Poker Terminology
Poker Terminology List
All-in
An all-in occurs when you do not have enough money to cover the full bet amount, and so place your remaining money into the pot. You then contend for the pot in an amount proportional to what you have contributed.
Ante
The ante is the term for the minimum bet that each player needs to place into the pot before the betting can begin. The ante is placed before any cards are dealt.
Big Blind
The Big Blind is the very first bet that’s posted by the player to the left the small blind position. It is a forced bet, and its amount is equal to the lower bet. For example, in a $10 – $20 game, the big blind is $10.
Big Pair
A pair with a value of 10 or greater.
Blind Bet
A blind bet is the first bet placed by each Player. It is a forced bet and is placed before any cards are dealt. It is considered a live bet for the first round of betting. Both big blind and small blind bets occur in the first round of betting.
Buy-in Amount
The amount you must bring into a game.
Call
A call occurs when a bet equal to the previous bet is placed.
Check
If a player chooses to ‘check’, then they will not place any bets for that round. They can only check when there haven’t been any bets placed by players before them.
Community Cards
These are the cards dealt in the middle of the table – the cards that each Player uses to complete their five-card hand.
Dealer Button
The dealer button is the small circle disc that has the letter D on it. This disk is used to display where the dealer’s position is on the table.
Flop
These are the first three community cards dealt in the middle of the table.
Fold
Players fold when they throw in their cards. Once a Player has folded they automatically relinquish their claim on the pot in exchange for not making any further contributions towards it.
Live Blinds
These are blind bets that are in play. For example, Player A posts a small blind bet. Player B joins the game and posts a big blind bet. Player A must now match the big blind value as it’s now in play and live.
Lowest Card
The card that has the lowest value (keep in mind that aces are high). If two players have the same lowest card, the value is determined by suit. Suits are arranged in alphabetical order from lowest to highest value – Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades.
Muck
If a player does not wish to show his losing hand to the table, he can choose to muck. The hand will then be discarded without being displayed to the table.
Nuts
The Nuts is a term to describe the best possible hand a player can have during that game.
Pocket Cards
The cards that are dealt face down to each Player are known as pocket cards.
Post Now
‘Post now’ is a choice given to new players when they join a game. They can choose to either post now, or wait for the big blind bet. If they decide to post now, they bet the equivalent of a big blind bet and receive their cards immediately.
Pot
The pot is the stack of chips that builds up in the middle of the table. It grows as each player’s antes & bets go into the middle. All players who win are paid from the pot.The House takes a small percentage of the pot. If there’s more than two players that both have a winning hand, they split the pot 50/50.
Raise
The purpose of a raise is to increase the stakes for the remaining players at the table. To raise a bet, it must first be matched, then increased.
River Card
The final community card dealt is known as the River Card.
Runs
A run is a betting cycle around the table. A cycle from the first Player to the last Player is considered one run.
Showdown
This occurs after the last betting round when the remaining Players compare hands to determine the winner. The Player with the highest-value hand wins the pot.
Sitting Out
A Player ‘sits out’ when he chooses to leave the table for a short period.
Small Blind
A small blind is the first bet posted by the Player to the Dealer’s left. It is a forced bet, and its amount is equal to half of the lower bet. For example, in a $10 – $20 game, the small blind is $5.
Street
This is the term assigned to the various stages of betting.
Turn
A turn is the fourth community card dealt.
Visible Cards
These are the cards that are dealt face up to each Player. Players use these cards to complete their five-card combinations.
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