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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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GLOSSARY
ACTIVE PLAYER
A player still involved in the pot.
ADVERTISE
To bluff with the intention of being caught by the other players in order
to get them to call a future bet that’s not a bluff.
ALL-IN (OR “GO ALL IN”)
To bet all the money you have on the table.
AUTOMATIC BLUFF
A bluff, usually attempted in lowball, that a player makes because of
a particular situation. Depending on the circumstances this kind of bluff
will almost always be made regardless of a player’s hand value.
BABY
A small card, especially in razz and high-low split, that has a value
of eight or less, or sometimes, five or less.
BACKDOOR
When a player makes a hand he wasn’t originally drawing at.
BAD BEAT
When a big hand is beaten by a longshot draw.
Beat the board
Having a hand that can beat any other hand in sight.
BeLly-buster straight
Used interchangeably with inside straight.
BET INTO
To take the initiative in the betting action with the knowledge that your
opponent has a potentially strong hand.
BETTING THE POT
To bet the total amount of money currently in the pot in a pot-limit or
no-limit game.
BICYCLE
The lowest and best possible hand in lowball. In ace-to-five, A-2-3-4-5;
in deuce-to-seven, a 2-3-4-5-7. Also known as a wheel.
BIG BLIND
The largest blind bet in a game that has multiple blinds. See also Blind.
BIG DOG
A big underdog to win the pot. See also Dog.
BIG FULL
The highest possible full house in hold‘em and Omaha.
BIG HAND
1. A hand with a relatively high value such as a full house. 2. A hand
with a big draw, meaning that it has excellent possibilities of winning
the pot. For example, flopping a straight-flush draw in hold‘em.
BLANK
A card that is not of any value to a player’s hand.
BLIND
A forced bet that a player puts in before he receives his cards.
BOARD
The cards that are face-up in a poker game.
BREAK
To draw a card instead of staying pat. Often used in lowball when, for
example, a player with a nine pat, throws away the 9 and draws one card
to improve his hand. He is breaking the nine.
BRING-IT-IN-FOR
To make the first optional bet in any poker game.
BUST OUT
1. Miss your hand completely. 2. Lose all your money.
BUTTON
When there is a house dealer, a button is put in front of a player to
show that he is playing the dealer’s position. The button is passed
to each player in clockwise order.
BUY-IN
The minimum amount of money necessary to secure a seat in a particular
game.
CALL
To put money in the pot that’s exactly equal to the previous bet
or raise.
CALLING STATION
A player who’s next-to-impossible to bluff and who’ll call
almost any bet made.
CASE CARD
The last card of a particular rank. For example, if you catch an ace after
the other three aces are in the discards, then you have caught the case
ace.
CATCH PERFECT
A situation in which only one or two cards will win the pot.
CATCH-UP
To improve a hand so that it will be approximately equal to an opponent’s.
CHANGE GEARS
Adjusting play from loose to tight or vice versa.
CHASE
Trying to beat a hand that is superior in value.
CHECK-BLIND (OR CHECK-DARK)
To check a hand without looking at it.
CHECK-RAISE
To check and then raise in the same round when the action returns.
CHIP (OR CHECK)
A plastic token used in place of cash money.
COLD CALL (OR CALL COLD)
When a player who has no money invested in the pot besides the ante calls
a raise and a reraise.
COLD DECK
A term often used to describe the deck by players who feel they’re
not getting enough playable or winning hands.
COMPLETE BLUFF
A bluff made with a completely worthless hand.
CONCEALED PAIR
A pair where both cards are face down.
COURTESY BET
A bet, usually a bluff, made when it is fairly certain that an opponent
will call or raise.
COWBOY (K-BOY)
A king.
CRIPPLED DECK
A deck with almost nothing left that can help a hand. For example, if
a player held a pair of aces and two others were in play, the deck would
be crippled.
CRYING CALL
To call with an inferior hand.
CUT
1. To separate the deck into portions (usually in half) after it has been
shuffled. 2. See also Rake.
DEAD CARD
A card no longer in play or with no other like cards that are live.
DEAD HAND
A misdealt hand that is not valid.
DEAD IN THE POT
When there is no way for you to win, you’re said to be dead in the
pot.
DEUCE
A two.
DEUCE-TO-SEVEN LOWBALL
A form of lowball in which the best hand is a 2-3-4-5-7, the ace is a
high card, and straights and flushes count against the player. Also called
Kansas City Lowball.
DOG
Abbreviation for underdog—the opposite of favorite.
DOORCARD
The first upcard in a stud game.
DOUBLE BELLY-BUSTER
A two-way inside straight.
DOUBLE-POP
When you immediately raise a raiser you’ve double-popped it. That
is, re-raising so the next player to act must call two bets.
DOUBLE-THROUGH
To double the amount of one’s chips by being all-in and winning
an amount equal to what was bet.
DOWNCARD
A card dealt facedown.
DOYLESROOM.COM
Internet poker-playing site, www.doylesroom.com, endorsed by Doyle Brunson.
DRAWING DEAD
Drawing to a hand that it would be impossible to win with, regardless
of the card or cards drawn. Also known as dead in the pot.
DRAW OUT
To improve and beat an opponent who had a better hand prior to the draw-out.
DRIVER’S SEAT
The advantage a particular player has because it appears as though he
has the best hand at the time. That player is said to be in the driver’s
seat.
DUPLICATE
In lowball games, two cards of the same rank. For example, the two fours
are duplicates with 8-7-4-4-2. Also called counterfeit.
EARLY, MIDDLE, AND LATE POSITION
The early positions in an eight-handed game are the first three players
to act on their hand, the middle positions are the next three and the
late positions are the last two.
EXPOSED PAIR
A pair on the board.
FAVORITE
The player with the highest probability of winning the hand or the contest,
as opposed to dog.
FIFTH STREET
1. In stud poker, the fifth card dealt to each player. 2. In hold‘em
and Omaha, the last community card that is dealt.
FILL
To draw a card that completes a hand, for example, to fill a straight
or a flush or to improve two pair to a full house.
FLAT CALL
To call a bet without raising.
FLOP
A hold‘em and Omaha term describing the first three community cards
that are turned simultaneously.
FLOPPING A SET
In hold‘em and Omaha, when a player forms a three-of-a-kind hand
with one or two of the flop cards.
FLUSH
A hand with five cards of the same suit.
FOLD
To discontinue play and forfeit the pot.
FOUR-FLUSH
To have four cards of the same suit.
FOUR OF A KIND
Four cards of the same rank with a side card, such as four jacks and a
seven.
FOURTH STREET
1. In stud poker, the fourth card dealt to each player. 2. In hold‘em
or Omaha, the fourth community card dealt—the card after the flop.
FREE CARD
A card that’s received without any money having been put into the
pot because all active players check on that round of play.
FREE RIDE
See Free Card.
FREEROLL
1. In high-low split where one player has one half of the pot won and
is competing for the other half. 2. In hold‘em and Omaha, where
two players have identical hands except for one who has a possible flush.
The suited hand would have a freeroll.
FREEZE-OUT
A game that’s played down to one winner and where no player can
add more money to his original buy-in.
FULL HOUSE
Three cards of the same rank and one pair, such as 5-5-5-7-7.
GETTING A HAND CRACKED
When a big hand is beaten by an opponent who started with an inferior
hand.
GETTING AN EXTRA BET
In limit poker only, the art of extracting more money from an opponent
by check-raising him.
GIVE A CARD
To let an opponent get another card by checking to him.
GUT-SHOT
An inside straight draw.
HEADS-UP
A poker hand or game involving only two players.
HELP
To improve a hand.
HIGH ROLLER
A gambler who plays for large sums of money.
HOLD’EM
A high poker game featuring two starting downcards, a flop of three community
cards, a fourth community card, and then a fifth for a total of five cards
and four betting rounds. Any combination of the best five-card hand wins
the pot. Also called Texas hold’em.
IGNORANT END OF A STRAIGHT
The lowest possible straight. For example, with a flop of
8-9-10, a player holding a 7-6 would have flopped the ignorant (low end)
of the straight.
IN THE LEAD
The player who’s aggressive and does the first betting on each round
is said to be in the lead.
IN THE MIDDLE
A player caught between the original bettor on his right and a potential
raiser on his left.
INSURANCE
A side bet made on the possible occurrence of cards being drawn or hands
being made.
INTERNET POKER
See Online Poker.
JAM
A pot in which several players are raising and reraising.
KICKER
Side card to a pair or better, such as A-J-J (a pair of jacks and an ace
kicker).
KICKER TROUBLE
When two opponents have the same pair, the player with the smaller side
card is said to have kicker trouble.
LEAK
When something is wrong with someone’s playing technique or strategy.
LIMP IN
To call a bet.
LITTLE BLIND
The first and smallest blind bet in a game that has multiple blinds.
LIVE CARD
A card that has not been dealt (or seen), that is, a card that’s
still in play.
LIVE ONE
A rich sucker.
LOCK
See Nuts.
LOOSE PLAYER
A player who tends to play most hands, weak or strong, and gets involved
in many pots.
LOWBALL OR LOW POKER
A form of poker where the lowest hand wins the pot—as opposed to
high poker.
MAKE A PLAY
See Put a Play On.
MISS THE FLOP
When a player’s starting cards are not improved by the three community
cards of the flop.
MIXED GAMES
Poker played with multiple games that are alternated on an agreed-upon
schedule.
MONEY MANAGEMENT
The intelligent use of a player’s bankroll.
MORTAL NUTS
Given the cards on the board, the best possible hand at the moment.
MOVE-IN
In a no-limit game, to bet all one’s chips on a single play.
NO PAIR
A hand with five totally unrelated cards.
NUMBER TWO MAN (SECOND DEALER)
A card cheat capable of dealing seconds. See also Seconds.
NUTS
1. The best possible hand at that point in the pot. 2. An absolute winning
hand.
OFFSUIT
Cards that are not of the same suit—as opposed to suited, cards
of the same suit.
OMAHA
A poker game featuring four starting down cards, a flop of three community
cards, a fourth community card and then a fifth for a total of four betting
rounds. Any combination of the best five-card hand—formed by using
exactly two cards from the player’s hand and three from the board—wins
the pot. Can be played as high or high-low. See also Omaha High-Low.
OMAHA HIGH-LOW EIGHT-OR-BETTER
A version of Omaha where the best high hand splits the pot with the best
low hand. However, to qualify for low, a player has to have five unpaired
cards of 8 or less or the best high hand will win the entire pot.
ON THE COME
To bet on a hand with potential as opposed to betting on a hand that is
complete.
ON TILT
When a player plays poorly after losing one or more big pots.
ONE PAIR
Two cards of the same rank with three side cards such as 10-10-A-5-3.
ONLINE POKER
Poker played on the Internet on sites such as www.doylesroom.com.
OPEN-END STRAIGHT
A four-card hand where a straight is possible on either end, such as a
4-5-6-7.
OUTS
The number of cards that will improve an inferior hand to a possible winner.
OVER-BET
To make a bet that is out of proportion with (much bigger than) the size
of a pot in a no-limit game.
OVER-CALL
To call a bet (usually a big one) after another player or players have
already called.
OVERCARD
A downcard in a player’s hand that’s higher than any card
showing. For example, a player holding an ace in hold‘em has an
overcard to a flop of K-Q-3.
OVERPAIR
A pair in the pocket in hold‘em that’s higher than any card
on the board.
PAINT
A facecard—a jack, queen or king.
PAT HAND
A hand that’s complete or one that a player does not draw to.
PEDDLE THE NUTS
To bet a winning hand hoping that an opponent will call. Also called selling
the nuts.
PICKED OFF
To get called when bluffing.
PICK UP
Win a relatively small pot without a contest.
PLAY
1. To sit in on a poker game. 2. To get involved in a particular pot.
3. To do something dramatic or creative during a particular hand, as in
to make a play.
PLAY-BACK
To reraise.
POCKET CARDS
Downcards held by a player in hold’em and Omaha.
POSITION
Where a player sits relative to other active players in a particular pot.
POST OAK BLUFF
A small bet in a large pot in the hopes that opponents will give up the
pot.
POT
1. The total amount of money bet on a hand. 2. An area near the center
of the table where the bets of the players are placed.
POT ODDS
The odds of a bet compared to the amount of money already in the pot.
PREMIUM HANDS
The top starting hands in a game.
PROTECTION
Having a hand in high-low split that prevents a player from being scooped.
PUT A PLAY ON
To attempt to outmaneuver an opponent by unconventional betting.
RAG
A low-valued card that appears to help no one. Also called a blank.
RAIL
A barrier that separates spectators from players.
RAILBIRD
A spectator.
RAISE
To bet more chips than a previous bettor within a round of play.
RAKE
The percentage extracted from the pot by a house dealer.
RAPPING PAT
This term is used in draw poker when a player draws no additional cards.
RAT-HOLE
To put chips (or money) in your pocket during a game.
RAZZ
Seven-card stud played for low only.
READ
To make an educated guess on what an opponent holds in his hand.
RELEASING A SET
To throw away trips when it is thought they are beat.
REPRESENT
To make it appear that you have a hand that you don’t.
RIGHT PRICE
To get good pot odds on a bet or raise.
RING GAME
A game with a player in every seat, that is, a full game—as opposed
to a shorthanded game.
RIVER CARD
The last card dealt in a stud or flop (Omaha or hold’em) game.
ROCK
A player who plays only good hands and thus bets infrequently.
ROLLED-UP
In seven-card stud when the first three cards are of the same rank. For
example, 7-7-7.
ROUGH
A term used to describe a lowball hand with relatively weak supporting
cards, for example, an 8-7-6-5-3 or 8-7-3-2-A would be a rough eight—as
opposed to smooth.
ROYAL FLUSH
10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit, the highest hand in poker without wild cards.
RUSH
A rapid succession of winning hands. Also known as a winning streak.
SANDBAG
Checking the probable best hand with the intention of raising.
SANDWICH
Two players having another opponent stuck in the middle of their betting.
SCOOP
To win both the high and low ends of a pot in high-low games.
SEAT POSITION
The actual seat a player has—not to be confused with his position
in the pot.
SECOND (OR THIRD) NUTS
The second—or third—best possible hand.
SECOND PAIR (OR SECOND BUTTON)
A pair made with the second-highest card on the board in hold’em
or Omaha.
SELLING A HAND
1. Getting opponents to call a bet. 2. The art of making a bet of the
perfect amount to extract the maximum value out of a hand.
SEMI-BLUFFING
Bluffing with a hand that has possibilities of improving.
SET
A three of a kind hand.
SET HIM ALL-IN (OR MOVE HIM ALL-IN)
In a no-limit game, making a bet so big that it would force another player
to commit all his chips to the pot.
SEVEN-CARD STUD EIGHT-OR-BETTER
A high-low version of seven-card stud featuring three starting cards—two
down and one up—then three successive rounds of upcards with a final
seventh card dealt face down for a total of seven cards and five betting
rounds. To qualify for low, a player has to have five unpaired cards of
8 or less to win half the pot (the high hand wins the other half) or the
best high hand will win the entire pot.
SHORT CALL
To call a bet with an insufficient amount of money in a game when the
amount of the call is all the money that the player has left on the table.
SHORTHANDED GAME
A poker game that is not full—one that has many seats open. The
opposite of ring game.
SHUT OUT
In a no-limit game, to force an opponent out with a bet bigger than he
is willing to call.
SIDECARD
See Kicker.
SIXTH STREET
The sixth card dealt to each active player in seven-card stud poker.
SLOW-PLAY
To play a strong hand weakly, that is, to check or only call and let opponents
take the lead in the betting.
SMOOTH
A term used to describe a lowball hand with relatively strong supporting
cards, for example, an 8-4-3-2-A would be a smooth eight—as opposed
to rough.
SMOOTH CALL
1. When someone slow-plays a hand or makes a difficult call. 2. When a
player calls, anticipating a raise by a player behind him.
SNAPPED OFF
To get called when bluffing.
SNOW HAND
In draw games when a player stands pat on worthless hands and bets at
the pot hoping his bet, rather than his hand, will win the pot.
SPEEDING AROUND
A player who plays real loose with no definable pattern is said to be
speeding around.
SPLIT PAIR
A pair in seven-card stud poker in which one of the cards is face-up and
one is face-down.
STEAL (OR STEAL A POT)
To win a pot on a bluff.
STEAM
See On Tilt.
STRAGGLERS
Players who limp in from early positions.
STRAIGHT
Five cards of mixed suits in sequence, such as a 7-8-9-10-J.
STRAIGHT-FLUSH
Five cards in sequence and in the same suit such as 5? 6? 7? 8? 9?.
STUCK
When a player’s losing, he’s said to be stuck.
SUCKER
A player who thinks he knows how to play, but really has little chance
of winning consistently because of his ineptitude.
SUITED
Cards of the same suit.
SWING HAND
A hand in high-low split that has a chance to win both the high and low
ends of the pot.
TELL
A mannerism of a player that gives opponents an indication of the strength
of his hand or whether or not he’s bluffing.
TEXAS HOLD’EM
See Hold’em.
THIRD STREET
In stud poker, the third card dealt to each player.
THREE-OF-A-KIND
Three cards of the same rank and two side cards, such as K-K-K-6-9.
TIGHT PLAYER
A player who tends to play only strong hands and gets involved in few
pots.
TIP YOUR DUKE
To reveal the quality of your hand.
TOKE
A gratuity. Commonly used in gambling circles instead of the word “tip.”
TOP KICKER
The highest (or higher) side card when two or more players have identical
hands and that card is used to determine the winner of the pot.
TOP PAIR
Pairing a hole card with the highest card on the board in Omaha and hold‘em.
TRAP
See Check-Raise and Sandbagging.
TREY
A three.
TRIPLE DRAW
Form of draw poker played as low with the distinguishing feature being
three separate draws where players may exchange unwanted cards for fresh
cards for a total of four betting rounds. Typically played as deuce-to-seven
with the deuce being the lowest card, aces counting high, and straights
and flushes counting against the low hands.
TRIPS
Three of a kind.
TURN
1. The fourth card placed on the board in Omaha and hold‘em. 2.
A word previously used by players from the South and southwestern part
of the United States instead of the word flop.
TWO PAIR
Two two-card sets of identically-ranked cards, plus a side card, such
as K-K-5-5-7.
UNDERDOG
See Dog.
UNDERFULL
A full house less than the highest possible full house—given the
board cards—in Omaha and hold‘em.
UNDER THE GUN
The first player to act in a round.
UNGLUED
See On Tilt.
UPCARDS
The exposed cards in a poker game.
VIGORISH
A percentage extracted by the house to enable it to make a profit on the
game.
WALK
Letting the blind win unchallenged.
WHEEL
See Bicycle.
WHEN ALL THE CARDS ARE OUT
The point when there are no more cards to be dealt.
WHIPSAW
The caller between two players who are both raising.
WIRED PAIR
A pair on the first two cards in any poker game.
WORLD POKER TOUR (WPT)
Innovative mass-audience reality television poker tour that has popularized
poker.
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