Whether you're new to poker or looking to brush up on your terminology, this comprehensive glossary covers all the essential poker terms you need to know. From basic actions like betting and folding to advanced concepts like implied odds and ICM, understanding these terms will help you follow strategy discussions, read hand histories, and improve your game at the tables.
A general term for any move a player makes at the table, such as betting, raising, calling, checking, or folding. When it's your turn, the dealer may say "the action is on you."
A playing style characterized by frequent betting and raising rather than checking and calling. Aggressive players put pressure on their opponents by building pots and forcing difficult decisions.
When a player bets all of their remaining chips. Going all-in means you can't make any further bets but remain eligible to win the pot up to the amount of your all-in bet.
A forced bet that every player at the table must post before a hand begins. Antes are common in tournaments and help build the pot and encourage action.
A situation where a strong hand loses to a weaker hand that catches a lucky card. For example, losing with pocket aces to a runner-runner flush is a classic bad beat.
The total amount of money a player has set aside specifically for playing poker. Proper bankroll management is essential for long-term success and surviving natural variance.
The act of placing chips into the pot. The first player to put chips in during a betting round is said to make a bet, while subsequent players may call, raise, or fold.
A mandatory bet posted by the player two seats to the left of the dealer button before cards are dealt. The big blind is typically twice the size of the small blind and sets the minimum bet for the round.
Forced bets posted by two players before each hand to stimulate action. The small blind (half the minimum bet) and the big blind (the full minimum bet) rotate around the table each hand.
A bet or raise made with a weak hand in an attempt to make opponents fold better hands. Successful bluffing is a key part of poker strategy, but it requires good timing and table awareness.
The community cards dealt face-up in the center of the table. In Texas Hold'em, the board consists of five cards: three on the flop, one on the turn, and one on the river.
A round disc that indicates the dealer position. The player on the button acts last in every post-flop betting round, giving them a significant positional advantage.
The amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament. In cash games, the buy-in determines your starting stack; in tournaments, it covers the prize pool contribution and entry fee.
To match the current bet or raise in order to stay in the hand. Calling is the most passive option when facing a bet, as opposed to raising or folding.
A poker format where chips represent real money and players can join or leave at any time. Unlike tournaments, the blinds stay the same throughout a cash game session.
To pass the action to the next player without placing a bet, only possible when no bet has been made in the current round. Checking allows you to stay in the hand without risking chips.
A deceptive play where a player first checks, then raises after an opponent bets. This move can be used to build larger pots with strong hands or as a bluff.
Cards dealt face-up in the center of the table that all players share to make their best hand. In Hold'em, there are five community cards; in Omaha, also five.
A bet made on the flop by the player who raised pre-flop, continuing the aggression regardless of whether the flop helped their hand. C-bets are a fundamental part of modern poker strategy.
The seat directly to the right of the button. The cut-off is the second-best position at the table and is a prime spot for stealing blinds and playing a wide range of hands.
Ready to Play? Create Your AccountThe player or staff member who distributes the cards. In home games the dealer rotates; in casinos a professional dealer handles the cards while the dealer button indicates the nominal dealer position.
Having a large number of chips relative to the blinds, typically 100 big blinds or more. Deep stack play allows for more post-flop maneuvering and complex strategy.
A bet made out of position by a player who was not the pre-flop aggressor, leading into the raiser. While historically considered a weak play, donk bets are now used strategically in certain situations.
A hand that is not yet complete but has the potential to improve to a strong hand with the right cards. For example, holding four cards to a flush is a flush draw.
A community card layout with few or no straight or flush possibilities. A dry board like K-7-2 rainbow is less likely to have helped multiple players compared to a wet, connected board.
The seats at the table that act first in a betting round, typically the positions immediately to the left of the big blind. Playing from early position requires stronger hands because many players still act after you.
Your share of the pot based on the probability of winning the hand. If you have a 50% chance of winning a $100 pot, your equity is $50.
The average amount a player can expect to win or lose on a particular play over the long run. Positive EV (+EV) decisions are profitable over time, while negative EV (-EV) decisions lose money.
Slang for a weak or inexperienced poker player who frequently makes poor decisions. Fish are the main source of profit for skilled players at a table.
The first three community cards dealt face-up on the board simultaneously. The flop is a pivotal moment in a hand, as it reveals 60% of the community cards at once.
A poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit in any order. A flush beats a straight but loses to a full house. If two players have a flush, the one with the highest card wins.
To discard your hand and forfeit any chips already invested in the pot. Folding is the correct decision when you believe your hand is beaten and the pot odds don't justify continuing.
A tournament with no entry fee that offers real prizes. Freerolls are a great way for beginners to build a bankroll without risking any money.
A poker hand made up of three of a kind plus a pair, such as three Kings and two Jacks (K-K-K-J-J). A full house beats a flush and loses only to four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush.
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A player who earns a steady income through consistent, disciplined play over long sessions. Grinders focus on small edges and volume rather than flashy, high-risk plays.
An inside straight draw where only one specific card rank can complete the straight. For example, holding 5-7 with a board of 8-9-K means only a 6 completes the straight, giving you four outs.
A detailed record of every action in a poker hand, including bets, raises, community cards, and the final result. Online poker sites like 7XL automatically save hand histories for player review.
A poker game or situation involving only two players. Heads-up play requires a different strategy than full-table play, with more aggression and wider hand ranges.
The lowest-ranking poker hand, where no pair or better combination is made. When no player has a pair, the hand with the highest individual card wins.
The private cards dealt face-down to each player. In Texas Hold'em you receive two hole cards; in Omaha you receive four. Only you can see your hole cards.
Heads-Up Display — a software tool that overlays real-time statistics about your opponents on the poker table. HUDs show data like VPIP (voluntarily put in pot), PFR (pre-flop raise), and aggression frequency.
Independent Chip Model — a mathematical model used in tournaments to calculate the real-money value of a player's chip stack based on the remaining prize pool and other players' stacks.
The ratio of the total amount you expect to win (including future bets) to the cost of calling a current bet. Implied odds account for additional money you can win on later streets if you hit your draw.
Acting after your opponent in a betting round. Being in position is a significant advantage because you get to see what your opponent does before making your decision.
Start Playing at 7XL Poker NowThe highest unpaired card in a player's hand used to break ties. If two players both have a pair of Aces, the player with the higher kicker wins the pot.
The seats at the table that act last in a betting round, including the cut-off and the button. Late position allows you to play more hands profitably because you have the most information.
To enter the pot pre-flop by just calling the big blind instead of raising. Limping is generally considered a passive and weak play in most modern poker strategies.
A playing style where a player enters many pots with a wide range of hands. A loose player plays more hands than average, regardless of whether they are aggressive or passive with those hands.
The primary pot in a hand where one or more players have gone all-in. If a player goes all-in and others continue to bet, a side pot is created for the remaining players.
The lowest stake levels available in online poker, typically with blinds from $0.01/$0.02 up to $0.10/$0.25. Micro stakes are ideal for beginners learning the game with minimal risk.
A tournament format where players are spread across multiple tables that consolidate as players are eliminated. MTTs can range from small events to massive tournaments with thousands of entries and huge prize pools.
To discard your cards without showing them. When you fold, your cards go into the muck pile. At showdown, a losing player may choose to muck rather than reveal their hand.
A very tight player who only enters pots with premium hands. Nits are easy to exploit because when they do bet or raise, you can safely assume they have a strong hand.
A betting structure where players can bet any amount up to their entire chip stack at any time. No-Limit Texas Hold'em is the most popular poker variant worldwide.
The best possible hand given the current board. For example, if the board shows A-K-Q-J-2 with no flush possible, a player holding 10-x has the nuts (a Broadway straight).
Get Your 7XL Account – Bonus Code AppliedThe probability of a certain outcome expressed as a ratio. In poker, odds are used to determine whether a call is mathematically profitable based on the likelihood of completing your hand.
A popular poker variant where each player receives four hole cards and must use exactly two of them combined with three of the five community cards. Omaha typically produces bigger pots due to the increased number of hand combinations.
The first raise in a betting round when no other player has entered the pot yet. An open-raise from early position usually signals a strong hand, while a late-position open-raise can be wider.
Acting before your opponent in a betting round. Being out of position is a disadvantage because you must make decisions without knowing what your opponent will do.
The number of remaining cards in the deck that will improve your hand to a likely winner. For example, a flush draw has nine outs — the nine remaining cards of the same suit.
A bet larger than the current size of the pot. Overbets are used strategically to maximize value with strong hands or as polarizing bluffs that put opponents in very tough spots.
When your two hole cards are of the same rank, such as two Jacks (J-J) or two Fives (5-5). Pocket pairs can be very profitable, especially when they improve to three of a kind (a set) on the flop.
Your seat relative to the dealer button, which determines when you act in each betting round. Position is one of the most important concepts in poker — later positions have a significant strategic advantage.
The total amount of chips or money accumulated from all bets in the current hand. The winner of the hand takes the pot (minus any rake in cash games).
A betting structure where the maximum bet or raise is limited to the current size of the pot. Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) is the most well-known game using this structure.
The ratio of the current pot size to the cost of calling a bet. If the pot is $100 and you must call $20, your pot odds are 5:1. Comparing pot odds to your chances of completing a draw helps determine if a call is profitable.
The first betting round that occurs after players receive their hole cards but before any community cards are dealt. Pre-flop decisions about which hands to play and how to play them set the foundation for the rest of the hand.
Register Now – Start Your Poker JourneyA flop where all three community cards are of different suits, meaning no flush draw is possible with just the flop cards. A rainbow board favors made hands over draws.
To increase the current bet in a betting round. When you raise, other players must call your new amount, raise again, or fold. Raising is an aggressive move that builds the pot and puts pressure on opponents.
A small percentage of each pot taken by the house (the poker room or site) as a fee for hosting the game. Rake is how poker rooms make their money, and it's typically capped at a fixed amount.
The full spectrum of hands a player could hold in a given situation. Thinking in terms of ranges rather than specific hands is a hallmark of advanced poker thinking.
A raise made after an initial raise. The first raise is a 2-bet, the re-raise is a 3-bet, and a raise over that is a 4-bet. 3-betting is a key weapon in modern poker strategy, used for both value and as a bluff.
The fifth and final community card dealt on the board. The river completes the board and leads to the final round of betting before showdown.
The highest-ranking poker hand: A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit. A royal flush is the rarest hand in poker and cannot be beaten.
A fast-fold cash game format available on the GGPoker Network. As soon as you fold, you're immediately moved to a new table with new opponents, allowing you to play far more hands per hour.
A smaller, lower buy-in tournament where the prize is an entry ticket to a larger, more expensive tournament. Satellites let players compete for big events at a fraction of the cost.
Three of a kind made when you hold a pocket pair and one of the community cards matches your pair. A set is one of the most profitable hands in poker because it's well-disguised.
Having a relatively small number of chips compared to the blinds or other players at the table. Short-stacked players have fewer strategic options and often rely on push-or-fold decisions.
The moment after the final betting round when remaining players reveal their cards to determine the winner. If all other players fold before showdown, the last player standing wins without showing.
A tournament format that starts as soon as enough players register, typically 2 to 10 players. SNGs are quick and popular among players who want tournament action without a fixed schedule.
Playing a very strong hand passively — checking or just calling — to disguise its strength and keep opponents in the pot. Slow playing can backfire if opponents catch up with free cards.
A mandatory bet posted by the player immediately to the left of the dealer button, typically half the big blind. The small blind acts first in every post-flop betting round.
A three-player hyper-turbo Sit & Go format on the GGPoker Network where a random prize multiplier is applied before the game starts. Multipliers can reach up to 12,000x the buy-in for massive jackpot prizes.
When two or more players have hands of equal value at showdown, the pot is divided equally among them. Split pots commonly occur when the best five-card hand is on the board.
A poker hand consisting of five consecutive cards of any suit, such as 5-6-7-8-9. A straight beats three of a kind but loses to a flush.
Five consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 5-6-7-8-9 of hearts. A straight flush is the second-highest hand in poker, beaten only by a royal flush.
When your two hole cards are of the same suit, such as Ace-King of spades (AKs). Suited hands have more value than their offsuit counterparts because of the added flush potential.
Play Poker Online – Sign Up at 7XLA physical or behavioral clue that reveals information about a player's hand. In live poker, tells can include body language, betting patterns, or speech. Online tells focus mainly on timing and bet sizing.
A hand containing three cards of the same rank. When made with a pocket pair plus a board card it's called a "set"; when made with one hole card and two board cards it's called "trips."
A playing style where a player is selective about which hands they enter pots with, only playing strong starting hands. Tight players fold more often than loose players.
An emotional state where frustration, anger, or other emotions cause a player to make poor decisions. Tilt often follows a bad beat and is one of the biggest leaks in a player's game.
A poker competition where all players start with the same number of chips and play until one player has all the chips. Blinds increase at set intervals, and players are paid based on their finishing position.
The fourth community card dealt on the board, placed after the flop betting round. The turn is sometimes called "Fourth Street" and is followed by one more betting round before the river.
A poker hand containing two different pairs, such as Kings and Sevens (K-K-7-7-x). Two pair beats one pair but loses to three of a kind and higher hands.
The player seated immediately to the left of the big blind who acts first pre-flop. UTG is the worst position at the table because you must act without any information about other players' intentions.
A bet made with a strong hand intended to be called by a weaker hand, extracting maximum profit. The goal of a value bet is to get paid off by hands that are second-best.
The natural statistical fluctuations in poker results over the short term. Even the best players experience losing streaks due to variance, which is why bankroll management is so important.
A community card layout with many possible draws and connected cards, such as 9-10-J with two hearts. Wet boards create action because multiple players may have strong draws or made hands.
The World Series of Poker — the most prestigious annual poker tournament series in the world, held in Las Vegas. The WSOP Main Event awards a coveted gold bracelet and a multi-million dollar first prize.
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