flop games: the flop games are poker variants with community cards (which are also called “the board”)
high/low games: poker variants can be high, low, or high/low. In high mode (ex: hold'em), strong combinations win. In low mode (ex: razz), weak hands win. The high/low mode is a mix of both: strong hands win unless cards give the possibility of low hands. In that case, the pot is divided in two, the strongest hand winning half of the pot and the weakest hand the other (see Omaha High/Low or Eight-or-better).
flop: In flop games, the flop is the first series of three community cards shown on the board. Also called the “third street”.
turn: In flop games, the turn is the fourth community card shown on the board. Also called the “fourth street”.
river: In flop games, the river is the fifth community card shown on the board. Also called the “fifth street”.
board: In flop games, the board is composed of the five community cards; the flop, the turn and the river.
Blinds: In Hold'em as in Omaha, the small and big blinds are the two positions to the left of the dealer button. See Basics of Hold'em
bet: See Basics of Hold'em
call: See Basics of Hold'em
raise: See Raising
check: See Basics of Hold'em
dealer button: In position games like Hold’em or Omaha, the button is the position of the dealer. It is the most advantageous position as the dealer is the last player to speak; he makes his move knowing the actions of all the players to his right. The dealer “has position” on his opponents.
the nuts: In flop games, the nuts is the best combination you can make with the board.
Ex: if the board is As Ts 3d Qs. The “nuts” is Ks Js, which gives an unbeatable royal flush. The “second nuts” is Td Tc, giving quads of Tens. The “third nuts” is AA, giving Aces full of Tens.
Showdown: See Basics of Hold'em
bluffing: means making a strong move to give the other players the impression that you have a strong hand. You make your opponents fold as they think you have a better hand while they might actually have it. Bluffing is a risky move, which requests a lot of experience. Bluffing can cost a lot of chips when it doesn’t work and is liable to give you a “maniac” image at the table. However, you can’t win at poker without bluffing a few hands.
limping: "limper" is the nickname given to players who call the big blind pre-flop. In certain situations, limping can be the correct move, but most of the time, it’s better to raise or fold pre-fop.
slow-playing: You can choose to slow-play when you have a very strong hand and the board doesn’t look scary. You slow-play in order to hide the strength of your hand, and hoping that your opponents will try to steal the pot. For instance, if you hold TT and the board is T T 7, you can be pretty sure your quads Tens will be safe until the fifth street. Your hand is so strong that you can’t bet and take the risk of making your opponents fold right after the flop. You should check to give them a free card and if you get even luckier, they might hit their big hand on the turn or the river. Then they can take your strong move on the following streets as a “steal” attempt and you will get a lot of chips from them!
Ace (A), King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J), Ten (T)
spades (s), hearts (h), clubs (c), diamonds (d)
Under the gun (UTG): it’s the position of the player to the left of the big blind. It’s the worst position: you are totally “out of position”. See position.
odds: See odds
pot odds: See odds
outs: the outs are the missing cards you still need to make you hand
suited: In Hold'em, a hand is suited when both cards are from the same suit (ex: As Ts). In Omaha, a hand can even be "double-suited" (ex: As Ts Jh 8h).
off-suited: Hold’em hand composed of two cards from different suits (ex: As 8h).
connectors: Hand composed of cards following each other (ex: 89 or 9T or TJ)
rainbow flop: un flop is "rainbow" when it’s composed of cards from different suits (ex: Kd Th 2c).
draw: You have a draw in a situation where you still need a card to make your hand. Ex: if the flop shows 8s Ts 2d, and if you hold any hand suited in spades (Xs Ys), you just need one more spade to hit your Flush. You have a Flush draw.
inside straight draw: you need one card (four outs) to hit your straight. Ex: the flop is 8 T 7 and you hold J 3; you need a 9 to make your straight.
open-ended straight draw: two cards (eight outs) make you hit your straight. Ex: the board is 9 8 6 and you hold A 7; you need a Ten (T) or a 5 to make your straight.
backdoor draw: you have a “backdoor draw” when you need running cards on the fourth and fifth streets to make your hand. Ex: the board shows Ac Tc 8h and you hold 8d Kc, you have a pair of 8 and a backdoor flush draw: you need clubs on both the turn and the river to make the nut flush draw.
tight / aggressive / loose / passive: See playing styles
wheel: The "wheel" is the nickname given to the 5 high straight: A 2 3 4 5. This combination disserved a special attention because it’s a very strong hand in all poker variants. It’s only the lowest straight in Hold’em and Omaha but it’s the absolute nuts in Razz, and a hand very likely to win the full pot in High/Low variants.
ante : amount of chips players have to put in the pot before seeing their cards. Generally there are antes at the end of big tournaments to eliminate the last players remaining faster, but there are also cash games with antes (very popular in high stake).
