Know the Poker Terminology

If you want to start playing poker, you should first understand the basics of the game.  Poker is an exciting game that also has its own language and its own history as well as identity.  Before you play the game, you must recognize the different variations and the language used so that you will not feel lost during the game.  Having an idea about these poker terms will help you improve your game and hone your skills.  So what are the common terms in the game of poker?  Let’s discover them one by one.

Poker Game Play – The Terminologies

Here are the most common terms you would often hear when you’re playing poker:

1. Ante- This is the forced bet of the game.  Players are usually given the exact amount of chips/money before the betting starts.  It is the prerogative of the dealer to announce the amount of the first bet.
2. Bad Beat – Can loosely be used to describe a hand where the odds of losing were less than 20% or so. In the online poker world, this usually refers to at least having your full house beaten if not a four of a kind.
3. Big Blind – This is the person that must place the full amount of the blind before they receive their cards. The big blind is last to act in the first round.
4. Blind or Blind bet – This is also the forced bet that is initiated by one or more players before the game begins.  The blind somehow offers interest and excitement to every player before the game starts.
5. Bluff – Betting at the pot in order to scare others out of the hand, specifically when you don’t have anything. Late in the hand, this is used to try to display strength in a hand when its the only way the hand can be won.
6. Board – This is a set of cards on the table, all facing up. Playing board means that the 5 cards on the table are the best 5 cards you have.
7. Bring In -  This means that dealer will open up a betting round.
8. Busted – This usually refers to a high pocket pair (usually Aces or Kings) getting beaten in a semi-unlikely fashion like two lower pairs.
9. Button – This is the seat that is the dealer for the game. The button is last to act for any round of betting, except the first round where the big blind goes last.
10. Call -  This happens when a player matches or raises the bet of another player.
11. Calling Station – A player who will call most bets and only raises when he has something.
12. Catch – This refers to getting a card on the board. Usually it refers to having the top pair or similarly good hand.
13. Chase – This is what you do when you do not have a completed hand but continue to call the pot.
14. Check Raise – This is a bait and switch tactic that attempts to so weakness to a strong hand in order to entice a bet.
15. Early Position – The first couple players to act in the first round of betting. It is usually a sign of strength if the early position raises.
16. Flop – This is the first three cards that are dealt in a row after the opening round bets.
17. Fold -  This happens when a player discards his hand and expresses his willingness to leave the game or his interest in the pot.
18. Hole Cards – The cards that you are dealt down.
19. Late Position – The are the two or three players immediately to the right of the dealer. They have the advantage in the poker positioning game. The late position means you already know a lot about the hand before you have to decide.
20. Loose – This type of player plays in too many pots and chases after cards too often.
21. Middle Position – These are usually defined as player 5 – 7 away from the dealer from the left. This position has the benefit of knowing what the first couple of players did.
22. Muck – To throw away your hand without revealing what you had.
23. Nut Hand – This is the strongest possible hand during the game.  This word usually applies to community card games since the player will need the community cards to complete his winning hand.  The nut hand is the strongest possible hand (combination of the community and the player’s cards).
24. Pot – The money that is put into the center of the table during any rounds of betting. The total pot is either won by a player or split between more than one.
25. Rags – Unplayable cards. The only time to even try is when there are few people at the table.
26. Raise – In the opening round, this is a bet higher than the big blind. In any other round, it is a bet higher than the opening bet of that round.
27. River – This is the last card dealt in a Texas Holdem hand. There is a round of betting and a winner is determined.
28. Rock-  This refers to very aggressive players who continue to raise their bets with very strong hands.
29. Semi-Bluff – A semi-bluff is a certain type of bluff where the player does not yet have a hand, but has a good percentage chance of completing a good hand. Usually inferring a straight or a flush draw.
30. Small Blind – This is the seat that is directly to the left of the dealer. After the first round, the small blind gets to make the first bet.
31. Split-  This term refers to the division of the pot among two or more players, instead of awarding it to only a single player.  There are several incidences where this event occurs:  during split poker games like Omaha High-Low, where one player has the best high hand and two players are tied with two of the lowest possible hands.
32. Suited Connectors – This is what you have when your two hole cards are of the same suit and ranked consecutively, like 7 and 8 of diamonds.
33. Tight – Describes a player who risks very little and doesn’t get involved in many hands.
34. Turn – Also called Fourth Street. This is the 4th card to be flipped over after the flop round of betting.
35. Under the Gun -  This refers to the position of each player.  The betting rounds start with the left side of the dealer.  Thus, the player on the left will act on the first betting round.