Poker Vocabulary - A Comprehensive A-Z of Common Poker Terms and Phrases

Poker enthusiasts have cultivated a unique lexicon of terms that offer a description of gameplay and its myriad scenarios. To someone unacquainted, phrases like 'jamming it in after flopping the nuts only to be sucked out on the river' might leave them utterly bewildered, with no true connection to the game itself!

By getting to know the widely used poker terms and expressions, you’ll gain the ability to understand what others are discussing the next time you settle down at a poker table. This knowledge keeps you informed, enabling you to grasp the dynamics of player interactions, including insights about their hands—knowledge that might otherwise elude you.

To facilitate your understanding, we present a detailed poker glossary that encompasses all the popular terminology utilized by poker players. For further guidance on where to savor the best poker experiences and other casino games, explore our Canadian online casino reviews to discover top-notch platforms for a thrilling gaming experience.

• A-Game – A phrase that refers to a player performing at their absolute best.
• ABC Poker ABC Poker – A straightforward approach to the game, typically characterized by fundamental strategies.
• Ace – The card regarded as the most valuable in poker, capable of representing both the highest and lowest values in many games, particularly when forming a low straight (A2345).
• Ace-high High Card – A type of hand where the player doesn't have any pairs, straights, or flushes, and their best card is an ace (e.g. Ah7h9cJd3s).
• Aces Over Boat – A colloquial term for a full house made up of three aces and two other cards of the same rank (e.g. AhAsAdKcKs).
• Aces Up – A term indicating two pairs, specifically involving aces paired with another set of matching cards (e.g. AcAh9d9sJc).
• Act – To make a move in the hand, such as choosing to call or raise.
• American Airlines – A playful term referring to pocket aces (AA).
• Anna Kournikova – A humorous nickname for ace-king (AK).
• Ante – A mandatory bet placed by all players before receiving their cards. It's important to distinguish between 'antes' and 'blinds', as they represent different forms of obligatory bets in poker.
• Ax One Card Hand – A specific hand featuring an ace along with an extra card (e.g. AsJd).

• Backdoor – The action of completing a strong hand using both the turn and river cards to finalize a draw that initially appeared weak.
• Backdoor Draw Double Back – A drawing situation where a player requires two specific cards on the turn and river to complete their hand.
• Backdoor Flush – A flush that can be completed with two consecutive cards that complete the flush.
• Backdoor Straight – A straight that requires subsequent hits on both turn and river to finalize.
• Bankroll – The financial reserve a player allocates for playing poker.
• Bet – The process of putting money on the line during a betting round.
• Big Blind – A mandatory wager that a player must post prior to dealing cards, which is also a position at the table; located to the left of the small blind and to the right of the player in early position.
• Big Pair – The strongest pocket pairs in poker, including AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and TT.
• Big Slick – Common terminology for ace-king.
• Blocker – A specific card that hinders an opponent from forming a certain hand. For instance, holding the Ad on a board of 9d8d3d acts as the 'nut-flush blocker,' preventing any player from achieving the nut flush while holding that card.
• Blocking Bet – Making a minimal wager to dissuade an opponent from making a larger bet on the river.
• Bluff – The tactic of portraying a stronger hand than one actually possesses to induce opponents to fold.
• Bluff Catcher – A hand that is capable of defeating only the opponents’ bluffs and not their stronger bets.
• Board – A well-known term for the community cards that are spread out in the center of the table.
• Boat – A slang term for a full house.
• Bomb Pot – A distinctive poker scenario where traditional preflop plays are set aside; all involved players contribute an equal amount into the pot, and the action begins with the player left of the button.

• Bonus Chips – Additional chips given by online poker platforms or casinos as part of promotional offers, frequently awarded for signing up, making a deposit, or taking part in unique events. bonuses Bot – An automated program that plays poker online in an unauthorized manner.

• Bounty – A monetary reward given in specific poker tournaments for eliminating an opponent from the game.
• Bubble – The stage in a poker tournament that occurs just before players begin to secure prize money.
• Burn – The procedure of discarding a card from the top of the deck before the community cards are revealed.
• Button – The most advantageous seat at a poker table, which allows the player in this position to act last post-flop. In live games, this position is typically represented by a small plastic disc known as the dealer button.
• Call Station – A player known for frequently refusing to fold, no matter the strength of their cards.

• Calling Station Casino War – A poker variant where players compete against the dealer to achieve the best hand possible, with added benefits for strong combinations like four-of-a-kind or royal flush.
• Caribbean Stud Poker Case Card – The final card of a particular rank remaining in the deck (e.g. the case ace).
• Case Cash Game – A form of poker where chips reflect real money value, allowing for continuous play without a predetermined endpoint.
• Cash Game Hit – A term used to indicate successfully drawing the card necessary to complete a winning hand.
• Catch Call – To match a bet with the hope of hitting a necessary draw.
• Chase Chip Leader – The individual holding the majority of chips in a tournament.
• Chip Leader Double Draw – A situation in which players are drawing cards to achieve both a straight and a flush, potentially resulting in a straight flush.
• Combo Draw Community Cards – The cards placed face up in the center of the table available for all players to use in forming their optimal five-card hand.
• Community Cards Continuation Bet – A tactic involving placing a bet on the flop after being the initial aggressor pre-flop.
• Continuation Bet/C-Bet Cooler – When two strong hands face off against each other (e.g. a pair of aces versus a pair of kings).
• Cooler Cutoff Position – A strategic seat located to the right of the button and left of the hijack.
• Cut-off Dead Man's Hand – A colloquial term referring to the hand comprised of aces and eights, famously associated with Wild Bill Hickock who was believed to have held this hand at the time of his tragic end at the poker table.

• Dead Cards – Cards that are necessary for a player to complete their hand but have already been folded by other players.
• Dead Outs Dealer Position – Another way to refer to the button, which is situated to the left of the cutoff and to the right of the small blind.
• Designer Game – A game format where the player on the button selects the poker variant to be played during that particular round.
• Dealer's Choice Dog to Win – A player or a hand viewed as unlikely to win the hand.
• Deck – The 52 cards required to play poker.
• Fish – A derogatory term for a player lacking skill in poker.
• Donk Donk Bet – A bet placed unexpectedly into the preflop aggressor.
• Double-Up – When a player wins a hand and effectively doubles their stack of chips.
• Draw – A hand defined solely by its potential to evolve into either a straight or flush.
• Drawing Dead – Being all in with cards left to come but having no viable path to a winning hand.
• Drawing Dead Dry Flop – A flop that presents minimal connectivity (e.g. Kc8d2s).
• Dry Board Early Position – Refers to the initial 2-3 seats at the poker table.

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• Fake Think Players have established a distinctive vernacular used to discuss the game and the actions occurring within it. For someone unfamiliar, hearing a term like 'jammed it in after flopping the nuts only to be sucked out on the river' could evoke confusion and curiosity, but not necessarily lead to an understanding related to poker!
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• Fishhooks – A slang term for a pair of jacks.
• Five Card Draw A-Game – This term refers to the peak performance level of a player.
• Five Card Stud – Refers to a player who is utilizing a fundamental or basic strategy while playing poker.
• Fixed Limit Poker Ace – Considered the highest-ranking card in poker. In many poker variants, an ace can serve as both the highest or the lowest card, particularly in a low straight (A2345).
• Float – Refers to a poker hand that lacks pairs, straights, or flushes, with an ace as the highest card (e.g., Ah7h9cJd3s).
• Flop – A colloquial term for a full house consisting of three aces paired with two other cards (e.g., AhAsAdKcKs).
• Flop a Set Aces Up – A phrase used to describe a hand with two pairs, one of which includes aces (e.g., AcAh9d9sJc).
• Flush Act – To make a choice during a hand, such as whether to call or raise.
• Flush Draw American Airlines – A slang expression signifying pocket aces (AA).
• Four Bet Anna Kournikova – A playful term referring to ace-king (AK).
• Four-of-a-kind Ante – A mandatory bet contributed by each player prior to receiving their hands. 'Antes' should not be confused with 'blinds,' which are alternative types of forced wagers in poker.
• Freeroll – A type of hand that includes an ace along with another card (e.g., AsJd).
• Freeze-Out Backdoor – Acquiring a winning hand by using both the turn and river cards to finish a draw that wasn't initially strong.
• Full House – A drawing scenario where a player requires two cards from the turn and the river to complete their hand.

• Grinder Backdoor Flush – A flush draw that necessitates hitting two consecutive cards to fulfill the flush.
• GTO (Game-Theory-Optimal) Backdoor Straight – A straight draw requiring two cards from the turn and river to complete.
• Guarantee Bankroll – The total amount of money a player has allocated for poker play.
• Gutshot Straight Draw Bet – The process of placing a wager during a round of betting.

• Heads-Up Big Blind – A mandatory bet that a player must contribute before any cards are dealt. It is also a poker position located to the left of the small blind and to the right of the Under the Gun player.
• Hijack Big Pair – The highest pairs available in poker hands, including AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and TT.
• Hole Cards Big Slick – A well-known slang term used to refer to ace-king.
• Hollywood Blocker – A card that inhibits an opponent from holding a certain hand. For instance, if you hold the Ad on a board of 9d8d3d, you're holding the 'nut-flush blocker,' as another player cannot have the nut flush while you possess that card.
• Hooks Blocking Bet – A strategic small wager made to deter an opponent from placing a more substantial bet on the river.
• HORSE Bluff – The act of pretending to have a stronger hand than one actually possesses in order to coerce opponents into folding their hands.
• HUD (Heads-Up Display) Bluff Catcher – A hand that can defeat only the bluffs of opponents but cannot win against their stronger value bets.

• ICM (Independent Chip Model) Board – A poker term referring to the community cards placed face-up in the center of the table.
• Implied Odds Bomb Pot – A unique variation of poker where the preflop action is disregarded; every player contributes a fixed amount of chips to the pot, and the flop is dealt, starting the action with the player to the left of the dealer button.
• In the Middle Bonus Chips – Additional chips provided by online poker sites or casinos as promotional incentives, often awarded upon registration, making a deposit, or engaging in special promotions.
• In the Money Bot – An automated program that engages in online poker illegally.

• J-Boy – A slang term for a jack.
• Jacks or Better – A variant of video poker.
• Jam – The act of going all in.
• Jammed Pot Bounty – A cash reward provided in certain poker tournaments for eliminating an opposing player.
• Jesse James Bubble – The stage in a poker tournament just before players secure a monetary payout.
• Joker Burn – The top card of the deck that is discarded before any community cards are revealed.

• Kicker Button – Referred to as the most advantageous position at the poker table; the button acts last after the flop. In live games, this position is marked by a small plastic button known as the dealer button.
• Kojack – A slang term for the hand KJ.

• LAG – A loose aggressive poker player.
• Late Position – A player known for rarely folding to any bet, regardless of their hand’s strength.
• Leak – A casino poker variation in which players strive to beat the dealer by creating the best possible hand. Extra payouts are available for particularly strong hands, such as four-of-a-kind and royal flushes.
• Limp – The final card of a specific rank remaining in the deck (e.g., the case ace).
• Little Blind – Another term for the small blind.
• Lock – A hand that cannot lose.
• Lojack – A poker game in which the chips have a cash equivalent. These games can continue indefinitely without a defined conclusion.
• Luckbox – To successfully draw the card needed to complete a winning hand.

• Made Hand – To call a wager in hopes of hitting a favorable draw.
• Middle Position – The player with the highest stack of chips in a tournament.
• Misdeal – A draw where players are attempting to complete both a straight and a flush, with a chance of achieving a straight flush.
• Miss – Cards that are displayed openly in the center of the table accessible to all players for forming the best possible five-card hand.
• Missed Blind – To place a wager on the flop after having been the aggressor before the flop.
• MTT (Multi Table Tournament) – A situation where two strong hands compete against each other (e.g., an ace pair versus a king pair).

• Newlyweds – A slang term for the hand KQ.
• Nickels – A slang term for the hand 55.
• Nit – A pin position located to the right of the dealer button and left of the hijack.
• No Limit Dead Man's Hand – A nickname for the hand consisting of aces and eights, allegedly the hand Wild Bill Hickok held before his fatal shooting at the poker table.
• Nut Flush – Cards necessary for a player to form their hand that have already been discarded by others.
• Nut Straight Dealer Position – Another term for the button position, located to the left of the cutoff and to the right of the small blind.
• Nuts – A game format where the player on the button selects the poker variant to be played in that round.

• Omaha Dog to win – Refers to a player or hand that is considered less likely to win.
• Open Limp – A slang reference for a player who lacks skill in poker.
• Open Raise Donk Bet – A bet placed 'out of turn' directed at the player who was the aggressor preflop.
• Open-Ended Straight Draw Double-Up – When a player wins a hand and doubles their stack of chips.
• Outs Draw – A hand that has value primarily based on its potential to upgrade to a straight or flush.
• Overbet – When a player goes all-in with a chance of cards to come but cannot possibly make the winning hand.
• Overcall – A flop with little or no connections among the cards, such as Kc8d2s.
• Overcards – A term describing the first few positions at the poker table.
• Overlay Edge Shot – A wager placed by a player while they are in a favorable position.
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• Peel – A slang term for calling a bet.
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• Poker Room – A place where people gather to play poker.
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• Preflop – The first betting round in poker.
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• Quads – A slang term for four-of-a-kind.

• Rag A-Game – Refers to a player's peak performance.
• Rainbow – Describes a player employing a fundamental poker strategy.
• Raise Ace – The card viewed as the highest in poker, and in certain game versions, it can function as both a high and low card, especially when forming a low straight (A2345).
• Rakeback – A poker hand characterized by having no pairs, straights, or flushes, where the highest card is an ace (e.g. Ah7h9cJd3s).
• Range – A casual term for a full house consisting of three aces and a pair of another rank (e.g. AhAsAdKcKs).
• Read (Getting a) Aces Up – Refers to the hand with two pairs, inclusive of aces and another set (e.g. AcAh9d9sJc).
• Represent Act – To undertake an action within a hand, such as calling or raising.
• River American Airlines – A playful term for pocket aces (AA).
• Rock – Another term for a nit.
• Royal Flush Anna Kournikova – A humorous expression for an ace-king hand (AK).
• Runner-Runner Ante – The initial bet made by all players before any cards are dealt. It's important to note that 'antes' differ from 'blinds' as types of obligatory bets in poker.
• Running Bad – A hand containing an ace alongside another card (e.g. AsJd).
• Running Good Backdoor – The scenario when a winning hand is achieved utilizing both the turn and river cards to complete a previously weak draw.
• Running it Twice – A drawing situation where a player needs two specific cards from the turn and river to finalize their hand.

• Sandbag – A slang term for slowplaying.
• Scare Card Backdoor Flush – A flush draw requiring two consecutive cards to complete the flush.
• Scoop Backdoor Straight – A straight draw that necessitates two cards from the turn and river to finish the straight.
• Semi-bluff Bankroll – The total amount of money a player has allocated for poker play.
• Set Bet – The action of staking a wager during a round of betting.
• Seven Card Stud Big Blind – A mandatory bet made by one player prior to the dealing of cards. This position is located left of the small blind and right of the under-the-gun (UTG) position.
• Shootout Big Pair – Refers to the strongest pocket pairs in poker, including AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and TT.
• Short Stack Big Slick – A frequently used slang term for an ace-king hand.
• Short-Handed Blocker – A card that hinders another player from having a certain hand. For instance, holding the Ad while the board displays 9d8d3d means no one else can have the nut flush while you hold that card.
• Shove – The act of moving all in.
• Slowplay Blocking Bet – Making a small wager to stop an opponent from placing a larger bet on the river.
• Small Blind Bluff – Pretending to possess a stronger hand than one actually has, with the aim of inducing opponents to fold.
• SNG (Sit and Go) Bluff Catcher – A hand that only outperforms an opponent's bluffs but loses to actual strong hands.
• Soft-play Board – A term that refers to the community cards placed in the center of the table accessible to all players.
• Stack Bomb Pot – A distinctive poker hand where the preflop action is bypassed; all players contribute a fixed number of chips to the pot, after which the flop is dealt, and action commences with the player to the left of the dealer button.
• Stakes Bonus Chips – Additional chips provided by online poker platforms or casinos as part of promotional offers, typically granted for signing up, making deposits, or taking part in exclusive events.
• Steal Bot – A program operating illegally in online poker environments.
• Straight Flush Bounty – A monetary reward given in some poker tournaments for eliminating an opponent.
• String Bet/Raise Bubble – The stage in a poker tournament just before players start getting paid.
• Suck Out Burn – The top card discarded from the deck before community cards are revealed.
• Suit Button – Considered the prime position at the poker table, the button is the last to act after the flop. In live games, it’s represented by a small plastic marker, known as the dealer button.
• Suited – A poker player who seldom folds, irrespective of hand strength.

• Tank – A casino poker variant where players aim to outplay the dealer by forming the best possible hand. Provides extra payouts for stronger hands like four-of-a-kind and royal flushes.
• Tell – The final card of a particular rank found in the deck (e.g. the case ace).
• Texas Hold'em – A poker game where chips hold cash value, allowing for continuous play without a predetermined end.
• Three-bet – To draw the necessary card to complete a winning hand.
• Tilt – To call a bet with hopes of drawing a hand.
• Top Kicker – The individual with the highest chip count in a tournament.
• Top Set – A drawing opportunity where players are aiming for both a straight and a flush, potentially creating a straight flush.
• Trap – Community cards revealed face-up on the table, available to all participants to form the best five-card poker hand.
• Trips – The action of placing a bet on the flop after having taken the initiative before the flop.

• Underdog – A situation where two high-value hands confront each other (e.g. a pair of aces facing a pair of kings).
• UTG (Under the Gun) – A poker position right of the button and left of the hijack.

• Value Bet Dead Man's Hand – A colloquial term for the combination of aces and eights, reputedly held by Wild Bill Hickock at the time of his fatal shooting during a poker game.
• Variance – Cards essential for a player to complete their hand, which have already been folded by others.
• Video Poker Dealer Position – Another name for the button position, located to the left of the cutoff and right of the small blind.

• Wayne Gretzky – A game where the player at the button has the authority to select the poker variant for that particular round.
• Wet Board Dog to win – Refers to a player or hand viewed as unlikely to win.
• WPT – A jocular term for a player deemed to have insufficient skills in poker.
• WSOP Donk Bet – A wager made 'against the flow' into the preflop aggressor.

• Z-Game Double-Up – Successfully winning a hand and consequently doubling one’s chip stack.