A
All-InBetting all of your remaining chips on a single hand. Once all-in, you can't act further but remain eligible to win the pot up to the amount you contributed.
American AirlinesNickname for pocket aces (AA), derived from the airline's 'AA' abbreviation. One of the oldest and most widely recognized hand names.
Anna KournikovaHumorous nickname for ace-king (AK), sharing the tennis player's initials. The joke is that AK 'looks great but never wins' — a tongue-in-cheek reference to AK losing to pocket pairs preflop about 43% of the time.
AnteA forced bet every player must post before a hand is dealt, in addition to the blinds. Antes increase the pot size preflop and incentivize more action.
B
BackdoorA draw that requires hitting on both the turn and the river to complete. For example, having three cards to a flush on the flop means you need two more of that suit — a backdoor flush draw.
Bad BeatLosing a hand where you were a significant statistical favorite. Typically refers to situations where your opponent hit a low-probability card on the turn or river to overtake you.
BankrollThe total amount of money you have set aside specifically for playing poker. Proper bankroll management means having enough buy-ins to withstand normal variance without going broke.
BarrelA continuation bet on successive streets. A 'double barrel' is betting the flop and turn; a 'triple barrel' means betting flop, turn, and river.
BetThe first wager made on a betting round. It differs from a raise, which increases a previous bet. Sizing your bets correctly is fundamental to poker strategy.
Big BlindThe larger of the two forced bets posted before cards are dealt, placed by the player two seats left of the dealer button. The big blind typically sets the minimum bet size for the hand.
Big Blind AnteA tournament format where only the big blind posts the ante for the entire table, simplifying the betting structure. The big blind ante replaces individual antes and speeds up play.
Big SlickThe most famous nickname for ace-king (AK), the strongest unpaired starting hand in Texas Hold'em. Can be suited or offsuit.
Big StackHaving significantly more chips than the average stack or your opponents. Big stacks have leverage in tournaments because they can bust other players without risking elimination.
BlackjackNickname for ace-jack (AJ), named after the casino card game where an ace and a face card make 21. Also sometimes called 'Ajax.'
BlankA community card that appears unlikely to help anyone's hand or change the board texture. A blank is generally a low card on a dry board that doesn't complete any obvious draws.
BlindA forced bet posted before cards are dealt to ensure action every hand. The two blinds — small and big — rotate clockwise around the table after each hand.
Block BetA small bet made to discourage your opponent from making a larger bet. Block bets are typically used on the river with medium-strength hands to control the pot size.
BlockerA card in your hand that reduces the likelihood your opponent holds a specific combination. For example, holding the Ace of spades blocks your opponent from having the nut flush in spades.
BluffBetting or raising with a weak hand to make your opponent fold a better hand. Successful bluffing requires reading your opponent and telling a believable story with your bet sizing and line.
BoardThe community cards dealt face up in the center of the table, shared by all players. In Hold'em, the board consists of up to five cards: the flop (3), turn (1), and river (1).
Bomb PotA hand where all players post an agreed-upon ante and see the flop without any preflop betting. Bomb pots are popular in live cash games for creating large, action-heavy pots.
Bottom PairPairing one of your hole cards with the lowest-ranked community card on the board. Bottom pair is usually a weak made hand that's vulnerable to overcards and higher pairs.
BountyA prize awarded for eliminating a specific player from a tournament. In bounty and PKO (progressive knockout) formats, each player has a bounty on their head.
BrickedWhen a community card doesn't help any player's hand or complete any obvious draws. 'The turn bricked off' means the card was irrelevant.
BroadwayAny card Ten or higher (T, J, Q, K, A), or a straight from Ten to Ace (the highest possible straight). Broadway cards are premium because they make the strongest top pairs and straights.
BubbleThe point in a tournament where the next elimination will put remaining players in the money. Bubble play involves intense strategic pressure, especially on short stacks.
BulletsA common nickname for pocket aces (AA), referencing the straight, upright look of two aces standing side by side.
Burn CardA card discarded face down from the top of the deck before each community card is dealt. Burn cards protect game integrity by preventing players from identifying marked cards.
ButtonThe most advantageous seat at the table, marked by a dealer button. The button acts last on every postflop street, giving maximum information before making decisions.
Buy-InThe amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament. In cash games, the buy-in typically has a minimum and maximum (e.g., 50-200 big blinds).
C
CallMatching the current bet to stay in the hand without raising. Calling is passive — it keeps you in the pot but doesn't put pressure on opponents.
Calling StationA passive player who calls too often and rarely folds or raises. Calling stations are unprofitable to bluff against — the correct strategy is to value bet them relentlessly.
CanineNickname for king-nine (K9), from the phonetic pronunciation of 'K-9.' Also a reference to police dog units.
CheckDeclining to bet when no bet has been made in the current round, passing the action to the next player. You can only check when there's nothing to call.
Check-RaiseChecking with the intention of raising after an opponent bets. It's a powerful aggressive play that traps opponents into putting more money in the pot.
Chip LeaderThe player with the most chips at any given point in a tournament. The chip leader has the most leverage and can apply pressure across the table.
Chopped PotWhen two or more players have hands of equal value and the pot is split equally between them. Common when the board plays or both players share the same top five cards.
Coin FlipA situation where two hands have approximately equal chances of winning, close to 50/50. The classic coin flip is a pocket pair vs. two overcards (e.g., JJ vs. AK).
Cold CallCalling a raise (or a raise and a re-raise) when you haven't yet voluntarily put money in the pot on that round. Cold calling typically requires a stronger range than opening.
Community CardsThe shared cards dealt face up in the center of the table that all players use to make their best five-card hand. In Hold'em, there are five community cards.
Computer HandNickname for queen-seven (Q7). Early poker computer simulations found Q7o to be an almost exactly 50/50 hand against a random opponent.
Continuation Bet (C-Bet)A bet made on the flop by the player who was the preflop raiser, continuing the aggression from the previous street. C-bets are effective because the preflop raiser's perceived range is stronger.
CoolerA situation where two very strong hands collide and it's nearly impossible to avoid losing a big pot. For example, flopping a full house against quads — no amount of skill prevents the loss.
CounterfeitWhen a community card duplicates one of your hole cards, weakening your hand. For example, holding two pair on the flop and the board pairing a higher card can counterfeit your two pair.
CowboysThe standard nickname for pocket kings (KK), the second-strongest starting hand in Texas Hold'em. Named for the alliteration with 'K.'
Crying CallReluctantly calling a bet when you suspect you're beaten but feel the pot odds or other factors justify it. 'I knew he had it, but I had to cry-call.'
CutoffThe seat directly to the right of the button, the second-best position at the table. The cutoff opens a wide range because only the button and blinds act behind.
D
Dead Man's HandTraditionally refers to aces and eights (A♠ A♣ 8♠ 8♣), the hand Wild Bill Hickok reportedly held when he was shot and killed in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1876.
Dead MoneyChips in the pot from players who have already folded or from blinds and antes. Dead money makes the pot more attractive to steal and improves your pot odds.
DealerThe player (or house employee) who distributes cards. In casino games, a professional dealer handles the cards, while the button rotates to track positional order.
DimesNickname for pocket tens (TT), since ten cents equals a dime. Tens are the lowest pocket pair generally considered a premium starting hand.
Dolly PartonNickname for nine-five (95), from the country star's famous song and movie '9 to 5.' Rarely a hand worth playing.
Donk BetA bet made out of position by a player who did not have the initiative (wasn't the preflop raiser). It's called a donk bet because it was traditionally seen as a weak or inexperienced play, though it has legitimate strategic uses.
Double UpWinning an all-in hand to approximately double your chip stack. Doubling up is especially critical in tournaments and short-stack situations.
Doyle BrunsonNickname for ten-deuce (T2), because poker legend Doyle Brunson won consecutive WSOP Main Events in 1976 and 1977 with this hand.
DrawA hand that needs one or more cards to complete a strong made hand like a straight or flush. Players with draws must weigh their odds of completing against the cost of continuing.
Drawing DeadHaving no possible card left in the deck that can give you the winning hand. When you're drawing dead, no amount of luck can save you — the hand is already lost.
Dry BoardA community card texture with few draws available, such as K-7-2 rainbow. Dry boards favor the preflop raiser because they connect more with premium hands than calling ranges.
DucksThe most popular nickname for pocket twos (22), because the number 2 resembles a duck in profile. The smallest pocket pair in poker.
E
Early PositionThe first seats to act preflop, typically UTG and UTG+1. Early position is the most difficult to play because you must act with the least information about other players' hands.
Effective StackThe smaller of two players' stacks in a heads-up confrontation, since that's the maximum either can win from the other. All stack-to-pot ratio decisions should be based on effective stacks.
EquityYour mathematical share of the pot based on your probability of winning the hand at any given point. A hand with 60% equity in a $100 pot is worth $60 on average.
Expected Value (EV)The average amount you expect to win or lose on a decision over the long run. Positive EV (+EV) decisions are profitable; negative EV (-EV) decisions lose money over time.
F
Family PotA pot where most or all players at the table see the flop. Family pots are usually unraised and feature many weak holdings, making position and hand reading especially important.
Final TableThe last table remaining in a poker tournament, usually the final 9 or 10 players. Making a final table is a significant achievement and where the biggest payouts occur.
FishA weak or inexperienced player who frequently makes costly mistakes. Identifying fish at your table and targeting them is one of the simplest ways to increase your win rate.
FishhooksThe most popular nickname for pocket jacks (JJ), because the letter 'J' visually resembles a fishing hook. Also shortened to 'hooks.'
Flat CallCalling a bet or raise without re-raising, even when your hand might warrant it. Flat calling (or 'flatting') is used to disguise hand strength or to keep weaker hands in the pot.
FloatCalling a bet (usually a c-bet) on one street with a weak hand, planning to take the pot away on a later street with a bluff. Floating works best in position against predictable opponents.
FlopThe first three community cards dealt face up simultaneously after the preflop betting round. The flop is the most defining moment of a Hold'em hand, revealing 60% of the final board.
FlushA hand consisting of five cards all of the same suit, regardless of rank. A flush beats a straight but loses to a full house. The highest card determines which flush wins.
Flush DrawHaving four cards of the same suit and needing one more to complete a flush. A flush draw on the flop has roughly a 35% chance of completing by the river.
FoldSurrendering your hand and forfeiting any chips already in the pot. Folding is often the most profitable play — knowing when to fold weak hands is a hallmark of winning players.
Fold EquityThe additional value you gain from the chance that your opponent will fold to your bet or raise. Fold equity is what makes bluffing and semi-bluffing profitable.
Four-BetThe fourth raise in a preflop betting sequence (open, 3-bet, 4-bet). A 4-bet range is typically very polarized — either premium hands or carefully chosen bluffs.
FreerollA situation where you have a chance to win more without risking any additional chips, or a tournament with no entry fee. In a hand, you freeroll when you're guaranteed at least a chop but can win outright.
Full HouseA hand containing three of a kind plus a pair (e.g., K-K-K-7-7). Full houses beat flushes and straights. The rank of the three-of-a-kind determines which full house is higher.
G
GrinderA player who earns steady, incremental profits through disciplined play over many sessions. Grinders focus on making consistently good decisions rather than seeking big scores.
GTOGame Theory Optimal — a mathematically balanced strategy that cannot be exploited by opponents. GTO play aims for a Nash equilibrium where your strategy is unexploitable regardless of how opponents play.
GutshotA straight draw needing one specific rank to complete, giving you only 4 outs. For example, holding 7-8 on a board of 5-6-K means only a 9 completes your straight.
H
Heads-UpA pot or game involving only two players. Heads-up play requires a very different strategy than full-ring, with much wider ranges and more aggressive postflop play.
HeinzNickname for five-seven (57), derived from the 'Heinz 57 Varieties' slogan. A suited 57 has some straight potential as a speculative hand.
Hero CallCalling a big bet or raise with a marginal hand based on a read that your opponent is bluffing. Hero calls require strong hand-reading skills and the courage to trust your instincts.
Hero FoldFolding a strong hand because you believe your opponent has an even stronger one. The opposite of a hero call — it takes discipline and conviction in your read.
HijackThe seat two to the right of the button (one right of the cutoff). The hijack is the beginning of late position, where you can start opening a wider range profitably.
Hockey SticksCommon nickname for pocket sevens (77), as the shape of the number 7 resembles a hockey stick.
Hole CardsThe private cards dealt face down to each player, visible only to that player. In Hold'em, each player receives exactly two hole cards that combine with community cards to form a hand.
HUDHeads-Up Display — software overlay that shows real-time statistics on opponents during online play, such as VPIP, PFR, and aggression frequency. Commonly used in online cash games.
I
Implied OddsThe additional money you expect to win on future streets if you complete your draw. Implied odds extend pot odds by factoring in chips you'll likely win beyond what's currently in the pot.
In PositionActing after your opponent on a given betting round, giving you the advantage of seeing their action first. Being in position is one of the biggest edges in poker.
Isolation RaiseA raise made specifically to narrow the field down to a single weak opponent. Isolation raises target limpers or short stacks, aiming to play heads-up with a positional or skill advantage.
ITMIn The Money — reaching the paid positions in a tournament. Once a player is ITM, they are guaranteed a minimum payout regardless of when they bust.
J
JamGoing all-in, usually as an aggressive move. Jamming is commonly used as a short-stack strategy preflop or as a power play on later streets to maximize fold equity.
K
KickerThe unpaired card in your hand used to break ties when two players share the same pair or hand rank. A strong kicker (like an Ace) is crucial — it's the most common way pots are decided.
KojakWell-known nickname for king-jack (KJ), a play on the letters and the 1970s television detective played by Telly Savalas.
L
LadiesThe universal nickname for pocket queens (QQ), the third-strongest starting hand. Queens are traditionally referred to as ladies in card games.
LAGLoose-Aggressive — a playing style characterized by playing many hands and betting/raising frequently. LAG players put constant pressure on opponents and are tough to play against when executed well.
Late PositionThe cutoff and button seats, which act last or near-last on every postflop street. Late position is the most profitable area of the table because you have maximum information.
LimpEntering a pot preflop by just calling the big blind rather than raising. Limping is generally considered a weak play in most situations because it forfeits initiative.
LojackThe position three seats to the right of the button (one right of the hijack). In a 9-handed game, the lojack is an early-middle position with a moderate opening range.
M
Main PotThe central pot that all active players are eligible to win. When a player goes all-in and others continue betting, the excess chips go into a side pot.
ManiacAn extremely loose-aggressive player who bets and raises with almost any hand. Maniacs create huge pots and wild swings, making them dangerous but exploitable opponents.
MarriageNickname for king-queen (KQ), as the king and queen are a royal couple. A strong broadway hand that makes top pairs and straights.
Middle PositionThe seats between early and late position at a full table. Middle position allows a moderately wider range than early position but still requires caution with several players to act behind.
Min-RaiseRaising the minimum allowed amount, typically doubling the previous bet. Min-raises are common in tournaments to preserve chips while still applying pressure.
MotownNickname for jack-five (J5), a reference to the Jackson Five musical group from the Motown record label.
MuckTo fold or discard your hand without showing it. At showdown, losing players can muck to avoid revealing their cards, and players who fold during action always muck.
N
NitAn extremely tight player who only plays premium hands and avoids marginal situations. Nits are predictable and easy to exploit by stealing their blinds, but they're hard to pay off when they bet big.
No-LimitA betting structure where players can bet any amount up to their entire stack at any time. No-Limit Hold'em is the most popular form of poker, allowing maximum leverage and bluffing potential.
NutsThe absolute best possible hand given the current board. Having the nuts means no other combination of hole cards can beat you at that moment.
O
OffsuitHole cards of two different suits, denoted with an 'o' suffix (e.g., AKo). Offsuit hands are less valuable than their suited counterparts because they cannot make flushes.
OMCOld Man Coffee — poker slang for a stereotypical tight-passive older player who sits with a coffee, plays only premium hands, and never bluffs. When an OMC raises, fold everything but the nuts.
Open RaiseBeing the first player to put in a raise preflop, as opposed to limping or calling. Open raising is the standard aggressive preflop play and claims the initiative.
Open-Ended Straight DrawA straight draw with 8 outs, where cards on either end can complete the straight. For example, holding 8-9 on a board with 6-7 can be completed by either a 5 or a 10.
OutA card remaining in the deck that will improve your hand to what you believe is the winner. Counting outs accurately is essential for calculating your odds of completing a draw.
OverbetA bet larger than the current pot size. Overbets are used to maximize value with very strong hands or to apply extreme pressure as a bluff, exploiting opponents' capped ranges.
OvercallCalling a bet after one or more other players have already called. Overcalling typically requires a stronger hand than a standard call since multiple opponents are in the pot.
OvercardA card in your hand higher than any card on the board, or a board card higher than your pair. Overcards can improve to top pair but also pose a threat when held by opponents.
OverpairA pocket pair higher than any card on the board (e.g., holding QQ on a J-8-3 board). Overpairs are strong made hands but must be cautious of straight and flush draws on wet boards.
P
PFRPreflop Raise percentage — the proportion of hands a player raises before the flop. Combined with VPIP, PFR reveals whether a player is tight-aggressive, loose-passive, or another style.
Pocket PairTwo hole cards of the same rank (e.g., 7-7 or A-A). Pocket pairs have set-mining potential — they flop three of a kind about 12% of the time.
Pocket RocketsThe most popular nickname for pocket aces (AA). Also called 'bullets' or 'American Airlines.' The strongest starting hand in Texas Hold'em.
PositionWhere you sit relative to the dealer button, determining your order of action. Position is one of the most important concepts in poker — acting later gives you more information.
Post-Oak BluffA small, seemingly weak bluff bet designed to win the pot cheaply by representing strength through confidence rather than size. Named after the Post Oak Boulevard poker games in Houston.
PotThe total chips wagered by all players in a hand. The pot grows as players bet, call, and raise throughout the hand, and is awarded to the winner at showdown or when all others fold.
Pot CommittedHaving invested so many chips relative to your remaining stack that folding is mathematically incorrect. When pot committed, you should call off your remaining chips regardless of hand strength.
Pot OddsThe ratio of the current pot size to the cost of a call. If the pot is $100 and you must call $20, your pot odds are 5-to-1, meaning you need better than ~17% equity to call profitably.
Pot-LimitA betting structure where the maximum bet is the current size of the pot. Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) is the most common pot-limit game and plays very differently from No-Limit Hold'em.
PreflopThe first betting round that occurs after hole cards are dealt but before any community cards. Preflop decisions — which hands to play and how to play them — set the foundation for the entire hand.
PrestoThe poker community's nickname for pocket fives (55), from the tradition of shouting 'Presto!' when winning a big pot with them.
Probe BetA bet made out of position on a new street when the previous aggressor checked behind. Probing tests whether the opponent is giving up on the pot and can win it without resistance.
Q
QuadsFour of a kind — four cards of the same rank (e.g., 9-9-9-9). Quads is the second-strongest hand in poker, beaten only by a straight flush. It's extremely rare and often wins a massive pot.
R
RaceAnother term for a coin flip — a roughly 50/50 preflop situation, typically a pocket pair against two overcards. Common in tournament all-in scenarios.
RainbowA flop or board where all cards are different suits, making a flush draw impossible or unlikely. Rainbow boards tend to be drier and favor the preflop aggressor.
RaiseIncreasing the size of the current bet, forcing other players to match the new amount or fold. Raising is an aggressive action used to build pots with strong hands or to bluff.
RakeThe commission the house takes from each pot or tournament entry fee. Rake is how cardrooms and online sites make money — beating the rake is the first hurdle to becoming a profitable player.
RangeThe complete set of hands a player could have in a given situation. Thinking in ranges rather than putting opponents on a single hand is fundamental to advanced poker strategy.
Re-Raise (3-Bet)Raising over a previous raise, also known as a 3-bet. The initial forced bet (blind) is the first bet, the open raise is the second, and the re-raise is the third — hence '3-bet.'
RegShort for 'regular' — a player who frequently plays at the same stakes or venue. Regs are typically solid, winning players who grind for consistent profit.
Reverse Implied OddsThe potential to lose additional chips on future streets even if you complete your draw. This occurs when your made hand is likely second-best, such as completing a non-nut flush against an opponent's likely better flush.
RiverThe fifth and final community card, followed by the last betting round. The river is where the hand is decided — no more cards to come means you play the hand you have.
RiveredLosing a hand when your opponent hits their card on the fifth and final community card. Getting rivered is one of the most frustrating experiences in poker.
RockAn extremely tight and passive player who only plays premium hands and rarely bluffs. Rocks are predictable and easy to play against but hard to extract value from.
Route 66Nickname for pocket sixes (66), after the famous American highway. A small pocket pair that plays well in set-mining situations.
Royal FlushThe highest possible hand in poker: A-K-Q-J-T all of the same suit. A royal flush is unbeatable and occurs roughly once in every 650,000 hands dealt.
Run It TwiceAn agreement between two all-in players to deal the remaining community cards twice, splitting the pot based on both runouts. Running it twice reduces variance without changing long-term EV.
Runner-RunnerHitting the exact cards needed on both the turn and river to complete a hand. Runner-runner draws are long shots but can produce dramatic bad beats when they come in.
S
SailboatsNickname for pocket fours (44), as the number 4 visually resembles a sailboat. A small pocket pair best played for set value.
SatelliteA smaller buy-in tournament where the prize is an entry into a larger, more expensive event. Satellites let players take a shot at major tournaments for a fraction of the direct buy-in cost.
Semi-BluffBetting or raising with a drawing hand that's not yet the best hand but has outs to improve. Semi-bluffs have two ways to win: your opponent folds now, or you hit your draw.
SetThree of a kind made with a pocket pair plus one matching board card (e.g., holding 8-8 on an 8-K-3 board). Sets are disguised and extremely powerful because opponents rarely see them coming.
SharkA skilled, winning player who profits from weaker opponents at the table. The opposite of a fish. Sharks are adaptable, disciplined, and difficult to exploit.
Short StackHaving a relatively small number of chips compared to the blinds or other players. Short stacks have limited postflop playability and often rely on a push-or-fold strategy.
Shot-TakingMoving up to a higher stakes game than your bankroll normally supports, attempting to take a 'shot' at a bigger game. Disciplined shot-taking includes a stop-loss limit.
ShowdownThe final stage of a hand where remaining players reveal their cards to determine the winner. If all betting is complete and two or more players remain, the best five-card hand wins the pot.
Side PotA separate pot created when a player is all-in and other players continue to bet more. The all-in player can only win the main pot, while remaining players compete for the side pot.
Slow PlayPlaying a strong hand passively (checking or calling instead of betting/raising) to disguise its strength and trap opponents. Slow playing can backfire if opponents draw out for free.
Small BlindThe smaller of the two forced bets, posted by the player directly left of the dealer button. The small blind is typically half the big blind and acts first on every postflop street.
Snap CallCalling a bet instantly without hesitation, usually indicating a very strong hand or a pre-planned decision. A snap call on the river typically means the nuts or close to it.
SnowmenNickname for pocket eights (88), because the number 8 looks like a snowman. A solid but vulnerable middle pocket pair.
SqueezeA large re-raise preflop made after a raise and one or more callers. The squeeze play exploits the fact that the initial raiser and callers are unlikely to have very strong hands.
StackThe total chips a player has in front of them at the table. Stack depth relative to the blinds determines which strategies and hand ranges are appropriate.
StraddleA voluntary blind bet (usually double the big blind) posted before cards are dealt to increase action. The straddler typically gets last action preflop, acting like a third blind.
StraightFive cards in sequential rank, regardless of suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9). A straight beats three of a kind but loses to a flush. The Ace can be high (A-K-Q-J-T) or low (A-2-3-4-5).
Straight DrawHaving four cards in sequence and needing one more to complete a straight. An open-ended straight draw (8 outs) is roughly twice as likely to hit as a gutshot (4 outs).
StreetA round of dealing and betting in a poker hand. Hold'em has four streets: preflop, flop, turn, and river, each with its own betting round.
Suck-OutWinning a hand by hitting an unlikely card when you were behind. The opposite of a bad beat from the winner's perspective.
SuitedHole cards that share the same suit, denoted with an 's' suffix (e.g., AKs). Suited hands have about 3-4% more equity than offsuit versions because they can make flushes.
Suited ConnectorTwo consecutive-ranked hole cards of the same suit (e.g., 7-8 of hearts). Suited connectors are premium speculative hands because they can make both straights and flushes.
Suited ConnectorsTwo cards of the same suit in consecutive rank order, like 8♠7♠ or J♥T♥. Suited connectors are strong drawing hands that can make flushes, straights, and two-pair combinations.
T
TAGTight-Aggressive — a playing style of selecting strong hands and playing them aggressively. TAG is considered the most fundamentally sound and profitable default strategy for most players.
TellA physical or behavioral cue that reveals information about a player's hand. Tells can be body language, bet timing, chip handling, or speech patterns — both live and online.
The HammerThe famous nickname for seven-deuce offsuit (72o), statistically the worst starting hand in Texas Hold'em. Winning a pot with the hammer is celebrated in poker culture.
Three-BetA re-raise over an initial raise preflop (the blinds count as the first bet, the open raise as the second). Three-betting is used to build pots with strong hands and as a bluffing tool.
TiltA state of emotional frustration that leads to poor decision-making at the table. Tilt often follows bad beats or a losing streak and is one of the biggest bankroll killers in poker.
Top PairPairing one of your hole cards with the highest-ranked community card on the board. Top pair with a strong kicker (e.g., AK on a K-8-3 board) is a solid one-pair hand.
TreysStandard nickname for pocket threes (33) or any three-valued card. 'Trey' comes from the Old French word for three.
TripsThree of a kind made using one hole card and two matching board cards (e.g., holding K-9 on a 9-9-5 board). Trips are weaker than a set because opponents can also hold the same board pair.
TurnThe fourth community card, dealt after the flop betting round. The turn narrows down possibilities and often increases bet sizes, as players re-evaluate their hands with one card to come.
U
Under the Gun (UTG)The player seated directly to the left of the big blind, who acts first preflop. UTG is the most difficult position because you must act with no information about anyone else's hand.
UnderpairA pocket pair lower than all cards on the board (e.g., holding 5-5 on a J-8-7 board). Underpairs are weak and vulnerable — they often have only two outs to improve.
V
Value BetA bet made with a hand you believe is best, specifically to extract payment from worse hands that will call. Maximizing value from strong hands is the primary source of profit in poker.
VarianceThe statistical measure of how much your results swing above and below your expected win rate. Even skilled players experience significant losing stretches due to variance — it's inherent to poker.
VillainThe common term for your opponent in a hand, used when analyzing or discussing strategy. The player whose perspective you're analyzing from is the 'hero.'
VPIPVoluntarily Put money In Pot — the percentage of hands a player chooses to play. VPIP is one of the most important tracking stats: a typical winning player has a VPIP around 20-28%.
W
Wayne GretzkyPopular nickname for pocket nines (99), after the hockey legend who famously wore the number 99 throughout his career.
Wet BoardA community card texture with many draws available, such as J-T-8 with two hearts. Wet boards are dangerous for one-pair hands and create complex, multi-way action.
WhaleA very wealthy recreational player who plays for high stakes and loses large sums. Whales are highly sought after at poker tables because they generate enormous value for skilled players.
