A
- 1-4-8, 2-4, 3-6, 6-12, 10-20, etc. (adj.): The betting structure for a game. For example, "1-4-8" means $1 bets in early rounds, $4 in middle rounds, and $8 in later rounds. Related terms: Fixed Limit, Spread Limit.
- Action (n.): Money being bet. Example: "No action" means few bets or raises. "Gimme some action" is a plea for calls and raises.
- Active Player (n.): A player still in the pot.
- All-In (adj.): Having all of one's chips in the pot. An all-in player cannot be forced out but can only win the portion of the pot they contributed to. Side pots are created for remaining players.
- American Airlines (n.): In Texas Hold'em, a pair of Aces in the hole. Also known as Pocket Rockets.
- Ante (n.): A small forced bet all players make before a hand is dealt. Not all games use antes. Related terms: Blind, Forced Bet.
- Assault Rifle (n.): In Omaha, hole cards A-K-4-7 of any suit(s).
B
- Back Door (adj.): A hand made in the last card or two, often unexpectedly. Example: Completing a flush or straight on the river.
- Bad Beat (n.): [1] A very strong hand (e.g., full house) beaten by an even stronger hand. [2] A hand that wins despite having a negative expectation.
- Bad-Beat Jackpot (n.): A prize shared by players when a very strong hand (e.g., Aces full) is beaten. Often funded by a small drop from each pot.
- Bankroll (n.): Total gambling funds available. Different from the money on the table. Related terms: Stack, Stake.
- Belly Buster (n.): An inside straight draw. Also called Gutshot.
- Bet (v.): To put money into the pot, maintaining a chance to win.
- Bicycle (n.): The best possible low hand: A-2-3-4-5. Also called Wheel.
- Big Blind (n.): A forced bet, usually double the small blind. In limit games, it’s often the minimum bet for the first round.
- Big Slick (n.): In Texas Hold'em, hole cards A-K (suited or unsuited).
- Bluff (v.): Betting or raising with a weak hand, hoping opponents fold.
C
- Call (v.): To match a bet to stay in the hand.
- Check (v.): To bet zero when no one has bet yet. Often indicates a fair hand or a bluff.
- Check-Raise (v.): To check, then raise after an opponent bets. Often indicates strength.
- Community Cards (n.): Cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table, shared by all players (e.g., in Texas Hold'em).
- Cowboy (n.): A King.
D
- Dead Man's Hand (n.): Two pair, Aces and Eights. Historically, the hand Wild Bill Hickok held when he was shot.
- Dealer's Choice (n.): In home games, the dealer chooses the poker variant for the hand.
- Draw (v.): To discard and replace cards in draw poker.
- Drawing Dead (adj.): Drawing to a hand that cannot win, regardless of the cards drawn.
E
- Expectation (n.): The long-term average outcome of a situation. Positive expectation means a profitable play.
F
- Fish (n.): A losing player. Example: "If you can’t spot the fish, you’re the fish."
- Flop (n.): In Texas Hold'em, the first three community cards dealt face-up.
- Flush (n.): A hand with five cards of the same suit.
- Fold (v.): To discard one’s hand and forfeit the pot.
G
- Gutshot (n.): An inside straight draw. Example: Holding 5-6-8-9 and needing a 7 to complete the straight.
H
- Heads-Up (adj.): Playing against a single opponent.
- Hold'em (n.): A poker variant where players receive two hole cards and five community cards. The most popular form is Texas Hold'em.
I
- Implied Odds (n.): The potential future bets you can win if you hit your hand, in addition to the current pot size.
K
- Kicker (n.): The highest unpaired card in a hand. Example: In a hand of A-A-K-Q-J, the kicker is the King.
N
- Nut (adj.): The best possible hand at a given moment. Example: "Nut flush" is the highest possible flush.
- Nuts (n.): The best possible hand. Example: "I have the nuts" means you cannot be beaten.
P
- Pocket Rockets (n.): In Texas Hold'em, a pair of Aces in the hole.
- Pot Odds (n.): The ratio of the current pot size to the cost of a call. Used to determine if a call is profitable.
R
- River (n.): The fifth and final community card in Texas Hold'em.
- Royal Flush (n.): The best possible hand: A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit.
S
- Set (n.): In Texas Hold'em, three of a kind where two cards are in the hole.
- Showdown (n.): The final phase where remaining players reveal their hands to determine the winner.
- Straight (n.): Five consecutive cards of mixed suits.
- Straight Flush (n.): Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
T
- Tell (n.): A physical or behavioral clue that reveals information about a player’s hand.
- Texas Hold'em (n.): A popular poker variant where players receive two hole cards and five community cards.
W
- Wheel (n.): The best possible low hand: A-2-3-4-5. Also called Bicycle.
- Wild Card (n.): A card that can substitute for any other card (e.g., Joker).
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