Online Poker Dictionary
The following is a list of common poker terminology used in the world of poker.
ANTE
An ante is a small sum of money each player puts into the pot at the start of a game.
ALL IN
To bet all the chips that remains in a stack. If betting continues after a player is all-in, you create a separate side pot.
BOARD
The five community cards in Hold’em.
BET
Any bet made during a hand.
BELLY BUSTER
An “inside straight draw” with only four outs. It is also called “gutshot”.
BUSTED
Running out of chips.
BREAK
Pause (usually five minutes in online poker) that usually occurs in the tournament after a certain period of the game (usually an hour).
BLEEDING CHIPS
To continually lose small amounts of chips which, together, constitute a great loss.
BULLET
An ace.
BUTTON
Round marker that indicates the position of the dealer.
BAD BEAT
A player receives a bad beat when losing against a hand that was much weaker. All players have bad beat stories to tell.
BIG BET
In limit Hold’em, the amount bet during the last two rounds of betting.
BIG BLIND
A bet placed by the player sitting two seats to the left of the button.
BLIND
Mandatory bets made by the two players to the left of the button. See “Small Blind” and “Big Blind”.
BANKROLL
The amount of money allocated to play.
BLUFF
Bet when you have a weak hand in order to get the other players to fold a better hand.
BRING-IN
In Stud Poker, a bet that has to be made in the first round of betting.
CALL
Match the same bet made by a player in the same betting round.
CALLING STATION
Player who almost always never folds to a bet.
CAP
Refers to the total number of times you can raise a bet. In limit games, you can raise a bet three times after the initial bet. The third time is called cap.
CHECK
Pass betting onto the next player. Once a player has bet the player cannot pass, you have to call, raise or fold.
COMMUNITY CARDS
The visible cards the center of the table that all players can use to make his/her hand.
DUMP
Losing a large part of your stack against a player in one hand or multiple hands in a row.
DEAL
Deal the cards.
DEALER
From which position player cards are dealt.
DRAW
A play in which you need a specific card to complete the hand.
FISH
A bad player who plays too many hands but with very little chance of winning in them.
FAMILY POT
A pot that is contested by the majority of players at the table.
FILL UP
Complete a full house.
FREEZEOUT
A poker tournament that does not allow re-buys and add-ons.
FACE CARDS
Picture hands, which include the King, Queen and Jack of all suits.
FLOP
In the game of Omaha and Hold’em, the first 3 community cards that are revealed.
FOLD
To muck one’s hand.
FOURTH STREET
In Hold’em and Omaha games, is the fourth card (community card). Sometimes called The Turn.
HEADS UP
A game played between two players.
HOLE CARDS
Cards that the other players cannot see.
KICKER
When the last two players remaining in the hand each have the same hand. The kicker is the highest card in each player’s hand that decides who wins the pot.
ISOLATION
Bet or raise in order to eliminate other players who have a hand worse than yours but could be improved if they stay in the hand.
NUTS
The best possible poker hand you can have. This phrase is used in the context of the current game.
OPEN-ENDED STRAIGHT DRAW
A straight that can be completed at both ends so there are 8 outs to complete the hand.
OUTS
Number of cards that a player requires in order to complete a hand.
Overcard
Cards in hand that is higher than any of the community cards. For example, KQ are both overcards on a flop of 5-2-4.
POT
The total sum of money that will go to the winner.
PRE-FLOP
In Hold’em the bet made immediately after players receive their pocket cards.
RAINBOW
When the flop is 3 cards of different suits.
RAISE
Increasing the bet amount.
Reraise
Raise the bet after another player has already made a raise.
REBUY
To buy-in after busting from a tournament, which is usually the same amount of starting chips.
RING GAME
A cash game usually with 9 or 10 players.
RAKE
The amount of money the casino takes from the pot. In low limit games, the casino usually takes 10% of the pot but is capped. In higher limit games, the casino usually charges an hourly rate to play in the game.
RIVER
In Hold’em and Omaha games, is the fifth card face up (community card). It is sometimes called “Fifth Street”.
ROCK
A very conservative player. A player who usually bets only when they have a very good hand.
SHORT-HANDED
Poker game involving only 3-6 players.
SMALL BLIND
A bet made by the player to the left of Button. Usually, the small blind is equal to half the size of the big blind.
SET
Trips formed by the two hole cards and the community cards.
SLOWPLAY
If you have a strong hand but do not bet hard, trying to trap the other players with a worse hand into bluffing.
SPLIT POT
Pot that is shared by two players tied at the end of a hand.
STACK
The pile of chips that accumulate on the table in front of you and you can use for your bets during the game.
SITTING OUT
When you choose to stop playing during the game for whatever reason. You’re still sitting at the table, but just watching the game.
SUIT
Suit of cards (spades, diamonds, clubs, hearts) The suits are not ranked in Hold’em and Omaha.
TELL
Information a player offers involuntarily through their mannerisms and body language.
TIGHT PLAYER
Players that do not usually play too many hands.
TRIPS
Trips formed by one of the player’s hole cards and two of the community cards.