Glossary of poker terms

Ante: A mandatory bet that all players must make before the cards are dealt. This bet is typically a small percentage of the minimum bet for the game.

All-in: When a player bets all of their remaining chips in a single bet. This bet can be made at any point during the hand.

Backdoor: When a player makes a hand by hitting the necessary cards on both the turn and the river. For example, if a player has only a pair of Aces after the flop, but then hits two more Aces on both the turn and river, they have made a “backdoor” four of a kind.

Bad Beat: When a player who is a favorite to win the hand loses to a weaker hand after the flop, turn or river. This can be due to luck or poor play by the losing player.

Big Blind: The larger of the two forced bets in a game of poker. The player to the left of the small blind is required to make this bet.

Blind: A forced bet that is made before the cards are dealt. The small blind is typically half of the big blind and is made by the player to the left of the dealer button. The big blind is made by the player to the left of the small blind.

Board: The set of community cards that are dealt face up on the table. These cards can be used by all players to make their best hand.

Burn: The act of discarding the top card from the deck before each round of betting. This is done to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by tracking the order of the cards.

Button: The marker that is used to indicate the dealer for each hand. The button moves clockwise around the table after each hand.

Buy-In: The amount of money that a player must pay to enter a poker tournament.

Call: To match the current bet in a hand in order to stay in the game.

Check: To pass the opportunity to bet to the next player. This can only be done if no one has bet before you.

Check-Raise: To check when it is your turn to bet, with the intention of raising if another player bets after you. This is a strategy used to deceive other players and to gain more value from a strong hand.

Cold Call: To call two or more bets in a single round of betting.

Connector: Two consecutive cards in the same suit, such as 8-9 of diamonds.

Community Cards: The cards that are dealt face up on the table and can be used by all players to make their best hand.

Cut Off: The player to the right of the dealer button.

Dealer Button: The marker that is used to indicate the dealer for each hand. This button moves clockwise around the table after each hand.

Draw: To stay in the game in the hopes of improving your hand on a future card.

Draw Out: To make a hand that beats an opponent who was previously ahead in the hand. For example, if a player has a pair of Kings, but then their opponent makes a flush on the river, the opponent has “drawn out” on the player with the Kings.

Drawing Dead: When a player is drawing to a hand that cannot possibly win.

Flop: The first three community cards that are dealt face up on the table.

Flush: A hand consisting of five cards of the same suit.

Fold: To surrender your hand and forfeit any bets you have made.

Four of a Kind: A hand consisting of four cards of the same rank.

Full House: A hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.

Hand: The set of five cards that a player uses to make their best hand.

Heads-Up: Playing a poker tournament where only two players are involved.

Kicker: When two players have the same hand, the kicker is used to determine the winner. The kicker is the highest-ranking card that is not part of the hand.

Limit: A poker game where there is a fixed amount for bets and raises.

Limp: Calling the minimum bet to stay in the game.

Muck: When a player folds their hand and discards their cards.

No-Limit: A type of poker game where players can bet any amount of their chips at any time.

Nuts: The best possible hand that can be made with the cards on the table.

Off-Suit: A hand consisting of cards of different suits.

Open-Ended: A straight that can be completed with one of two possible cards.

Out: A card that can improve a player’s hand.

Over-Cards: Cards in a player’s hand that are higher than the cards on the table.

Pair: Two cards of the same rank.

Pocket Cards: The two cards that are dealt face down to each player at the beginning of the game.

Pot-Limit: A type of poker game where the maximum bet is the current size of the pot.

Quads: Four cards of the same rank.

Rainbow: A flop where there are no two cards of the same suit.

Rake: The commission taken by the house from each poker hand.

River: The fifth and final community card dealt in a poker game.

Raise: To increase the amount of the current bet.

Royal Flush: The highest-ranking hand in poker consisting of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit.

Semi-Bluff: A bet made with a hand that has the potential to improve into a strong hand, but is not currently the best hand.

Set: A hand consisting of three cards of the same rank.

Showdown: The final stage of a hand where the remaining players reveal their hands to determine the winner.

Side Pot: A separate pot created when one or more players are all-in.

Sit ‘n Go: A type of poker tournament with a predetermined number of players.

Slow Play: A strategy in which a player plays conservatively in order to keep other players in the game.

Small Blind: The smaller of the two mandatory bets made by the two players to the left of the dealer.

Split Pot: When two or more players have the same hand, the pot is divided equally among them.

Straight: A hand consisting of five cards in sequential order but not of the same suit.

Straight Flush: A hand consisting of five cards in sequential order and of the same suit.

Tilt: When a player becomes emotionally overwhelmed and makes poor decisions.

Time: A request for more time to make a decision.

Top Pair: A pair made with the highest-ranking card on the table.

Trips: A hand consisting of three cards of the same rank.

Turn: The fourth community card dealt in a poker game, also known as “Fourth Street”.