When we first started playing poker, we almost felt
like there was this exclusive club that no one wanted
us to join. They even had their own language! terms
like "The Nuts", "The Turn", "Fifth
Street" and our personal favourite, "Coffee
Housing!!!". Well, we learnt the hard way and
picked up the lingo while playing and chatting with
players. There is no reason why you guys have to.
So below, we thoughtfully (How Kind!!) compiled a
complete list of the plethora of poker terms out there.
You may wanna bookmark this page so you can refer
back to it when need be.
All-in
An all-in occurs when you do not have enough money to
cover the full bet amount, and so place your remaining
money into the pot. You then contend for the pot in
an amount proportional to what you have contributed.
Ante
An ante is the minimum bet that each Player must place
into the pot before betting begins. The ante is placed
before any cards are dealt.
Big Blind
The first bet posted by the Player to the left of
the Player who posts the small blind. It is a forced
bet, and its amount is equal to the lower bet. For
example, in a $10 - $20 game, the big blind is $10.
Big Pair
A pair with a value of 10 or greater.
Blind Bet
Note:
This is only applicable to the following games:
Texas Hold'em
Omaha
Omaha Hi-lo
1-on-1
A blind bet is the first bet placed by each Player.
It is a forced bet and is placed before any cards
are dealt. It is considered a live bet for the first
round of betting. Both big blind and small blind bets
occur in the first round of betting.
Bring-in
A mandatory bet made by the Player with the lowest
card in the Third Street (the first round of betting).
Buy-in Amount
The amount you must bring into a game.
Buy-in Limit
The term used to describe the minimum amount required
to buy into a 1-on-1 game.
Note:
This is also applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
Call
A call occurs when a bet equal to the previous bet
is placed.
Cap
Once the betting has been raised three times in one
round, it is then capped, or limited. From this point
Players may only call (place a bet equal to the previous
bet) or fold.
Check
Clicking the check button allows you to stay in a
game without placing any bets. Note that you can only
check if no other bets have been placed in the betting
round.
Coffee Housing
Any chat between Players that goes towards misleading
or manipulating other Players is termed 'coffeehousing',
and is strictly prohibited.
Community Cards
These are the cards dealt to the table - the cards
that each Player uses to complete their five-card
hand.
Dealer button
Marked with a D, the dealer button is the disk used
to signify the Dealer's position on the table.
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Equalized
A game is equalized once all the Players have contributed
the same amount of credits to the pot.
Fifth Street
The third round of betting is termed the 'Fifth Street'
as the Players each have five cards.
The following applies to the Fifth Street:
Bet amounts are set at the highest limit.
Note: Betting limits are set by the card room.
The Player with the highest ranking hand begins the
next round of betting.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven-Card Stud Poker.
Flop
These are the first three community cards dealt to
the table.
Note:
This term is applicable to the following games:
Texas Hold'em
Omaha
Omaha Hi-Lo
Fold
Players fold when they throw in their cards. Once
a Player has folded they automatically relinquish
their claim on the pot in exchange for not making
any further contributions towards it.
Fourth Street
The second round of betting is the 'Fourth Street'
as each Player has four cards. This is particularly
applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
The following applies to the Fourth Street:
The Player with the highest ranking hand begins the
next round of betting.
Players can Fold, Call, Raise or Check.
Note:
If the highest ranking hand is a Pair, the first Player
to bet has the option to bet either the low or high
betting limit. This becomes the raise amount for the
rest of the game. The other Players must follow this
amount when they raise their bets.
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Live Blinds
These are blind bets that are in play.
Example:
Player A posts a small blind bet. Player B joins the
game and posts a big blind bet. Player A must now
equalize the betting as the big blind bet is in play
and is live.
Lowest Card
The card that has the lowest value (keep in mind that
aces are high). If two Players have the same lowest
card, the value is determined by suit. Suits are arranged
in alphabetical order from lowest to highest value
- Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades.
Muck
If a Player does not wish to show his losing hand
to the table, he can choose to muck. The hand will
then be discarded without being displayed to the table.
Pocket Cards
The cards that are dealt face down to each Player
are known as pocket cards.
Post Now
'Post now' is a choice given to new Players when they
join a game. They can choose to either post now, or
wait for the big blind bet. If they decide to post
now, they bet the equivalent of a big blind bet and
receive cards immediately.
Pot
The pot is the pile of chips that accumulate as each
Player antes, bets and raises. All winnings are paid
from the pot. The value of the pot varies - it is
dependant on the stakes involved and the amount that
the Players bet. The pot goes to the winner of the
hands in each round.
Note:
The House takes a small percentage of the pot.
If two or more Players have the same winning hand,
they split the pot equally.
Quartered
When Players tie with either a high or a low hand,
their winnings equal a quarter of the pot.
Note:
This is Applicable to Omaha Hi/Lo Poker.
Raise
The purpose of a raise is to increase the stakes for
the remaining Players at the table. To raise a bet,
it must first be matched, then increased.
River Card
The final community card dealt is known as the River
Card.
Runs
A run is a betting cycle around the table. A cycle
from the first Player to the last Player is considered
one run.
Seventh Street
The fifth and final round of betting is the 'Seventh
Street' as each Player has seven cards.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
The following applies to the Seventh Street:
The River Card is dealt face down.
The Player that played first on the Sixth Street plays
first on the Seventh Street.
If there is more than one Player left in the game
after another round of betting, the game is resolved
by means of a showdown.
Each Player exposes the best five-card hand possible.
The winner is awarded the pot.
Showdown
This occurs after the last betting round when the
remaining Players compare hands to determine the winner.
The Player with the highest-value hand wins the pot.
Sitting Out
A Player 'sits out' when he chooses to leave the table
for a short period of time.
Note:
If a Player sits out for more than fifteen minutes,
or has missed two rounds of blinds, they are removed
from the table.
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Sixth Street
The fourth round of betting is the 'Sixth Street'
as each Player has six cards.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
The following applies to the Sixth Street:
Bet amounts are set at the highest limit.
The Player with the highest ranking hand begins the
next round of betting.
Note:
Betting limits are set by the card room.
Small Blind
A small blind is the first bet posted by the Player
to the Dealer's left. It is a forced bet, and its
amount is equal to half of the lower bet. For example,
in a $10 - $20 game, the small blind is $5.
Street
This is the term assigned to the various stages of
betting. Betting begins on the Third Street, and continues
to the Seventh Street, making five rounds of betting
in total.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
Third Street
Note:
This is applicable to Seven-Card Stud Poker.The first
round of betting is the 'Third Street' as each Player
has three cards. The Player with the lowest card displayed
brings-in the betting in this round.
Turn
A turn is the fourth community card dealt.
Note:
This is applicable to the following games:
Texas Hold'em
Omaha
Omaha Hi-Lo
Visible Cards
These are the cards that are dealt face up to each
Player. Players use these cards to complete their
five-card combinations.