Poker Terminology

If you would like to add to our list of poker terms, please e-mail our editor and let us know about the term and its definition.

All In - When a player bets all of their chips on a hand.

Ante - A small amount posted by each player to initiate betting at the beginning of the round. In Hold'em the ante is replaced by two players placing blind bets.

Bet - To raise the pot and force other players to match your bet or fold.

Big Blind - Required amount to be paid at the beginning of the round by the player two spots to the left of the dealer. The big blind is worth twice the amount of the small blind and its value will depend on the type of game being played.

Big Slick - Nickname given to an Ace and King as hole cards.

Bluff - To bluff is to imply that your hand is better than it really is. Bluffing is a key strategy in poker.

Burn Card - The first card taken from the deck by the dealer will be "burned", or unused, when new community cards are dealt.

Buy In - To pay the amount required to enter a game.

Community Cards - The five cards that are dealt face up and can be used by all players. The flop, turn and river reveal the five community cards.

Check - Equal to betting zero chips when possible. If player is not required to call they are able to stay in the round without betting.

Early Position - The first player to initiate betting in a given round.

Fish - A poor poker player.

Flop - The first three community cards dealt face-up by the dealer in Hold'em.

Fold - To discard a hand and drop out of a round. Also known as a Pass.

Hand - A players' five best cards taken from their hole cards and three of the community cards.

Kicker - If two hands possess near-equal hands, the highest card for each player will determine the winner of the round. For example, a player with two Aces and one Queen would beat a player with two Aces and one Jack due to the Queen kicker being higher than the Jack.

No Limit Hold'em - A version of Hold'em where each player is able to bet an unlimited amount of chips when it is his or her turn to do so.

Nuts - An unbeatable hand.

Playing The Board - When a player's five best hands are the five community cards. The player would be relying on a strong kicker.

River - The final community card that is shown to the table. After the river card is shown all players at the table will know their final hand and will be given one last opportunity to fold or to enter a showdown with other players. Also known as Fifth Street.

Showdown - Refers to the period at the end of a round where all players that are still in the game reveal their cards to the table. The showdown will reveal the winner of the round. Also known as Heads Up.

Small Blind - Required amount to be paid at the beginning of the round by the player to the left of the dealer. The small blind is worth half the amount of the big blind and its value will depend on the type of game being played.

Tell - Gestures made by a player at a table. If a player is exuding confidence through their actions this is known as a tell.

Toke - To toke is to tip a dealer with chips after a round of play.

Turn - The turn card is fourth community card to be revealed to the table. Also known as Fourth Street.