Basic Poker Terminology
There
is a host of terms relating to poker games, hands and plays. Here are some of
the more common phrases employed, but for a more detailed list of poker
terminology, click here.
Action
A game in where there are a lot of players involved in many pots. It is also the checking, betting and raising in the game.
All-In
When a player's chips are all in the pot.
Ante
A small bet put up by each player to seed the pot before the hand is dealt. This puts initial money in the pot and helps to create action.
Backdoor
Hitting a perfect turn and river card to make a drawing hand.
Blind
A forced bet in flop games. The player to the immediate left of the button is the small blind (half of the big blind) and the player to the small blind's left is the big blind.
Blind Raise
Raising the hand before looking at your cards.
Buy-In
The minimum amount of money a player must put in to play a particular game.
Call
If another player bets, to continue to play you must call to match the wager (or raise).
Check Raise
To check and then raise when another player behind you bets.
Community Cards
The cards that are in the middle of the table during the hand.
Crack
To beat a strong hand. Players often say their pocket aces were "cracked".
Flop
The first three community cards on the board.
Fold
In terms of poker terminology, this means to throw your hand away.
Pass
To not play a hand if it has been bet, or to check if it has been checked to you.
The two hole cards in Hold'em or the first two cards in Stud. The cards only you can see.
Pocket Pair
Two pocket cards of the same rank.
River
The final community card in flop games of poker.
Short Stack
The player with the fewest chips is said to be playing on the short stack.
Slowplay
To play a hand in a way that hides its strength. Flopping a straight could be a good time to slowplay in order to get more chips into the pot.
Split Pot
A pot that is shared by two or more players.
Tell
A clue given by a player about their hand.
Turn
The fourth community card in a flop game.
Poker terminology is integral to the game… be sure you're up to speed before mixing it with more experienced players!