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A -
ace-high
A hand that has no special card rankings (pairs, full house, etc.) and the
highest card is an ace.
aces full
A hand with three aces and a pair of any other value.
aces up
A hand that contains two pairs: one pair of aces and another pair of any other
value.
all-in
When a player bets all his or her chips.
all-in over the top
Raising with all of your chips after an opponent’s bet.
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B - back into a hand
To draw cards that make a hand that is different from the hand you were originally
trying to make. back-door flush
When you have three cards that would support a flush, but you need the turn
and river to make a flush. back-door straight
When you have three cards that would support a straight, but you need the turn
and river to make a straight. bankroll
The amount of money that a player has to wager for the duration of his or her
poker career. big 'dog
An underdog. The person who has a very low chance of winning. big slick
Poker slang for ace and king; a very strong starting hand. blank
A card that is useless to the player’s hand. blind
A mandatory bet placed by the two players to the left of the dealer. bluff
Raising or betting a weak hand in order to make opponents think you have a
strong hand. bust out
To lose all your chips and thus be eliminated from a tournament. buy-in
A minimum amount of money that must be paid in order to play in a tournament
or game. Top -
C - call
To match (rather than raise) the previous bet. check
To not bet, reserving the option to call or raise later in the betting round. come over the top
To raise or re-raise another player’s bet. community cards
The cards that are played face up on the center of the table, and which can
be used by all of the active players. Top -
D - dead-man's hand
A pair of aces and a pair of eights. Legend has it that Wild Bill Hickock was
holding this hand when he was killed. dead money
Money that was put into the pot by players who have since folded. double up
Betting all your chips and winning, ending up with twice as many chips. down cards
The player’s cards that are dealt face down. drawing dead
When you cannot win, no matter what cards come up. Top -
F - fifth street
The final round of betting and the fifth card on the table, the river. fish
An unskilled player who is losing all of his or her money, also, a sucker. flop
The first three cards placed in the center of table that anyone may use to
form a hand. fold
To withdraw from the game, and give up your cards rather than continue betting. four-of-a-kind
Four cards with the same value. (Ex: J, J, J, J) fourth street
The fourth card on the table, and the third round of betting. This is also
known as the turn. full house
A hand that contains three-of-a-kind and a pair. (Ex: J, J, J, 2, 2) Top -
H - hand
A player’s best five cards made by combining his or her cards with the
community cards. hole card
The two cards dealt face down to every player at the start of a hand. Top -
K - kicker
The highest card in a player’s hand that is not being used in some other
way (to create three-of-a-kind, a pair, etc). Top -
L - lay down
Folding a strong hand in a critical situation. legitimate hand
A strong hand. A hand that is not a bluff. limp in
When a player enters the round by only calling, rather than raising, a bet. live hand
A hand that is eligible to win the pot. long odds
When there is a very low probability that something will happen. Top |
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M -
monster
A hand that has a high probability of winning.
muck
To discard a hand; also the pile of discarded hands.
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N -
no limit hold'em table stakes
At any time, any player can bet any or all of his or her chips.
nut flush
The best flush available within each hand.
nut flush draw
When one card will give you the best possible flush.
nuts
A hand that can’t be beaten no matter what comes. Also used as a superlative
(e.g.: You’re the nuts!)
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O -
odds
The likelihood of making as opposed to not making a hand.
open card
A card that is dealt face-up.
open-end straight draw
Four consecutive cards, such as 9-10-J-Q. In this example, any King or 8 would
make a straight.
open pair
Two cards of the same value that are dealt face-up.
out
A card that is still in the deck that could improve your hand.
outdraw
When one person beats his or her opponent by drawing a better hand.
over the top
Making a large raise.
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P -
pair
Two cards that have the same value (Ex: 3, 3).
pass
When a player folds his or her hand.
playing the board
When your best five-card hand is the five cards on the board.
position
Where a player sits in relation to the dealer, which determines his or her
betting order.
pot
The chips that have been bet.
protect a hand
To bet in order to convince other players to fold, and reduce the risk of having
them outdraw you.
putting on the heat
To pressure the other players by aggressively betting.
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Q -
quads
Four-of-a-kind.
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R -
ragged flop
Flop cards that do not help any player’s hand.
rank
The value of the card or hand.
re-raise
To raise on top of a previous raise within the same hand.
river
The final community card dealt; all players may use it to form their best hand.
round of betting
The period in which each active player has the opportunity to check, bet or
raise.
rounder
A professional player who frequents high-stakes tournaments.
royal flush
A hand containing: A, K, Q, J, 10 in the same suit.
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S -
see
To call a bet.
short odds
When there is a very high probability that something will happen.
showdown
After the final round of betting, the player’s cards are turned face-up
to see who won.
small blind
The forced bet that is made by the person sitting one seat to the left of the
dealer. This bet is half the size of the big blind.
straight
Five consecutive cards of mixed suits
straight flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
suited connectors
Two cards that are consecutive in rank and of the same suit.
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T -
tell
An involuntary gesture or expression that gives away the strength of your hand.
turn
Sometimes called fourth street, the turn is the fourth common card played.
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W -
wired pair
When your two hole cards form a pair.
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