Poker Glossary: 100+ Terms Every Player Should Know

How to Use This Glossary

This glossary covers 100+ poker terms organized alphabetically. Each entry includes a clear definition and context explaining when and where you will encounter the term. Bookmark this page and return whenever you encounter unfamiliar poker language in our guides, at the table, or in training content.

If you are completely new to poker, start with our introduction to poker and basic rules guide first, then use this glossary as a reference.

A

Action

Any decision a player makes at the table: check, bet, call, raise, or fold. "The action is on you" means it is your turn to act. Also used to describe a game with lots of betting and raising — a "high action" table.

All-in

Betting all of your remaining chips on a single hand. Once all-in, you cannot take any further action but remain eligible to win the pot up to the amount of your wager from each opponent. If other players continue betting, a side pot is created.

Ante

A forced bet that every player at the table must post before each hand. Antes are smaller than blinds and used in addition to blinds in tournaments (especially in later stages) and some cash game formats. They increase the pot size preflop and encourage more action.

B

Backdoor

A draw that requires both the turn and river cards to complete. For example, if you hold two hearts and one heart is on the flop, you have a backdoor flush draw — you need hearts on both the turn and river. Backdoor draws add a small amount of equity to your hand, typically 3-4%.

Bad Beat

Losing a hand in which you were a significant statistical favorite. For example, losing with pocket Aces when an opponent with 7-2 offsuit hits two pair on the river. Bad beats are a normal part of poker and happen to every player.

Bankroll

The total amount of money you have set aside specifically for playing poker. Your bankroll should be separate from your personal finances. Proper bankroll management means only playing at stakes where your bankroll can absorb normal variance — typically 20-30 buy-ins for cash games and 50-100+ for tournaments.

Barrel

A bet on a postflop street, typically as a continuation of aggression. "Double barrel" means betting the flop and turn. "Triple barrel" means betting the flop, turn, and river. Each barrel puts increasing pressure on opponents to have a strong hand to continue.

Big Blind (BB)

The larger of two forced bets posted before each hand. The big blind is placed by the player two seats to the left of the dealer button. It sets the minimum bet size for the preflop round. "BB" is also used as a standard unit of measurement for win rates and stack sizes (e.g., "I won 5 BB per 100 hands").

Blind

A forced bet posted before cards are dealt. The two players to the left of the dealer button post the small blind and big blind. Blinds ensure there is always money in the pot to play for and rotate clockwise each hand so every player pays them equally over time.

Blocker

A card in your hand that reduces the likelihood of an opponent holding a specific hand. For example, if you hold the Ace of spades on a board with three spades, you "block" the nut flush — your opponent cannot have it. Blockers are important in advanced bluffing decisions.

Bluff

A bet or raise made with a weak hand, intended to make opponents fold stronger hands. Bluffing is a fundamental part of poker strategy — if you never bluff, opponents can safely fold whenever you bet. Learn more in our complete guide to bluffing.

Board

The community cards dealt face-up in the center of the table. In Hold'em, the board consists of up to five cards: three on the flop, one on the turn, and one on the river. Also called the "community board" or simply "the cards on the table."

Boat

Slang for a full house — a hand consisting of three of a kind plus a pair (e.g., three Kings and two Fives). A full house is the fourth strongest hand in standard poker rankings.

Button (BTN)

The dealer position, marked by a round disc. The button is the most advantageous position at the table because that player acts last in every postflop betting round. Being "on the button" means you have maximum positional advantage.

Buy-in

The amount of money required to enter a game. In cash games, the buy-in is the amount of chips you purchase (usually with a minimum and maximum limit). In tournaments, it is the fixed entry fee.

C

Call

Matching the current bet to stay in the hand. If an opponent bets $10, calling means putting $10 into the pot. Calling gives you a chance to win at showdown but does not put pressure on opponents to fold.

Cap

The maximum number of raises allowed in a single betting round (in limit poker), or the maximum rake taken from a single pot. In capped games, there is a maximum buy-in amount that limits stack sizes.

C-bet (Continuation Bet)

A bet made on the flop by the player who was the preflop aggressor (raiser). It "continues" the story of strength told by the preflop raise, regardless of whether the flop helped your hand. C-bets are a fundamental part of modern poker strategy.

Check

Passing the action to the next player without betting. You can only check if no one has bet before you in the current round. Checking keeps you in the hand without committing additional chips.

Check-raise

Checking when it is your turn, then raising after an opponent bets. A check-raise is a powerful move that traps opponents who bet with medium-strength hands. It can be used for value (with a strong hand) or as a bluff.

Chip

A token representing money in a poker game. In cash games, chips have direct monetary value. In tournaments, chips represent tournament equity but do not have a fixed dollar value.

Community Cards

Cards dealt face-up in the center of the table that all players can use to make their hand. In Hold'em, there are five community cards. In Omaha, there are also five, but players must use exactly three of them.

Cooler

A hand where two or more players have very strong hands and significant action is unavoidable. For example: your pocket Kings vs an opponent's pocket Aces. Coolers are not the result of bad play — they are situations where big losses are virtually guaranteed regardless of skill.

Cutoff (CO)

The seat directly to the right of the button. The cutoff is the second-best position at the table and allows a wide range of opening hands because only one player (the button) has position on you postflop.

D

Dead Money

Chips in the pot from players who have already folded, or from blinds and antes. Dead money makes pots more attractive to win and can justify wider stealing ranges.

Dealer

The person who deals the cards. In a casino, a professional dealer handles the cards while a button marks the nominal dealer position for determining blind order. In home games, players often take turns dealing.

Donk Bet

A bet made out of position by a player who was not the preflop aggressor. For example, if you called a raise preflop from the big blind and then led out with a bet on the flop, that is a donk bet. The name comes from its association with inexperienced players, though donk bets have legitimate strategic applications.

Double Up

Winning an all-in confrontation to double your stack. If you go all-in with $100 and win, you now have $200. "I doubled up" is one of the most satisfying phrases in poker.

Draw

A hand that is not yet complete but needs one or more cards to become a strong hand. A flush draw (four cards of the same suit) or a straight draw (four cards in sequence) are the most common. Drawing hands have potential but need to improve to win.

E

Equity

Your share of the pot based on the probability of winning the hand. If you have a 40% chance of winning a $100 pot, your equity is $40. Equity calculations are central to correct poker decision-making.

Expected Value (EV)

The average amount you expect to win or lose on a particular play over the long run. A positive EV (+EV) play makes money over time; a negative EV (-EV) play loses money over time. Every poker decision should be evaluated by its expected value, not its outcome in a single instance.

F

Fish

A weak or inexperienced player who is a net loser at the tables. The term is widely used but considered disrespectful by some. Fish are the primary source of profit for winning players — without them, games would be unbeatable due to rake.

Flop

The first three community cards dealt face-up simultaneously in Hold'em and Omaha. The flop dramatically changes the hand landscape, revealing over 70% of the community cards and defining most draws and made hands.

Flush

A hand consisting of five cards of the same suit (e.g., five hearts). A flush ranks fifth in standard hand rankings, beating a straight but losing to a full house.

Fold

Giving up your hand and forfeiting any chips you have already put in the pot. Folding is free (it costs nothing additional) and is the correct play whenever your expected value from calling or raising is negative.

Four-bet (4-bet)

The fourth raise in a preflop betting sequence. The progression is: open raise (first bet), 3-bet (first re-raise), 4-bet (second re-raise). Four-bets typically represent very strong hands like AA, KK, QQ, or AK, though they can also be used as bluffs.

Freeroll

A tournament with no entry fee that awards real prizes. Also used to describe a situation where one player has a chance to win with no risk of losing — for example, if two players both have a King-high flush draw but one also has a backdoor straight draw, that player is "freerolling."

G

GTO (Game Theory Optimal)

A mathematically balanced strategy that cannot be exploited. GTO play mixes bets, checks, calls, and folds at theoretically correct frequencies. It is the baseline strategy that many professionals use as a starting point, then deviate from to exploit specific opponents. GTO is computed using solvers — software that calculates optimal strategies for specific scenarios.

Gutshot

A straight draw that can be completed by only one rank (four cards). For example, holding 5-7 on a board of 3-6-K — only a 4 completes the straight. A gutshot has approximately 8.5% chance of hitting on the next card (4 outs). Also called an "inside straight draw."

H

Heads-up

A poker game or situation involving only two players. Heads-up play requires different strategies than full ring or short-handed play because blinds are paid every hand and ranges are much wider.

Hero Call

A call made with a marginal or seemingly weak hand because you believe your opponent is bluffing. Hero calls require strong reads and courage, as you are often calling with a hand that loses to any value bet.

Hijack (HJ)

The seat two to the right of the button (one seat to the right of the cutoff). The hijack is a middle-late position that allows a moderately wide opening range.

Hole Cards

The private cards dealt face-down to each player. In Hold'em, each player receives two hole cards. In Omaha, each player receives four. Hole cards are also called "pocket cards" or simply "your hand."

I

ICM (Independent Chip Model)

A mathematical model used in tournaments to calculate the real-money value of a player's chip stack based on the payout structure and remaining players. ICM shows that chips in a tournament have diminishing marginal value — your first chip is worth more than your last. ICM considerations significantly affect tournament strategy, especially near the bubble and at final tables.

Implied Odds

An extension of pot odds that accounts for additional money you expect to win on future streets if you complete your draw. If the current pot odds do not justify a call, implied odds may — but only if you expect to win significant additional bets when your draw hits.

In Position

Acting after your opponent in a betting round. The player closer to the button is in position. Being in position is one of the most significant advantages in poker. Learn more in our guide to table positions.

J

Jam

Going all-in, typically with an aggressive intent. "He jammed the river" means a player bet all of their remaining chips on the river. Often used interchangeably with "shove" or "push."

K

Kicker

An unpaired card used to break ties between hands of the same rank. If two players both have a pair of Kings, the player with the higher kicker wins. For example, K-Q beats K-J because the Queen kicker is higher. Kickers are extremely important in Hold'em, which is why strong kickers (Ace, King) add significant value to hands.

L

LAG (Loose-Aggressive)

A playing style characterized by playing a wide range of hands (loose) and betting/raising frequently (aggressive). LAG players are difficult to play against because they apply constant pressure and are hard to read. However, the LAG style requires strong postflop skills to execute profitably.

Limp

Calling the big blind preflop instead of raising. Open-limping (being the first player in the pot by just calling) is generally considered a weak play because it fails to build the pot or narrow the field. "Limping behind" (calling after other players have already limped) is occasionally acceptable with speculative hands.

M

Muck

To fold or discard your hand without showing it. "He mucked his cards" means he folded without revealing what he had. The muck is also the discard pile where folded cards go.

N

Nit

A very tight player who only plays premium hands and avoids marginal situations. Nits are easy to exploit because you can fold whenever they show aggression and steal their blinds liberally. Being called a nit is generally not a compliment.

Nuts

The best possible hand given the current board. If the board is K-Q-J-2-7 with no flush possible, the nuts is A-10 (a Broadway straight). Having the nuts means no one can beat you — the only decision is how to extract maximum value.

O

Offsuit

Two hole cards of different suits. Ace-King offsuit (AKo) means an Ace and King of different suits. Offsuit hands are slightly weaker than their suited counterparts because they cannot make flushes.

Open

Being the first player to make a voluntary bet in a round. "Open raising" from the cutoff means you are the first player to raise preflop and you are in the cutoff seat. The open raise is the most common preflop action.

Outs

Cards remaining in the deck that will complete or improve your hand. A flush draw has 9 outs (9 remaining cards of the needed suit). An open-ended straight draw has 8 outs. Counting outs is fundamental to calculating your odds of winning.

Overbet

A bet larger than the current pot size. Overbets are an advanced strategy used to polarize your range, putting extreme pressure on opponents with medium-strength hands.

Overcards

Hole cards that are higher than any card on the board. If you hold A-K and the flop is 9-7-3, you have two overcards. Overcards have the potential to make top pair if they hit, but they are vulnerable to opponents who have already connected with the board.

P

Pair

Two cards of the same rank. A pair can be a pocket pair (dealt in your hole cards), top pair (your card matches the highest board card), middle pair, bottom pair, or an overpair (a pocket pair higher than all board cards).

PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha)

The pot-limit betting variant of Omaha, where the maximum bet is the size of the current pot. PLO is the second most popular poker game worldwide, known for bigger hands, more action, and higher variance than Hold'em.

Pocket Pair

Two hole cards of the same rank (e.g., 8-8, J-J, A-A). Pocket pairs are strong starting hands that can make sets (three of a kind) when one matching card appears on the board. The probability of flopping a set with a pocket pair is approximately 12%.

Position

Your seat relative to the dealer button, which determines when you act in each betting round. Later positions (button, cutoff) are advantageous because you act with more information. Early positions (under the gun) are disadvantageous because you must act first.

Post-flop

All action that occurs after the flop has been dealt. Post-flop play includes the flop, turn, and river betting rounds. Post-flop strategy is generally more complex than preflop because there are more variables: board texture, draws, pot size, and opponent ranges.

Pot

The total chips bet by all players in the current hand. The pot is awarded to the winner at showdown or when all other players fold. Pot size influences decisions about bet sizing, pot odds, and whether to continue in the hand.

Pot Odds

The ratio of the current pot to the cost of calling a bet. If the pot is $100 and you must call $50, your pot odds are 3:1 (you risk $50 to win $150). Pot odds are compared to your equity to determine whether a call is mathematically correct.

Pre-flop

The first betting round, occurring after hole cards are dealt but before any community cards. Preflop strategy focuses on starting hand selection, position, and sizing. It is the foundation of good poker because every mistake here compounds through subsequent streets.

Probe Bet

A bet made out of position when the previous street's aggressor checked behind. If your opponent raised preflop, you called from the blinds, and they checked the flop, a bet from you on the turn is a probe bet. It tests whether the opponent truly has a strong hand.

Push

Going all-in. Also called a "shove" or "jam." "Push/fold strategy" refers to tournament play with short stacks where the only two options are going all-in or folding.

Q

Quads

Four of a kind — four cards of the same rank (e.g., four Aces). Quads is the third-strongest hand in poker, beaten only by a straight flush and a royal flush. It is extremely rare but almost always wins a massive pot.

R

Rainbow

A board (or portion of a board) where all cards are different suits. A rainbow flop like Ks-9h-3d means no flush draw is possible, simplifying the hand for all players.

Raise

Increasing the current bet. A raise forces opponents to put in more chips to continue. Raising is an aggressive action that builds the pot with strong hands and pressures opponents to fold with marginal ones.

Range

The complete set of hands a player could have in a given situation. Instead of putting an opponent on one specific hand, skilled players think in terms of ranges — all the hands that are consistent with their actions so far. Range thinking is a critical concept for intermediate and advanced play.

Rake

The fee taken by the house (casino or poker platform) from each pot. Rake is how poker rooms make money. It is typically a percentage of the pot (3-10%) up to a fixed cap. Beating the rake is a significant challenge at lower stakes.

Rakeback

A rebate on the rake you have paid, returned to you as a percentage. If a platform offers 30% rakeback and you paid $100 in rake, you receive $30 back. Rakeback can be the difference between a break-even and a winning player, especially at micro and low stakes.

Re-raise (3-bet)

Raising an opponent's raise. In modern poker terminology, a re-raise of the first raise is called a "3-bet" (the big blind is the first bet, the open raise is the second, and the re-raise is the third). Re-raising represents strength and puts significant pressure on the original raiser.

River

The fifth and final community card dealt in Hold'em and Omaha. The river is followed by the last betting round. River decisions are among the most consequential in poker because the pot is largest and no more cards are coming.

Rock

A very tight, conservative player who only plays premium hands. Similar to a "nit." Rocks are easy to play against — respect their bets (they usually have it) and steal their blinds frequently.

Runner-Runner

Hitting the needed cards on both the turn and the river to complete a hand. "He hit runner-runner hearts for the flush" means the player needed hearts on both remaining cards and got them. Runner-runner draws have low probability (typically 4-5%) but feel particularly frustrating to lose against.

S

Satellite

A smaller tournament where the prize is an entry into a larger, more expensive tournament. Satellites allow players to win seats to major events for a fraction of the direct buy-in cost. Chris Moneymaker famously won a $39 satellite to enter the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event and won the $2.5 million first prize.

Semi-bluff

A bet or raise made with a hand that is not currently the best but has a reasonable chance of improving. A typical semi-bluff is betting a flush draw on the flop. You might win immediately if your opponent folds, or you might hit your flush on the turn or river. Semi-bluffs are preferred over pure bluffs because of this dual path to winning.

Set

Three of a kind made with a pocket pair plus a matching board card. For example, holding 8-8 on a board of 8-K-3. Sets are among the most profitable hands in poker because they are disguised — opponents cannot see your pocket pair.

Short Stack

Having fewer chips than the standard or average buy-in at the table. Short-stacked play requires a different strategy — with fewer chips, you have less room for postflop maneuvering and must rely more on preflop all-in decisions.

Showdown

The final reveal of hands after all betting is complete. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. If all opponents fold before showdown, the remaining player wins without showing their cards.

Side Pot

A separate pot created when a player goes all-in but other players continue betting. The all-in player can only win the main pot (up to their bet amount from each player). Additional bets go into the side pot, which is contested by the remaining active players.

Sit-and-Go (SNG)

A tournament that starts as soon as enough players register, rather than at a scheduled time. Common formats include 6-player, 9-player, and 45-player SNGs. They are popular for their convenience and consistent time commitment.

Slow Play

Playing a strong hand passively (checking or just calling) to disguise its strength and encourage opponents to bet or bluff. Slow playing can be effective but carries the risk of giving opponents free cards to outdraw you. It works best against aggressive opponents who will bet for you.

Small Blind (SB)

The smaller of two forced bets, posted by the player immediately to the left of the dealer button. Typically half the big blind. The small blind is the worst position at the table because you contribute forced money and act first in every postflop round.

Snap Call

Calling a bet instantly, without hesitation. A snap call usually indicates a strong hand that requires no deliberation, or a player who has already decided to call before the bet was made. It can also be a timing tell revealing the strength of the caller's hand.

Squeeze

A preflop re-raise (3-bet) made after one player raises and one or more players call. The squeeze targets the callers, who have shown weakness by not re-raising, and puts pressure on the original raiser. Squeeze plays are effective because callers are forced to continue against a large bet with capped ranges.

Stack

The total chips a player has at the table. "Deep-stacked" means having many chips relative to the blinds (100+ big blinds). "Short-stacked" means having few chips. Stack size profoundly affects strategy — deeper stacks allow more postflop play and bigger implied odds.

Straddle

A voluntary blind bet (usually double the big blind) posted before cards are dealt, typically by the player to the left of the big blind. A straddle effectively doubles the stakes for that hand and gives the straddling player the option to raise after all other players act preflop.

Straight

Five cards in sequential rank (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9). A straight beats three of a kind but loses to a flush. The Ace can be used as the highest (10-J-Q-K-A) or lowest (A-2-3-4-5) card in a straight.

Street

A round of betting. In Hold'em, there are four streets: preflop, flop, turn, and river. "Which street did you bet on?" means which betting round.

Suited

Two hole cards of the same suit (e.g., Ace-King of hearts = AKs). Suited hands have slightly higher value than their offsuit equivalents because they can make flushes. The difference is typically 2-4% in preflop equity.

T

TAG (Tight-Aggressive)

A playing style characterized by playing a narrow range of hands (tight) but playing them aggressively (betting and raising rather than checking and calling). TAG is considered the most reliable winning style for most players, especially beginners and intermediates.

Tell

A physical or behavioral cue that reveals information about a player's hand. Live tells include changes in breathing, hand trembling, and betting patterns. Online tells include timing patterns and bet sizing tendencies. Tells are supplementary information — not a substitute for fundamentals.

Three-bet (3-bet)

The third bet in a sequence — a re-raise of the original raise. If Player A opens for $6, a 3-bet might be $18-$20. Three-betting is a key aggressive action that builds pots with strong hands and applies pressure as a bluff.

Tilt

A state of emotional frustration that negatively affects your decision-making. Tilt is the number one bankroll destroyer in poker. Recognizing and managing tilt is a critical skill for every serious player.

Top Pair

A pair made using one of your hole cards and the highest card on the board. If you hold A-K and the flop is K-8-3, you have top pair with the best kicker — a strong hand in most situations.

Trips

Three of a kind made using one hole card and a pair on the board. For example, holding K-9 on a board of 9-9-5. Trips are weaker than a set because the pair on the board is visible, making your three of a kind more obvious to opponents.

Turn

The fourth community card dealt in Hold'em and Omaha, placed after the flop betting round. The turn is followed by the third betting round. Turn play involves larger pots and requires more precise decision-making than flop play.

U

Under the Gun (UTG)

The first player to act preflop, seated directly to the left of the big blind. UTG is the worst preflop position because you must act before all other players, with no information about their intentions. Only premium hands should be played from UTG.

V

Value Bet

A bet made with a hand you believe is the best, designed to be called by a weaker hand. The purpose is to extract maximum chips from opponents. Value betting is the primary way winning players make money — bluffing gets more attention, but value betting generates more profit.

Variance

The statistical measure of how much your results deviate from your expected win rate in the short term. High variance means wild swings (common in tournaments). Low variance means steadier results (more common in cash games). All poker players experience variance — it is the inherent randomness that makes the game possible.

VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money In Pot)

A key poker statistic showing what percentage of hands a player voluntarily puts money into the pot preflop. It does not count forced bets (blinds). A VPIP of 20% means the player plays one in five hands. Tracking VPIP is one of the quickest ways to categorize opponents as tight, loose, or somewhere in between.

W

Wheel

The lowest possible straight: A-2-3-4-5. In games with a low component (like Omaha Hi-Lo), the wheel is the best possible low hand and also makes a straight for the high. In Hold'em, a wheel is a strong hand but can be beaten by any higher straight.

What to Learn Next

Now that you know the language, put it to work with these guides:

• What Is Poker? — understand the game at a foundational level
• Basic Poker Rules — learn the mechanics of how a poker hand plays out
• Poker Hand Rankings — memorize every hand from Royal Flush to High Card
• Table Positions Explained — see why position is the most important concept in poker
• How to Bluff in Poker — learn when, how, and why to bluff effectively