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).
b – "In the Money" – fancy acronym for getting paid in a tournament.

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.