Poker is a popular card game that involves strategy, skill, and luck. Over the years, players have developed their own language and jargon to describe various aspects of the game. If you’re new to poker or just looking to expand your vocabulary, here are some common poker phrases that you should know:
PRO TIP:Familiarize yourself with some of the most common poker terms and lingo so that you can understand what other players are talking about. Some of the most popular poker phrases include “all-in” (betting all your chips), “raise” (increase the bet amount), “check” (not betting), and “call” (matching the bet).
- All-in: When a player bets all of their remaining chips in a single hand.
- Ante: A small bet that all players are required to make before the start of a hand.
- Blind: A mandatory bet made by two players sitting to the left of the dealer.
- Burn card: A card that is removed from the top of the deck before dealing a round of cards.
- Call: To match the current bet in a hand.
- Cards speak: When players reveal their hands at the end of a hand without announcing what they have.
- Cash game: A type of poker game where players buy-in for a certain amount and can leave with their winnings at any time.
- Drawing dead: When a player has no chance of winning a hand but continues to play anyway.
- Flop: The first three community cards dealt face up in Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
- Gutshot: A straight draw where only one card can complete it, such as holding QJ on a board with K-T-9.
- Nit: A tight player who only plays premium hands and rarely bluffs.
- PFR: Pre-flop raise percentage, a statistic that shows how often a player raises before the flop.
- River: The fifth and final community card dealt in Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
- Showdown: The point at which all remaining players reveal their cards to determine the winner of a hand.
- Small blind: The smaller of the two mandatory bets made by players sitting to the left of the dealer.
- Suck out: When a player wins a hand despite being a significant underdog at the start of the hand.
- Tilt: When a player becomes emotionally compromised and starts making poor decisions at the table.
- Under the gun: The first player to act in a hand, sitting to the left of the big blind.
- Wet board: A board with many possible draws, such as holding JhTh on a flop of Qh9h8d.
- X-factor: A variable that affects your decision-making process, such as your opponent’s playing style or your current chip stack.
- Zeebo’s theorem: A tongue-in-cheek theorem that states “No matter what cards you have, it’s always correct to go all-in pre-flop.”
These are just some of the many poker phrases you may encounter while playing this exciting game. By learning these terms, you’ll be better equipped to understand and communicate with other players at the table. Keep practicing and studying, and good luck!
