-card Stud
A popular poker game in which players get three down cards and four up cards. You play the best five of those seven cards. Click here for information on Seven-card Stud.

Seventh Street
This is the final round of betting in Seven Card Stud and Stud 8 or Better.

Shills
Shills are paid props who help start and maintain poker games.

Short-Buy
A buy-in that is less than the required minimum buy-in.

Showdown
After the final bet, when all players show their hands or muck, is known as the showdown.

Side Pot
This is a pot created when a player goes all-in. The side pot is the pot available to those players not all-in at that point. There can, on occasion, be more than one side pot.

Single Table Tournament
A poker table at which you may buy-in to a seat. All buy-in money goes to the prize pool. The prize pool is returned to the top finishers per the payout table on the tournaments page. A fee is normally required to play at this table. Players are staked to equal numbers of chips and play one player has won all the chips. Single table tournaments begin as soon as the table has filled.

Sit Out
We permit you to hold your seat at a table while not participating in some hands. Under most conditions, we limit the time you may sit out to a small number of hands. In blind games, you may be asked to post the equivalent of the blind if you return to your seat prior to the blind reaching you. To sit out you click a check box on the table screen. To return, you unclick the "sit out" check box.

Sixth Street
In Seven-card Stud, this is the fourth "up" card dealt to the player (their 6th card). It is also the 4th round of betting.

Small Blind
In Hold'em and Omaha, this is the mandatory bet required of the player to the left of the dealer.

Solid
A fairly tight or reasonably good player.

Speed Limit
A pair of fives.

Split
Tie.

Split Pot
A pot that is divided among players, either because of a tie for the best hand or by agreement prior to the showdown.

Splitting Blinds
When no one else has entered the pot, an agreement between the big blind and small blind to each take back their blind bets instead of playing the deal (chopping).

Splitting Openers
In high draw jacks-or-better poker, dividing openers in hopes of making a different type of hand. Example: You open the pot with a pair of aces. One of your aces is a spade, as are the three other cards in the hand. If you throw away the non-spade ace to go for the flush, you announce to the table, "Splitting openers."

Stack
A pile of chips.

Stakes
See buy-in.

Stay
When a player remains in the game by calling rather than raising.

Steal
To bet or raise, causing an opponent to fold when you may not hold the best hand.

Steel Wheel
A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.

Straddle
A Blind bet which is usually double the size of the Big Blind\ (and that player may raise when the action gets to him).

Straight
A hand in which the player has five cards in rank order. Suit does not matter. For example, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen.

Straight Flush
A straight all of the same suit.

Street
Cards dealt on a particular round in stud games. For instance, the fourth card in a player's hand is often known as fourth street, the sixth card as sixth street, and so on.

String Raise
A bet made in more than one motion, without the declaration of a raise (not allowed).

Structure
The limits put on the blinds/ante, bets, and raises in any particular game.

Stub
The portion of the deck which has not been dealt.

Stuck
A player who is losing in a game.

Stud
The generic term for poker games where players receive the first card(s) down followed by some up cards where those up cards are exclusively for the use of that player. There may be a further down card as in 7 Card Stud.

Suit
One of Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, or Spades (in rank order).

Suited
Cards are of the same suit.

Under-raise
This occurs when a player raises a prior bet but has to go all-in to do so. If the player under-raising o going all-in to raise o has less than ¸ of the expected raise for that betting round, the betting round is locked. The term locked here means that any player who has already acted in the round (checked, called, or raised) may no longer raise. They may only call or fold. However, players who have yet to act (betting has not reached them yet) may raise the expected raise for that betting round, after calling.

Up Card
A card dealt face up, so that all players may see it.

Wager
(1) To bet or raise.
(2) The chips used for betting or raising.

Walking Sticks
A pair of sevens.

Weak
One who folds too many hands.

Wheel
A nickname for the best low hand: 5, 4, 3, 2, A.

Wild Card
A card that can be played as any value.

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