Online Poker Glossary
Texas Holdem Lingo
Texas Holdem is a game filled with alot of colorful language and interesting expressions. Enjoy our poker glossary and let us know if you want something added to the list. If you're still learning the lingo associated with Texas Holdem then maybe...
-Railbird - someone who just got knocked out of an online poker event and continues to chime in through the Observer Chat. Often the comments are laced with sarcasm and anger.
- Shootout - single table tournament event where all players start with the same arbitrary amount of chips and you play until the last man standing has all the chips.
- Sit and go - see shootout.
- Short Handed - when a full table has been narrowed to 4 players or less.
- Dealer - the person who deals the cards starting to his or her left.
- Dealer Button - the button that sits in front of the dealer. This lets you know who the dealer for a specific hand will be. It is important in indicating who the blinds are for the hand, as well
- Pocket Cards - the two cards each player is dealt to open each round. These cards are dealt face down
.- Small Blind - the forced bet directly to the left of the dealer. This blind is half the size of the big blind. This blind is posted each hand
.- Big Blind - the forced bet directly to the left of the small blind and two removed from the dealer. This blind is posted each hand.
- Under the Gun - the first person to act directly to the left of the big blind. The first spot in early position.
- The Flop - the first three community cards that are placed in the middle of the table, face up, for all players to use.
- Turn Card - the fourth community card dealt in the middle of the table, face up.
- Fourth Street - texas holdem lingo for the turn card.
- River Card - the fifth and last community card dealt in the middle of the poker table, face up. This card is famous for making or breaking player's hands.
- Fifth Street - texas holdem lingo for the river card.
- Pot - the total of all the chips every player has put in the center of the table, for any given hand. The pot goes to the winner (or winners if there is a tie).
- Call - to match the size of a bet in front of you.
- Raiser - the person who is first to raise the pot. The minimum raise is double the size of the big blind.
- Soft Seat - a game or site where the level of play is not that good, making it easier for a skilled player to do well.
- Bad Beat - when you are a statistical favorite in a poker hand and your opponent beats you.
- Race Hands - when two players are both All-in and their hands are similar in strength. Stastically speaking both players have similar odds of winning the hand. For example, a classic race hand would be AK vs. QQ, where the QQ's are a slight favorite in this race hand.
- Pot Odds - the odds you are getting from the size of the pot versus your next call.
- Early Position - typically the three players to the left of the big blind, which includes the player said to be under the gun.
- Late Position - the two players to the right of the blinds. This includes the player on the dealer button.
- Middle Position - all the players between early and late position, typically three players in a player game.
- Outs - the number of cards that can come on the board that will make your hand the winning hand.
- Board - another name for the card table.
- Flush - a poker hand where all five cards are of the same suit.
- Straight - a poker hand where you hold five cards in sequential order. A straight to the ace would be the best straight possible and is called "broadway".
- Overpair - a pocket pair that is higher than the highest card on the board.
- Set - three of a kind.
- Buy-in - the entry fee for the holdem event you are playing. For example, the buy-in might be $100 + $9 for a single table tournament or $109 total.
- All-in - when you commit all the chips in front of you into the flop. You can bet All-in or call an All-in bet from someone else.
- Open ended - when you are drawing on a straight and you need to catch either the low or high card of your drawing hand to complete it. For example, you hold JQ and the flop comes K 10 3. You are open ended and need either a 9 or an A to make your straight.
- Tight - a tight player is a player that does not play many hands and is very selective in choosing those hands. Typically, playing premium hands.
- Chop - when 2 or more players make a deal and agree to split the pot.
- Maniac - a player that is constantly raising and involved in most pots. An ultra aggressive player that is very unpredictable.
- Implied Odds - the odds you are getting from the size of the pot, plus the $$$ you think you're opponent is willing to commit to the pot throughout the rest of the hand. Implied odds are used more frequently in No Limit holdem situations. For example, often you're not getting the right 'pot odds' to make a call but the 'implied odds' are there.
If you're not sure of the meaning of a poker related term, email us using the Contact Us Link (at the bottom of the page) and we'd be more than happy to add it to the holdem lingo page.
In the mean time... bone up on your knowledge of Texas Holdem Poker and read these sections: Pre Flop Odds, Outs and Odds, Starting Hands and Drawing Hand Odds.
If you already have a working knowledge of this stuff and want to get more serious about becoming a winning Texas Holdem player then check out the following pages: Multiplayer Online Poker, Real Money Online Poker, Single Table Tournaments and Online Poker for MAC Users.
Good luck and we'll see you at the tables!
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