Poker Terminology

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z

ABC poker: A simple and straightforward way of playing with limited bluffing.
Abstraction: The process of simplifying the complexity of different poker situations by categorizing similar decision-making scenarios into a manageable number of groups.
Act: To make a play (check, bet, call, raise, or fold) at the required time during a poker hand.
Acting out of turn: When a player physically or verbally announces what they intend to do before it is their turn.
Action: Can refer to your turn or to events that happened during a hand.
Action card: An “action card” in poker refers to a community card, typically dealt face-up, that significantly influences the action and betting in a hand. These cards often complete draws, create potential flushes or straights, or significantly change the strength of players’ hands.
Action game: A poker game characterized by frequent and large bets, often with many players participating in each hand. This type of game is typically fast-paced and involves more risk, appealing to players who seek excitement and continuous play.
Active player: A player who is still in the pot and has not folded.
Ace high: A poker hand that contains an Ace with no straight, flush, or pair. The Ace is the highest card.
Ace rag: An Ace with a low kicker (a non-pair second card).
Aces full: A full house with three aces.
Aces up: A hand that contains two pairs, one of which is a pair of Aces.
Add-on: The opportunity to purchase additional chips in a tournament.
Advertising: In poker, “advertising” refers to actions or behaviors intended to mislead opponents about a player’s hand strength or playing style.
A Game: In poker, “A Game” refers to a player’s highest level of performance and focus during a session or tournament. It represents a state of optimal play where the player is making well-calculated decisions, executing strategies effectively, and maintaining mental discipline.
Aggression Factor (AF): Aggression Factor (AF) is a poker statistic that measures the aggressiveness of a player post-flop. It is calculated by dividing the sum of a player’s post-flop bets and raises by the sum of their post-flop calls and checks. A higher AF indicates a tendency to bet or raise rather than call or check, signifying a more aggressive playing style. This metric is especially useful in online poker, where tracking software provides detailed data on opponents’ betting behaviors.
Aggression Frequency (AFQ): A measure of the percentage of times a player makes any aggressive action (bets or raises) as compared to all their possible opportunities to make such actions.
Aggressive play: Playing style characterized by frequent betting and raising.
Ahead: Being in the lead in terms of chip count or having the best hand.
Air: Air refers to a very weak hand.
All in: A bet where a player commits his entire stack.
American Airlines: A nickname for a pair of Aces, the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em.
Angle shooting: A controversial play that is technically within the rules but is seen as unethical or unfair.
Ante: A small bet all players must make before cards are dealt. The purpose is to increase the action.
ATC: Short for “Any Two Cards,” a term used in poker to describe a player’s willingness to play with any starting hand, regardless of its strength. This approach is often seen in aggressive or loose playing styles.
ATS: Measures the frequency a player tries to steal the blinds from late position, which highlights their opportunistic play in weaker-held pots.
Ax: Abbreviation for any hand with an Ace and another card (x).
Backdoor flush: A flush draw with only three cards to the flush. It needs to hit both turn and river to make the flush.
Backdoor straight: A hand where a player needs to hit two consecutive cards on the turn and river to complete a straight. This type of draw is also known as a “runner-runner straight,” because the player needs two running cards to make their hand.
Backer: A person or entity that provides the financial stake for a poker player to enter games or tournaments, in exchange for a portion of the earnings. This arrangement allows players to compete at higher stakes than they might afford on their own.
Backraise: In poker, a “backraise” occurs when a player who has already called a bet or raise then raises the pot. This aggressive move can be used to capitalize on perceived weakness from the initial bettor or raiser, applying pressure and potentially inducing folds from opponents.
Bad beat: Bad luck in poker, typically when a hand is beaten by a lucky draw.
Bad beat jackpot: A prize offered by some poker rooms or casinos that is awarded to a player who loses a hand despite having a very strong hand, typically defined by specific criteria. The jackpot is meant to mitigate the frustration of losing with a strong hand and is funded by additional rake taken from each pot.
Balance: In poker, “balance” refers to maintaining a strategic equilibrium in one’s gameplay, including a mix of different types of hands, bet sizes, and actions, to prevent opponents from easily predicting one’s intentions.
Bankroll: The total amount of money a poker player has set aside for playing.
Bankroll Management: Bankroll management is the practice of carefully controlling and allocating one’s available funds for playing poker to minimize the risk of going broke due to losses.
Barreling: Barreling refers to the strategy of making consecutive bets or raises in multiple betting rounds to apply pressure on opponents and win the pot, often with a weaker hand that has the potential to improve.
bb/100: Short for “big blinds per 100 hands,” a statistical measure used in poker to evaluate a player’s performance. It represents the average number of big blinds a player wins or loses over 100 hands. This metric helps players assess their effectiveness and profitability in the game.
Behind: In poker, “behind” refers to being in a position where one’s hand currently ranks lower than an opponent’s hand or where one is not the favorite to win the pot.
Bet: The action of putting chips into the pot during a poker hand. A bet starts the betting round, prompting other players to call, raise, or fold in response.
Betting lead: The position of having the initiative to bet first in a betting round, typically achieved by being the aggressor in the previous betting round.
Betting pattern: The sequence of betting actions taken by a player or players throughout a hand.
Betting round: In poker, a “betting round” refers to a phase of the game during which players have the opportunity to bet, raise, call, or fold, based on the strength of their hands and their assessment of opponents’ actions. Betting rounds occur after each new set of community cards is dealt (flop, turn, and river) in games like Texas Hold’em, with players taking turns to act clockwise around the table.
Betting structure: In poker, the “betting structure” refers to the rules that govern the betting actions players can take during a hand, including the allowable bet sizes, betting rounds, and limits imposed on bets and raises.
Bet sizing: The amount chosen by a player to bet in a particular situation.
Big blind: The larger of the two forced bets in community card games.
Big slick: A nickname for an Ace-King hand.
Blank: A card that does not complete or significantly alter any player’s hand. It typically does not affect the standings of the hands in play, particularly with regards to straight or flush possibilities.
Blind: A forced bet, typically put in by the two players to the left of the dealer.
Blind Defense: In poker, “blind defense” refers to defending the big blind or small blind by calling or raising a bet, typically to prevent opponents from exploiting the blind positions.
Blind off: In poker tournaments, “blind off” occurs when a player loses all their chips due to the increasing blinds and antes, forcing them out of the tournament.
Blind steal: An attempt to win the blinds with a pre-flop raise, usually from late position.
Block bet: A small bet made to prevent an opponent from making a larger bet.
Blocker: A card in hand that decreases the likelihood of an opponent having a specific hand.
Bluff: To bet or raise with a weak hand in hopes of getting opponents to fold.
Bluff catcher: A hand that can only win when the opponent is bluffing.
Bluff induce: To make plays or take actions with the intention of encouraging opponents to bluff, often by appearing weak or vulnerable.
Board: The community cards in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Board coverage: The range of different hand types a player can possibly have, based on the community cards displayed on the board. Good board coverage allows a player to effectively contest a wide variety of possible opposing hands.
Board texture: A description of the community cards in poker, indicating how coordinated or disconnected the cards are, which affects the range of possible hands players might have.
Boat: Slang for a full house, a set and a pair together.
Bomb pot: A variant of poker where all players contribute a predetermined amount to the pot before the hand begins, creating a larger pot and altering the dynamics of the game.
Bottom end: The lowest possible straight in a given situation, often a vulnerable hand. Also known as idiot end
Bottom pair: A pair including the lowest card on the flop.
Bounty: A reward offered in a poker tournament for eliminating a specific player from the game, typically paid to the player who eliminates them.
Breakeven Percentage: In poker, “breakeven percentage” refers to the minimum percentage of the time a player’s hand needs to win in order to break even based on the odds they are receiving. It represents the threshold at which a bet becomes neither profitable nor unprofitable in the long run, taking into account the size of the bet and the potential payout.
Brick: A community card that doesn’t affect the action significantly.
Brick and mortar: Refers to traditional, physical poker establishments such as casinos or card rooms, as opposed to online poker platforms.
Broadway card: A card with a rank of ten or higher, often referring to cards that can contribute to a straight such as 10, J, Q, K, or A.
Brush: In a poker room, a casino employee responsible for managing the seating and waiting lists, as well as overseeing the games and ensuring fair play.
Bubble: The term used to describe the critical point in a poker tournament just before players make it into the money. The player eliminated on the bubble is the last to leave without any winnings.
Bubble factor: In poker tournament strategy, a mathematical concept that measures the increased value of chips as a player nears the bubble, where a significant number of players will be eliminated before reaching the money.
Bubble pressure: A term used to describe the increased psychological tension and strategic adjustments in a poker tournament as players approach the “bubble,” which is the point where the next player eliminated will not receive any payout. Players often change their playing style to either protect their chip stack or exploit the cautiousness of others.
Bum hunting: A strategy used by some poker players who specifically seek out less skilled or weaker opponents to increase their chances of winning. This practice is common in online poker rooms where players can choose their tables and opponents.
Bully: A player who aggressively dominates the table, often by making large bets and applying pressure to opponents.
Bunching effect: A card removal effect caused by hands that are folded preflop. Players typically play high cards more often than low cards, which skews the distribution of cards in the deck.
Burn card: A card discarded by the dealer before dealing the community cards.
Busted: A term used in poker to describe a player who has lost all of their chips and is thus eliminated from the game or tournament. It can also refer to a hand that did not improve or ended up losing despite high expectations, such as a busted straight or flush draw.
Button: The position of the dealer in a hand, marked by a plastic disk.
Buy-in: The amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament. This is the initial investment that players make to receive chips and participate in the game.
Buy the button: A strategy in poker where a player posts both the small and big blinds in a position other than the big blind, typically after missing blinds in previous rounds. This allows the player to regain the dealer button position.
Buy the pot: To make a large bet or raise with the intention of forcing other players to fold, thus winning the pot uncontested.
Call: The action of matching the current bet in order to continue participating in the hand. A call indicates that a player is willing to stay in the game without raising the bet.
Calling station: A player who frequently calls bets but seldom raises, often regardless of their hand strength.
Call the clock: A request made by a player to the dealer or tournament director to impose a time limit on another player’s decision-making process, typically when a player is taking an unusually long time to act.
Card protector: An object placed on top of a player’s hole cards to prevent them from being accidentally exposed or mucked by the dealer, often a small weighty item or a lucky charm.
Cards: The playing cards used in poker games, typically a standard deck of 52 cards consisting of four suits: hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, each containing thirteen ranks.
Cap: The limit on the number of raises in a round of betting, usually in limit games.
Capped range: In poker, a “capped range” refers to a range of hands that a player is perceived to have based on their actions and betting patterns, but which does not include their strongest hands. A capped range suggests that the player is unlikely to hold very strong hands, such as premium pairs or strong suited connectors, because they would typically raise with those hands instead of just calling or checking.
Case card: The last card of a particular rank in the deck.
Cash game: A poker game that is played for real money on a per-hand basis as opposed to a tournament.
Cashing: Converting poker chips into cash, typically done at the conclusion of a poker session or tournament. In tournament poker, “cashing” refers to reaching a paid position, often in the top percentage of finishers.
Catch: To receive a needed card or favorable situation, often improving a hand significantly.
Catch up: To improve a hand significantly, typically by receiving needed cards on subsequent streets, often resulting in surpassing or outdrawing opponents.
C-Bet frequency: The percentage of times a player follows up their pre-flop raise with a bet on the flop, suggesting how often they continue their aggression after the initial round.
Chase: The act of continuing to bet on or call bets with a drawing hand, hoping to improve to a winning hand, often against the odds. This term is typically used when a player is pursuing a specific hand completion, like a straight or flush, despite unfavorable pot odds.
Check: To pass the action to the next player without betting.
Check-raise: A strategic move where a player first checks, then raises after an opponent bets. This tactic is used to lure opponents into committing chips to the pot under the assumption that the check-raiser has a weak hand.
Chip: A small, round token used as currency in poker games, representing a specified value of money.
Chip dumping: The illegal act of intentionally losing chips to another player, often to facilitate collusion or money laundering.
Chip leader: The player with the largest stack of chips in a poker tournament or cash game.
Chop: To split the pot between two or more players rather than awarding it all to a single player.
Clairvoyant: In the context of GTO solvers in poker, ‘clairvoyant’ refers to the ability of these tools to perfectly predict opponents’ strategies and tendencies, allowing for an optimized response based on comprehensive game theory analysis.
Click back: A quick and often small raise made with the click of a button in online poker, typically indicating a strong hand or a desire to take control of the betting.
Coin flip: A situation where two players are all-in and have about an equal chance of winning.
Cold call: To call a bet and a raise without having already invested money in the pot in a particular round.
Cold deck: A term implying that a game is unfair or rigged.
Cold 4-bet: A re-raise that is made after there has already been a bet, a raise, and a 3-bet in the betting sequence. A cold 4-bet is typically made by a player who has not yet participated in the betting round.
Collusion: Cheating that involves two or more players secretly working together.
Combinatorics: In poker, combinatorics refers to the study of the number of ways different combinations of hole cards can interact with the community cards on the board. It helps players deduce the probabilities of opponents holding certain hands based on the cards that are visible.
Combos: Short for combinations, referring to the different ways a particular hand can be made with a standard deck of cards.
Combo draw: A powerful drawing hand in poker that has multiple ways to improve on future streets. For example, a hand that includes both a straight draw and a flush draw. This gives the player a higher chance of making a strong hand by the river.
Come Over the Top: In poker, “come over the top” is a term used to describe a player’s action of making a significant raise or re-raise over an opponent’s bet or raise. This aggressive move is often employed to apply pressure, gain control of the pot, or force opponents to fold weaker hands.
Complete: In Texas Hold’em, completing the bet refers to a player opting to call rather than raise when they have the opportunity to do so, typically in a situation where blinds are involved. It often involves calling the big blind instead of raising, showing a more cautious or strategic approach to the hand.
Community cards: Cards placed face-up on the table that are shared by all players to make their hands in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha.
Condensed: A capped range that is also tight. This range does not contain the strongest hands, but is lean and contains many medium-strength hands. Also known as “depolarized”.
Connector: Sequential hole cards that have the potential to make a straight, such as 4-5 or 9-10.
Continuation bet: A bet on the flop by the player who raised pre-flop, continuing the aggression.
Cooler: In Texas Hold’em, a cooler is a situation where two or more players have very strong hands, resulting in a large pot. It typically leads to one player losing to another due to the natural strength of both hands, rather than any mistake in play.
Counterfeit: Occurs when the board pairs or mirrors your cards, reducing their value. For example, holding 8-7 with a flop of 9-T-J gives a straight; a turn card of 8 counterfeits it by mirroring. Another example is holding 6-7 with a turn of A-6-7-9; a river 9 gives opponents with an ace a better two-pair.
Covered: In poker, “covered” typically refers to a situation where one player’s stack size is equal to or larger than another player’s stack size. For example, if Player A has more chips than Player B, Player A is said to have Player B covered. Having an opponent covered can give a player an advantage in certain situations, such as putting pressure on them with aggressive betting.
Cowboys: Slang for a pair of Kings.
Cracked: A term used when a strong hand, usually a pocket pair of Aces or Kings, is beaten.
Crying call: A reluctant call, usually made expecting to lose, but feeling obligated to make it due to pot odds.
Cutoff: The position to the right of the dealer or button, second-best position at the table.
Dark: A bet or raise made without looking at one’s cards, typically done for strategic purposes to deceive opponents or gain an advantage.
Dead money: Chips or money in the pot contributed by players who have folded and are no longer competing in the hand, adding to the pot without the potential to win it.
Deal: To distribute cards to players in a game of poker, typically performed by the dealer according to the rules of the game.
Dealer: The person responsible for distributing cards, managing the action, and ensuring the integrity of the game.
Dealer button: A marker used to denote the player who is in the dealer position for the current hand in a poker game.
Dealer’s choice: A variant of poker where the dealer selects the specific game or variant to be played for each hand or round.
Deck: The standard 52-card group used in poker.
Deep stack: A situation in a cash game where players have unusually large stacks relative to the blinds.
Defend: To call a pre-flop raise when in the big blind, to prevent the raiser from stealing the blinds.
Delay C-bet: A continuation bet (C-bet) made by a player on a later street, typically after initially checking on the flop. This strategic move is used to disguise the strength of the player’s hand and potentially induce a bluff from opponents or extract value from weaker hands.
Depolarized Range: A range of hands that includes both strong value hands and some weaker hands, aiming to balance between aggression and deception. Unlike a polarized range, which consists mainly of very strong hands and bluffs, a depolarized range includes a broader spectrum of hand strengths to confuse opponents and make it more difficult for them to accurately assess one’s holdings.
Deuce: A card with the rank of two.
Dog: Short for “underdog,” it refers to a player or hand that is statistically less likely to win a pot.
Dominated hand: A hand that is substantially behind another hand pre-flop, like AK vs. AQ.
Donk bet: A bet made from out of position without the betting lead on the previous street.
Double Barrel: In poker, to make a continuation bet on both the flop and the turn, following up with aggression after betting on the previous street, often used to apply pressure on opponents and represent a strong hand.
Double belly buster: A hand that has two separate chances of completing a straight, also known as a double inside straight draw.
Double gutter: See double belly buster.
Double up: To double one’s chip stack in a hand, typically by going all-in and winning.
Downbet: In poker, a downbet is a bet made on a later street that is smaller than the previous bet made in the same hand. It is typically used to control the size of the pot while still maintaining aggression or inducing calls from opponents.
Downswing: A period where a player experiences a significant or prolonged loss.
Draw: A hand that needs to improve to win, usually by completing a straight or flush.
Drawing dead: When no card left in the deck can turn a losing hand into a winner.
Drawing thin: In poker, “drawing thin” refers to being in a situation where you have very few outs (cards that can improve your hand) to win the pot. It suggests that your chances of winning the hand are slim or unlikely.
Draw out: Winning a hand by receiving a card that completes a drawing hand, typically against an opponent who was initially ahead. This term is often used when the draw was unlikely to succeed based on the odds.
Dry board: A flop that doesn’t appear to help any player very much.
Ducks: A slang term for a pair of twos in Texas Hold’em, derived from the visual similarity between the numeral “2” and the shape of a duck. While not a particularly strong starting hand, pairs can still be valuable depending on the context of the game and subsequent community cards.
Dynamic board: In poker, a “dynamic board” refers to a situation where the community cards (the flop, turn, or river) create various possibilities for strong hands or draws. It typically involves cards of different ranks and suits, increasing the potential for different players to have strong holdings.
Early position: The first few positions after the blinds in a poker hand, often considered disadvantageous due to having to act early in the betting rounds.
Edge: A player’s advantage over their opponents, typically through superior skills or strategic play.
Effective nuts: In poker, the “effective nuts” refer to the best possible hand considering the community cards and the players’ known cards. It accounts for the current betting action and the range of hands opponents are likely to hold, determining the strongest possible hand in the context of the game.
Effective odds: The ratio of the total expected profit when you hit your hand to the total amount of bets you will have to call to continue.
Effective stack: The smallest stack in play between two or more players involved in a pot. It determines the maximum amount that can be won or lost in the hand.
Ejected: Being removed from a poker game or tournament, usually due to rule violations or unacceptable behavior.
Elimination: Being knocked out of a tournament, where a player loses all their chips and has no opportunity to re-buy or re-enter.
Enthusiast: A player who loves poker, often not professionally, but with a keen interest in learning and playing the game.
Entry fee: The fee associated with entering a poker tournament, part of which goes into the prize pool and part to the house.
Equity: Equity measures the percentage of the pot one can expect to win, assuming the hand goes to the river and all cards are shown, without factoring in any additional bets. This value is determined by simulating the hand against the range of hands opponents might hold.
Equity buckets: In poker, equity buckets are used to categorize hands based on their equity (or expected value) against an opponent’s range of hands. This concept helps players simplify decision-making by grouping similar strength hands together in the analysis of various play scenarios.
Equity denial: A strategic concept in poker where a player bets or raises with the intention of reducing the opponent’s potential equity in the hand, particularly when facing drawing hands. By betting or raising aggressively, the player aims to make it unprofitable for opponents to continue chasing their draws, thus denying them the opportunity to realize their equity.
Equity realization: The ability to convert one’s equity in the pot into actual winnings, influenced by play style, position, and opponent behavior.
Escalator tournament: A type of poker tournament where the blinds and antes increase at a faster rate than in standard tournaments, escalating the action and pressure on players.
Even money: A situation in a bet where the payout equals the amount staked, meaning there’s a 50/50 chance to win or lose.
EV (Expected Value): A calculation used by poker players to determine the expected value of a particular play over time, to see if it will win or lose money.
Exploitative: In poker, an exploitative strategy involves adjusting one’s play to take advantage of specific weaknesses or tendencies observed in opponents. This approach focuses on exploiting the perceived mistakes or patterns of opponents rather than strictly adhering to a balanced or theoretical strategy like Game Theory Optimal (GTO).
Exposed card: A card that is accidentally shown to one or more players at the table. It is usually ruled as dead, depending on the game’s rules.
Face card: A card with a picture on it; kings, queens, and jacks are face cards.
Family pot: A pot in which almost every player at the table calls the opening bet.
Fancy play syndrome: The tendency for players to use unnecessarily complex plays when simpler ones would be more effective.
Fast: Playing aggressively, typically by betting and raising frequently.
Fast Fold Poker: A variant of online poker where players have the option to fold their hand at any point in the hand and immediately be moved to a new table with a new hand. This allows players to quickly move through hands they do not wish to play, resulting in a faster pace of play overall.
Favourite: A player or hand that is statistically more likely to win compared to the opponents. For example, if one player holds A-K and another holds Q-J before the flop, the player with A-K is the favourite because they have higher-ranking cards.
Felted: In poker, being “felted” refers to losing all of one’s chips and being eliminated from the game. It’s derived from the idea of a player being knocked out of the game to the point where they’re left with nothing but the felt surface of the poker table in front of them.
Field: In poker, the “field” refers to all the players participating in a tournament or a specific game. It encompasses the entire group of competitors, often used to discuss the skill level or size of the player pool in a particular event or venue.
Fifth street: Also known as the river in community card games; the fifth and final community card dealt.
Final Table: In poker tournaments, the “final table” is the last remaining stage where a small number of players compete to determine the top finishers and the ultimate winner. Typically, the final table consists of the last nine or ten players, depending on the tournament structure.
Fish: A player who is perceived to be bad at poker, often a target for more experienced players.
Fixed strategy: A predetermined approach to playing a hand or situation in poker, regardless of the specific context or dynamics of the game. A fixed strategy does not adapt to changes in the game flow or opponent behavior.
Flat call: In poker, a flat call refers to calling a bet without raising, also known as just calling or smooth calling. This strategy is used to conceal the strength of one’s hand, potentially induce bluffs from opponents, or avoid inflating the pot size.
Float: In poker, to float means to call a bet on one street with a weak hand or draw with the intention of bluffing or taking control of the pot on a later street, regardless of whether the player improves their hand. It’s a strategic move aimed at exploiting perceived weakness in an opponent’s betting pattern.
Floor: In poker, the floor refers to the casino or cardroom staff members who oversee the operation of the game and enforce the rules and procedures. They handle disputes, rule interpretations, and ensure the game runs smoothly and fairly for all players.
Flop: The first three community cards dealt face-up in the center of the table in Hold’em and Omaha.
Flush: A hand consisting of five cards all of the same suit, not in sequence.
Flush draw: A hand that needs one more card of a specific suit to complete a flush.
Fold: To discard one’s hand and forfeit interest in the current pot.
Fold equity: In poker, “fold equity” refers to the additional value a player gains from the likelihood that their opponents will fold in response to their bet or raise. It represents the potential profit gained from inducing opponents to abandon their hands rather than continuing to play, allowing the player to win the pot without needing to show their cards.
Fold to 3-Bet: Represents the percentage of times a player folds to a 3-bet after they have made an initial raise, useful for identifying their reaction to re-raises.
Fold to C-Bet: The frequency with which a player folds to a continuation bet on the flop, indicating their propensity to concede when faced with continued aggression.
Forced bet: A required bet that starts the action on the first round of a poker hand, often in the form of blinds or an ante.
Four-bet (4-bet): A re-raise that follows an original bet, a raise, and a third bet (3-bet) in the betting sequence. This action is typically a strong move indicating a powerful hand or a strategic bluff in poker.
Four of a kind: A hand containing all four cards of one rank and any other card.
Fourth street: Also known as the turn in community card games; the fourth community card dealt.
Free card: A community card that players get to see without a preceding bet or raise.
Free roll: A situation in which a player has a chance to win the entire pot with no risk of losing it at that point in the hand.
Freeroll tournament: A poker tournament with no entry fee that typically offers real money or prizes.
Freezeout: In poker tournaments, a “freezeout” format refers to a competition where players are eliminated when they lose all their chips, with no option for re-entry or rebuys. Once a player runs out of chips, they are out of the tournament, and the event continues until only one player remains.
Frequencies: In poker, “frequencies” refer to the relative occurrence or distribution of certain actions, such as betting, raising, calling, or folding, made by a player in various situations. Analyzing frequencies can provide insights into a player’s playing style, tendencies, and strategic decisions, helping opponents make informed decisions during gameplay.
Full house: A hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank.
Full ring: A poker table that typically has nine or ten players in a game.
Fundamental theorem of poker: A theory developed by David Sklansky stating that every time you play a hand differently from the way you would have played it if you could see all your opponents’ cards, they gain; and every time you play your hand the same way you would have if you could see all their cards, you gain.
Gambler’s fallacy: The erroneous belief that if a particular event occurs more frequently than normal during the past, it is less likely to happen in the future, and vice versa.
Game flow: In poker, “game flow” refers to the rhythm or tempo of play at the table, influenced by factors such as the speed of betting, the types of hands being played, and the dynamics between players. Understanding and adapting to the game flow is crucial for making strategic decisions and staying ahead in the game.
Game theory optimal (GTO): A strategy in poker that aims to make a player unexploitable by opponents. It involves balancing bluffing and betting ranges to make the play mathematically optimal.
Game tree: In poker, a game tree is a conceptual diagram that represents all possible moves and outcomes starting from a particular point in a game. It helps players analyze the game by examining each possible decision point like betting, raising, or folding, along with potential reactions from opponents.
Game type: The variant of poker being played, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Stud.
Gap concept: A theory that suggests a player needs a stronger hand to call an opening bet than to open the betting themselves.
Gap hand: A starting hand in which the two cards are separated by at least one rank, reducing their strength and potential to make straights.
Geometric bet size: Betting the same size (as a percentage of the pot) on each street such that chips are all-in on the river bet. This is the optimal bet size if one player is perfectly polarized relative to their opponent, as it generates the widest overall minimum defense frequency (MDF) that gets stacks in by the river.
Get away: To fold a strong hand in anticipation of a superior hand held by an opponent.
GG: Short for “Good Game,” a term often used in online poker and gaming as a polite expression at the end of a game, regardless of the outcome. It signifies sportsmanship and acknowledgment of the game’s conclusion.
Go all-in: When a player bets all their chips on a single hand.
Going south: The unethical practice of removing chips from the table after winning, usually in a cash game, to protect the profits without leaving the game.
Good beat: In poker, when a player makes a statistically poor call that ends up winning by the conclusion of the hand.
Grinder: A player who makes a living by playing a lot of poker hands at lower stakes, focusing on a steady income rather than big jackpots.
Grinding: Playing poker in a highly disciplined manner and playing a low-risk game to gradually build up profits.
Grind out: To play for long periods with the objective of making a steady, moderate profit.
GTO: Short for “Game Theory Optimal,” a highly mathematical approach in poker aimed at playing an unexploitable strategy. This involves making decisions that balance potential gains and losses in a way that opponents cannot take advantage of, regardless of their play style.
Guaranteed tournament: A poker tournament that has a minimum prize pool set by the host regardless of how many players enter.
Gun: Short for “under the gun,” the position directly to the left of the big blind, which is the first to act in most rounds of betting.
Gutshot: A straight draw that requires one specific card to complete, also known as an inside straight draw. For example, if a player holds 6-7 and the flop comes 4-8-K, they would need a 5 (the “gutshot” card) to complete the straight from 4 to 8.
Hand: The set of cards that a player holds during a round of poker. In most poker games, a hand consists of five cards.
Hand history: In poker, hand history refers to a record of the details of hands played during a session or tournament. It typically includes information such as the cards dealt, the actions taken by each player, and the outcome of the hand. Hand histories are often used for analysis, review, and discussion of gameplay.
Hand ranking: The order of the different types of poker hands based on their strength. Common poker hands include Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card.
Hand reading: In poker, “hand reading” refers to the process of deducing or estimating the likely range of hands that opponents may hold based on their actions, betting patterns, and other available information. Hand reading is a crucial skill that allows players to make informed decisions and anticipate their opponents’ likely holdings, helping them maximize their profitability in poker hands.
Heads up: Playing against only one other player; the final two players in a tournament or a game format designed for two players.
Heads up display (HUD): A software tool used in online poker that displays statistical data about other players at the table directly on the poker client.
Heater: A period of sustained luck or winning in poker, where a player seems to consistently get good hands and win games.
Hero: The player from whose perspective the hand is being analyzed. In poker discussions and strategy, this term is often used to refer to the player in question.
Hero call: Making a call with a marginal or weak hand, believing the opponent to be bluffing, and often winning the pot as a result.
High card: A hand that does not contain a pair or better; the value of the hand is determined by its highest card.
High-low split: Games in which the pot is divided between the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand.
High roller: A player who consistently plays in very high stakes games.
High-stakes: In poker, high-stakes games refer to games with significantly large betting limits or buy-ins, often attracting experienced and wealthy players who are willing to risk substantial amounts of money. These games typically involve higher levels of skill and strategy due to the increased stakes.
Hijack: The position two seats to the right of the button, from which a player may try to “hijack” the action by raising to pressure the players in the late positions.
Hit: In poker, to ‘hit’ refers to receiving a card that significantly improves your hand. For example, if you are holding a flush draw and then draw one of the needed suit cards on the turn or river, you have ‘hit’ your flush.
Hit and Run: In poker, hit and run refers to a strategy where a player joins a table, quickly wins a significant amount of money, and then leaves the table immediately after. This tactic is often frowned upon by other players, as it disrupts the flow of the game and can be seen as unsportsmanlike behavior.
Hole cards: Cards dealt face down to a player.
Hollywood: Acting at the table to deceive other players about the strength of one’s hand.
Home game: A poker game typically played at someone’s home rather than a casino or public cardroom.
Honeymoon period: An initial period when a new player frequently experiences better than average luck.
Hook: Slang for a Jack, which is often represented with a hook shape in the character design of the card.
Horse: A player who is financially backed by someone else, often in exchange for a share of the winnings.
Hot streak: A run of winning hands or games; seemingly unbeatable or very lucky for an extended period.
Hourly Winrate: In poker, “hourly winrate” refers to the average amount of money a player wins per hour of playing poker. It’s a measure of a player’s profitability and can be calculated by dividing the total winnings by the number of hours played. Hourly winrate is a key metric used by players to assess their performance and profitability over time.
House: The entity or establishment running the game; typically a casino or cardroom operator.
House rules: Specific rules that govern how games are played at a particular venue or platform, often unique to that location or site.
Hyper-turbo: A tournament with very fast blind increases, allowing for quicker rounds and a faster overall pace of play.
Hustler: A player who pretends to play poorly to entice others into betting more against them.
Hybrid: A poker game that combines elements of multiple poker variants.
ICM: ICM, or Independent Chip Model, is a mathematical formula used in poker to calculate a player’s overall equity in a tournament based on the stack sizes of all remaining players and the payout structure. It helps determine the monetary value of a player’s chips at any given moment, guiding decisions especially close to the money stages of a tournament.
Image: In poker, “image” refers to the perception or reputation that a player has at the poker table, based on their playing style, behavior, and past actions. A player’s image can influence how opponents perceive their decisions and react to their bets, potentially affecting the dynamics of the game and the player’s ability to bluff or extract value from opponents.
Implied collusion: A situation where players act in a way that mutually benefits them without direct agreement, often frowned upon in tournament settings.
Implied odds: The ratio of the total expected profit when you hit your hand to the total amount of bets you will have to call to continue, taking into account the predicted future betting.
Improve: To receive a card or cards that strengthen your hand.
In the money: Refers to a player who has reached a position in a poker tournament where they are guaranteed to receive a payout.
Incentive: In the context of GTO poker, ‘incentive’ refers to the motivations or reasons behind choosing one strategy over another based on its expected value or payoff. It often involves balancing between exploiting opponents’ weaknesses and adhering to a balanced, unexploitable strategy.
Indifference: In poker strategy, especially in GTO (Game Theory Optimal) play, ‘indifference’ refers to a situation where a player is equally well-off choosing between two or more different actions because they all yield the same expected value. This concept is crucial in constructing strategies that prevent opponents from exploiting any particular decision.
Induce: To perform an action with the aim of eliciting a specific reaction or move from an opponent, such as a bluff or a mistake.
Inducement bet: A bet made with the intention of inducing a raise or bluff from an opponent, often by betting weakly with a strong hand.
Inferior hand: A hand that is worse than another hand, typically in comparison to the hands that are currently showing in play.
In position (IP): Playing a hand while being the last or one of the last to act in a betting round, giving a strategic advantage.
Initiative: The tactical advantage gained by the player who made the last aggressive action (bet or raise).
Inside straight draw: Also known as a gutshot; a straight draw that requires one specific card in the middle to complete.
Insta-call: When a player calls a bet immediately without any hesitation, often indicating a very strong hand.
Insta-fold: When a player folds their hand immediately without any hesitation, typically indicating a very weak hand or an unwillingness to engage with the current pot.
Insurance: An agreement to receive a payout in case your strong hand is beaten, typically arranged privately between players or through online platforms.
Isolation: Attempting to make other players fold to end up heads-up against a single remaining opponent, usually someone perceived as weak.
Isolation raise: A raise made with the intention of isolating an opponent for one-on-one play, typically after that player has already entered the pot with a weak bet or limp.
ITM: Abbreviation for “in the money,” used to describe the phase of a poker tournament where players are guaranteed a payout.
Jack: A face card that ranks between the 10 and the queen, often represented with a “J”.
Jacks-or-Better: A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair of jacks to open the betting.
Jackpot: A bonus prize that some casinos or poker rooms offer for hitting a very strong hand, like a royal flush, under specific conditions.
Jam: To push all your chips into the pot, commonly referred to as going all-in.
Jump: In a tournament, moving from one table to another as tables are consolidated, or moving to a higher level of stakes in cash games.
Juggle: To manage multiple poker games or decisions simultaneously, often used in online poker.
Junk: A poker hand that has very little chance of winning.
Keep Them Honest: To call during the final round of betting to prevent someone from bluffing.
Key Card: A card that significantly improves a hand, making the difference between a strong hand and a weak one.
Key Hand: A pivotal hand in a session or tournament that significantly contributes to a player’s success or downfall.
Kicker: The card that is not part of a ranking hand but may be used to break ties between hands of the same rank.
Kings: A pair of king cards, often referred to as “cowboys.”
King-high: A hand where the highest card is a king, with no other combination to make a ranked hand.
Knock: Another term for checking, particularly in a home game setting.
Knockout: A type of poker tournament where players receive a cash prize for each player they eliminate.
Ladies: A pair of queens.
LAG: A playing style where a player frequently plays more hands than average and often makes aggressive betting moves. LAG stands for ‘Loose Aggressive.’
Last to act: The position of the player who is the last to make a decision in a betting round. This position is advantageous because the player can see how others have bet before making their own decision.
Late position: A position at the poker table where a player acts after most other players during a betting round, giving them a strategic advantage.
Lay down: To fold a hand, especially a strong one, believing that an opponent has a better hand.
Lead: The first player to bet into a pot on any given round of betting.
Leak: A weakness in a player’s game where they consistently lose money.
Leverage: In poker, leverage refers to the ability to influence an opponent’s decisions through the strategic use of bet sizing and stack management. By threatening to commit a significant portion of the opponent’s stack in future betting rounds, a player can compel folds or control the hand’s direction without necessarily having the best hand.
Level: The strength of thinking or reasoning regarding one’s poker strategy and the anticipation of opponents’ strategies.
Leveling: In poker, leveling refers to the process where players try to outthink or outmaneuver their opponents by anticipating their thought process and making decisions based on multiple layers of strategy. This can involve predicting how opponents will react to certain actions and adjusting one’s own play accordingly.
Light: Making a bet or a raise with a hand that might not be the strongest. Often used in bluffing scenarios where the player is attempting to win the pot by encouraging others to fold.
Limp: To enter the pot by calling rather than raising; often seen as a sign of weakness.
Limp-raise: A deceptive play where a player limps in early betting, then raises after someone else bets.
Line: In poker, “line” refers to a player’s overall strategy or approach to playing a hand or session. It encompasses the actions taken by the player throughout the hand, including preflop, postflop, and subsequent streets. Analyzing an opponent’s line can provide insights into their thought process and tendencies.
Linear range: A range of hands that consists of predominantly strong value hands with few or no bluffs. Players employing a linear range strategy tend to bet and raise with hands that have high absolute strength, such as top pairs, overpairs, and strong draws, while avoiding weaker hands or bluffs. This approach focuses on maximizing value from opponents by betting and raising with hands that are likely to be ahead and minimizing the risk of being outdrawn by opponents’ weaker holdings.
Live blind: A live blind is a bet placed before any cards are dealt, usually by players to the left of the dealer in a blind betting game. Unlike an ante, a live blind counts towards any further bets the player needs to make in the round. Players who have posted live blinds have the option to raise when the action returns to them, even if there have been no previous raises.
Live hand: A hand that is still eligible to win the pot.
Live tournament: A poker tournament played in a physical location, as opposed to an online setting.
Lock: An unbeatable hand; also known as a “nut hand.”
Long shot: An unlikely chance; in poker, this refers to a hand that has a small chance of winning.
Look-up: To call a final bet to see an opponent’s hand, typically to verify a suspected bluff or to satisfy curiosity.
Loose: Describing a player who plays more hands than the average, often risking more chips.
Loose-aggressive: A style of play characterized by playing a lot of hands and betting frequently and aggressively.
Low stakes: Games where the amount of money wagered is relatively small.
Lowball: A form of poker in which the lowest hand wins the pot.
Luck box: A player who frequently wins despite poor play or unfavorable odds, seemingly always ‘lucky’ in tough situations.
Made hand: A poker hand that does not need any additional cards to improve its strength. Examples include a straight, flush, or full house.
Main pot: The central pot which all active players have contributed to and are eligible to win. Side pots are created when one or more players are all-in.
Make the nut: To have the best possible hand at that stage of the game.
Maniac: A player who plays extremely loose and aggressive, often betting and raising with any hand.
Margin: The amount a player expects to make on average from a particular poker situation or game.
Mark: An inexperienced or less skilled player who is targeted by more experienced players.
Markup: In poker, markup refers to the percentage added to the face value of a buy-in or stake when a player sells or backs another player in a tournament or cash game. It’s the additional amount charged as compensation for the risk taken by the investor or backer.
Match the pot: To place a bet equal to the total amount currently in the pot.
Maximally Exploitative Strategy: A poker strategy that aims to exploit the specific weaknesses and mistakes of an opponent to the greatest extent possible, without regard to one’s own vulnerability to counter-exploitation. This approach focuses on maximizing profit from an opponent’s predictable behavior and errors.
MDF: Short for “Minimum Defense Frequency,” MDF is a concept in poker strategy that refers to the minimum percentage of hands a player must defend against an opponent’s bet to prevent the opponent from profiting by betting any two cards. It’s a theoretical concept used to guide decision-making regarding calling or folding in various situations.
Mental game: The aspect of poker that involves psychological resilience, emotional control, and decision-making under pressure. A strong mental game enables players to maintain focus, manage tilt, and make optimal decisions consistently, despite the inherent variance in the game.
Merged Range: In poker, a merged range refers to a player’s hand range that includes a combination of strong hands, medium-strength hands, and some weaker hands, with the goal of making it difficult for opponents to accurately determine the strength of the player’s hand. This strategy aims to balance aggression and deception, making it challenging for opponents to exploit the player’s betting patterns.
Middle position: A position on the poker table where a player must act after the early positions and before the late positions, offering a moderate strategic advantage.
Micro-stakes: The lowest stakes available in a poker game, often with blinds as small as pennies.
Mid-Stakes: In poker, mid-stakes games refer to games with moderate betting limits or buy-ins, typically higher than low-stakes games but lower than high-stakes games. These games attract a mix of recreational and semi-professional players who are looking for higher stakes and potentially larger payouts than in low-stakes games, while still being within their bankroll management limits.
Mid-pair: A pair that includes one of the flop cards that is neither the highest nor the lowest.
Minimally Exploitative Strategy: A strategy in poker that aims to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses to a lesser degree, minimizing the risk of being counter-exploited. This approach strikes a balance between taking advantage of opponent errors and maintaining a more stable, less readable game plan.
Minimum buy-in: The smallest amount of money required to enter a game.
Minimum raise: The smallest allowable amount by which a player can increase the previous bet.
Misdeal: An error by the dealer that requires the hand to be re-dealt, such as dealing the cards in the wrong order or exposing cards accidentally.
Missed blind: A mandatory bet that a player fails to post when it is their turn, often due to being away from the table. The player must post the missed blind before returning to the game.
Mixed strategy: In poker, a mixed strategy involves varying one’s play by randomly choosing between different actions (such as betting, raising, or folding) with specific probabilities. This approach prevents opponents from predicting one’s moves, thereby making a player’s strategy harder to exploit.
Mixing mistake: In poker, a mixing mistake occurs when a player incorrectly varies their strategy, often due to misjudging the optimal frequencies for certain actions. This can lead to predictable patterns or suboptimal plays, which opponents may exploit.
Money-added: A tournament in which extra money is added to the prize pool by the house or another sponsor.
Money list: A ranking of players based on earnings from tournament play.
Money play: Poker played where the chips represent actual cash values, as opposed to tournament chips which don’t carry cash value.
Monotone Board: In poker, a monotone board is one where all community cards share the same suit. This greatly increases the likelihood of flushes and can drastically alter hand strengths.
Monster: An extremely strong hand, nearly unbeatable.
Move in: To go all-in, pushing all your chips into the pot.
M-ratio: he M-ratio is a measure of the health of a player’s chip stack as a function of the cost to play each round. Calculated as the player’s stack divided by the sum of the blinds and antes, this metric helps determine how many rounds a player can continue playing without altering their stack.
MTT (Multi-Table Tournament): A poker tournament that involves multiple tables of players, with participants being eliminated and tables consolidated as the game progresses.
Muck: To fold a hand without showing it or the area where discarded cards are placed.
Multi-way pot: A pot where three or more players are involved, typically leading to more complex playing dynamics.
Narrow the field: To make bets or raises intended to decrease the number of opponents in the hand.
Nash Distance: Nash Distance is a measure used in the analysis of GTO solvers in poker to determine how close a computed solution is to Nash Equilibrium. It indicates the extent to which the strategy deviates from the optimal, theoretically unexploitable strategy. This metric is crucial for deciding when the iterative process of finding a GTO solution can be stopped because the strategy is sufficiently close to equilibrium.
Nash Equilibrium: In poker, Nash Equilibrium is a theoretical concept that represents a set of strategies where no player can improve their outcome by unilaterally changing their strategy, assuming all other players maintain their strategies. It’s a state of balance where each player’s actions are optimal given the actions of others.
Needle: To provoke or taunt another player using verbal tactics, trying to gain a psychological edge.
Negative EV: Refers to a play that has a negative expected value, meaning it is expected to lose money over time.
Neutral deck: A deck that has not been manipulated or marked in any way.
NFD: Short for “Nut Flush Draw,” NFD refers to having a flush draw where a player holds the highest possible card of the suit needed to complete the flush. It’s considered one of the strongest types of flush draws because if the player hits their flush, it will be the highest possible flush.
NH: Short for “Nice Hand,” NH is a common expression used in online poker to compliment an opponent on winning a hand with a good play or strong hand. It’s a gesture of sportsmanship and acknowledgment of the opponent’s skill or luck in the game.
Nit: A player who is overly tight and conservative, often only playing the top hands.
Nitroll: Slowly revealing or claiming a winning hand, often irritating other players.
Node: In the context of poker strategy and GTO solvers, a ‘node’ refers to a point in the game tree where a decision is made. Each node represents a possible state of the game, including the distribution of cards, the actions taken by players, and the resulting outcomes. Nodes are critical in analyzing and plotting strategy for various game scenarios.
Nodelock: In poker GTO solvers, nodelocking refers to the practice of fixing the strategies at certain nodes in the game tree to specific actions or ranges, allowing a user to explore the outcomes and strategies assuming certain conditions. This technique helps in refining strategies against expected opponent behaviors or testing theoretical scenarios.
No-Limit: A version of poker in which players may bet any amount of their chips at any time.
Non-suited: Cards that are not of the same suit.
No pair: A hand in poker that does not contain any pair or higher-ranked combination.
No peek: A game variant where players do not look at their cards until the action comes to them.
Nosebleed stakes: The highest stakes in poker games, typically involving very large amounts of money. These games are usually reserved for the most skilled and financially capable players.
November Nine: The final nine players in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, who resume the final table in November after a delay from the summer.
Numbered cards: Cards that are not face cards; typically ranging from 2 to 10.
Nut advantage: In poker, the nut advantage refers to having a higher frequency of the best possible hands (the nuts) in your range compared to your opponents’ ranges. This gives you a strategic edge because you’re more likely to have unbeatable hands and can extract value from opponents with weaker holdings.
Nut Flush: In poker, the “nut flush” refers to the highest possible flush hand in a particular game or situation. It is achieved when a player holds the highest-ranking five cards of the same suit, ensuring that no other player can have a flush of higher value. The nut flush is considered one of the strongest possible hands in games where flushes are possible.
Nuts: The best possible hand given the current board.
Odds: In poker, “odds” refer to the probability or likelihood of a certain event occurring, such as hitting a specific hand or winning a pot. Understanding odds is crucial for making informed decisions about betting, calling, or folding based on the potential value and risk involved in a given situation.
Offsuit: Cards of different suits.
Omaha: A popular variant of poker where each player receives four hole cards and must use exactly two of them along with three of the five community cards to make the best hand.
One-Gap: Starting hands that have one rank separating them, such as 7-9 or 5-7.
On the Button: In poker, “on the button” refers to being in the dealer position, which is the most advantageous position at the table. When a player is on the button, they act last in every betting round after the flop, giving them maximum information about their opponents’ actions before making their own decisions.
OOP: Short for “Out of Position,” OOP refers to being in a position where a player acts before their opponent(s) in a hand, making it more challenging to control the betting and extract value. Being out of position can require more caution and strategic adjustments to navigate the hand effectively.
Open: To make the first bet in a round.
Open-ended straight draw (OESD): A straight draw that can be completed from either end, such as needing a 6 or a Jack to complete a 7-8-9-10 sequence.
Open limp: Entering the pot by only calling the big blind instead of raising, when no other player has bet before you. This is typically seen as a passive play and is often discouraged in aggressive strategies.
Open shoving: Going all-in as the first action in a betting round.
Option: An opportunity given to the big blind to raise the pot in games that use a blind structure.
Orbit: A complete rotation of the dealer button around the table, representing one full round of play in which every player has had the opportunity to act.
Out of position: When a player has to act before their opponents in a betting round, typically putting them at a strategic disadvantage because they have less information about the other players’ actions.
Outs: Cards that can come on future streets that you believe will improve your hand to a likely winner.
Overbet: A bet larger than the size of the current pot.
Overcall: To call a bet after at least one other player has already called.
Overcard: A card that is higher than any card on the board.
Overlay: A term used when the odds on a pot are in favor of the players, such as when a tournament has a guaranteed prize pool larger than the equivalent of the entry fees collected.
Overlimp: To call the bet of a player who has already entered the pot by limping, rather than raising or folding. It’s a passive play often done with weaker or speculative hands, hoping to see a cheap flop and potentially improve on later streets, especially in games with loose and passive opponents.
Overpair: A pocket pair higher than any card on the board.
Overplay: To play a hand more aggressively than its actual strength justifies, often leading to costly mistakes.
Over the top: To make a large raise or go all-in over the top of an opponent’s bet or raise.
Own: To dominate an opponent, typically in a hand or series of hands where one player consistently outperforms the other.
Paint: Slang for any face card (King, Queen, Jack).
Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
Pass: To fold or decline to bet in a situation where no bet is required.
Passive: A playing style characterized by frequent checking and calling rather than betting and raising. Passive players often let others set the pace of the game.
Passive exploitation: In poker, passive exploitation refers to a strategy where a player seeks to gain an advantage not by aggressively manipulating the opponent’s actions, but by subtly taking advantage of their mistakes and tendencies. This only works if opponent is making pure mistakes.
Pay off: To call a bet with a relatively weaker hand, typically when the pot odds justify the call, despite suspecting that you are likely beaten. For example, calling a final river bet in a large pot, even though you think your opponent might have the better hand.
Payout Structure: In poker tournaments, the “payout structure” refers to the distribution of the prize pool among the top-performing players. It outlines the percentage of the total prize pool awarded to each finishing position, typically ranging from the top few finishers down to a percentage of the field. The payout structure determines how much each player receives based on their final standing in the tournament.
Peel: In poker, “peel” refers to the action of making a call, usually on the flop, with a weak hand or a draw. It’s a passive move aimed at seeing the next community card(s) without committing additional chips to the pot. Peeling can be done with the intention of improving the hand or gathering more information about opponents’ holdings.
PFR: Shows the percentage of hands in which a player raises pre-flop, offering a measure of their initial aggression in the betting rounds.
Playability: In poker, playability refers to the suitability or potential of a hand to be played effectively across various streets (preflop, flop, turn, and river). Hands with high playability are easier to navigate and extract value from, while hands with low playability may require more caution or skill to play profitably.
Play money: In poker, “play money” refers to virtual currency used in online poker rooms for practice or recreational purposes. Play money has no real monetary value and is typically provided to players for free by the poker site. It allows players to learn the game, try out different strategies, and enjoy poker without risking any actual money.
Play the board: Using all five community cards in games like Texas Hold’em or Omaha as your best hand because they are better than any possible combination with your hole cards.
Player pool: The group of players against whom one is playing, especially in online poker rooms.
Playing tight: A conservative strategy where a player plays fewer hands and avoids taking many risks.
Pocket aces: The strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em, consisting of two aces. This hand has the highest chance of winning against any other starting hand.
Pocket rockets: A slang term for a pair of aces (two aces) as starting hole cards in Texas Hold’em. Pocket rockets are considered the strongest possible starting hand in the game and are often played aggressively to maximize their value.
Pocket cards: Cards dealt face down to a player, also known as hole cards.
Poker face: A blank or emotionless expression used to prevent other players from determining whether one’s actions in the game are the result of a good or bad hand.
Poker table: The surface on which poker games are played. It is typically oval-shaped and can accommodate multiple players, each with a designated space for cards and bets.
Polarized range: A range that is split between very strong hands and bluffs, with very few hands in between.
Position: A player’s location in the betting sequence relative to the dealer. Position is crucial in poker strategy as it affects when a player must act.
Positional advantage: In poker, positional advantage refers to the strategic edge gained by being in a later position relative to opponents, allowing a player to act after their opponents on subsequent betting rounds. This allows the player to gather more information about opponents’ actions before making their own decisions, facilitating more informed and advantageous play.
Post: To place a blind or ante, necessary for participation in a hand.
Pot: The total amount of money that players wager during a single hand.
Pot commit: To bet enough chips into the pot that you are essentially forced to continue calling any future bet because of the pot size.
Pot-Limit: A type of poker game where a player may bet or raise any amount up to the size of the total pot.
Pot odds: The ratio of the current size of the pot to the cost of a contemplated call.
Preflop: The stage in a round of poker occurring before the first three community cards are revealed.
Preflop caller: A player who chooses to call a bet or a raise before the flop is dealt in a game of poker, instead of folding or raising. Preflop calling is a strategic decision made based on the player’s assessment of their hand’s strength and the potential value of seeing the flop.
Preflop raiser: A player who chooses to raise the bet before the flop is dealt in a game of poker, instead of calling or folding. Preflop raising is a strategic decision made to assert dominance, gain control of the pot, and potentially narrow the field of opponents.
Premium Hands: Exceptionally strong starting hands, typically referring to high pairs or A-K and A-Q suited.
Price: In poker, ‘price’ refers to the cost of calling a bet relative to the size of the pot and the odds of winning it. It is used to determine whether calling a bet is a profitable decision based on the potential return. For example, if the pot is large compared to the size of the bet, the price is favorable for calling, especially if the hand has a reasonable chance of improving.
Prize pool: In poker tournaments, the “prize pool” refers to the total amount of money or prizes available to be won by the participants. The prize pool is typically generated from the buy-ins of the players and may also include additional contributions from the poker room or sponsors. The prize pool is distributed among the top-performing players according to the tournament’s payout structure.
Probe bet: A bet made to gather information about the strength of opponents’ hands.
Prop bet: A side bet on various possible events in a game that are not directly related to the game’s outcome.
Protect: In poker, ‘protect’ can refer to two distinct actions. Strategically, it involves making a bet with a strong hand to guard against opponents drawing to a better hand, by making it too costly for them to continue. Physically, protecting your cards means using a card protector or your hands to cover your hole cards, ensuring they are not accidentally exposed or mucked by the dealer.
Protected pot: A pot that has multiple active bets and raises, making it unappealing for players to attempt bluffing due to the high risk involved.
Punt: In poker, a ‘punt’ refers to a reckless or poorly thought-out play, typically a large bet or all-in move, that is made without a solid strategic basis. Often, it is a desperate attempt to win a large pot or turn a losing session around.
Pure Bluff: In poker, a “pure bluff” refers to a bet or raise made with a weak or non-existent hand, with the sole intention of getting opponents to fold better hands. Unlike a semi-bluff, where the player has some potential to improve their hand, a pure bluff relies solely on the strength of the bet or raise and the ability to convince opponents that the bluffer has a strong hand.
Push: Another term for going all-in, pushing all your chips into the middle.
Quads: Four of a kind; having four cards of the same rank.
Qualifier: In high-low split games, the minimum hand needed to win the low portion of the pot.
Quarry: A term sometimes used to describe a player who is the target of another player’s aggressive actions.
Queen-high: A hand where the highest card is a queen, with no other combination forming a higher ranked hand.
Quick Limit: A game type with very fast rounds of betting, often found in online poker environments.
Race: A situation in poker where two or more players have hands that are roughly equal in value, often leading to a showdown where the outcome is largely determined by luck.
Rack: A tray that holds 100 poker chips in five stacks of twenty each, used to organize and manage chips during play.
Rag: A card, usually of low value, that does not significantly improve a player’s hand strength.
Ragged: A description of a flop or board in poker that lacks coordination and high cards, typically not helping any players significantly. Ragged boards often consist of low, unconnected, and unsuited cards, making strong hands less likely and leading to more conservative play.
Rail: The area or barrier around a poker table where spectators can watch the game without participating.
Railbird: A spectator who watches the game from the rail (the sideline), often used to describe fans or onlookers at a live poker event.
Rainbow: In poker, a ‘rainbow’ flop or board contains cards of all different suits, meaning no two cards are of the same suit. This reduces the chances of players completing flush draws, often leading to a focus on straight draws or high-card strength in subsequent betting rounds.
Raise: To increase the size of the current bet in a betting round.
Raise blind: Making a raise without looking at one’s cards, often used as a bold or strategic move in poker games.
Rake: The amount of money taken by the house as a fee from each pot in cash games.
Rakeback: A refund given to players, returning a portion of the rake paid to the house. This is often used as an incentive for regular players at a poker room.
Rakeback pro: A poker player who primarily earns income from rakeback rather than from winnings at the poker table. These players typically play a high volume of hands to maximize their rakeback.
Range: The spectrum of hands that a player might have in a given situation.
Range advantage: In poker, range advantage refers to having a stronger and more diverse range of hands compared to opponents. This allows a player to have more nutted hands and better bluffing opportunities, putting pressure on opponents and giving them a strategic edge in the hand.
Rank: In poker, ‘rank’ refers to the numerical or face value of a card, distinguishing it from other cards. For example, in the hierarchy of cards, an ace has the highest rank, while a two has the lowest. Rank is crucial for determining the strength of most poker hands.
Raw equity: In poker, raw equity refers to the percentage chance that a particular hand will win against opponents’ hands if all remaining cards were to be dealt to the showdown. It is a straightforward calculation without considering the impact of future betting rounds or player decisions.
Read: The act of deducing the possible hands an opponent could have based on their behavior and betting patterns.
Re-buy: The act of purchasing additional chips after the initial buy-in, typically allowed in the early stages of a tournament.
Re-raise: To raise after a previous raise has been made by another player in the same betting round.
Resteal: In poker, a resteal is a tactic where a player makes a re-raise after an opponent has tried to steal the blinds by raising preflop, typically from a late position. The resteal is usually executed from the blinds or the button, aiming to take advantage of the original raiser’s potentially weak, wide opening range.
Recreational player: A player who plays primarily for fun and entertainment, not as a primary source of income.
Redraw: A situation where you already have a strong hand but are drawing to an even stronger hand.
Reg: Short for “Regular,” reg is a term used in poker to refer to a player who frequently plays at the same stakes or in the same games. Regs are typically experienced and skilled players who are familiar with the strategies and tendencies of the player pool at their chosen stakes or games.
Removal: In poker, removal refers to having cards in your hand that reduce the likelihood of opponents holding certain combinations of cards. For example, if you hold one of the aces, it reduces the likelihood of opponents having pocket aces. Removal can influence strategic decisions, such as bluffing or calling, based on the perceived likelihood of opponents’ holdings.
Represent: To play in a way that suggests you hold a specific hand, used to deceive opponents or manipulate their actions.
Reverse implied odds: In poker, reverse implied odds refer to the potential losses that can occur when a player completes a drawing hand but ends up with a second-best hand, losing a large pot to an opponent with a stronger hand. It’s the opposite of implied odds, where completing a drawing hand leads to winning a large pot.
Ring game: A ring game, or cash game, is a type of poker where chips have real monetary value. Players can join or leave at any time, unlike in a tournament setting.
Risk of ruin: In poker, “risk of ruin” refers to the probability of losing your entire bankroll or going broke over a certain period of time or number of hands. It’s a measure of the potential downside risk faced by a player, taking into account factors such as win rate, variance, and bankroll management. Understanding the risk of ruin is important for players to assess their financial stability and manage their bankroll effectively.
Risk premium: In multi-table tournaments (MTT), the term ‘Risk Premium’ refers to the additional value a player must account for when facing decisions that involve risking their tournament life. It quantifies how much more a player needs to gain from a situation to justify the risk of elimination, beyond the expected chip value of the play.
River: The final community card dealt in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, also known as “fifth street.”
River Rat: In poker, a “river rat” is a term used to describe a player who frequently catches strong hands or makes winning draws on the river, often against the odds or when appearing to be behind in the hand. This term is often used in a derogatory manner to refer to players who rely heavily on luck rather than skill to win hands.
Robust: In the context of GTO poker, ‘robust’ describes a strategy or solution that remains effective or unexploitable under various conditions, including different opponent strategies and game dynamics. A robust strategy minimizes the potential for losses in non-ideal scenarios, maintaining its strength across a range of situations.
Rock: A player who is extremely tight, playing only the strongest hands.
ROI: Short for “Return on Investment,” ROI in poker refers to the percentage of profit or loss generated from an investment, typically in the context of tournament buy-ins or cash game sessions. It’s calculated by dividing the net profit (or loss) by the initial investment and expressing the result as a percentage. ROI is a key metric used by players to evaluate the profitability of their poker activities.
Royal Flush: The highest possible hand in poker, consisting of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the same suit.
Run it twice: A method used in poker to reduce variance. The remaining cards are dealt twice, with half the pot awarded for each outcome. This typically happens in high-stakes games where the players agree to this option after the flop.
Runner-runner: Refers to needing two consecutive cards on the turn and river to complete a drawing hand, such as a straight or flush.
Running bad: Experiencing a bad streak in terms of cards or luck in a session or over a period of time.
Running good: Experiencing a good streak in terms of cards or luck, typically resulting in winning more than the average expectation.
Rush: A series of consecutive wins in a short period of time, often due to good cards or superior play.
Sandbag: Another term for slow playing; involves playing a strong hand passively by checking and calling to deceive opponents and encourage them to bet more aggressively.
Sandwich: In poker, “sandwich” refers to a situation where a player is positioned between two aggressive opponents, often facing bets or raises from both players. Being sandwiched can put the player in a difficult spot, as they may have to contend with aggression from both sides and decide whether to call, raise, or fold based on their hand strength and the actions of their opponents.
Satellite: A smaller tournament where the prize is an entry into a larger tournament.
Scare card: A card that appears on the board that could potentially turn the best hand into a loser, often changing the dynamics of the game.
Scared Money: In poker, “scared money” refers to funds that a player is unwilling to risk or lose due to fear or anxiety about the potential consequences. Scared money can lead to overly cautious or passive play, preventing a player from making optimal decisions and capitalizing on profitable opportunities. It’s often associated with inexperienced players or those playing with stakes beyond their comfort level.
Scoop: To win the entire pot, especially in high-low split games where both the high and low pots are won by the same player.
Second pair: Second pair refers to a hand in which a player pairs one of their hole cards with the second-highest card on the board. It ranks below top pair but can still be strong depending on the texture of the board and opponent actions.
Semi-bluff: A semi-bluff is a bet or raise made with a hand that is not currently the best, but has the potential to improve to the best hand on future streets. This strategy combines the chances of winning immediately by forcing opponents to fold with the backup of potentially improving to a winning hand.
Set: Three of a kind, particularly when the player has two of the cards in hand and one on the board.
Set mining: In poker, set mining refers to the strategy of playing small or medium pocket pairs with the intention of hitting a set (three of a kind) on the flop. This strategy aims to capitalize on the high potential payoff of flopping a set against opponents with strong hands, such as overpairs or top pairs.
Set Over Set: In poker, set over set occurs when two or more players each flop a set (three of a kind) in the same hand. It’s a rare but significant occurrence that often results in a large pot, as both players have strong hands and are likely to continue betting aggressively.
Shark: An expert player who often preys on weaker players.
Shoe: A device used in casinos to hold multiple decks of cards, making dealing easier and preventing tampering. Commonly used in games like blackjack rather than poker.
Shove: To go all-in, betting all of one’s chips on a single hand. This is a common tactic in no-limit games to put maximum pressure on opponents.
Shorthanded: A poker game with fewer players than usual, typically six or fewer. This type of game often requires a more aggressive playing style due to the increased frequency of hands played.
Short stack: A smaller than average stack of chips relative to the blinds or compared to other players at the table.
Showdown: The point at the end of the final betting round when all players who haven’t folded reveal their hands to see who wins the pot.
Showdown value: The value of a poker hand that is strong enough to potentially win at showdown, where all remaining players reveal their hands after the final betting round.
Shuffle: The act of mixing the cards before dealing them to ensure a random distribution.
Side game: A poker game that is played concurrently with a larger tournament or main event, usually involving fewer players and often less formal.
Side pot: A separate pot created when one or more players go all-in and other players continue to bet into a new pot.
Simulations: In poker, simulations refer to the use of computer models to mimic real game scenarios and predict outcomes based on statistical probabilities. These are commonly used in GTO solvers to explore and optimize strategies by running through thousands of potential game situations and outcomes.
Single raised pot (SRP): In poker, a single raised pot refers to a pot that has been raised once preflop, typically by one player after an initial bet or raise. This distinguishes it from a multi-raised pot, where there have been multiple raises before the flop.
Sit-and-Go: A type of tournament that starts when a specified number of players have registered.
Sit out: The act of a player temporarily leaving a poker game while maintaining their seat. This term is commonly used in both live and online poker settings. Players may sit out for various reasons, such as taking a break or attending to personal matters.
Slow play: Playing a strong hand passively to deceive opponents and keep them in the pot.
Slow roll: Deliberately delaying revealing one’s winning hand at showdown, often seen as disrespectful or unsportsmanlike because it can give the losing player false hope.
Small Blind: The smaller of two forced bets in a betting round, placed by the player to the left of the dealer.
SNG: Short for “Sit and Go,” SNG refers to a type of poker tournament format that begins as soon as enough players have registered. Sit and Go tournaments have a fixed number of participants and a predetermined prize structure, making them a popular choice for players seeking quick and convenient tournament action.
Smooth call: To call a bet without raising, often with a strong hand, to conceal its strength.
Snap call: An immediate call made without any hesitation, typically indicating a very strong hand or absolute certainty about the situation.
Soft-play: Intentionally playing less aggressively against a specific player, often considered unethical as it can suggest collusion or favoritism in a competitive setting.
Solid: In poker, “solid” describes a player who consistently makes good decisions, employs effective strategies, and maintains a disciplined approach to the game. A solid player is typically knowledgeable about poker theory, has strong fundamentals, and avoids making costly mistakes, making them a formidable opponent at the table.
Solver: In poker, a solver refers to computer software that utilizes mathematical algorithms to analyze and solve complex poker situations. Solvers are commonly used by advanced players to study and optimize their strategies, particularly in games with high levels of uncertainty and variability.
Solver Solution: In poker, a solver solution refers to the optimal strategy or decision suggested by poker solver software. Solver solutions are based on mathematical calculations and simulations, providing insights into the best course of action in various poker scenarios.
Splash the pot: Throwing chips into the pot in a disorderly manner rather than stacking them neatly. This practice is generally discouraged as it can cause confusion about the amount bet.
Split pot: A pot divided among two or more players who have the same hand ranking.
SPR: Short for “Stack-to-Pot Ratio,” SPR is a concept in poker that represents the ratio of a player’s remaining stack size to the current size of the pot. It’s used to assess the relative depth of a player’s stack compared to the pot size, which can influence strategic decisions such as bet sizing and continuation of play.
Spread-Limit: A betting format allowing bets within a predetermined range, such as $1 to $5, offering flexibility within set limits.
Squeeze play: A strategic move where a player makes a large bet or raise after there has been a bet and one or more calls, aiming to win the pot immediately by forcing opponents to fold their hands.
SRP: Short for “Single Raised Pot,” SRP refers to a pot in poker that has been raised once preflop, typically by one player after an initial bet or raise. This distinguishes it from a multi-raised pot, where there have been multiple raises before the flop.
Stack: The total amount of chips a player has in play at any given time.
Stack-to-Pot Ratio: In poker, Stack-to-Pot Ratio (SPR) represents the ratio of a player’s remaining stack size to the current size of the pot. It’s a key concept used to evaluate the relative depth of a player’s stack compared to the pot size, influencing strategic decisions such as bet sizing and continuation of play.
Stakes: The amount of money that players agree to bet per round in a poker game. Stakes can range from low to high, determining the financial risk and reward involved in the game.
Staking: The act of providing a player with the funds to enter a poker game or tournament in exchange for a portion of the winnings. Staking agreements are common among professional players.
Starting hand: The initial two cards dealt to a player in Texas Hold’em or other poker variants. The strength of a player’s starting hand influences their decisions throughout the hand.
Static board: A term used to describe a community card board in poker where the cards do not significantly change the potential hands that players can make. This usually occurs when the board lacks flush or straight draws, making the hand values relatively fixed.
Steal: To win the blinds or a pot by bluffing, typically from a late position.
Stop and go: A strategy where a player bets on the flop, checks on the turn, and then bets again on the river. This approach can be used to mislead opponents about the strength of one’s hand.
Straddle: An optional and additional blind bet made by a player after the big blind but before the cards are dealt, usually double the big blind.
Straight: A hand consisting of five consecutive cards, not all of the same suit. For example, a sequence of 5-6-7-8-9 is a straight.
Straight flush: A hand consisting of five consecutive cards, all of the same suit. For example, a sequence of 6-7-8-9-10 of hearts is a straight flush.
Street: A term used to describe the various rounds of betting in poker games, especially in community card games. For example, the flop, turn, and river are referred to as different streets.
String bet: A prohibited move where a player makes a bet or a raise in multiple motions without stating the full amount at the beginning.
Suck out: Winning a poker hand by drawing a card that dramatically improves a player’s situation, typically when they were significantly behind in the odds prior to that draw.
Suited: Cards of the same suit.
Suited connectors: Two cards of consecutive rank and the same suit, which can potentially make a straight, a flush, or a straight flush.
Swap: In poker, a swap refers to an agreement between players to share or exchange a portion of their potential winnings in a tournament or cash game. Swaps are often made to reduce variance or provide mutual support among players, with each participant sharing in the success or failure of the other.
Table dynamics: The overall behavior and tendencies of players at a poker table, which can influence individual decision-making and strategy throughout the course of a game.
Table stakes: The rule that a player cannot bet more chips than they had at the table at the beginning of a hand. They cannot go back to their bankroll for more money during a hand.
Tag: Short for ‘tight-aggressive,’ a style of play characterized by playing fewer, stronger hands and betting aggressively.
Tainted outs: Cards that might complete a player’s hand but could also improve an opponent’s hand to a stronger degree, potentially leading to a loss.
Tank: To take a long time to make a decision during a hand.
Tell: A change in a player’s behavior or demeanor that gives clues about the cards they hold.
Texas Hold’em: The most popular form of poker, where players receive two hole cards and share five community cards.
Texture: The quality of the community cards in Hold’em or Omaha; refers to how connected, suited, or spread out the cards are.
Three of a Kind: A hand that contains three cards of the same rank.
Thinning the Field: In poker, “thinning the field” refers to taking actions, such as betting or raising, with the intention of reducing the number of opponents in a hand. By thinning the field, a player aims to decrease the number of opponents who could potentially outdraw or outplay them, thereby increasing their chances of winning the pot.
Three-bet: The third bet in a sequence of bets; typically the first raise after the opening bet and a call.
3-Bet percentage: The percentage of times a player makes a re-raise pre-flop, which helps gauge their aggression and tendency to escalate the stakes against initial raisers.
Tie: In poker, a “tie” occurs when two or more players have hands of equal value at showdown, resulting in the pot being split evenly among them. Ties commonly happen when players have identical hand rankings, such as both having a straight, flush, full house, etc. Ties are relatively rare but can occur in certain situations, particularly in community card games like Texas Hold’em.
Tight: Playing fewer hands than average, avoiding risks.
Tilt: A state of emotional frustration or confusion that causes a player to adopt a less optimal strategy.
Time: A request for more time to make a decision at the table. In some casinos and tournaments, players may have a limited number of ‘time’ requests.
Time bank: In poker, a time bank is a feature in online poker rooms that allows players extra time to make decisions during a hand. Players can draw from their time bank when faced with particularly complex or difficult decisions, providing additional time beyond the standard allotted period.
Time Out: In poker, “time out” refers to a situation in online poker where a player’s allotted time to make a decision expires before they act. When a player times out, their hand may be automatically folded, or they may be forced to check or call, depending on the circumstances and the specific rules of the poker room.
To go: The amount of money required to call and stay in the hand. It is often used in live play to indicate how much a player needs to put in to match the current bet.
Top kicker: The highest possible kicker (side card) in a hand, typically used in conjunction with a high card from the community to make a strong hand. For example, having an ace as a kicker with a king in a hand of Texas Hold’em.
Top pair: A pair that includes one of the player’s hole cards and the highest card on the board.
Top Pair/Top Kicker: In poker, “Top Pair/Top Kicker” refers to a hand where a player pairs one of their hole cards with the highest-ranking card on the flop. For example, if a player holds Ace-King and the flop comes Ace-Queen-Seven, they have top pair with an Ace kicker. This is considered a strong hand, especially in Texas Hold’em.
Top Pair/Weak Kicker: In poker, “Top Pair/Weak Kicker” refers to a hand where a player pairs one of their hole cards with the highest-ranking card on the flop, but the accompanying kicker (the other card) is relatively low compared to the community cards. While top pair is generally strong, a weak kicker can make the hand vulnerable to being outkicked by opponents with higher pairs.
Top set: Top set refers to making a set (three of a kind) with the highest card on the board. For example, if the flop comes K-7-2 and you hold KK, you have top set.
Top two: Two pair, using both of the player’s hole cards that pair with the two highest cards on the board.
Tournament: A competition in which poker players start with an equal amount of chips, with the goal of winning all the chips in play.
TPMK: Short for “Top Pair/Middle Kicker,” TPMK refers to a hand in poker where a player pairs one of their hole cards with the highest-ranking card on the flop, while the accompanying kicker is of intermediate value compared to the community cards. While top pair is generally strong, a middle kicker may be vulnerable to being outkicked by opponents with stronger hands.
TPTK: Short for “Top Pair, Top Kicker,” TPTK refers to a strong hand in poker where a player pairs one of their hole cards with the highest-ranking card on the flop, and their other hole card is also high enough to be the best possible kicker. This hand is often considered very strong, especially in Texas Hold’em, and players typically play it aggressively.
TPWK: Short for “Top Pair, Weak Kicker,” TPWK refers to a hand in poker where a player pairs one of their hole cards with the highest-ranking card on the flop, but their accompanying kicker is relatively weak compared to the community cards. While top pair is generally strong, a weak kicker can make the hand vulnerable to being outkicked by opponents with higher pairs.
Trap: To play a strong hand passively, hoping another player will bet aggressively, thereby increasing the pot size.
Triple barrel: The act of betting on the flop, the turn, and the river in a single hand of poker. This aggressive strategy is often used to put continuous pressure on opponents.
Trips: A colloquial term for three of a kind, especially when one card is in the player’s hand and two are on the board.
Turn: The fourth community card dealt in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, also known as “fourth street.”
Turn C-bet: In poker, a turn continuation bet (turn C-bet) refers to a bet made by the preflop aggressor on the turn, following their initial bet or raise before the flop. This strategic move aims to maintain pressure on opponents and capitalize on perceived weakness after the flop, often with a strong or improving hand.
Turbo: A tournament with a fast blind structure, causing the game to progress much quicker than in a standard tournament.
Two pair: A hand that contains two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one other card.
Two-Tone: In poker, “Two-Tone” refers to a flop where two of the three community cards are of the same suit, while the third card is of a different suit. This creates the possibility of both flush and non-flush hands, adding complexity to hand evaluations and strategic considerations.
Unblocker: In poker, an unblocker is a card in a player’s hand that makes it less likely their opponent holds certain key cards that would complete a strong hand or a weak hand. Having unblockers can influence a player’s decision to bluff or value bet, as it affects the range of hands they believe their opponent might have.
Uncapped: In poker, being ‘uncapped’ refers to a situation where a player’s range of possible hands includes very strong holdings. This term is used to describe scenarios where there has not been enough action to rule out the top of a player’s range, meaning they could still have the strongest possible hands.
Under the Gun (UTG): The position to the left of the big blind which acts first in the betting rounds, except for the pre-flop where the blinds act last.
Underdog: A player or hand not expected to win a pot.
Underpair: A pocket pair held by a player that is lower than any card on the board.
Unimproved: A hand that has not gotten better or stronger after all community cards have been dealt.
Unopened: A pot that has not yet been bet into.
Unload the Clip: To bet aggressively across multiple betting rounds.
Up the Ante: To increase the stakes or the cost of entering a pot.
Upswing: A period during which a player wins more or loses less than expected.
Up the ante: To increase the stakes or cost of continuing in a game, typically by raising the minimum bet amount. This term is often used both in the context of poker and metaphorically in other scenarios to indicate raising the level of challenge or risk.
UTG+1: The position immediately to the left of the Under the Gun player, second to act pre-flop.
Value bet: A bet made by a player who believes they have the best hand, and expects to be called by a worse hand.
Value-Owned: In poker, “value-owned” refers to a situation where a player bets or raises with a strong hand, intending to extract value from opponents with weaker holdings. When a player is value-owned, it means they have been outplayed by their opponent’s superior hand, resulting in the loss of chips or the pot.
Variance: The statistical measure of the difference between actual results and expected results; high variance indicates a larger range of swings in a player’s bankroll.
Vig: Short for “Vigorish,” vig refers to the commission or rake taken by the house or casino for hosting a poker game or facilitating bets. It’s typically a small percentage of each pot or a fee charged on each bet, serving as the house’s profit margin for providing the gaming service.
Villain: A term used by players to refer to their opponents, particularly in hand analysis.
VIP: A high-value player who often receives special treatment and bonuses from casinos or poker rooms.
VPIP (Voluntarily Put In Pot): A poker statistic used to measure how often a player voluntarily invests money into the pot pre-flop, indicating their play style.
Voluntary: Any action that a player chooses to make in a hand, as opposed to actions they are compelled to make, such as posting blinds.
Wake up: A term used when a player suddenly finds themselves with a strong hand, especially after there has been significant action or raising from other players in the game.
Weak player: A player who typically plays passively, makes frequent strategic errors, or lacks the skills or aggression required to compete effectively against more experienced opponents.
Went to Showdown (WTSD): Shows the percentage of times a player goes all the way to the showdown after seeing the flop, which can indicate their determination or hand strength consistency throughout the hand.
Wet board: A term for a poker board that has many draws available with the community cards, such as straights or flushes, leading to potentially strong hands and making the game more unpredictable.
Whale: A term used to describe a player who consistently makes large bets and plays with a lot of money, but often lacks skills or plays poorly, making them a profitable target for more experienced players.
Wheel: A term used in poker to describe a straight from ace to five (A-2-3-4-5), which is the lowest possible straight. In games with high-low split rules, the wheel is often the best possible low hand as well as a competitive high hand.
Won Money at Showdown (W$SD): In poker, “Won Money at Showdown” refers to the amount of money a player has won in hands where their cards were revealed at the end (showdown) and their hand was determined to be the best among those shown. This statistic provides insight into a player’s ability to win pots with strong hands that hold up against opponents’ hands.
Won When Saw Flop (WWSF): In poker, “Won When Saw Flop” refers to the percentage of hands in which a player won the pot after seeing the flop. This statistic provides insight into a player’s ability to capitalize on advantageous flops and win pots despite facing opponents’ actions.
Zero Sum: A term describing a situation where the gain of one player is exactly balanced by the losses of other players in the game, common in poker where the total amount won is equal to the total amount lost, minus any rake.
Zone Poker: A fast-fold poker game format offered by some online poker rooms, where players immediately move to a new table with new opponents after they fold their hand.
Zoom Poker: A fast-paced poker game format developed by PokerStars. In Zoom Poker, players are moved to a new table with new opponents immediately after they fold their hand. This format allows for a much higher volume of hands played per hour, as players do not need to wait for a hand to complete once they fold. They are instantly “zoomed” to

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