Poker Terms & Phrases: Common Beginner-Friendly Glossary & Slang

Ace High – A hand with an ace and no better combination.

Ace in the Hole – A face-down ace in your starting hand.

Ace-to-Five – A low-hand ranking system where A-2-3-4-5 is best.

Ace-to-Six – Another low-hand system, ranking 6-4-3-2-A as the lowest.

Act – To make a move (check, bet, call, raise, or fold).

Acting Out of Turn – Making a move before it’s your turn.

Action – Betting activity or your turn to play.

Action Button – A special marker that forces a player to bet the next hand.

Action Card – A card that causes lots of betting.

Action Only – A small bet that can only be called, not raised.

Active Players – Players still in the hand.

Add-On – Buying more chips during a tournament.

Advertising – Playing in a way to mislead others about your style.

Aggression – Playing by betting and raising instead of checking/calling.

Aggression Factor – A stat showing how often someone bets or raises.

Air – A hand with no value (e.g. high card only).

Alias – A username or nickname used online.

All-In – Betting all your remaining chips.

Angle – A shady but technically legal move.

Angle Shooting – Using tricks to unfairly gain info or advantage.

Any Two – Playing regardless of what your two cards are.

Any Two Cards – The idea that any hand can win.

Ante – A small forced bet everyone pays before the hand.

Ante Off – Paying antes for an absent player in a tournament.

A-Game – Your best playing performance.

Baby - A low-ranking card.

Backdoor - A hand completed by hitting needed cards on both turn and river.

Back In - To check first and call a bet later in the same round.

Back Into - To win with a hand you didn’t intend to make.

Backing - Funding another player’s buy-in.

Backraise - A re-raise from someone who previously just called.

Bad Beat - Losing a hand despite being a big favorite.

Bad Beat Jackpot - A prize pool for players who lose with a strong hand.

Balance - Playing different hands the same way to avoid being predictable.

Bank - The house or dealer managing chips and money.

Bankroll - The total money a player has to play poker.

Bankroll Management - Controlling how much of your bankroll you risk.

Barrel - A bet made on multiple streets in a row.

Barreling - Continuation betting on flop, turn, or river.

BB - Big Blind.

Behind - Not currently holding the best hand.

Belly Buster - A straight draw needing one specific card in the middle.

Bet - Putting chips in the pot during your turn.

Betting Structure - Rules for how much players can bet or raise.

Big Bet - A larger fixed limit bet, usually on later streets.

Big Bet Game - A game with no limit or pot limit rules.

Big Blind - The larger of the two forced preflop bets.

Big Blind Special - Winning a hand from the big blind with bad cards.

Big Full - The best possible full house.

Big Stack - A player with a lot of chips.

Blank - A card that doesn’t affect the strength of hands.

Blaze - A non-standard hand of all face cards.

Bleed - Losing chips steadily, often due to poor decisions.

Blind - A forced bet posted before cards are dealt.

Blind Defence - Calling or raising from the big blind to protect it.

Blind Off - Losing chips due to blinds while not playing hands.

Blind Steal - Raising with a weak hand to win the blinds.

Blind Stud - A variant where all cards are dealt face down.

Blocker - A card you hold that makes it harder for others to hit their draw.

Blocker Bet - A small bet meant to stop a bigger bet from an opponent.

Blue Chips - High-value poker chips.

Bluff - Betting like you have a strong hand when you don’t.

Bluff Catcher - A weak hand that only beats a bluff.

Bluff Induce - Acting weak to trick someone into bluffing.

Board - The community cards all players share.

Boat - A full house.

Bomb Pot - A hand where everyone puts money in preflop, no raising.

Bottom Dealing - Cheating by dealing cards from the bottom of the deck.

Bottom End - The lowest possible straight on the board.

Bottom Pair - A pair made with the lowest community card.

Bottom Set - Three of a kind using the lowest pair on the board.

Bot - An automated program that plays poker.

Bounty - A reward for knocking out a player in a tournament.

Box - The dealer’s tray that holds chips.

Boxed Card - A face-up card found in the deck.

Break - Ending a session or discarding part of a hand.

Brick - A useless card for most hands.

Brick and Mortar - A real-world casino (not online).

Bridge Order - A suit ranking used to break ties (♠ > ♥ > ♦ > ♣).

Broadway - A straight from 10 to Ace.

BRM - Bankroll Management.

Brush - A casino employee who manages tables and seating.

Bubble - The spot just before prize money starts in a tournament.

Bubble Factor - How risk-averse players become near the bubble.

Buck - The dealer button.

Bug - A joker used as a limited wild card.

Bully - A player who raises aggressively to scare others off.

Burn - To discard the top card before dealing to prevent cheating.

Burn Card - The card discarded before community cards are dealt.

Busted - Out of chips or with a broken hand.

Button - The dealer position; last to act postflop.

Buy-In - The amount paid to enter a game or tournament.

Buy Short - Buying in for less than the minimum.

Buy the Button - Paying blinds early to start playing sooner.

Buy the Pot - Betting to make all others fold and win the pot.

Bum Hunter - A player who only plays against weaker opponents.

C-Game - Playing below your usual skill level.

Call - Matching the current bet.

Calling Station - A player who calls too often.

Calling Your Bluff - Betting or raising against someone who might be bluffing.

Call the Clock - Requesting a time limit on another player’s decision.

Cap - The maximum number of raises in a round.

Cap Game - A no-limit or pot-limit game with a max bet per hand.

Card Dead - Not getting playable hands for a long time.

Card Protector - An item placed on your cards to stop them being mucked.

Card Removal - Knowing a card is unavailable because it’s likely in someone’s hand.

Cards - The 52 pieces of paper chaos is printed on.

Cards Speak - The best 5-card hand wins, regardless of what was said.

Case - The last card of a certain rank left in the deck.

Case Card - The final copy of a card rank in the deck.

Cash Game - Poker played with real money, not tournament chips.

Cash Plays - Cash on the table counts as chips until exchanged.

Cashing - Winning money in a tournament.

Cashing Out - Trading chips for cash and leaving the game.

Catch - Drawing a needed card.

Catch Perfect - Hitting two perfect cards to complete a strong hand.

Catch Up - Completing a draw to beat a better hand.

Center Pot - The main pot, not including any side pots.

Chance - The odds or probability of a card or event happening.

Chase - Calling with a weak hand hoping to improve.

Check - Choosing not to bet when it’s your turn.

Check in the Dark - Checking before the next card is even dealt.

Check Out - Folding when there’s no bet — generally not allowed.

Check-Raise - Checking first, then raising if someone bets.

Chip - A poker token used instead of cash.

Chip and a Chair - Saying that even with one chip, you're still in the game.

Chip Declare - Declaring high or low by the number of chips shown.

Chip Dumping - Intentionally losing chips to another player.

Chip Leader - The player with the most chips.

Chip Race - Replacing small chips with larger ones in a tournament.

Chip Up - Gradually increasing your chip stack.

Chinese Poker - A fast-paced poker variant with big hands and no betting.

Chop - Split the pot evenly between players.

Chopping the Blinds - Blinds take back their bets when everyone else folds.

Click Raise - Making the minimum allowed raise.

Closed - A betting round where no more raises are allowed.

Coffee Housing - Talking to mislead others about your hand.

Coin Flip - A hand where both players have roughly 50/50 odds.

Cold Call - Calling multiple bets without having already bet.

Cold Deck - A pre-arranged, rigged deck.

Collusion - Secret teamwork between players to cheat.

Color Change - Swapping small chips for larger ones.

Color Up - Removing small denomination chips from play.

Combo - A specific hand combination of cards.

Combo Draw - A draw with more than one way to win (e.g. straight + flush draw).

Combination - A specific version of a hand based on card suits and ranks.

Community Card - A card shared by all players on the board.

Complete - To raise a small bet to the full bet amount.

Complete Hand - A made hand that doesn’t need improving.

Completion - Finishing the bring-in bet to a full bet in stud.

Connector - Two cards in sequence, like 7-8.

Connectors - More than one pair of sequential cards.

Continuation Bet - A bet on the flop after raising preflop.

Cooler - A strong hand losing to an even stronger hand.

Counterfeit - When community cards weaken your hand's value.

Cow - A player you're financially backing.

Cowboys - A pair of Kings.

Crack - To beat a strong hand, like aces.

Cripple - To hold cards that make it very hard for opponents to win.

Crossbook - A side bet on performance, usually between pros.

Cry - Making a reluctant or emotional call.

Crying Call - Calling while expecting to lose.

Cut - Splitting the deck before dealing.

Cut Card - A solid card used to hide the bottom card of the deck.

Cutoff - The seat just before the dealer/button position.

Dark - Acting before seeing your cards.

Dark Bet - Betting before the next card is dealt.

Dealer - The person who deals the cards.

Dealer's Choice - The dealer picks the poker variant for that hand.

Deal - To give out the cards to players.

Deal Twice - Running the remaining cards two times to reduce variance.

Dead Blind - A blind posted that can’t be raised.

Dead Button - A situation where the dealer button doesn’t move normally.

Dead Hand - A hand that’s no longer valid.

Dead Man’s Hand - Aces and eights; famously unlucky.

Dead Money - Money in the pot from folded players or bad players.

Dealt - Cards that have been given to players.

Declare - Verbally announcing your action or intention.

Deep Stack - A big pile of chips relative to the blinds.

Defense - Calling a bet to avoid folding too easily.

Depolarised - A range that’s mostly medium-strength hands.

Deuce - A two.

Deuce-to-Seven - A type of low hand where 7-5-4-3-2 is best.

Dirty Stack - A chip stack hiding chips of different values.

Discard - To throw away unwanted cards.

Dog - Short for underdog; less likely to win.

Domination - When one hand has another crushed (e.g. AK vs. AQ).

Donk - A weak or unskilled player.

Donk Bet - A bet made out of position after not having the lead.

Donkey - Another word for a bad player.

Door Card - The first face-up card in stud, or the first card on the flop.

Double Ace Flush - A flush with two aces, often involving wild cards.

Double Barrel - Betting the flop and then the turn.

Double Belly Buster - A straight draw with two inside gaps.

Double Board - Two boards dealt; usually the pot is split.

Double Draw - A game with two drawing rounds.

Double Flop - Another way to say double board.

Double Raise - Raising by double the last bet.

Double Suited - An Omaha hand with two separate suited pairs.

Double Through - To win an all-in and double your stack.

Double Up - Winning an all-in and doubling your chips.

Downbet - Betting less than your last bet on a later street.

Downcard - A card dealt face down.

Downswing - A losing streak.

Drag Light - Trying to show you can’t cover a bet (not allowed in casinos).

Draw - Trying to complete a better hand.

Drawing Dead - Drawing to a hand that still loses.

Drawing Hand - A hand that needs improvement.

Drawing Live - Drawing to a hand that can still win.

Drawing Thin - A low chance of hitting your draw.

Drop - To fold your hand.

Dry - A board or hand with little potential to improve.

Dry Ace - An ace with no backup card of the same suit.

Dry Board - Community cards that don’t help many draws.

Dry Pot - A side pot with no money in it yet.

Ducks - A pair of twos.

Duplicate - A card that hurts your draw because it's already in play.

Dynamic Board - A board that could change hand strengths easily.

Early Position – One of the first seats to act in a hand.

Effective Nuts – The best realistic hand based on how the action went.

Effective Stack – The smallest stack between two players in a hand.

Eight or Better – A qualifier for low hands needing 8-high or lower.

Equity – Your share of the pot based on current odds.

Equity Calculator – A tool that shows your chances of winning a hand.

Expectation – What you expect to win or lose long term.

Expected Value – The average result of a play over time (often written as EV).

Exposed Card – A card accidentally or intentionally shown to players.

Face Card – A jack, queen, or king.

Family Pot – A hand where nearly all players see the flop.

Fast – Playing aggressively with bets and raises.

Fastplay – Betting quickly to build a pot or deny draws.

Favorite – The hand most likely to win.

Feeder – A table feeding players into a main game.

Felt – The poker table surface (or playing at the table).

Field – All players in a tournament.

Fifth Street – The river card (final community card).

Fill – To complete a draw (e.g. make your flush or straight).

Fill Up – To make a full house.

Final Table – The last table in a tournament.

First Position – The first player to act (under the gun).

Fish – A weak or inexperienced player.

Fish Hooks – A pair of jacks.

Five of a Kind – Only possible with wild cards; five matching cards.

Five-Bet – The fifth raise in a single betting round.

Fixed Limit – A betting structure with set raise amounts.

Flat – To just call, usually when a raise might be expected.

Flat Call – Calling a bet without raising.

Float – Calling with a weak hand to bluff later.

Flop – The first three community cards.

Flop Game – A poker game that uses a flop (e.g. Texas Hold’em).

Flush – Five cards of the same suit.

Fold – To give up your hand and the chance to win the pot.

Fold Equity – The chance your bet will make others fold.

Forced Bet – A mandatory bet to start action (e.g. blind or ante).

Forced-Move – Being required to move from one table to another.

Forward Motion – Moving chips forward, may count as a bet.

Four-Bet – The fourth raise in one round.

Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank.

Four-Flush – Four cards of the same suit; one short of a flush.

Four-Straight – Four cards in a row; one short of a straight.

Fourth Street – The turn card (fourth community card).

Free Card – A card seen without paying (usually when no one bets).

Freeroll – A free-to-enter tournament with real prizes.

Freezeout – A tournament with no rebuys—you're out when you're out.

Full Boat – Another name for a full house.

Full House – Three of a kind plus a pair.

Full Ring – A full table, usually 9 or 10 players.

Full Bet Rule – You must raise the full amount for it to count as a raise.

Game Flow – How the table's play style changes over time.

Gap – A missing card rank between two hole cards.

Gap Hand – A hand like J-9 with a rank gap (missing 10).

Get Away – Fold a strong hand when you sense you're beat.

Going North – Secretly adding chips to your stack (cheating).

Going South – Sneaking chips off the table mid-hand (also cheating).

Grinder – A player who makes steady profits over time.

Grinding – Playing lots of poker for small, consistent wins.

Guts – A poker variant where you need “guts” to stay in.

Guts to Open – A game where you need a certain hand to bet first.

Gutshot – A straight draw needing one specific middle card.

Gutshot Straight Draw – Same as gutshot.

Gutter – Another term for a gutshot draw.

Gypsy – To limp in preflop instead of raising.

Half Bet Rule – A raise must be at least half the previous bet to count.

Hand – Your cards in a round of poker.

Hand-for-Hand – All tables play one hand at a time to avoid stalling near the money.

Hand History – A written or digital record of a hand played.

Hand Rankings – The list of poker hands, from high card to royal flush.

Hanger – A card sticking out from the deck, often a sign of cheating.

Heads Up – Playing one-on-one.

Heater – A hot winning streak.

Hero – The player the story or hand is told from.

Hero Call – Calling with a weak hand because you think they’re bluffing.

Hero Fold – Folding a strong hand because you know you’re beat.

High – The best traditional hand, not lowball.

High Card – When no one has a pair or better, highest card wins.

High Hand – The strongest hand based on traditional rankings.

High-Low – A game that splits the pot between best high and best low hands.

High-Low Split – Same as above—split between high and low.

High Roller – A player who plays for huge stakes.

Hijack – Seat two to the right of the dealer button.

Hijack Seat – Same as hijack.

Hit – To get the card you needed.

Hit and Run – Winning a big pot then immediately leaving the game.

Hold’em – Texas Hold’em, the most popular poker game.

Hole – Your private, face-down cards.

Hole Cards – The face-down cards only you can see.

Hole Cam – A camera that shows a player’s hole cards on TV.

Hollywood – Over-acting at the table to fake a reaction.

Home Game – A private poker game, usually at someone’s house.

Horse – A player staked by someone else.

H.O.R.S.E. – A mixed game format: Hold'em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, Eight-or-better.

House – The casino or poker room hosting the game.

Hyper Turbo – A super fast-paced poker tournament.

ICM – A formula that shows what your tournament chips are worth in real money.

Idiot End – The lowest possible straight, easily beaten by higher ones.

Ignorant End – Same as idiot end (because calling it that makes us feel better when we lose with it).

Implied Odds – The money you expect to win if you hit your draw.

Implied Pot Odds – Same thing, just including what’s already in the pot.

Improve – To make your hand stronger by catching a better card.

In Position – Acting after your opponent, which gives you an info advantage.

In the Middle – Posting a blind out of position when joining a game late.

In the Money – Reaching the part of a tournament where prizes are awarded.

In Turn – It’s your turn to act.

Inside Straight – Four cards needing one specific card in the middle to make a straight (like 5-6-8-9 needs a 7).

Inside Straight Draw – A draw that would complete an inside straight.

Insurance – A side bet to protect against losing a big pot on a bad beat.

Irregular Declaration – Making a move in a weird way (like hand gestures instead of words), causing confusion.

Irregularity – Anything that disrupts normal gameplay (like misdeals, exposed cards, etc.).

Isolation – Raising to get heads-up with a specific player (usually a weak one).

Jackpot – A big prize given for rare hands or bad beats in some games.

Jam – To go all-in.

Joker – A wild card used in some poker variants.

Juice – The casino's cut of the pot; also called the rake.

Junk – A weak or useless hand.

Kicker – A side card used to break ties when players have the same main hand.

Kill Button – A marker showing who triggers the kill hand (higher stakes) in some games.

Kill Game – A game where the stakes temporarily increase after certain triggers.

Kill Hand – A hand played with increased stakes in a kill game.

Kill Pot – A pot played with higher stakes due to a kill trigger.

Kitty – A small pool of chips taken from pots to cover expenses or buy supplies in home games.

LAG – Loose-aggressive player who plays many hands and bets often.

Lammer – A plastic chip used to track things like rebuys or kill hands.

Last Longer – A side bet on who lasts longest in a tournament.

Last to Act – The player who acts last in a betting round.

Laydown – Folding a strong hand because you think you're beat.

Lead – To be the first to bet in a round.

Level – A fixed period in a tournament where blinds are set.

Leg-Up – A rule that gives the kill button to the player who won the last kill pot.

Leg-Up Button – The button used to track leg-up status for kill hands.

Levelling – Trying to outthink an opponent by considering what they think you have.

Leverage – Using bet size (usually all-in) to pressure opponents.

Light – Making a play with a weak or marginal hand (e.g. “call light”).

Limit – A betting structure with fixed bet amounts.

Limit Poker – Poker played with fixed-limit betting.

Limp – To enter a pot by calling instead of raising.

Limp In – Another way to say “limp.”

Limp-Reraise – Limping first, then reraising when someone else raises.

Live Bet – A forced bet (like a blind) that gives the player the right to raise.

Live Cards – Cards still available to improve your hand.

Live Game – A real poker game, not online.

Live Hand – A valid hand still eligible to win the pot.

Live Poker – Poker played in person, not online.

Lock Up – Saving a seat at the table with a chip or item.

Loose – Playing more hands than average.

Low – The lowest-ranking hand or half of a split pot.

Low Hand – The lowest-ranking hand in lowball or split-pot games.

Lowball – A game where the lowest hand wins.

Made Hand – A strong hand that doesn’t need improvement.

Maniac – A reckless, overly aggressive player.

Mark – A weak player targeted by others.

Match the Pot – To bet an amount equal to the current pot size.

Mechanic – A cheater skilled at manipulating cards.

Mental Game – A player’s mindset and emotional control.

Middle Pair – Pairing the middle-ranked board card with a hole card.

Middle Position – A seat in between early and late positions.

Mid Stakes – Games with medium-sized buy-ins or blinds.

Micro-Limit – Very low-stakes poker, common online.

Misclick – Clicking the wrong action in online poker.

Misdeal – An error in dealing that voids the hand.

Missed Blind – A blind a player didn’t post due to being away.

Monster – A very strong hand.

Move In – To go all-in.

Muck – To fold without showing your cards.

Multi-Table Tournament – A tournament played across many tables, narrowing to one winner.

Multi-Way Pot – A pot contested by three or more players.

Must Move – A table that feeds players into the main game as seats open.

Nash Equilibrium – A strategy where no player can gain by changing their play if others keep theirs.

Negative Freeroll – A situation where you can only lose or tie by checking.

Nit – A super tight player who rarely plays hands.

No-Limit – A betting structure with no maximum bet.

Nosebleed – Extremely high-stakes poker.

Nosebleed Stakes – The highest possible stakes in poker games.

Nothing – A hand with no pair or value.

Nothing Card – A card that doesn’t help any player’s hand.

Nut Flush – The highest possible flush.

Nut Flush Draw – A draw to the highest possible flush.

Nut Hand – The best possible hand at the moment.

Nut Low – The best possible low hand in a split pot game.

Nuts – Slang for the best possible hand.

Omaha – A poker variant where players get 4 hole cards and must use 2.

OMC – "Old Man Coffee," a nickname for overly tight players.

On the Button – In the dealer position; acts last post-flop.

One-Chip Rule – Putting in one chip without saying "raise" counts as a call.

One-Eyed Royals – Face cards (Jacks/Kings) shown in profile.

One-Gap – Two hole cards with one rank between them (e.g. 9-J).

One-Ended Straight Draw – A draw that can only complete with one specific card rank.

Open – To be the first to bet in a round.

Open Limp – To enter the pot first by just calling the big blind.

Open Raise – To be the first in the pot with a raise.

Openers – Cards needed to legally start the betting in some games.

Open-Ended – A straight draw that can be completed on either end.

Open-Ended Straight Draw – Four cards to a straight that can hit from two directions.

OOP – Out of Position; acts before opponent post-flop.

Option – The choice the big blind has to raise if no one else does.

Orbit – One full rotation of the dealer button around the table.

Out – A card that can improve your hand to win.

Out of Position – Acting before your opponent on later streets.

Outside Straight Draw – Another name for an open-ended straight draw.

Overlay – When a tournament’s prize pool exceeds the total buy-ins.

Overbet – A bet larger than the pot size.

Overcall – Calling a bet after one or more others have already called.

Overcard – A card higher than any card on the board.

Overlimp – To limp after other players have already limped.

Overpair – A pocket pair higher than any card on the board.

Overs – Optional bigger bets if only certain players remain.

Paint – A face card (Jack, Queen, or King).

Pair – Two cards of the same rank.

Passive – A play style focused on checking and calling, not betting or raising.

Pat – A made hand that doesn’t need improvement.

Pay Off – Calling a bet when you likely don’t have the best hand.

Penny Ante – Very low stakes poker, often just for fun.

Perfect – The exact card or draw needed to complete a hand.

Pick-Up – When the dealer collects chips for a buy-in.

Play the Board – Using all five community cards as your best hand.

Pocket Aces – Two aces as your hole cards; the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em.

Pocket Cards – The face-down cards dealt to each player.

Pocket Pair – Two cards of the same rank as your hole cards.

Pocket Rockets – Slang for pocket aces.

Polarised – A range made up of either very strong hands or bluffs.

Polarized – Same as above, just American spelling.

Poker Face – A neutral expression that hides your emotions or hand strength.

Poker Table – A special table used for poker, often round or oval.

Position – Your order of action during a hand; acting later is better.

Position Bet – A bet made mainly because of your late position, not your hand strength.

Post – To put in a forced bet like a blind or ante.

Post Dead – Paying both blinds at once to re-enter the game immediately.

Post Oak Bluff – A tiny bluff meant to look like a value bet.

Postflop – The betting rounds after the flop has been dealt.

Pot – The total chips or money up for grabs in a hand.

Pot Committed – When you’ve put in so many chips you can’t fold.

Pot Limit – A betting structure where you can’t bet more than the current pot size.

Pot Odds – The ratio of the current bet to the size of the pot.

Pot Sweetener – A small bet made to build the pot size.

Preflop – The stage of the hand before the flop is dealt.

PRF – Preflop raiser; the person who raised before the flop.

Price – The amount you need to call compared to the size of the pot.

Probe – A bet made out of position after the preflop raiser checks.

Prop – A player paid by the casino to help start or fill games.

Proposition Player – Same as a prop; plays with their own money.

Protection – Betting to stop opponents from seeing free cards.

Protect – To prevent others from drawing cheaply against your hand.

Purse – The total prize money in a tournament.

Push – To go all-in.

Put on – To guess what hand your opponent might have.

Put the Clock – Ask the dealer to give a slow player a countdown to act.

Quads – Four cards of the same rank (a.k.a. four of a kind).

Qualify – To meet a requirement to win part of the pot (usually the low half).

Qualifying Low – A low hand that meets the game's rules to win the low pot (like 8 or better).

Quartered – Winning only one-fourth of the pot, usually when tying for the low hand.

Rabbit Hunt – Checking what cards would’ve come if the hand continued.

Rag – A low, usually useless card.

Ragged – A messy board with no strong combos.

Rail – The edge of the table where spectators watch.

Railbird – A spectator watching the game.

Rainbow – Three or more cards of different suits.

Raise – To increase the current bet.

Rake – The house’s cut of the pot.

Rakeback – A portion of rake returned to the player.

Rakeback Pro – A player who profits mainly from rakeback.

Range – The set of hands a player could have.

Range Advantage – When a player’s likely hands are stronger than an opponent’s.

Rank – The value of a card (e.g., King, 7).

Rap – Tapping the table to check.

Ratholing – Illegally taking chips off the table mid-game.

Razz – A lowball poker variant; lowest hand wins.

Read – A guess on an opponent’s hand based on their actions.

Rebuy – Buying back into a game after losing your chips.

Redbird – A red $5 poker chip.

Redeal – Dealing the cards again.

Redraw – Drawing to improve an already made hand.

Regular – A frequent player at a game.

Represent – Playing like you have a certain hand.

Re-Raise – Raising after someone has already raised.

Reverse Implied Odds – When hitting your draw could still cost you money.

Ring Game – A cash game (not a tournament).

River – The final community card.

River Rat – A player who wins often with the river card.

Rock – A very tight (conservative) player.

Rolled-Up – Three of a kind on the first three cards in stud.

Roll Your Own – Choosing which cards to reveal in stud.

Royal Cards – Jack, Queen, King (sometimes Ace).

Royal Flush – A 10 to Ace straight flush (best hand possible).

Run – A series of dealt cards or hands.

Rundown – A hand with consecutive cards in Omaha (e.g., 5-6-7-8).

Run it Twice – Dealing two runouts to reduce variance after going all-in.

Runner-Runner – Hitting needed cards on both the turn and river.

Running it Twice – Same as Run it Twice; two runouts to split the pot.

Rush – A hot streak of winning hands.

Sandbag - Pretending to have a weak hand when you’re actually strong.

Satellite - A smaller tournament where the prize is entry to a bigger one.

Scare Card - A card that might improve an opponent’s hand or complete a draw.

Second Barrel - A bet on the turn after betting on the flop.

Second Pair - A pair made with the second-highest card on the board.

Semi-Bluff - Bluffing with a drawing hand that could still improve.

Sequence - A run of consecutive ranked cards.

Set - Three of a kind using a pocket pair and a matching board card.

Set Over Set - When two players both have sets, but one is higher.

Set-Up - A pre-arranged deck, or simply preparing a new deck for play.

Sevens Rule - In lowball, a rule that forces betting with a strong draw (seven or better).

Shark - A skilled, often intimidating poker player.

Shill - A player paid to start games and keep tables active.

Short Buy - Buying into a game with less than the usual minimum.

Short Stack - A small chip stack compared to the others at the table.

Short Handed - A game with fewer than six players.

Shoe - A container holding cards to be dealt, used in some casino games.

Shootout - A tournament format where each table plays to one winner before merging.

Shove - Going all-in.

Show Hand - Revealing your cards voluntarily or at showdown.

Showdown - When all remaining players reveal hands to determine the winner.

Showdown Value - A hand likely strong enough to win without betting.

Sick - Slang for something impressive, lucky, or brutal.

Side Game - A casual game running alongside a tournament.

Side Pot - A separate pot created when a player is all-in and others keep betting.

Sit and Go - A tournament that starts when enough players join.

Sizing - The amount you choose to bet.

Slow Play - Playing a strong hand passively to trap opponents.

Slowroll - Deliberately delaying revealing a winning hand at showdown (rude).

Small Bet - A bet at the lower limit in fixed-limit games.

Small Blind - The smaller of two forced bets before the cards are dealt.

Snap Call - Instantly calling a bet, usually with a strong hand.

Soft Break - Getting chips and cash back when buying in, leaving only some chips in play.

Soft Play - Intentionally playing gently against a friend or partner (often banned).

Solver - Software that finds optimal poker strategies.

Smooched - When someone edges out your hand with a slightly better one.

Snow - Bluffing in draw poker by pretending you have a pat (strong) hand.

Splash the Pot - Tossing chips messily into the pot (generally not allowed).

Split - Dividing the pot between players with equal hands.

Split Pot - A pot shared between players, often in high/low games or ties.

Split Two Pair - Two pair made using one hole card and one board card for each pair.

Spread - The difference between the minimum and maximum bets.

Spread Limit - A betting structure where bets can range between two set amounts.

Squeeze - A big re-raise after others have already called a raise.

SRP - Single Raised Pot, a pot where someone raised preflop and got called.

Stack - A player’s pile of chips.

Stack to Pot Ratio - The ratio between your stack and the pot size.

Stakes - The amount of money involved in a game.

Staking - Backing a player financially in return for a share of winnings.

Stand Pat - In draw poker, keeping your hand without drawing new cards.

Starting Hand - The first two cards you're dealt (in Hold’em) or initial hand.

Static Board - A board unlikely to change hand strength much on later streets.

Steal - Betting or raising to win the pot when no one seems interested.

Steam - Playing recklessly due to frustration or tilt.

Steel Wheel - A five-high straight flush (A-2-3-4-5).

Stop and Go - Calling preflop and betting big on the flop, usually all-in.

Straddle - A blind bet made before cards are dealt, usually twice the big blind.

Straddle Bet - Same as straddle: a voluntary blind raise to increase the pot.

Straight - Five cards in sequence, not all the same suit.

Straight Flush - Five cards in sequence, all the same suit.

Street - Another name for a betting round or card dealt (e.g. "fourth street").

Street Poker - Casual or aggressive poker without strict adherence to theory.

String Bet - An illegal bet made in more than one motion without declaring the full amount.

Structure - The rules for betting, blinds, and how a game runs.

Stub - The unused cards left after dealing.

Stud - A poker variant where some cards are dealt face-up and some face-down.

Subscription Poker - A site where players pay monthly for access, not per hand.

Suck Out - Winning a hand by hitting a lucky card when behind.

Suited - Cards of the same suit.

Suited Connectors - Two cards of the same suit and in sequence (like 7♠ 8♠).

Super Satellite - A tournament that awards seats to other satellite events.

TAG - A player with a tight and aggressive playstyle.

Table Dynamics - How the overall mood and playstyle at a table shifts over time.

Table Stakes - Rule where you can only bet what’s on the table at the start of a hand.

Tank - To take a long time to think before making a decision.

Tell - A clue in a player's behaviour that hints at their hand.

Texture - How coordinated or dangerous the board looks for strong hands.

Third Man Walking - When a third player leaves the table while two others are already away, risking losing their seat.

Three of a Kind - A hand with three cards of the same rank.

Three Pair - Having three pairs in games with more than five cards (only the best two count).

Three-Bet - The third bet in a round; a re-raise after an initial raise.

Three Betting - The act of making a three-bet.

Tie - When two or more players have hands of equal strength.

Tight - A style of play where you only play strong hands.

Tight Passive - A cautious player who rarely bets or raises.

Tilt - Playing emotionally, usually after a loss, leading to poor decisions.

Time Bank - Extra time you can use to make a decision in online poker.

Timer - A countdown clock that keeps the pace of tournament play.

To Go - The total amount needed to call a bet.

Toke - A tip given to the dealer, usually by the pot winner.

Top Kicker - The highest possible side card paired with your main hand.

Top Pair - A pair made with the highest card on the board.

Top Two - Two pair using the two highest cards on the board.

TP - Abbreviation for top pair.

Tracking Software - Tools that analyse poker stats and hands for players.

Tournament - A structured competition where players buy-in and play until one remains.

Trap - Playing a strong hand slowly to lure opponents into betting.

Trey - A three in poker lingo.

Trips - Three of a kind where one card is on the board and two are in your hand.

Triple Barrel - Betting on the flop, turn, and river.

Turn - The fourth community card dealt in Hold'em or Omaha.

Two-Bet - The second bet in a round, usually the initial raise.

Two Pair - A hand with two different pairs.

Two-Tone - A board with two cards of the same suit, hinting at a flush draw.

Under the Gun - The first player to act preflop, just left of the big blind.

Underbet - A bet that’s smaller than expected or smaller than the pot.

Underdog - The player or hand less likely to win.

Underfull - A full house where your three-of-a-kind is lower than the pair on the board.

Up - Used in two pair hands (e.g. “Queens up” = pair of queens + lower pair).

Upcard - A card dealt face-up.

Upstairs - Slang for making a raise.

Upswing - A winning streak or period of good results.

Up the Ante - Increase the stakes or minimum bet.

Value Bet – A bet made to get called by worse hands.

Variance – The swings between winning and losing over time.

Variant – A specific type or version of poker (e.g. Texas Hold’em, Omaha).

Vigorish – Another word for rake; the casino’s cut.

Villain – The opponent in a hand (from your perspective).

VPIP – “Voluntarily Put Money In Pot” – % of hands a player plays preflop.

Vulnerable – A hand that’s currently strong but easily beaten on future cards.

Wake Up – Get unexpectedly dealt a strong hand.

Walk – When everyone folds to the big blind.

Wash – Shuffling cards by spreading them face down and mixing.

Weak Ace – An ace with a low kicker.

Weak Player – Someone who plays poorly or predictably.

Webcam Poker – Online poker where players see each other via webcam.

Wet – A board with many draw possibilities.

Wet Board – A flop with lots of potential for straights or flushes.

Whale – A very rich, usually unskilled, player who loses big.

Wheel – A straight: A-2-3-4-5.

Wild Card – A card that can represent any rank/suit.

Window Card – The first face-up card dealt in stud or seen on the flop.

Wired – A pair in the hole cards (e.g. wired kings = KK).

Wrap – A straight draw with lots of outs in Omaha.

Wrap Around Straight – An illegal or non-standard straight that wraps past Ace (e.g. Q-K-A-2-3).

WSOP – World Series of Poker – the biggest live poker tournament series.

WTSD – “Went to Showdown” – how often a player sees the showdown.

WWSF – “Won When Saw Flop” – % of times a player wins after seeing the flop.

X-Ray Vision – Slang for having a really good read on your opponent’s hand.

X-Card – Rarely used term for a wild card or joker in home games.

X-Hand – Sometimes used to describe an unknown or mystery hand in online forums.

Yard – Slang for $100, mostly in older or live cash games.

Yolo Call – A reckless, hope-for-the-best call with a weak hand.

Yank – Slang (UK/Irish mostly) for aggressively pulling a big pot toward yourself—usually with a bit too much flair.

Yellow Chips – Commonly used in casinos to represent $1,000 chips.

Zero Equity Bluff – A bluff made with a hand that literally has no chance of improving.

Zombie Poker – When someone plays on autopilot, passively bleeding chips.

Zzz Call – Online slang for a slow, reluctant call when everyone at the table knows you’re behind.