Eat Professional Poker Players Alive!

 Here is the Glossary from my poker book... Enjoy....

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Absolute Nuts- The best possible hand, based on the board cards. Sometimes simply called ‘the nuts'.

Ace-High- A five card hand that contains one Ace, with no straight or flush or a hand with no pair in it.

Ace Magnets- A pair of kings as hole cards (K, K).

Aces Full- A full house with three aces and any pair.

Aces Up- A hand that contains two pairs, one of which is Aces.

Action- Checking/Betting/Raising. A game in which players are playing a lot of pots is considered an "action" game.

Active Player- A player who is still in the pot. Add-on- A purchase of more chips (optional) at the end of the re-buy period in a tournament.

Aggressive Player- A player who bets, raises, and re-raises a lot, this is a commonly used poker term in tournament events.

All-in- That moment when all your chips are in the middle and your fate is resting with the poker gods.

American Airlines- Having a pair of Aces as your hole cards.

Angling- Taking action or talking when it is not your turn in order to mislead your opponent. Some consider this to be cheating; others consider these tactics to be part of the game.

Animal- Nickname for a player that is loose-aggressive. Animals are involved in too many hands and will almost always bet and raise when given the opportunity, often with garbage hands. Also referred as a manic.

Ante- A term used in poker to refer to the first money wagered on a hand, or the minimum that each player id required to put into the pot before a new hand can begin.

Baby- A low-ranked card (usually 2 through 5)

Back Door- A draw that requires two cards to complete a straight, flush, or full house. For example, to complete a flush the correct suit must hit on the turn and the river.

Backdoor Flush- A hand with three cards that would support a flush, but needs the remaining turn and river cards to make it happen.

Back-door Straight- A hand with three cards that would support a straight, but needs the remaining turn and river cards for the straight.

Bad Beat- this refers to losing a hand when you were the strong odds favorite to win. An example of a bad beat would be holding pocket Aces against a player holding pocket 9's, and your opponent ends up beating you by hitting another 9 on the last card.

Ballerina- A starting hand of a pair of twos (2, 2).

Bankroll- The amount of money you have available with which to play poker over a particular period of time.

Barn- A hand with a full house.

Behind- A player at the poker table, who acts after you. "I had three players acting behind me."

Belly-Buster- This is a old-school term for an inside straight draw or gut shot draw.

Best of It- To be a favorite to win. Bet- Any money wagered during the play of a hand.

Bet the Pot- When a player bets the amount of the pot.

Bicycle- A straight that is A-2-3-4-5. Big Blind- The position two to the left of the button, who is forced to pay a full small, bet prior to the hole cards being dealt in Texas Hold'em.

Big Slick- In Texas Hold'em, an Ace and a King (suited or unsuited) as your hole cards.

Big Sister- Refers to holding an Ace and Queen as your two pocket cards. This hand is also known as "Big Slick's slutty sister."

Blank- A card that appears useless. Also known as a rag.

Blinds- Texas Hold'em Poker uses what's called a "blind" structure, meaning that two people on the table must post a bet prior to seeing their cards. Since they are forced to bet without seeing their cards, they are playing "blind", thus the name of those bets are called "blinds". There are two blinds, the big blind and the small blind. The small blind position must post half the minimum bet and sits immediately to the left of the dealer. The big blind must post the full minimum bet, and sits immediately to the left of the small blind, two seats to the left of the dealer. As the deal rotates around the table, each player takes turns posting the small blind and the big blind bets. This blind structure forces the action on the table since there will always be a pot to win. So, for example, if you are seated at a $5-10 limit Hold'em table, the small blind must post $5 and the big blind must post $10 bet. As play rotates around the table, each player may choose to call that $10 bet, raise, or fold. When it's the small blind's turn, that player only needs to call $5 to play the hand.

Blind-off- When a player is playing in a tournament but is absent from the table he is "blinded off". This means his blinds are posted when it is his turn to post even though he is not there.

Blind Raise- When a player raises without looking at his hand.

Bluff-To bet with an inferior hand in the hope that your opponents will fold.

Board- The board refers to the community cards that are dealt face up on the table. In Texas Hold'em, there will ultimately be five community cards on the "board". The board does NOT include the two private card dealt to each player. So, if someone were to say, "the board plays", the player means that the five community cards make his best poker hand and he is not using any of the two private cards dealt to the player

Boat- A nickname for a full house.

Bottom Pair- Making a pair containing the lowest cards on the board.

Bounty- A special cash prize for knocking a particular player out of a tournament - usually a famous player.

Bracelet- A bracelet is given to any player who wins an event at the World Series of Poker. Bracelets are sometimes used to measure how much success a player has in tournaments (Phil Hellmuth has 11 bracelets).

Break-To discard a card from a pat hand, or a card that would ordinarily be kept.

Brick & Mortar (B & M)- Land-based casinos (not online).

Broadway- An Ace-high straight. A-K-Q-J-10

Bubble- Placing high in a tournament but not winning any money.

Bullets- A pair of Aces.

Bump- To raise.

Burn Card- Any card placed in the discard rack without being entered into play. After the deck is shuffled and cut, one card is "burned."

Bust a player- To eliminate a player by taking all of his or her chips. Bust Out- To lose all of your chips.

Bust Out- To lose all of your chips.

Button- Also called the "Dealer Button", this is a white puck (usually with the word "Dealer" on it), that signifies the dealer's position on the table. The dealer's position is significant because he is the last player to act for that hand. The Dealer Button rotates around the table, so each player takes turns being "on the button".

Buy-in- The minimum amount of money required to enter a game.

Call- To place an amount of money equal to a previous opponent's bet.

Calling Station- A player who only calls bets and does not take advantage of their good hands by raising. They also will not fold very often so you should not bluff them but need to show down the best hand.

Cap- To take the last of the maximum amount of raises allowed per round of betting.

Card room- The room or area in a casino, where poker is held.

Case- Chips, A player's last chips.

Case Card-The fourth card of any rank that makes Four of a Kind.

Cash Game- A game whereby players can buy-in and cash out when they please.

Cash Out- To leave a game and convert your chips to cash.

Check- To decline to bet or to pass, when it is your turn to act.

Check-raise- the act of checking a hand, in hopes of luring your opponent to bet, so that you may then raise over him and build a bigger pot to win.

Chips- tokens used at gaming tables instead of using cash.

Chop- To return the blinds to the players who posted them and move on to the next hand if no other players call. It also means to "split the pot" .

Cold- a player on a losing streak.

Cold Call- Is to call two or more bets at the same time. For example, if one player calls and another player raises you are forced to call two bets.

Collusion- When two or more players conspire to cheat in a poker game.

Community Cards- Cards placed in the middle of the table and shared by all players.

Connectors- A starting hand of two cards in sequence, such as Q-J, 7-6, or 9-10.

Continuation Bet- A bet made after the Flop by the Pre-flop aggressor as a continuation of the original raise. Used to win the pot right there or figure out how strong the hand is after the Flop.

Cowboys- The name for two wired kings in the hole.

Cripple the Deck- Your hand contains most or all of the beneficial cards that could be used in conjunction with the cards on the board.

Crying Call- To make a call with a bad hand and there are no helpful cards to come out, while surely you're expecting to lose.

Cut off- One seat to the right of the button/dealer position.

Dark- Taking action, such as checking or betting, without seeing your hole cards. When someone mentions that they call in the "dark," they are doing this without even looking at there cards.

Dead Button- When the seat where the dealer button is located is not occupied, due to a player busting out or leaving.

Dead Man's Hand- Two pair - Aces and Eights (Wild Bill Hickock was shot in the back while playing this hand).

Dealer- A casino employee who deals out the cards to players in various games at a poker table.

Deuces- A starting hand containing a pair of Twos.

Domination- When two players hold the same card rank and one player has a better kicker. For example, A-K dominates AJ because they both share an Ace. The only way A-J can win is by hitting a Jack. The A-K is always dominating the hand because if an Ace hits the board the A-K is still winning. Therefore, the A-J has only two outs while the A-K has five outs (excluding any Straight or Flush Draws).

Donkey- Someone who is very bad at poker.

Double Belly Buster- Is the name for an inside-straight with two ways to win. Say you have 7-4 in the hole and the board cards are 2-5-8. You need a 3 or a 6 to catch one of your two inside-straight draws. Double Up- In NL, winning a head's-up pot when you have gone all-in and doubling up your chip stack.

Doyle Brunson- It's a Hold'em hand consisting of a 10-2 (Brunson won the world championship two years in a row on the final hand with these cards).

Drawing Dead- Drawing to a hand that, even if it hits, will lose to a hand that is already better.

Drop- Fold.

Drop Box- On a gaming table, the box serves as a repository for cash, markers, tips and chips. On a further note, once money goes in there you never see it again.

Ducks- A starting hand containing a pair of Twos.

Dump- To fold a hand.

Edge- The casino's advantage over the player in any game, this is also referred to as the house edge.

Equity- Your mathematical share of the pot and your chances of winning it. Say you have pocket Aces against two people, your pot equity is over 70 percent of the pot.

Expected Value (EV) Expectation- Is the amount of profit or loss you would expect to make if there were no variance in poker. If you are dealt A-Ks three times, you are expected to win a certain amount of times with that hand. Therefore, a raise with A-Ks is playing the positive expectation of your cards. In the end, your A-Ks will show a profit due to probability.

Face Cards- The King, Queen or Jack of each suit.

Family Pot- When everyone at the table has entered the pot. Fast- Used to describe playing a hand very aggressively. Favorite- To be the favorite, you have the best chance to win the current hand at play.

Fifth Street- Also known as the "river" card. In flop games, this represents the fifth community card on the table and the final round of betting.

Fill Up- To make a Full House from trips or a set.

Final Table-This is the last table of a large multi-table tournament. Ahhh.... The Promise Land!

Fish- A loose player who loses his or her money regularly.

Fixed Limit- The betting is predetermined for each round.

Flash- To show one or more of your cards, usually when it is not required to do so.

Flat Call- To call one or more bets without raising, when you are quite sure that you have the best hand, this is also very similar to making a "smooth call."

Floor man- An employee of the card room who makes rulings and decisions.

Flop- In Texas Hold'em, each player has two cards dealt to them, and then shares five community cards. These five community cards, however, do not all get dealt at the same time? There are rounds of betting at certain intervals during the deal. After the first two cards are dealt to each player, there is a round of betting. Then, three of the five community cards are dealt at one time on the board. This is what's known as the "flop" - the first three cards being dealt on the board. The fourth card is called the "turn", and the final, fifth card is known as the "river".

Flop Games- Poker games (Hold ‘em and Omaha) that are played using community cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table. Flush- Any hand consisting of five cards that are the same suit.

Flush Draw- A hand where you have 4 of the 5 cards needed to make a flush. For example, if you are holding two clubs, and the board flops two more clubs, you would be holding a flush draw. You would need to draw an additional club to complete the flush.

Flush- Five cards with the same suit, not in a sequence.

Fold- To decline a bet and throw your hand away, when it's your turn to act.

Forced Bet- A required bet that starts the action on the first round of a poker hand.

Four of a Kind- Four cards of the same number or face value ("quads").

Four-Flushed- Having the four cards of a flush in your hand or on the board against you. When you have two of the four cards in your hand, you're in great shape to make your flush.

Fourth Street- In flop games, it is the fourth community card dealt (also known as "the turn") and represents the third round of betting.

Free Card- When you get to see another card without needing to call a bet.

Free Card Play- Betting or raising in late position on the flop in the hopes that the other players will check to you on the turn, giving you the option of seeing the river card for free.

Free Ride- A round in which no one bets.

Freeroll- A tournament with no entry fee. Freeze Out- A tournament that only ends when one person has won all of the tournament chips.

Full House- Any three cards of the same number or face value, plus any other two cards of the same number or face value.

Grinder- One who bets smaller then usual.

Gut Shot- a hand where you have 4 of the 5 cards needed to make a straight, but your 4 cards are not "connected" or in sequential order, so you need a single card in the middle of your straight to complete the straight. You're holding 5 6, and the board shows 7, 9, 10. At that moment, you have a gut shot; only the 8 will make your straight. This type of hand is also known as an "inside straight draw" or a "belly-buster straight draw".

Hand- The cards in a player's hand or one game of poker in which a pot is won. When you hear or read this term, understand it in its context so you won't be confused.

Head's up- One on one play, usually the final two at the end of a tournament.

High-Card- To decide the first dealer in the flop tournaments each user is dealt a single card and the player with the highest card (based on the card and the suit order - of spades, hearts, diamonds & clubs) becomes the theoretical dealer.

High-Low- Split pot games. Hit- When the flop cards are helpful to your hand.

Hold'em- This is also known as Texas Hold'em, where the players get two down cards and five community cards.

Hold up- When a hand that is leading manages to win the pot at the showdown.

Hockey sticks- Two sevens as hole cards (7-7).

Hole Cards- The first cards dealt to you that your opponents can't see.

Hooks- A pair of jacks. House- The casino or card room that is hosting the poker game.

Image- The perception that the other players at the table have of your playing style.

Implied Odds- Bets that you can reasonably expect to collect in addition to the bets already in the pot if you hit your hand.

In Position- To have position on your opponent; is being able to act last post flop. UTG raises and you call on the button and will be in position for the rest of the hand.

Inside Straight- Four cards which require another between the top and the bottom card to complete a straight. Players who catch this card make an Inside Straight.

Inside Straight Draw- Also known as a belly-buster straight draw gut shot straight draw.

Jackpot Poker- A form of poker in which the card room or casino offers a jackpot to a player who has lost with a really big hand (usually Aces full or better).

Jacks-or- Better- A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair of jacks to open the betting.

Jam- To move all-in in a no-limit or pot-limit game.

Kansas City Lowball- Form of lowball poker in which the worst poker hand (2, 3, 4, 5, 7 of different suits) is the best hand. It's also known as Deuce to Seven.

Keep Them Honest- To call at the end of a hand to prevent someone from bluffing.

Key Card- A card that gives you a big draw or makes your hand.

Key Hand- In a session or tournament, the one hand that ends up being a turning point for the player, either for better or worse.

Kick It- Raise.

Kicker- The kicker refers to your tie-breaking card. For example, if I am holding an Ace and King, and the board shows Ace, 5, 7, 2, J - I would have a pair of Aces with a King kicker. My opponent may have an Ace also, but with a weaker kicker, in which case I will win the showdown.

Kill Pot- A method to stimulate action. It is a forced bet by someone who has just won a pot(s).

Knock- Check.

Knuckle- To check (as in knocking on the poker table).

Kojak- A hand that contains a K-J.

Ladies- Two Queens.

Late Position- Position on a round of betting where the player must act after most of the other players have acted (usually considered to be the two positions next to the button).

Lay Down- When a player folds. Lead- The first player to bet into a pot.

Limit- The set amount or amounts that may be bet, often expressed as 5/10 ($5 bets on the first two rounds and $10 bets thereafter).

Limp-In- To enter a hand with a call before the flop.

Limper- The first player who calls a bet.

Live Blind- An instance where the player puts in a dark bet and is allowed to raise, even if no other player raises. It's also known as an "option".

Live Card(s)- In Stud Games, cards that have not yet been seen and are presumed to still be in play.

Live Hand- A hand that could still win the pot.

Live One- A not so knowledgeable player who plays a lot of hands.

Look- When a player calls the final bet before the showdown.

Loose- To play more hands than should be played.

Lowball- Is a form of draw poker in which the lowest hand wins the pot.

Make- To make the deck is to shuffle the deck.

Main Pot- The center pot. Any other bets are placed in a side pot(s) and are contested among the remaining players. This occurs when a player(s) goes all-in.

Maniac- A very aggressive player who plays a lot of hands.

Marry- To become too attached to a hand, usually seeing a showdown when it was very clear that you should have folded earlier.

Maverick- starting hand of Q-J Middle Pair- To have a pair containing the second highest card on the board.

Middle Position- Somewhere between the early and late positions on a round of betting (the fifth, sixth and seventh seats to the left of the button).

Minimum Buy-In- The least amount you can start a game with.

Monster- A very big hand. In a tournament, a player who begins to accumulate chips after having a small stack is considered to be a monster.

Muck-To discard a hand.

No Limit- NL , a game where players can bet as much as they like (as long as they have it in front of them) on any round of betting.

Nut flush draw- A hand that needs one more card for the best possible flush.

Nut- the best possible hand, such as "nut straight" or "nut flush;" this can sometime become the second best hand depending on the river card of course.

Nuts- The best possible hand, based on the board card. Sometimes called the absolute nuts.

Odds- The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making a hand .

Off suit- Cards of a different suit.

Omaha- A game in which each player is dealt four down cards with five community cards. To make your hand, you must play two cards from your hand and three from the board.

On Tilt- Playing recklessly, usually due to losing the previous hand.

Online Poker- Poker that is played on the internet, for either real or play money.

Open-To make the first bet. Open Card- A card that is dealt face-up.

Open Pair- A pair that has been dealt face-up.

Open-ended Straight- Four consecutive cards whereby one additional (consecutive) card is needed at either end to make a straight.

Open Ended Straight Draw- When you can hit either end of your draw essentially having eight outs if there are no Flush Draws out. Therefore, your hand is J-T and the board cards are 9-Q-2 rainbow. You need a King or an 8 to complete your Straight.

Option- When it is the Big Blind's turn to act and he has the option of checking or raising.

Outs- Cards that can come that will improve your hand.

Over card- A card that is higher than other cards, usually in reference to the community cards.

Over the Top- One player raised $50, and then another player re-raises to go over the top for more.

Paints- Face cards, Jack, Queen, or King. Pair- Two cards that are the same rank (such as two kings).

Passive-A style of play where someone is reluctant to bet or raise.

Pat or Standing Pat- Drawing zero cards.

Playing the Board- When your best 5 card hand equals the 5 cards on the board. This usually occurs in 2 situations. The first is when there is a very high hand on the board. An example would be if the board was A-A-K-K-A. Assuming you didn't have 4-of-a-kind then you would.

Pocket Rockets- Pair of Aces.

Position- Your place in the order of betting action. If you act first, you are in first position.

Post- To post a blind so you can enter the hand. Pot- All the money that has been placed in the middle including all bets, blinds and antes.

Pot Equity- The amount of money your hand should win. For instance, pocket Aces against one opponent with K-J suited has 83.15% pot equity. Therefore, 83.15% percent of every dollar belongs to the Pocket Pair pre-flop.

Pot Limit- A game where you are allowed to bet up to the amount in the pot.

Pot Odds- The odds offered to you by the money in the pot. If the pot is $400 and you must call a $100 bet, you pot odds are 4 to 1. You must include other players' bets and calls as part of the pot.

Probe Bet- A small bet meant to gain information about the strength of you hand by noticing the reaction of other players to your bet. Made by a player who was not the pre-flop aggressor.

Prop- Someone who gets paid by a poker room to play in their games, usually to start games or play in shorthanded games.

Protect- When you have the winning hand after the flop you want to protect that hand from drawing hands by betting an amount that makes it unprofitable to chase. In limit poker, it is much more difficult to protect a hand in a large pot.

Quads- Four of a kind (such as four aces).

Rags- Bad cards, usually low cards.

Railbird- Someone who is watching a game.

Rainbow- When three cards of all different suites flop or when there are all four suites on the board out of the four cards being shown.

is a rainbow board with no possible Flush / Straight Draws.

Raise- To place a higher bet than an opponent has already placed.

Rake- The amount a card room takes from each pot, usually a percentage that has a set upper limit.

Read- An assumption of what cards a player has. ("I had a good read on him and still lost.")

Redraw- A further way to better your hand. For example, you have AQ and the board is 8-9-T-J, a King on the river will improve your hand to the Nut Straight.

Re-raise- To raise after an opponent has raised.

Ring Game- Any non-tournament game.

River- The last remaining community card. There is one final round of betting.

Rivered- To get beat by a hand that is made on the river - usually a bad beat.

Rock- This is an extremely tight player at the table.

Rough- A low-ranking hand or a hand that is worse than most others of the same class. An 8-7-6-5-3 is a "rough 8" and a player who does not draw to a T-9-6-3-2 is "standing pat rough."

Round- When the button has moved completely around the table and everyone has had a chance to deal.

Rounders- A popular poker movie: starring Matt Damon. A "Must Watch" if you're reading this book.

Route 66- A pair of sixes as hole cards (6-6).

Royal Flush- The best possible hand, a royal flush is a straight flush involving the Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace.

Runner-Runner- To hit both the turn, and the river to make your hand. ("I went all-in with a straight, but he hit runner-runner spades and got a flush.")

Running Bad- A player on a losing streak.

Running Good- A player on a winning streak.

Sailboats- A pair of fours as hole cards (4-4).

Sandbag- Concealing the strength of your hand for inducing bets or bluffs from your opponents.

Satellite- A tournament that lets you enter another tournament if you win.

Scare Card- A card that may complete your opponents draw or better your opponent's hand. When you have the Top Pair of Kings and an Ace slips off the deck this is a scare card.

Seat Charge- The amount of money some card rooms charge per hour to play in addition to, or in place of, a rake.

See- To call.

Semi bluff- To bet with a hand that may not be the best but has a good chance to improve to the best hand.

Set- Three of a kind (such as three jacks).

Shark- A common poker term: a good player that wins often.

Short Stacked- To have the smallest stack of chips at the table.

Showdown- At the end of the final betting round, it's when all active players turn their cards face up to see who has won the pot.

Side Pot- An additional pot made when one player is all in and 2 or more other players are still betting.

Sign-Up Bonus- A cash bonus for new online, real money players.

Sit and Go- Also known as a single-table tournament, it starts when all the seats are filled (usually two, six, or nine seats).

Six-Perfect- The second best possible hand in Razz: A-2-3-4-6.

Slow Roll- Stalling your opponent by waiting to show a winning hand.

Small Blind- The amount put in the pot by the person immediately to the left of the dealer "button" prior to the cards being dealt.

Smooth Call- To call a bet with a hand that actually warrants a raise.

Solid- A fairly tight player (and reasonably good).

Smooth- A high-ranking hand or a hand that is better than most others of the same class. A draw to 7-4-3-2 is "smooth" and a T-6-4-3-2 is a "smooth ten."

SNG- An abbreviation for a sit and go tournament.

Snow- To stand pat with a hand that is unlikely to win at showdown. A bluff is a betting decision, while a snow is a drawing decision. Usually a player who snows must bluff to win, although a "semi-snow" is possible as well.

Snowmen- A pair of eights as hole cards (8-8).

Speed Limit- A pair of fives.

Stack- The player's amount of chips.

Stay- When a player remains in the game by calling, rather than raising.

Steal- To force an opponent to fold when you don't have the best hand.

Steel Wheel- A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.

Straddle- A straddle is a Blind bet which is usually double the size of the Big Blind (and that player may raise when the action gets to him).

Straight- Five consecutive cards of any suit.

Straight Flush- Five consecutive cards of the same suit.

Structure- The limits put on the blinds/ante, bets, and raises in any particular game.

Stub- The cards left to be dealt as replacements for discards.

Stuck- A player who is losing in a game.

Suited- Cards of the same suit (such as 8 and 9).

Swans- A starting pair of two's (2-2).

Tell- An action that a player makes that gives away the strength of their hand.

Texas Hold'em- This is also the name for Hold'em, the most popular form of poker.

Three of Kind- Three cards of the same number or face value also called ("trips.")

Tight- To play fewer hands than normal.

Tilt- When a player is emotionally upset and starts making poor decisions.

TOC- Tournament of Champions.

Top Pair- When the player pairs one of his down cards with the highest card on board.

Treys- A pair of threes. Trips-

Three of a kind (such as three kings).

Turn- This is the fourth card dealt. It is the third round of betting.

Two Pair- A hand consisting of two different pairs.

Under the Gun (UTG)- The first person who must act on the first round of betting.

Up Card- A card that is dealt face-up.

Value Bet- A minimal bet made with the expectation that other player will call based upon the value of the other player's hand in relation to the pot size and minimal bet, usually made on the river.

Walking Sticks- A pair of sevens (7-7).

Wash- When the dealer spreads the cards out on the table face down in a random manner, then uses their hands to mix them up prior to the standard shuffle.

Wayne Gretzky- A starting hand of a pair of nines (9-9).

Wheel- 7-5-4-3-2 or the best possible hand in Deuce-To-Seven Triple Draw Lowball, a "wheel draw" is a draw containing only wheel cards.

Wired Pair- When your hole cards contain a pair.

Worst Hand- A losing hand.

WPT- World Poker Tour®

WSOP- World Series of Poker

 

                                                                                               

For inquires on having one on one poker coaching with Frank Wiese send a email to : Frank@epppa.com