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Poker Terms

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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 AK (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.
Break-even percentage
In poker, break-even 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 dealer button.

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.