Poker Dictionary

Act- To proceed with the game by doing one of the following: bet, check, raise, fold, call, show down a hand or begin the shuffle.

Action-v. All can represent action: checking, betting, calling, folding and raising. The dealer initiating the next betting round by dealing, not by burning, also constitutes action. A showdown of a hand is also action. Action n. loose betting and gambling.

Action Only- In a limit game, it's an all-in bet of less than half a bet. The different choices are set forth in the rules on how a player can act after an action-only bet.

Action Out of Turn- Action made by an active player or the dealer, whether it be a check, raise, call, bet, fold or any other action, behind an active player who has not yet acted or otherwise made before it is that player's turn to act.

Active Player- A player who has not yet folded in the current pot.

Alligator- See Drop Box

All-In- To bet or raise the last of the playable checks/money a person has on the table in the current hand at play.

Ante- A fraction of a wager is required to be posted by each player wishing to receive a hand before the cards are dealt.

Back Man Out- A method for games where the dealer deals one player out each hand due to the fact that there aren't enough cards for all players.

Bet- N. the checks placed into the pot by a player starting the action; V. the act of starting action by placing checks into the pot.

Bet Blind- To make a bet before the player sees his cards or the next card dealt up on the board.

Betting Round- Betting that takes place from when a card is dealt until the action is complete when all players have checked or placed the same amount of money in the pot.

Betting Structure- During the course of a limit hand it is how much a player may bet on each betting round. There is normally a blind or ante and two limits of betting, one on the first two rounds of cards dealt and one on the next two or three rounds of cards dealt where the bet is usually doubled.

Big Bet- The bet on the later rounds which is double the bet on the early rounds, in a limit poker game.

Big Blind- The blind which is the minimum bet placed at the beginning of a hand by the player who is the second person to the left of the dealer.

Big Slick- (Slang) An ace and king as a player's face down cards for a Hold'em game.

Blank- A card that does not help a hand.

Blind- A forced bet which the player(s) to the left of the button must make to start action or build the pot on the first round of betting. With each new deal the blind rotates around the table.

Blue- (Slang) A spade or club flush.

Bluff- A bet or raise made with the intention of getting the other player(s) to fold when they have a better hand.

Board- All of the face up cards in Stud, Omaha, or Hold'em.

Board Game- Cards appearing face up in any card game played.

Board-Locked- A situation in Stud games where one player cannot beat another, regardless of the cards they have in the hole.

Boat or Full Boat or Filled Up- A full house. Three of a kind and a pair of another kind.

Boss Trips- The highest possible three of a kind.

Bottom- To cheat by dealing the bottom card of the deck.

Bottom Pair- A pair being made by one card in the hole that matches the lowest rank card on the board.

Box- V. A part of the process of shuffling the deck. (a.k.a. strip) N. Where the dealer sits at the table.

Boxed Card- A card that is found to be face up in the deck and is normally treated like a meaningless piece of paper.

Break Table- Before going on break, it is the last table dealt.

Break-In- A dealer who is inexperienced.

Break-In House- A card room that will hire inexperienced dealers.

Brick- see blank

Bring-In-Bet - A forced bet in Stud games that starts the action and is usually at least a quarter of and can be up to the full bet and is required of the lowest or highest board card depending on the type of Stud.

Broadway- Ace-high straight (10-J-Q-K-A)

Broken Game or Broken Table- A game no longer in action mostly because there are too few players.

Brush- N. A card room employee whose duties include keeping a list and seating players in the games; V. to clean a table.

Bubble- Last nonpaying spot in a poker tournament.

Bug- The joker.

Building a Pot- Raising in order to increase the size of the pot.

Bullets- (Slang) Pair of Aces.

Bully- To intimidate other players with aggressive play.

Burn- The top card off the deck is burned face down under a check in the pot after a betting round and before players get cards for the next betting round.

Burn and Turn- What the dealer does before dealing any more cards after action is complete on each betting round.

Busted Hand- A drawing hand that doesn't improve.

Busted- To lose all one's money in a ring game or to run out of checks in a tournament.

Button- When there is a house dealer, the dealer button is a round disc that rotates around the table to represent the dealer to indicate which player is last to act in the betting rounds. Button games include community card games like Hold'em and Omaha but usually not Stud variations.

Buy Another Card- When a player calls a bet to see the next card dealt.

Buy-In- Amount of money one starts playing with in a game or the amount it costs to enter a poker tournament.

Cage- The casino cashier which is usually in a secured area with bars.

Call- To put in the pot an amount of money equivalent to an opponent's bet or raise to stay in contention for the pot.

Called Hand- On the final betting round, when the player facing a bet matches that bet, the bettors hand must be shown down as it has been called.

Caller- The player who calls a bet or raise.

Calling Someone Down- When one calls all of another player's bets.

Calling Station- (Slang) A player who very frequently calls but seldom bets.

Call the Clock- see Clock Request

Cap- This is the maximum number of bets allowed on a betting round in Limit poker. A bet and three (Los Angeles) or four (Las Vegas) raises is a capped pot.

Card Party- This is when dealers gather on one's break to make setups.

Cards Speak- The dealer's responsibility is to read each player's hand at showdown that they have turned face up and push the pot to the player with the best hand dictated by the face value of the cards regardless of how they are verbally declared by any player.

Case Card- This is the one available card of any rank that will make a player's hand.

Cash Out- When a player leaves the game and exchanges his checks for cash or higher denomination checks that are easier to carry (called coloring up ).

Cash Plays- In many card rooms, cash on the table is considered part of the player's stake. At any time, it can be exchanged for checks or bet. In other rooms, cash on the table is not allowed or cannot be used in play until exchanged for checks.

Cashed- Placed in the money (paying spots) at a poker tournament.

Catch Perfect- When one receives the exact card one needs.

Catching a Card- When one receives a card that one needed to win the pot. For instance, where one receives a card that completes a flush or straight on the last card, winning the pot.

Change Gears- To change one's style of play. For instance, from aggressive to passive, tight to loose, from fast to slow, or in adjustment to table conditions.

Chase- When one calls all bets with the worst hand.

Chasing- Continually trying to make a winner from the worst hand.

Check- To decline to bet on one's turn. When another player has already bet, one can not check but may call, raise, or fold.) Also a check of monetary value.

Check Out- To fold a hand when there was no bet to the player. They could have just checked.

Check-Raise- A tactic of first checking but then raising the pot after an opponent bets.

Chip - See Check

Check- N. Clay or plastic tokens denoting monetary values. V. The act of forfeiting the right to bet in turn while still remaining in contention for the pot. Besides the verbal declaration of check players will tap the table. Gestures are binding in most places.

Chip and a Chair- Used to describe a player with only one or a few chips remaining in a tournament.

Chip Moves- A ploy of moving one's checks around to gain information about another player.

Chip Runner- A card room employee whose duties include assisting the dealer with getting fills, soft breaks, and player's checks. Dealer's on break and floorpeople often cover this duty.

Chip Status- How the number of chips one has compares to one's opponents.

Chips Down- When a player enters a game and puts one's checks or cash on the table, therefore, locking up one's seat.

Checks In Transit- When one purchases checks from a chip runner but the checks haven't been delivered yet.

Checks Talk- The amount of checks placed in a pot represent a player's intentions and so also his action. Also checks speak.

Chop- When players agree to divide the pot or tournament pool.

Chop-Shop- (Slang) split the pot.

Cinch- When all cards are out, this is the best possible hand. Also called nuts , lock .

Clear the Deck- The rule that a dealer's hands must be clear of the cards before cutting the deck.

Clock Request- A request by the house or another player that gives a slow acting player a minute to act.

Clock- Dealer's watch or other timepiece used to track a clock request.

Closed Hand- When all cards are concealed from one's opponents, as in draw poker.

Coffee Housing- Table talk often used to deceive opponents about strength of one's hand.

Cold- A prolonged period of play where one plays poorly, doesn't receive good cards or doesn't win many pots.

Cold Call- When one calls multiple bets without having put any money in the pot before.

Cold Deck- When a cheat pre-orders cards, calculating the sequence to his favor.

Collection- To take house money by rake, button collection, or time charge.

Collusion- When one or two players act in alliance to gain an advantage against other players.

Color Up- To give a player higher denomination checks in exchange for smaller denomination checks that are easier to carry, usually by the dealer.

Come Hand- A hand that is not yet complete with cards yet to be dealt.

Come over the Top- To re-raise, often with a large number of checks. Also playing back or coming.

Commit- Placing all of one's checks in the pot knowing they will stay in contention until the end of the hand.

Community Cards- In Hold'em or Omaha, these are the five face up cards or board cards in the center of the table used by each player as part of his hand. Occasionally in Seven-card Stud, if too few cards remain to give each player seven cards, a community card may be used by all instead. Also Common Cards .

Complete the Bet- To make a full bet when there has already been a partial bet (often because another player went all-in for less than half the required bet. Or in stud, raising the bring-in bet to one whole bet.) This happens in a Structured-Limit game or when a minimum bet has been established by an earlier bet in the same round.

Confrontation- A heads-up showdown between two players over a big pot that could alter the outcome of the tournament or chip status.

Connectors- Cards of consecutive order.

Contract Dealer- Dealers that travel to major tournaments.

Counterfeit- In Omaha or Hold'em high-low split, a community card that numerically duplicates a low card already in one's hand. This diminishes one's chances of winning low, but likely helps others.

Court Cards- Jacks, queens, kings.

Cover Card- A non-playing plastic card kept on the bottom of the deck. Also cut card.

Cowboys- (Slang) Pair of Kings

Crab- (Slang) A card with the rank of three. Dealers should always call it a trey.

Crying Call- A call one makes with hand that may have a small chance of winning or when good pot odds make one call, often while complaining.

Cut- V. To cut the cards. N. When a player remains in a tournament after the tables have been combined.

Cut Card- The deck is cut onto the cut card by the dealer. It protects the identity of the bottom card of the deck. Also cover card.

Cut Checks- To divide a stack of checks into two or more stacks.

Cut the Pot- Take a percentage of each pot for the house. See Rake.

Dead Blind- When a small blind is missed because a player leaves after playing his big blind. If he posts it when he returns, this bet is put into the pot before the deal and is not considered part of the players bet if they stay in the hand.

Dead Button- When the dealer button is advanced to an empty seat due to players entering and leaving the game. This gives the same player the advantage of acting last twice in a row therefore many card rooms have an advancing button rule that prevents this situation.

Dead Game- A game with little or no action.

Dead Hand- A hand that cannot continue to be played and is mucked or killed because of irregularity.

Dead Man's Hand- Aces and eights, named after Wild Bill Hickok, who was gunned down from behind on Aug. 2^nd 1876, while holding it.

Dead Money- 1. Money invested in the pot by players that have already folded one's hands. 2. The small blind fraction of a make-up blind that is taken into the pot.

Dead Spread- A table with a dealer, bank and cards spread on table but where no game is being dealt.

Deal Around- To not deal a player in by one's request or by a floorpersons.

Deal Off- To pay the blinds and play the button before switching seats or games.

Dealer's Choice- Poker where the game is chosen by whoever's turn it is to deal.

Dealer's Room- A break room.

Decision- This is called for by the dealer and given by a floorperson when an irregularity or dispute occurs.

Deck Change- Replacing the deck in play.

Deck Stub- The remainder of the deck after cards have been dealt.

Deuce- A card of rank two. Dealers should always call them deuces.

Deuce-to Seven- A type of poker often played as Seven-Card Stud or Draw Lowball where aces are high, straights and flushes count against the hand and the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2.

Dime- (Slang) Ten dollars or in a high stakes card room, one thousand dollars.

Dirty Stack- A stack made of one or more checks of a different denomination.

Discard- A forward motion releasing cards or a gesture indicating that the dealer should slide one's cards into the muck. Also fold.

Dog- Underdog. Not favored to win.

Don't Shoot- A player may discard his hand saying don't shoot when it appears his only opponent is going to bet.

Door Card- In a Stud game, this is the first up card.

Double Belly Buster- A five-card sequence with two gaps that when filled make a straight. For instance, 2-4-5-6-8. Also double gut-buster or double gut shot

Double Nuts- In high-low split games, the best possible hand for both high and low. Also nut-nut.

Double Through- Winning a pot that doubles one's check count.

Double Up - Winning a pot that doubles one's check count.

Double Suited- In an Omaha starting hand when four hole cards have only two suits.

Down- A dealer's time in rotation at one table.

Down Cards- A player's private cards dealt face down. Also facedown or hole cards.

Draw- N. When a player needs one card to complete one's hand. N. A type of poker game where players are dealt five cards and after a round of betting have the option of discarding one or more cards in exchange for random replacements. V. To take or be dealt private cards in five card draw.

Draw Fat- When there are many cards yet to be drawn that might win the pot or when a player has many outs or cards to come to make the best hand.

Dealing for the Button- In community-card board games, each player is dealt one card face up from a shuffled deck to determine who gets the dealer button first. The highest ranking card wins with aces high. If there is a tie, suit order counts alphabetically lowest to highest - clubs, diamonds, hearts then spades.

Draw Lowball- A type of poker game where the lowest hand wins.

Draw Out On- To make a hand on the river defeating the previously leading hand.

Draw Thin- Having only one or two cards that could be dealt to make the best hand.

Drawing Dead- Drawing to make a hand that cannot beat one's opponent who holds a bigger hand. For instance, drawing to make a straight when one's opponent holds a flush.

Drop Box- A locked box under the table that catches the rake when it is dropped. In the case of a jackpot, there may be a second box.

Dry Aces- Pair of aces with no other draws.

Ducks- (Slang) deuces.

Early Out- A dealer who receives last break and may be able to leave work early.

Eagle- World-class poker player.

Early Position- When one must act before most other players on a round of betting.

Eight-or-Better- The qualification as a low hand for most high-low split games (five cards of different ranks that are all eight or lower; the ace counts as a low.)

Eighty-Six- To ban a person from a game, table, or casino.

Elephant- One who calls too many bets and plays too many hands.

Endgame- This refers to the strategy of the few last players in a poker tournament.

Entry Fee- Fee that goes to the house, not the prize pool, for a poker tournament.

Even-Money Pot- When there is about a 50% chance one may win the pot.

Exposed Card- A card whose face has been seen by any other players when they shouldn't have. This is not the same as a boxed card.

Extra Board- Where an on call dealer who doesn't have a regular shift but deals as needed is listed.

Eye in the Sky- Camera surveillance

Family Pot- Describes a pot when all players are in contention to win.

Fast- Describes a loose, aggressive style of play where one plays frequently, makes many bets, and raises often.

Favorite- The hand most likely to win the pot before all the cards are out.

Feeler- A bet designed to learn about the strength of another's hand.

Fifth Street- In Stud, the fifth card to be dealt to each player. In Hold'em, the fifth, final community card on the board. Also river.

Fill- The exchange of cash from a Dealer's rack for replenishment checks. Plastic buttons with dollar amounts printed on them called lammers are the Dealer's receipt from the brush. Also to be dealt a card that completes a hand.

Fill Up- To be dealt a card that makes a full house.

Final Table- In Hold'em, the remaining nine players or in Stud poker, the remaining eight players in a tournament.

Finn- (Slang) a five dollar bill.

First Break- A dealer who is on break during the first down of his shift.

Fish- An unskilled player.

Fixed-Limit- See Structured-Limit.

Flat Call- Calling a bet without making a raise even with a very strong hand.

Flat-Limit- A fixed betting limit that stays the same each round.

Floor Person- (1) A card room employee responsible for ensuring room runs smoothly, making decisions in case of argument, uncorrectable dealer error, or questionable circumstance. Also supervisor manager .

Flop- N. In Hold'em or Omaha, the first three community cards, dealt simultaneously, face up. V. When one makes a hand on the flop - Flopped a straight. V. The action of dealing the flop.

Flop Game- A poker game with community board cards, as in Hold'em or Omaha.

Flop Lag- Describes a flop that could have made a player's previous hand.

Flush Draw- Describes a hand of four cards of the same suit (five makes a flush.)

Flush- Any five cards of the same suit.

Fold- Discarding one's hand or declaring I fold. when faced with a bet.

Forced Bet- The required bet that starts the action on the first round of a poker hand. In Seven-Card Stud, the player with the low card on the board brings it in while in Hold'em blinds are used by the players to the left of the button.

Foreign Check- A check from another casino.

Fouled Hand- A hand with an improper number of cards, one that has come in contact with other cards while unprotected, a card dropped to the floor or other circumstances. Usually such a hand is declared dead.

Fouled Deck- A deck that is missing a card, has two of the same cards, has an extra card or been contaminated by the dealer by mixing folded cards, burn cards or other dead cards into it.

Four Flush- A flush draw.

Four of a Kind- Four cards of the same rank.

Fourth Street- In Stud, the fourth card dealt or second up card and the following round of betting. In Hold'em and Omaha, the fourth community card and betting. Also turn.

Fourth Street Rule- A rule in Seven-Card Stud that when implemented, any player is able to make a higher limit bet if an open pair appears in any hand on fourth street (applies to Structured-Limit or mixed-limit games only).

Free Card- When no bets are made or no money put in the pot in a round the next card dealt is seen by all without having to pay to see it. Also Free Ride .

Free Roll- (1) Describes a hand of equal value to an opponent's with more cards yet to come; however, one hand has a better draw and may improve. The better drawing hand can't lose but could also win more. (2) To compete with someone else's money. (3) In a tournament, where players earn one's buy-in by playing a designated number of hours in live games, rather than paying to enter. Sometimes players with additional recorded hours of play receive additional starting checks.

Freeze Out- When game play continues until one player holds all the checks.

Full Boat- (Slang) full house

Full Ring Play- Playing with the maximum number of players allowed in a non-tournament game.

Gallery- An area where spectators can watch a poker game.

Game Bank- A designated amount of checks brought to the table for the sole purpose of starting a game.

Gaming Card- A card, issued by the sheriff or police, which all gaming employees carry while working. Also (Sheriffs card)

George- (Slang) A player who tokes generously.

Get Quartered- When one receives a 25% cut of the pot (often in high-low games.)

Get the Right Price- When one is in a favorable position to continue playing, given the pot odds.

Get There- When one successfully makes a hand.

Ghost Hand- A sequence of cards dealt from a previous hand (from poor shuffling.)

Give Action- To loosely bet, raise, or call.

Give Protection- Raising a player who is all-in, thus discouraging other potential callers.

Go on Tilt- When one plays poorly because they're upset. Also called steaming.

Going South- (Slang) A player taking money or checks off the table while still in the game. See rat hole . Also means to fold.

Good Game- A game with poor poker players.

Grind Joint- A card room offering low-limit games where one can slowly grind out a small profit.

Grind- To play small games, play well and slowly make money.

Guaranteed Tournament- A tournament for which an amount of money is guaranteed by the sponsor. The guarantee usually applies to the total amount of money in the tournament pool or the amount that will be paid to the winner of the tournament.

Gut shot- A draw to an inside straight. See belly buster.

Half Kill- The betting limits are increased by 50 percent instead of 100 percent.

Hammer- Having the advantage of being last to act on the button.

Hand- A player's cards or the complete play of a hand from first shuffle to the showdown and wash.

Handcuff- To bet an amount that would take most of one's opponents stack to call making it impossible for the opponent to make a significant raise.

Heads-up- playing one-on-one.

Helicopter- To pitch a player's card high and spinning.

High Hand- Hand that is competing for the high side of the pot in a high-low split game.

High Stakes- Usually refers to poker games $75- $150 and higher.

High-Society Check- Poker check worth $100.

Hit a Card- Catch a good card or a card that wins the pot.

Hold'em or Texas Hold'em - Worlds most popular poker game. Each player has two cards facedown, and the players share the five-community cards face-up in the middle of the table. The best five-card hand wins.

Hole Cards- In Seven-Card Stud games, the first two private cards. In Five-Card Stud games, the first and the only private card. In Hold'em, the player's two private cards. In Omaha, the player's four private cards.

Hole Cards- Players private facedown cards that only he can see.

Hooks- (Slang) Jacks

Horse (HORSE) - Game in which they play equal numbers of hands (or equal lengths of time) in five different games. The games are Hold'em, Omaha Eight or Better (High-Low Split), Razz (Seven-Card Low), Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split (E = eight or better).

HOSE- A poker game in which the player alternating rounds or time periods (such as half an hour or hour) of Hold'em, Omaha High-Low Split, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split with an Eight or Better to qualify for low.

Hot Sucker- (Slang) A player who lost a big pot who now plays very poorly.

Hot Sucker Raise- A raise almost certainly made due to being a hot sucker. Also steam bet .

Hot- Used to describe a player who is winning more than his share of pots or one that is angry.

Hourly Rate- The amount of money a player expects to win per hour on average.

Ignorant End- (Slang) Low end of a straight often beaten by a higher straight.

Implied Odds- Odds a player factors into his calculation of pot odds to account for being called if they complete one's hand.

In the Dark- Without looking at the facedown hole cards or before up cards are dealt.

In the Money- In the paying positions in a poker tournament.

In-House Tournament- A small-stakes tournament that is conducted primarily for the benefit of regular patrons of the casino. These tournaments are therefore usually advertised only within the casino.

Inside Straight Draw- A straight that can be made only with a card of one rank somewhere in the middle of the straight. Also gut shot belly buster .

Isolation- Strategy of raising another player's bet high enough that no others will call in order to play the original bettor heads up.

Jackpot- Some card rooms have a bad beat jackpot that's paid when a hand of a certain minimum high value loses to an even better hand. Other rooms may have different kinds of jackpots, such as holding a spade flush or high hand of the day.

Jam- Bet and raise as many times as they can in a particular hand or round of betting.

Jam the Pot- Excessive bets and raises by one or more players.

Jam-Up Game- A game where several players are building very large pots.

Johnnies- (Slang) Jacks.

Joker- The fifty-third card in the deck, used only in specific games. In lowball draw, it is the lowest card not already in the player's hand. In high draw, it is either an ace or can be used to complete straights or flushes. Joker also refers to the perfect card. Also Bug .

Kamikaze- A player who consistently bets or raises with mediocre hands. Also maniac .

Kicker- The highest unpaired card that is used to determine the winning hand when two hands are otherwise equal. Also side card .

Kill- V. To render a hand unplayable by touching it to the muck. N. Depending on house rules, a player is allowed or required to kill the pot under certain circumstances in some games, thus doubling the betting limits for that hand.

Ladies- (Slang) Pair of queens.

Lammers- Numbered disks of different colors used to indicate the amount missing from the Dealer's rack when getting a fill.

Late Position- A position on a round of betting in which a player acts after most of the others have acted.

Lay Down- Fold.

Legitimate Hand- A hand with value; a hand that is not a bluffing hand.

Let‘em Live- (Slang) A check by the big blind when it's one's option to raise preflop.

Level- The current blind levels in round of play in a tournament.

Limit Poker- Variations of poker in which the amounts of the bets are preset, in contrast to no-limit poker, where they can bet any amount at any time. Usually the smaller limit is applied during the early streets while the larger bet is required on the later streets.

Limp In- A player who has entered the pot by just calling the minimum opening bet.

Lineup- (1) The sequence of tables for a dealer to take a turn at. (2) The assignment of dealers to certain tables. (3) The players in a poker game.

Little Slick- (Slang) KQ suited as hole cards.

Live Action- Game at a single table played with checks that represent money, without escalating blinds, as opposed to tournament action. Also side game

Live Blind- A blind bet that acts as part or all of a player's bet. The player who posted it has the option to raise when the action reaches him (unless the raises have been capped), or he may check if there has been no raise.

Live Card- In Stud games, a card that has not yet been seen and is presumed likely to be still available.

Live Hand- Hand that hasn't been folded.

Live One- A loose, weak player with a lot of money to lose.

Lock Up- To be winning, with no chance of losing.

Locksmith- (Slang)A player who plays a hand only if it is almost certain to be the winner

Long Shot- An event that has little chance of occurring like a poker a hand that has a little chance of being made. Also long odds .

Loose- Style of play in which one plays a lot of hands.

Loose Game or Loose Table- A game with several loose players.

Low Hand- Hand that is competing for the low side of the pot.

Lowball- Five card draw game in which the lowest hand wins at showdown. Depending on the game rules, a straight or flush may or may not be detrimental to the value of the hand, and a joker may or may not be used. Also deuce to seven .

Low-Stakes- Usually refers to limit poker games $10-$20 and smaller.

Made Hand- Complete hand that is a straight or better.

Main Game- The game which shall be the last of its type permitted by the house to break.

Main Pot- The first pot formed in each hand. It is simply the pot until a player goes all-in, causing a side pot to be formed.

Make a Deal- To negotiate a new way of dividing the money among the top finishers at the final table in a tournament.

Make a Move- To execute a calculated play to try to improve one's chip position.

Make-Up Figure- Total amount to date that a player being staked has lost. Usually this has to be won back before the player can collect any money for himself.

Maniac- Loose aggressive player who likes to raise a lot of pots with mediocre hands.

Marred Card- A card with any markings, indentations or bends visible on the back.

Mechanic- A dealer who is highly skilled at stacking the deck or cheating by other card maneuvers usually acting with a partner playing in the game.

Middle Position- A position on a round of betting somewhere in the middle. In a ten-handed game, the fourth, fifth, and sixth players to act would be said to be in the middle position.

Minimum Betting Unit- The smallest check normally used in the play of the particular stakes shall be deemed the minimum betting unit. For example, in $20-$40 and $30-$60 games, $5 checks constitute the minimum betting unit; in $40-$80, the minimum betting unit is a $10 check.

Minimum Buy-In- The minimum amount of money a player must put in play to have a seat in a game.

Misdeal- Because of an irregularity in the deal, all cards are taken back, reshuffled, and dealt.

Miss- Fail to complete one's hand.

Missed Blind- A button is placed by the dealer at a player's checks when the player does not post a blind when it is one's turn because he is away from the table. In a game with two blinds, there may be separate small blind and big blind buttons. A small blind button is given when the player has missed the small blind only. To receive cards upon one's return, players must post blinds missed. Missed small blinds will go into the pot immediately as dead money unless reentering in the normal small blind position.

Mixed-Limit- A Spread-Limit game where a small spread on early streets is allowed and a larger spread is available to wager on later streets.

Money Cutoff Line- Point in a poker tournament at which a player makes money if he survives. Also Bubble .

Money Game- Non-tournament game where players play with checks representing cash. Also side game .

Money in Play- The total amount of money available to a player for the play of a particular hand.

Monster- A very strong hand.

Move In- To bet all one's checks, usually as a raise or re-raise.

Muck- The scattered pile of folded cards face down near the dealer. Cards touching any part of this pile are usually dead.

Multi-Table Satellite- A satellite in which there is more than one starting table such as a super satellite.

Multi-way Pot- Hand in which more than one opponent is involved.

Must Move- A second game of the same type that is started to protect the first or main game. A player, upon his turn to moved, must move to the main game or quit that game.

New Player- A player who has taken a seat in a game but has not yet received cards.

Nit- An ultra conservative or unsociable player that leaves the table right away if they get ahead and may not be generous tippers.

NLH- No-limit Hold'em.

No Qualifier- In a high-low split game with no qualifier, the high and low hand will split the pot regardless of the value of the community cards.

No Vacancy- (Slang) Full house

No-Limit- Variation of poker betting in which players may bet as much as they want up to the amount they have in play on any betting round, as opposed to limit poker, where there is an established betting structure.

No-Limit Hold'em- Often referred to as the Cadillac of poker, Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker played today and No-Limit is the structure where players may bet any amount at any time.

Nosebleed- High stakes poker games in which players can lose large amounts of money very quickly.

Nuisance Bet or Nuisance Raise- A minimum bet or raise in a spread-limit game.

Nut-Nut- A hand having both the nut high and the nut low in a high-low split game. Also double nut

Nuts- The best possible hand given the face-up cards.

Odd Check- An extra check left after splitting a pot that is awarded the player in the worst or earliest position.

Odds- Percentage chance that a player will win a pot.

Off Suit- In Hold'em and Omaha, used to describe cards of different suits.

Off the Money- To be eliminated in the last place that does not receive prize money. Also On the bubble .

Omaha - Omaha High - Omaha High-Only - Variation of Hold'em poker in which each player is dealt four facedown cards and players share five community face-up cards. Players must use exactly two cards from one's hands and three from the face-up cards to make the best five-card hand.

Omaha Eight or Better- Omaha high-low split- Omaha/8- The pot will be split with the winner of a high hand and low hand if the hand qualifies. A qualified low hand contains five cards of unique rank, each eight or lower. If no hand qualifies for low, the high hand scoops or takes the entire pot. Precisely two cards from the players hand must be used for both high and low. If the board doesn't have three unpaired cards eight or lower there can be no low.

On the Bubble- To be low on checks in one of the last few places before the prize money is awarded in a tournament.

On the Clock- An employee being paid his or her hourly rate and not off-duty. Also: A player who has had the clock called on him is said to be On the Clock .

On the Come- Playing aggressively with a hand that has not yet been made.

On the End- On the last card or last round of betting.

On the Piece- When a player wants to bet or call and is playing with cash on the table but doesn't have enough checks for the specific bet, he may put a bill in and declare x amount on the piece and the dealer would take checks out of the pot to mark the wager.

On Tilt- Playing much worse because someone is upset about something.

One-Table Satellite- A satellite that has one table only, usually with nine or ten players.

On-Land Satellite- A satellite played live, usually in a public card room.

Online Satellite- A satellite played on the Internet.

Open- To make the first bet in a poker hand, especially in draw poker.

Open a Hand- Be the first bettor.

Open Hand- An accepted way to signal a customer that the action is on them if making eye contact doesn't work first.

Open Pair- An exposed pair in a player's hand in a game like stud. Also exposed pair .

Open Seat- A poker seat where there is no player, checks, or reserved button.

Open Table- A game in a card room that is not part of a tournament. Also open game side game money game live game .

Open-Ended Straight Draw- Draw in which a player can hit two different cards to complete a straight on the highest or lowest side. For example, a player with 8-9-10-J has an open-ended straight draw because he will hit the straight if either a seven or a queen comes.

Opener- (1) The player who opens the pot by making the first bet; (2) In draw poker, a hand consisting of pair of jacks or better is usually required to open the betting.

Openers- In draw poker, a hand consisting of pair of jacks or better is usually required to open the betting.

Open-Handed- A poker game like Seven-Card Stud or Razz in which some cards in each player's hand are exposed.

Option- If there has been no raise, then a player who posted the big blind, or any required blind equal to the big blind, has the option to either check or raise when the action reaches them.

Out- A card in the deck to come that will make one's drawing hand something of value.

Outer- Number of cards available in the deck yet to come that will make a hand.

Outdraw- See draw out.

Outs- Cards that will improve one's hand. Also, ways of improving one's hand. The term is used particularly in reference to a hand that needs to improve to become the best hand.

Over Card- Card in a players hand that is higher than the board cards or opponent's cards.

Overs- When some players at the table have agreed in advance to double the usual limit when the overs (given buttons) are the only ones left contesting the pot.

Over the Top- A player re-raises an opponent in No-Limit.

Over Pair- Pocket pair with a higher rank than the community cards.

Paint- (Slang) Face card, i.e., J-Q-K-A.

Pair- Two cards of the same rank.

Pass- To check, especially in draw poker.

Pass Through- A method of cheating by doing a false shuffle.

Pat Hand- In draw poker games, a complete hand before the draw. A pat flush would be a five-card flush before the draw. Also, in any game, a straight or better.

Pay Off- To call a bet or raise when one doesn't think one has the best hand.

Pay Station- A player who calls bets and raises much more than is correct and doesn't often fold making it hard to bluff them. Also calling station .

Payoff Point- The number of players who will share in the tournament pool.

Payout- The prize money one will win at the event.

Peek- A method of cheating by peeking at the top card when the deck is upside down.

Penny- (Slang) One dollar or a $1 check. In high stakes room, a penny may mean $100.

Percentage Call- A call that is made because the cost is small compared to the size of the pot.

Pickup- N. When a player has been absent too long from the table and the house collects his checks, money, and belongings so the seat may be given to a player waiting on the list. V. Collecting the checks.

Pineapple- A variation of Hold'em where each player gets three cards down and discards one of them before the flop. In crazy pineapple, the discard is after the flop.

Pink- (Slang) A heart or diamond flush (all pink.)

Pip- One of the spots on a card or to lose a pot in a close hand.

Pitch- The motion the dealer makes to get cards to the players.

Play Back- To respond to an opponent's bet by raising or re-raising.

Play Behind- When a player has already given money to a check runner or floor person and wants to begin playing immediately. Dealer announces player playing behind X amount so everyone knows how much is in play. A separate pile of chips is made from the pot to mark the amount the player owes the pot if he participates in the hand. Also play light play shy .

Play Down- To reduce the number of checks in a stack in order to qualify to make a re-buy.

Play Fast- Liberally bet a promising hand in order to get maximum return if it should win.

Play Light- see Play behind

Play Over- One player leaves his checks on the table when taking a break; the floor person counts the checks, then covers them (usually with a clear plastic box, a check rack, or a towel) and allows another player to play in that seat until the original player returns.

Play Shy- see Play Behind

Play the Board- In Hold'em games, a player whose best five cards are the community cards.

Play With- To play in a hand or call someone's bet.

Player Absent Button- A house button placed by an outgoing dealer at a player's seat who is absent to determine how long a player has been gone and shall be picked up.

Player List- A list of names held by the floor person of players waiting to enter the game. Also waiting list list board . See transfer list .

Playing Session- The period from when a player starts playing to when a player stops playing including breaks.

Playing the Rush- A player playing every hand because he is on a winning streak.

Pocket Cards- In games other than draw games, the cards that are dealt face down to the player. Also private cards down cards hole cards .

Pocket Pair- Pair in a player's facedown cards.

Pocket Rockets- Pair of aces among a player's facedown cards.

Position- Where a player is seated relative to the button.

Position Bet- A bet made in a late position. May be trying to steal the pot if no one else has bet or may have a strong hand and wants others to call, thinking he's stealing.

Positional Advantage- A player sits behind an opponent in a hand and gets to act last.

Possible- A hand that can be completed by one more card, as in a possible straight or possible flush, in a player's four up cards in Seven-Card Stud.

Possible Pair- (Slang) A hand with no pair.

Post Mortem- Detailed discussion of a hand after play is complete. Dealer should stay focused on current hand.

Post- Put up an ante.

Pot- Money gathered in the middle of the table during a hand.

Pot Odds- Calculation of odds; the size of the pot divided by the cost of calling a bet.

Pot-Limit- Variation of poker games in which the maximum bet a player may make is the size of the pot (which includes that players call) at the time the bet is made. For example, if there is $10 in the pot, the first player to act may bet $10 and the next player is allowed to call the $10 and raise up to $30 more.

Pot-Limit Hold'em- A player can bet the size of the pot at any time in Hold'em. See above.

Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) - Variation of Omaha popular in Europe where player can bet the size of the pot at any time. See Pot-limit and Omaha above.

Presto- Pocket fives. The name was coined by an online newsgroup, rec.gambling.poker.com (RGP).

Progression- In a tournament, the blinds and/or betting limits go up periodically according to predetermined guidelines.

Prompt- When a player is unaware that it is his turn to act, or is failing to act, a verbal encouragement by the dealer that the action is on them.

Prop- See Proposition player.

Proper Card- The card a player would receive if there were no procedural irregularities in the deal.

Proposition Player- Called a prop for short this house employee plays his own money at a table assigned by a manager to get a game started or keep a shorthanded game going. See shill .

Protect one's Hand- Raise or bet to eliminate opponents and increase chances of winning with a strong hand rather than have someone draw out on them.

Protected Hand- The player is physically holding the cards or has placed one or more checks or some other object on top of the cards.

Puck- Button

Pump- Raise, as in pump it up.

Puppy Feet- (Slang) Clubs

Push- The break dealer pushes the line by going to the first table in a line and tapping the dealer on the shoulder. At the end of the current hand, that dealer gets up and goes to the next table in the lineup to push that dealer. The last dealer in that line goes on break. See (lineup).

Put in a Bet- Make a bet

Put Someone on a Hand- A player guesses best he can the hand (or hands) an opponent is most likely to have based on the incomplete information at hand before showdown.

Quads- (Slang)Four of a kind

Qualification Tournament- A tournament that is limited to participants who qualify under established criteria. Qualification may be based on almost any criteria including sex, the number of hours played in the casino, previous tournaments won, etc.

Qualifier- An eight-or-better is usually required to qualify as a low hand in high-low split game with a qualifier. See (no qualifier)

Quartered- Receiving only one-quarter of the pot, most often due to a tie in a high-low split game.

Rabbit Hunting- Looking at what cards would have come up, after all players have folded one's hands.

Rack- Plastic container that holds 100 checks.

Rag- Weak or unplayable card. Small unmatched board cards.

Rail Bird- A poker player standing at the rail, watching a game or trying to borrow into it.

Rainbow- A flop of three different suits or stack of checks of mixed colors. See dirty stack .

Raise- Add a bet to an opponents bet.

Rake or Rake Off- Percentage of money taken for the house from each pot. Also cut . Some places have time or button collection to compensate house.

Ram and Jam- Raise and re-raise often.

Rank- The numerical value of a card: ace, deuce, trey, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king.

Rat Hole- A player who illegally sneaks checks off the table thus reducing his table stake is said to be rat holing checks. Also going south .

Razz- Another name for Seven-Card Lowball.

Read - Make one's best guess at what one's opponent's hand is or if they are weak or strong. Also how the dealer determines the winning hand at showdown.

Re-buy- To purchase additional checks during a tournament. Re-buys are usually permitted only for a specific amount of time and only if a player has less than a specific number of checks.

Re-buy Period- The number of rounds players may make a re-buy in, usually first three.

Re-Buy Point- The maximum number of checks that a player may have before buying additional checks.

Red Bird- A $5 check (regardless of color.) Less commonly used are blue bird ($1 check,) green bird (a $25 check,) and black bird (a $100 check.). Also nickel .

Represent- Pretend and play as if one has a strong hand.

Re-raise- Raise someone who has raised.

Respect- Believing that one's opponent has a good hand and acting accordingly.

Re-stealing- Re-raising a player who they believe is making a steal to try to bluff him out of a pot even if they are even weaker.

Retrieved Hand- A hand that has been discarded by a player and then pulled back. So long as there has been no action behind the player, and the player's hand has not touched the muck, the hand can be retrieved.

Riffle- V. The act of separating the deck into two separate blocks and mixing them to change one's order. N. The beginning of the first riffle in the shuffle procedure is the official start of the new hand. Also shuffle .

Ring Game- A non-tournament game that is usually full and players play with checks representing cash. Also Side Game Money Game .

Ringer- An unknown player who is very skilled or a pro acting as an amateur.

Rise- The increase in checks that it takes to post the blinds or antes at the start of a new round in a satellite. If the blinds rise from $10/$20 to $20/$40, the blinds have doubled.

River- The last community card turned up in board games and the round of betting that occurs after and the last hole card dealt in stud and betting. Also (fifth street).

Rock- A very tight, conservative player. Similar to locksmith

Roll the Deck- When the dealer flips over the deck (bringing in chips or checking watch or cheating). Keep the deck flat and the top visible at all times.

Rolled-Up- Started a Stud hand with three of a kind (trips).

Rough- Low hand that ranks among the worst possible low hands like 8-7-6-5-2 or any low that isn't a perfect eight which is 8-4-3-2-A.

Round- The predetermined length of time for each level in a tournament or in a cash game the betting after cards are dealt that continues until each active player either folds or calls all bets, unless they are all-in, before the next cards are dealt or showdown.

Rounder- Professional who plays high stakes and may travel seeking the best games.

Rovers- A rule to allow an extra person to play in a game most commonly used in small games.

Royal Flush- A-K-Q-J-10 (ace-high straight) of the same suit.

Runner-Runner- Two consecutive lucky cards on fourth street and fifth street that make someone's hand.

Runners - two consecutive cards that make a hand.

Running Pair- Any two consecutive cards of the same rank, but especially the last two board cards in Hold'em or Omaha.

Run-Over- To play aggressively in attempt to get opponents to submit.

Rush- When someone is winning pot after pot.

Sandbag- To play weakly with a strong hand or check raise or slow play with the probable best hand.

Satellite- A feeder tournament in which players can win an entry into the major tournament for a fraction of its costs. Could be multi-table where many finalists are awarded seats or in the case of a single table, players put up one-tenth of the buy-in and last player with all the chips wins a seat.

Sawbuck- (Slang) $10 bill.

Scare Card- A third eight or fourth heart on the board, for example, making it much more likely that someone has a monster hand. Bluffers use them to represent a strong hand.

Scared Money- Too small a bankroll for the stakes being played or money that is needed for living expenses.

Scoop- In high-low games, to win both the high and the low parts of the pot.

Score- A big win.

Scramble- Spreading the cards face down on the table and mixing them and the last act of a hand before the next which begins on the first riffle. Also soft shuffle wash .

Seat Change- To move from one seat in a game to another seat in the same game.

Seat Charge- Some card rooms charge an hourly fee for playing poker. Also time collection .

Second- Cheating by dealing the second card from the top of the deck.

Second Nuts- Second-best possible hand.

Semi-Bluff- To bet with a hand that one does not think is the best hand but has a good chance of improving to the best hand.

Send It- When a player shows the best hand and requests the pot. Also ship it .

Service Charge- Money taken by the house from the buy-in to help offset the costs of conducting the tournament. Also service fee registration fee .

Set Over Set- When one set beats another lower set.

Set- (Slang) Three of a kind.

Setup- Two fresh decks of cards with different color backs, sorted by suit and rank.

Seven-Card Eight or Better (Stud- 8/B) - Dealt like Stud, but half the pot is awarded to the high hand and half to the low hand (if the hand is an eight low or better).

Seven-Card Stud- Classic American poker game in which each player is dealt three cards to begin the hand (two down and one up). If the players stay in the hand until the end, they will have seven cards each and the best five card hand wins.

Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split- See Seven-Card Stud Eight or Better.

Seven-Card Stud Low (Razz) - Stud game in which the best low hand wins the pot (aces are considered low).

Seventh Street- In Seven-Card Stud games, the seventh card dealt to each player.

Sheriff- Player who calls opponents down to make sure they are not bluffing.

Sheriff's Card- See Gaming Card.

Shift Manager- In charge of the room during one shift and reports to room manager.

Shift- A full 8 hour plus workday.

Shill- A card room employee not used much anymore who uses house money instead of one's own to fill a seat in a game. See (prop).

Ship it- Request by a player at showdown who probably has the nuts. Also send it .

Shoot Out Tournament- A tournament in which play at the first table continues until one player has won all the checks at the table. The winner at each table then advances to the second round of the tournament.

Short Buy- Some card rooms allow players once a day to buy in for less than the minimum. Usually ½ the regular minimum buy-in.

Short Game- A table with several open seats.

Short Stack- A stack of less than twenty checks.

Short Table- A table that has less than a full number of players.

Shorthanded- Refers to a game with four or fewer players.

Shorts- In draw means a pair smaller than jacks (minimum openers.)

Short-Stacked- Playing in a game with a relatively small number of checks remaining.

Shovels- (Slang)Spades

Showdown- The turning up of all active hands by the players at the end of a final round of betting to see who has the best hand.

Showing Clean Hands- Whenever you put your hands in, near, or on the pot; bring your hands away with your palms open. When leaving the table, clap your hands and show them palms up.

Shuffle- V. The act of separating the deck into two separate blocks and mixing them to change one's order. N. One procedure of mixing the cards is a shuffle, shuffle, box and shuffle followed by a cut. The beginning of the first riffle in the shuffle procedure is the official start of the new hand. Also riffle .

Side Bet- A bet on something by players that the house doesn't get a cut on and therefore prohibits.

Side Pot- A second pot for the other active players when one player is all-in.

Side-Game- Non-tournament game where players play with checks representing cash while tournament is still being played. Also ring game money game live action cash game .