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Poker rules

Texas Holdem Poker Game Rules

Texas Hold em Poker

Hold'em poker (also known as Texas Hold'em) is the most popular poker game in the world. There are three types of Texas Hold'em games:

* Limit Texas Holdem (there is a specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting)
* Pot Limit Texas Holdem (A player can bet what is in the pot. Click here to learn more)
* No Limit Texas Holdem (A player can bet all of his/her chips at any time. Click here to learn more).
And you can play these games for free (play money) or using real money at Party Poker.com.

The Texas Holdem Poker Game:

Texas Hold’em Poker uses what is called a dealer-button to indicate the theoretical dealer of each hand. After each hand is completed, as with standard poker rules, the button moves clockwise to the next active player. This player will be considered “the dealer” for that hand. Before the start of the game, internally the PartyPoker.com system generates a fresh deck of cards for the hand. On PartyPoker.com, we use a single deck of cards to play a hand of poker, where a deck refers to 52 cards excluding the jokers. Online poker rooms use what is called the Random Number Generator (RNG) to shuffle a deck of cards for the hand.

How does it work?
The system generates a random set of numbers, which are used to place a card of the deck in a particular position. Once the complete deck is created, the deck is used for that particular hand only. We shuffle the deck of cards every time we start a hand, and the random numbers previously generated are discarded and new ones generated before the shuffle. The RNG code has been successfully audited by BMM, Australia, and its integrity is verified daily. BMM is one of the leading auditors of gaming solutions in the industry.

The First round of Texas Hold em:

A fresh table starts of with the first person sitting on the table becoming the dealer and the next player posting the small blind. A new game on a active table starts with the button moving clockwise to the next player. The player next to the button / dealer is required to place the small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower stake. This is a guideline for determining the blinds and not a strict rule. At PartyPoker.com the small blind is rounded down to the nearest dollar. For example – at $5/$10 Hold’em per the formula the small blind should be $2.5. Instead, it is rounded of to the lower dollar, so the small blind would post $2. However, as it is just a guideline, the amount of small blind could be set differently at the time of setting up the table.

The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind, equal to the lower stake limit. In a certain scenario it is possible for more than one player to post a big blind in a hand. This is if a new player joins a table at which a game is already going on. The player would get an option of placing a Big Blind at the start of the next hand or wait for his/her turn (as decided by the movement of the button) to place the Big Blind in turn. All the blinds in Hold’em poker are considered live bets and the players who posted them will have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting returns to their position.

After the blinds have been placed, the down cards / hole cards are dealt to each active player. In Hold’em, 2 cards are dealt to each of the players, after which the first betting round starts. The player to the left of the player who placed the big blind starts the betting for this round.
Each player will now have the option to place his or her bets in the first round, which is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $10/$20 Hold’em game, value of each bet is $10 for the first round. When we say the bets are limited to $10, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $10, so when a user places “BET” then it is $10, “RAISE” would be $20 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player.
Bets can be placed by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. Each player will also have the option to Fold. These options are available to each player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player (left of the Big Blind) to act (in the first round) would get the Bet, Call and Raise options. Subsequent players would also get the options of Call and Raise. To Call is to bet the same as what the previous player has bet. Raise action calls for raising whatever was the bet/call amount of the previous player, and can be calculated based on the value of the previous bet amount.

Every player participating in the hand should place equal amount of bet as the previous players (includes bets, calls and raises). Till the time all the players have placed equal amounts in the pot, the betting will continue. There is a limit on the amount and the number of bets a player can place during a betting round, which also would be considered during the hand. The numbers of bets for a particular round of betting has been mentioned below, please refer to the section on “Standard Rules” for the limits on the number of bets.

After the first round of betting is over, the Flop (the first three cards of the community) is dealt. The community cards are common to all the players participating in the hand.

The Second Round of Texas Hold em:

After the flop and in each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act. The second betting round also limits the value of bets and raises to the lower limit of the stake structure. So in a $10/$20 value of each bet is $10 for the second round. When we say the bets are limited to $10, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $10, so when a user places “BET” then it is $10, “RAISE” would be $20 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player. Bets can be placed, by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. These options are available to each player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player placing the bet would get the Bet option (the player left to the Button). Other players will get the Call and Raise options only.

After this the fourth community card is dealt out – this is known as the Turn.

The Third Round of Texas Hold em:

The third betting round starts again with the player left to the button, and bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure ($10/$20 game, $20 would be the upper stake). When we say the bets are limited to $20, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $20, so when a user places “BET” then it is $20, “RAISE” would be $40 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player. Bets can be placed by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. Combinations of these options are available to the player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player placing the bet would get the Bet option (the player left to the Button).

After this the fifth community card is dealt out – this is known as the River.

The Fourth Round of Texas Hold em:

The fourth (and final) betting round starts again with the player left to the button, and bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure ($10/$20 game, $20 would be the upper stake). When we say the bets are limited to $20, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $20, so when a user places “BET” then it is $20, “RAISE” would be $40 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player. Bets can be placed by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. Combinations of these options are available to the player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player placing the bet would get the Bet option (the player left to the Button).

Some standard rules

A maximum of four bets, which includes one bet, and three raises are allowed for each betting round per player.
The term cap is used to describe the final raise in a round since betting is then capped and no one can make another raise. Once capped, players will have the option of calling or folding only. Folding can be done at any stage of the game. The action of folding basically shows the player cards being moved to the dealer. The player from then on would not be considered as part of the game. He/she would not have any rights over any pots created on the table.

Apart from the fold option, a player could also get the option of “Check”, in which the player can pass his/her turn without placing a bet. This option would not always be available to the player, and depends on the actions taken by the previous player in the hand. The player HAS TO equal the amount of bet placed by any other players for each round in the hand.

Poker is typically played 'table stakes', meaning only the chips in play at the beginning of each hand may be used throughout the hand. This means that the player cannot get additional funds from the cashier while he is in the midst of a game. The table stakes rule has an application called the 'All-In' rule, which states that a player cannot be forced to forfeit a hand because the player does not have enough chips to call a bet.

Exceptions to the value of betting in each round:

A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the point of his final wager. All further action involving other players takes place in a 'side pot', which is unavailable to the player who has already gone All-In. When a player goes All-in, the pot currently at the center of the table, which has contributions from him/her as well, is treated as the main pot, over which the All-in player has rights. After the player goes all-in, all the new bets are placed in a side pot, over which only the contributing players have rights. The All-in player does not have any rights over the side pot. The side pot is then given to the next winning combination.

As this is a multi player game, the players are expected to play within a set time frame, the actions during their turn. On PartyPoker.com we provide players with approximately 30 seconds to play with. Initially the player is given 10 seconds, after which there is a timer countdown, which is displayed on the table for 20 seconds. The user goes all-in if he has contributed some money to the pot; otherwise his hand is folded in case he/she does not respond in time. The system is intelligent in detecting if the player has got disconnected or not. This means if a players gets disconnected and reconnects back and he has some seconds left for his turn, then he is given an additional 20 seconds to play his turn. But if the player is not able to connect back to the table before the time elapses, then the player goes All-in. All-in basically means that the player is in the game, but would not be an active player (placing any bets). Whatever pot is collected till this time is referred as the main pot, and the all-in player has rights (if he wins) to this pot only. After this the money that is bet on the table is added to a side pot, over which the all-in player does not have any rights (if he wins).

For more details on the disconnection policy at PartyPoker.com, please visit: http://www.partypoker.com/games/disconnection_policy/index.html After the final round of betting, it’s time for – Showdown. This refers to the action of deciding who the winner of the pot is and display of the cards from all players (though this is optional for the player, he/she need not show the cards). Five cards of the total of hole and community cards are to be used for deciding on the winning hands. A combination of the following may be used -

Both hole cards and three community cards

One hole card & four community cards

All five community cards (playing the board)

On the final round of betting, the player who bets first (or checks first if no one else bets) is required to show their cards first at the showdown. If they have the best hand, the remaining players may/may not show their cards as they wish. The aggressors’ hand is only turned over first if he was the last to initiate action on the river.

There is a set rank of cards, which is used for deciding the winning combination. To view the various ranks that are possible, click here.

If two or more hands are the same ranking, the winner is the one having the higher cards. For example, a Flush with an Ace high beats a Flush with a King high. If the poker hands remain tied, then the highest card not being held in common (the kicker) determines the winner. The suit order of the cards is not taken into account while deciding on the winning cards.PartyPoker.com follow standard rules of poker. Should poker hands be absolutely identical in ranking, the rule of poker pot distribution will be split evenly between the two or more winning players. If there is an odd chip, the winning player to the left of the button/dealer will receive it. This applies to both play money (free) and poker for real money.

Poker lingo explain what the termes means
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

A
Aces Full	A full house with three aces and any pair.
Ace-High	A five card hand that contains one Ace, with no straight or flush or a hand with no pair in it.
Aces Up	A hand that contains two pairs, one of which is Aces.
Action	Checking/Betting/Raising. A game in which players are playing a lot of pots is considered an 'action' game.
Active Player	Any player who is still in the hand.
Add-on	A purchase of more chips (optional) at the end of the re-buy period in a tournament.
All-In	When a player bets all his/her chips.: In online poker, you may be deemed 'All-in' when you are disconnected (even if you have chips remaining).
American Airlines	Two Aces.
Ante	Money placed in the pot before the hand is begun.
B
Bad Beat	When a hand is beaten by a lucky draw.
Belly Buster	A draw and/or catch to an Inside Straight.
Bet	To place chips into the pot.
Bet the Pot	When a player bets the amount of the pot.
Bicycle	A straight that is A-2-3-4-5.
Big Blind	A designated amount that is placed by the player sitting in the second position, clockwise from the dealer, before any cards are dealt. (Players joining a game in progress must post a Big Blind, but may do so from any position.)
Big Slick	A hand that contains an A-K.
Blind	The bet(s) that must be made by the two players sitting directly to the dealer's left which will start the action on the first round of betting. The blinds are posted before any cards are dealt. (A 'Blind' bet is one that is made in the dark without looking at your cards.)
Blind Raise	When a player raises without looking at his hand.
Bluff	To make other players believe that one has a better hand than he/she might otherwise have by betting or raising when they do not have the best hand.
Boardcards	The cards that are dealt face-up in a poker game for all players to see. In flop games, five cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. In Seven Card Stud, four cards are dealt face-up in front of each player.
Bottom Pair	When a player uses the lowest card on the flop to make a pair with one of his own cards.
Broadway	An Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10).
Bring-In	The forced bet made on the first round of betting by the player who is dealt the lowest card showing in Seven Card Stud and Stud 8 or Better. In Razz (Lowball) it is the highest card showing
Bring It In	To start the betting on the first round.
Broomcorn's Uncle	A player who antes himself broke.
Bullets	A pair of Aces.
Bump	To raise.
Button	Also known as the dealer button, it is a small round disk that is moved from player to player in a clockwise direction following each hand, to theoretically indicate the dealer of each hand.
Buy-In	The minimum amount of money required by a player to sit down in a particular poker game.
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C
Call	When a player chooses to match the previous bet.
Call Cold	To call both a bet and raise(s).
Cap	To take the last of the maximum amount of raises allowed per round of betting.
Cardroom	The room or space in a casino where poker is played.
Case Chips	A player's last chips.
Cash Out	To leave a game and convert your chips to cash.
Check	When it's a player's turn to act and there has been no action in front of them and he opts not to bet, he 'checks.'
Check-Raise	When a player first checks and then raises in a betting round.
Chop	To return the blinds to the players who posted them and move on to the next hand if no other players call. It also means to 'split the pot'.
Collusion	When two or more players conspire to cheat in a poker game.
Community Cards	Cards that are face-up and used by all players.
Cowboys	Two Kings.
D
Dead Man's Hand	Two pair - Aces and Eights (Wild Bill Hickock was shot in the back while playing this hand).
Door Card	This is the first exposed card, or 'up' card, in a player's hand in Stud games.
Down Card	Hole cards. Cards that are dealt face down.
Doyle Brunson	It's a Holdem hand consisting of a 10-2 (Brunson won the world championship two years in a row on the final hand with these cards).
Draw Lowball	Form of poker where each player is dealt five cards with the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones and the low hand wins.
Draw Poker	Form of poker where each player is dealt five cards down with the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones to attempt to make a better hand.
Drop	Fold.
Ducks	A pair of Twos.
Deuces	A pair of Twos.
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E
Early Position	Position on a round of betting where the player must act before most of the other players at the table. (It's considered the two positions located to the left of the Blinds. )
F
Fifth Street	Also known as the 'river' card. In flop games, this represents the fifth community card on the table and the final round of betting. In Stud games, this is the fifth card dealt to each player and represents the third round of betting.
Five-card Draw	A poker game in which the player is dealt five cards down. They have one draw to replace them and the best high hand wins the pot.
Five-card Stud	A poker game in which each player is dealt five cards, one down and four up, with betting after 2, 3, 4, & 5 cards.
Flat Call	Calling a bet without raising.
Flop	In Hold'em and Omaha, the first three community cards that are dealt face-up in the center of the table all at one time. The 'flop' also indicates the second round of betting.
Flop Games	Poker games (Hold 'em and Omaha) that are played using community cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table.
Floorman	An employee of the cardroom who makes rulings and decisions.
Flush	Any five cards of the same suit.
Flush Draw	When a player has four cards in his hand of the same suit and is hoping to draw a fifth to make a flush.
Fold	To throw your hand away when it's your turn to act.
Forced Bet	A required bet that starts the action on the first round of a poker hand.
Four of a Kind	Four cards of the same number or face value ('quads').
Fourth Street	In flop games, it is the fourth community card dealt (also known as 'the turn') and represents the third round of betting. In Stud games, it is the fourth card dealt to each player and represents the second round of betting.
Full House	Any three cards of the same number or face value, plus any other two cards of the same number or face value.
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G
Gut Shot	To draw to and/or hit an inside straight.
H
Hand	A player's best five cards.
High-Low	Split pot games.
Hold 'em	Also known as Texas Hold 'em, where the players get two down cards and five community cards. See our complete Hold 'em rules in our Game Rules section.
Hole Cards	These are the Down Cards in front of the players.
House	The casino or cardroom that is hosting the poker game.
I
Inside Straight	Four cards which require another between the top and the bottom card to complete a straight.\ Players who catch this card make an Inside Straight.
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J
Jackpot Poker	A form of poker in which the cardroom or casino offers a jackpot to a player who has lost with a really big hand (usually Aces full or better).
Jacks-or- Better	A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair of jacks to open the betting.
K
Kansas City Lowball	Form of lowball poker in which the worst poker hand (2, 3, 4, 5, 7 of different suits) is the best hand. It's also known as Deuce to Seven.
Keep Them Honest	To call at the end of a hand to prevent someone from bluffing.
Key Card	A card that gives you a big draw or makes your hand.
Key Hand	In a session or tournament, the one hand that ends up being a turning point for the player, either for better or worse.
Kicker	The highest unpaired side card in a players' hand.
Kick It	Raise.
Kill Pot	A method to stimulate action. It is a forced bet by someone who has just won a pot(s).
Knock	Check.
Kojak	A hand that contains a K-J.
L
Ladies	Two Queens.
Late Position	Position on a round of betting where the player must act after most of the other players have acted (usually considered to be the two positions next to the button).
Lay Down Your Hand	When a player folds.
Lead	The first player to bet into a pot.
Limit Poker	A game that has fixed minimum and maximum betting intervals along with a prescribed number of raises.
Limper	The first player who calls a bet.
Limp In	To enter the pot by calling rather than raising. (The usual concept of 'Limp In' is when the first person to speak just calls the Big Blind.)
Live Blind	An instance where the player puts in a dark bet and is allowed to raise, even if no other player raises. It's also known as an 'option'.
Live Card(s)	In Stud Games, cards that have not yet been seen and are presumed to still be in play.
Live Hand	A hand that could still win the pot.
Live One	A not so knowledgeable player who plays a lot of hands.
Look	When a player calls the final bet before the showdown.
Loose	Is a player who plays a lot hands.
Lowball	Is a form of draw poker in which the lowest hand wins the pot.
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M
Main Pot	The center pot. Any other bets are placed in a side pot(s) and are contested among the remaining players. This occurs when a player(s) goes all-in.
Make	To make the deck is to shuffle the deck.
Maniac	A very aggressive player who plays a lot of hands.
Middle Pair	In flop games, when a player makes a pair with one of his/her down cards and the middle card on the flop.
Middle Position	Somewhere between the early and late positions on a round of betting (the fifth, sixth and seventh seats to the left of the button).
Muck	To discard or throw away your hand. It's also a pile of cards that are no longer in play.
Minimum Buy-In	The least amount you can start a game with.
Monster	A very big hand. In a tournament, a player who begins to accumulate chips after having a small stack is considered to be a monster.
N
No Limit	A game where players can bet as much as they like (as long as they have it in front of them) on any round of betting.
Nuts	The best possible hand at any point of the game. A hand that cannot be beat.
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O
Odds	The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making a hand.
Offsuit	Cards of a different suit.
Omaha	A game in which each player is dealt four down cards with five community cards. To make your hand, you must play two cards from your hand and three from the board.
Open	To make the first bet.
Open-ended Straight	Four consecutive cards whereby one additional (consecutive) card is needed at either end to make a straight.
Open Card	A card that is dealt face-up.
Open Pair	A pair that has been dealt face-up.
Option	An option is a Live Blind made in the dark before the cards are dealt. If no one raises, the 'option' player may raise the pot.
Out Button	A disc placed in front of a player who wishes to sit out a hand(s) but remain in the game.
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P
Paints	Face or picture cards (Jack, Queen and King).
Pair	Two cards of the same face or number value.
Pass	To fold.
Pay Off	To call on the final round of betting when you may or may not think you have the best hand.
Picture Cards	Face cards (Jack, Queen and King).
Play Back	To raise or re-raise another player's bet.
Playing the Board	In flop games when your best five card hand is all five of the community cards.
Pocket	The down cards or hole cards.
Pocket Rockets	A pair of Aces in the pocket or hole.
Position	Where a player is seated in relation to the dealer, therefore establishing that player's place in the betting order.
Post	When you post a bet, you place your chips in the pot. (You must post the Blinds.)
Pot	The money or chips in the center of a table that players try to win.
Pot Limit	This is a game where the maximum bet can equal the pot.
Prop	A person hired by the cardroom to work as a shill.
Push	When the dealer pushes the chips to the winning player at the end of a hand. It's also when dealers rotate to other tables.
Put Down	To fold a hand.
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Q
Quads	Four of a kind.
Qualifier	In High-Low games, it is a requirement the Low hand must meet to win the pot.
R
Rack	A tray that holds 100 poker chips in five stacks of twenty chips each.
Rail	The rim of a poker table or a barrier outside a poker area.
Railbird	Someone who hangs around a poker room who watches the games and/or is looking to get into action.
Raise	To increase the previous bet.
Rake	Chips taken from the pot by the cardroom for compensation for hosting the game.
Rank	The value of each card and hand.
Rap	When a player knocks on the table indicating that he/she has checked.
Razz	Seven Card Stud where the lowest five cards win the pot.
Re-buy	The amount of money a player pays to add a fixed number of chips to his/her stack in a tournament.
Re-raise	To raise a raise.
Ring Game	A 'live' game that is not a tournament.
River	This is the last card given in all games. In Hold'em and Omaha, it is also known as 5th street. In Stud games, it is also known as 7th street.
Round of Betting	This is when players have the opportunity to bet, check or raise. Each round of betting ends when the last bet or raise has been called.
Rounders	Guys who hustle for a living. This is also the name of a popular poker movie starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton.
Royal Flush	This is an Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10) of the same suit. It is the best possible hand in poker.
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S
Satellite	It is a mini-tournament to gain an entry into a larger tournament.
Scoop	To win the entire pot.
Seating List	A waiting list. A player would put his or her name on this list if there were no seats at the table at which they wish to play.
Second Pair	In flop games, when you pair the second highest card on the board.
See	To call.
Seven-card Stud	A well-known poker game in which players get three down cards and four up cards. You play the best five of those seven cards. Click here for information on Seven-card Stud.
Seventh Street	This is the final round of betting in Seven Card Stud and Stud 8 or Better.
Shills	Shills are paid props who help start and maintain poker games.
Showdown	At the end of the final betting round, it's when all active players turn their cards face-up to see who has won the pot.
Side Pot	A separate pot(s) which is contested by remaining active players when one or more players are all-in.
Sixth Street	In Seven-card Stud, this is the fourth 'up' card dealt to the player (their 6th card). It is also the 4th round of betting.
Solid	A fairly tight player (and reasonably good).
Small Blind	The amount put in the pot by the person immediately to the left of the dealer 'button' prior to the cards being dealt.
Speed Limit	A pair of fives.
Split	Tie.
Stack	A pile of chips.
Stay	When a player remains in the game by calling rather than raising.
Steel Wheel	A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.
Straddle	A straddle is a Blind bet which is usually double the size of the Big Blind\ (and that player may raise when the action gets to him).
Straight	Five consecutive cards of any suit.
Straight Flush	Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Structure	The limits put on the blinds/ante, bets, and raises in any particular game.
Stud Games	Games in which players get down cards and up cards.
Stuck	A player who is losing in a game.
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T
Texas Hold'em	This is also the name for Hold'em, the most popular form of poker.
Third Street	In Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud 8 or Better, this is the first betting round on the first three cards.
Thirty Miles	Three tens.
Three of a Kind	Three cards of the same number or face value ('trips').
Tight	A player who doesn't play many pots. A tight game is one that doesn't have much action.
TOC	Tournament of Champions.
Top Pair	In flop games, when the player pairs one of his down cards with the highest card on board.
Treys	A pair of threes.
Trips	Three of a kind.
Turn	In flop games, this is the fourth card dealt. It is the third round of betting.
Two Pair	A hand consisting of two different pairs.
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U
Up Card	A card that is dealt face-up.
V-W
Walking Sticks	A pair of sevens.
Wild Card	A card that can be played as any value.
Worst Hand	A losing hand.
WSOP	World Series of Poker.

Poker lingo explain what the termes means, Poker språket förstå det genom denna lista

 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

A
Aces Full	A full house with three aces and any pair.
Ace-High	A five card hand that contains one Ace, with no straight or flush or a hand with no pair in it.
Aces Up	A hand that contains two pairs, one of which is Aces.
Action	Checking/Betting/Raising. A game in which players are playing a lot of pots is considered an 'action' game.
Active Player	Any player who is still in the hand.
Add-on	A purchase of more chips (optional) at the end of the re-buy period in a tournament.
All-In	When a player bets all his/her chips.: In online poker, you may be deemed 'All-in' when you are disconnected (even if you have chips remaining).
American Airlines	Two Aces.
Ante	Money placed in the pot before the hand is begun.
B
Bad Beat	When a hand is beaten by a lucky draw.
Belly Buster	A draw and/or catch to an Inside Straight.
Bet	To place chips into the pot.
Bet the Pot	When a player bets the amount of the pot.
Bicycle	A straight that is A-2-3-4-5.
Big Blind	A designated amount that is placed by the player sitting in the second position, clockwise from the dealer, before any cards are dealt. (Players joining a game in progress must post a Big Blind, but may do so from any position.)
Big Slick	A hand that contains an A-K.
Blind	The bet(s) that must be made by the two players sitting directly to the dealer's left which will start the action on the first round of betting. The blinds are posted before any cards are dealt. (A 'Blind' bet is one that is made in the dark without looking at your cards.)
Blind Raise	When a player raises without looking at his hand.
Bluff	To make other players believe that one has a better hand than he/she might otherwise have by betting or raising when they do not have the best hand.
Boardcards	The cards that are dealt face-up in a poker game for all players to see. In flop games, five cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. In Seven Card Stud, four cards are dealt face-up in front of each player.
Bottom Pair	When a player uses the lowest card on the flop to make a pair with one of his own cards.
Broadway	An Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10).
Bring-In	The forced bet made on the first round of betting by the player who is dealt the lowest card showing in Seven Card Stud and Stud 8 or Better. In Razz (Lowball) it is the highest card showing
Bring It In	To start the betting on the first round.
Broomcorn's Uncle	A player who antes himself broke.
Bullets	A pair of Aces.
Bump	To raise.
Button	Also known as the dealer button, it is a small round disk that is moved from player to player in a clockwise direction following each hand, to theoretically indicate the dealer of each hand.
Buy-In	The minimum amount of money required by a player to sit down in a particular poker game.
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C
Call	When a player chooses to match the previous bet.
Call Cold	To call both a bet and raise(s).
Cap	To take the last of the maximum amount of raises allowed per round of betting.
Cardroom	The room or space in a casino where poker is played.
Case Chips	A player's last chips.
Cash Out	To leave a game and convert your chips to cash.
Check	When it's a player's turn to act and there has been no action in front of them and he opts not to bet, he 'checks.'
Check-Raise	When a player first checks and then raises in a betting round.
Chop	To return the blinds to the players who posted them and move on to the next hand if no other players call. It also means to 'split the pot'.
Collusion	When two or more players conspire to cheat in a poker game.
Community Cards	Cards that are face-up and used by all players.
Cowboys	Two Kings.
D
Dead Man's Hand	Two pair - Aces and Eights (Wild Bill Hickock was shot in the back while playing this hand).
Door Card	This is the first exposed card, or 'up' card, in a player's hand in Stud games.
Down Card	Hole cards. Cards that are dealt face down.
Doyle Brunson	It's a Holdem hand consisting of a 10-2 (Brunson won the world championship two years in a row on the final hand with these cards).
Draw Lowball	Form of poker where each player is dealt five cards with the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones and the low hand wins.
Draw Poker	Form of poker where each player is dealt five cards down with the option of discarding one or more and replacing them with new ones to attempt to make a better hand.
Drop	Fold.
Ducks	A pair of Twos.
Deuces	A pair of Twos.
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E
Early Position	Position on a round of betting where the player must act before most of the other players at the table. (It's considered the two positions located to the left of the Blinds. )
F
Fifth Street	Also known as the 'river' card. In flop games, this represents the fifth community card on the table and the final round of betting. In Stud games, this is the fifth card dealt to each player and represents the third round of betting.
Five-card Draw	A poker game in which the player is dealt five cards down. They have one draw to replace them and the best high hand wins the pot.
Five-card Stud	A poker game in which each player is dealt five cards, one down and four up, with betting after 2, 3, 4, & 5 cards.
Flat Call	Calling a bet without raising.
Flop	In Hold'em and Omaha, the first three community cards that are dealt face-up in the center of the table all at one time. The 'flop' also indicates the second round of betting.
Flop Games	Poker games (Hold 'em and Omaha) that are played using community cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table.
Floorman	An employee of the cardroom who makes rulings and decisions.
Flush	Any five cards of the same suit.
Flush Draw	When a player has four cards in his hand of the same suit and is hoping to draw a fifth to make a flush.
Fold	To throw your hand away when it's your turn to act.
Forced Bet	A required bet that starts the action on the first round of a poker hand.
Four of a Kind	Four cards of the same number or face value ('quads').
Fourth Street	In flop games, it is the fourth community card dealt (also known as 'the turn') and represents the third round of betting. In Stud games, it is the fourth card dealt to each player and represents the second round of betting.
Full House	Any three cards of the same number or face value, plus any other two cards of the same number or face value.
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G
Gut Shot	To draw to and/or hit an inside straight.
H
Hand	A player's best five cards.
High-Low	Split pot games.
Hold 'em	Also known as Texas Hold 'em, where the players get two down cards and five community cards. See our complete Hold 'em rules in our Game Rules section.
Hole Cards	These are the Down Cards in front of the players.
House	The casino or cardroom that is hosting the poker game.
I
Inside Straight	Four cards which require another between the top and the bottom card to complete a straight.\ Players who catch this card make an Inside Straight.
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J
Jackpot Poker	A form of poker in which the cardroom or casino offers a jackpot to a player who has lost with a really big hand (usually Aces full or better).
Jacks-or- Better	A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair of jacks to open the betting.
K
Kansas City Lowball	Form of lowball poker in which the worst poker hand (2, 3, 4, 5, 7 of different suits) is the best hand. It's also known as Deuce to Seven.
Keep Them Honest	To call at the end of a hand to prevent someone from bluffing.
Key Card	A card that gives you a big draw or makes your hand.
Key Hand	In a session or tournament, the one hand that ends up being a turning point for the player, either for better or worse.
Kicker	The highest unpaired side card in a players' hand.
Kick It	Raise.
Kill Pot	A method to stimulate action. It is a forced bet by someone who has just won a pot(s).
Knock	Check.
Kojak	A hand that contains a K-J.
L
Ladies	Two Queens.
Late Position	Position on a round of betting where the player must act after most of the other players have acted (usually considered to be the two positions next to the button).
Lay Down Your Hand	When a player folds.
Lead	The first player to bet into a pot.
Limit Poker	A game that has fixed minimum and maximum betting intervals along with a prescribed number of raises.
Limper	The first player who calls a bet.
Limp In	To enter the pot by calling rather than raising. (The usual concept of 'Limp In' is when the first person to speak just calls the Big Blind.)
Live Blind	An instance where the player puts in a dark bet and is allowed to raise, even if no other player raises. It's also known as an 'option'.
Live Card(s)	In Stud Games, cards that have not yet been seen and are presumed to still be in play.
Live Hand	A hand that could still win the pot.
Live One	A not so knowledgeable player who plays a lot of hands.
Look	When a player calls the final bet before the showdown.
Loose	Is a player who plays a lot hands.
Lowball	Is a form of draw poker in which the lowest hand wins the pot.
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M
Main Pot	The center pot. Any other bets are placed in a side pot(s) and are contested among the remaining players. This occurs when a player(s) goes all-in.
Make	To make the deck is to shuffle the deck.
Maniac	A very aggressive player who plays a lot of hands.
Middle Pair	In flop games, when a player makes a pair with one of his/her down cards and the middle card on the flop.
Middle Position	Somewhere between the early and late positions on a round of betting (the fifth, sixth and seventh seats to the left of the button).
Muck	To discard or throw away your hand. It's also a pile of cards that are no longer in play.
Minimum Buy-In	The least amount you can start a game with.
Monster	A very big hand. In a tournament, a player who begins to accumulate chips after having a small stack is considered to be a monster.
N
No Limit	A game where players can bet as much as they like (as long as they have it in front of them) on any round of betting.
Nuts	The best possible hand at any point of the game. A hand that cannot be beat.
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O
Odds	The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making a hand.
Offsuit	Cards of a different suit.
Omaha	A game in which each player is dealt four down cards with five community cards. To make your hand, you must play two cards from your hand and three from the board.
Open	To make the first bet.
Open-ended Straight	Four consecutive cards whereby one additional (consecutive) card is needed at either end to make a straight.
Open Card	A card that is dealt face-up.
Open Pair	A pair that has been dealt face-up.
Option	An option is a Live Blind made in the dark before the cards are dealt. If no one raises, the 'option' player may raise the pot.
Out Button	A disc placed in front of a player who wishes to sit out a hand(s) but remain in the game.
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P
Paints	Face or picture cards (Jack, Queen and King).
Pair	Two cards of the same face or number value.
Pass	To fold.
Pay Off	To call on the final round of betting when you may or may not think you have the best hand.
Picture Cards	Face cards (Jack, Queen and King).
Play Back	To raise or re-raise another player's bet.
Playing the Board	In flop games when your best five card hand is all five of the community cards.
Pocket	The down cards or hole cards.
Pocket Rockets	A pair of Aces in the pocket or hole.
Position	Where a player is seated in relation to the dealer, therefore establishing that player's place in the betting order.
Post	When you post a bet, you place your chips in the pot. (You must post the Blinds.)
Pot	The money or chips in the center of a table that players try to win.
Pot Limit	This is a game where the maximum bet can equal the pot.
Prop	A person hired by the cardroom to work as a shill.
Push	When the dealer pushes the chips to the winning player at the end of a hand. It's also when dealers rotate to other tables.
Put Down	To fold a hand.
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Q
Quads	Four of a kind.
Qualifier	In High-Low games, it is a requirement the Low hand must meet to win the pot.
R
Rack	A tray that holds 100 poker chips in five stacks of twenty chips each.
Rail	The rim of a poker table or a barrier outside a poker area.
Railbird	Someone who hangs around a poker room who watches the games and/or is looking to get into action.
Raise	To increase the previous bet.
Rake	Chips taken from the pot by the cardroom for compensation for hosting the game.
Rank	The value of each card and hand.
Rap	When a player knocks on the table indicating that he/she has checked.
Razz	Seven Card Stud where the lowest five cards win the pot.
Re-buy	The amount of money a player pays to add a fixed number of chips to his/her stack in a tournament.
Re-raise	To raise a raise.
Ring Game	A 'live' game that is not a tournament.
River	This is the last card given in all games. In Hold'em and Omaha, it is also known as 5th street. In Stud games, it is also known as 7th street.
Round of Betting	This is when players have the opportunity to bet, check or raise. Each round of betting ends when the last bet or raise has been called.
Rounders	Guys who hustle for a living. This is also the name of a popular poker movie starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton.
Royal Flush	This is an Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10) of the same suit. It is the best possible hand in poker.
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S
Satellite	It is a mini-tournament to gain an entry into a larger tournament.
Scoop	To win the entire pot.
Seating List	A waiting list. A player would put his or her name on this list if there were no seats at the table at which they wish to play.
Second Pair	In flop games, when you pair the second highest card on the board.
See	To call.
Seven-card Stud	A well-known poker game in which players get three down cards and four up cards. You play the best five of those seven cards. Click here for information on Seven-card Stud.
Seventh Street	This is the final round of betting in Seven Card Stud and Stud 8 or Better.
Shills	Shills are paid props who help start and maintain poker games.
Showdown	At the end of the final betting round, it's when all active players turn their cards face-up to see who has won the pot.
Side Pot	A separate pot(s) which is contested by remaining active players when one or more players are all-in.
Sixth Street	In Seven-card Stud, this is the fourth 'up' card dealt to the player (their 6th card). It is also the 4th round of betting.
Solid	A fairly tight player (and reasonably good).
Small Blind	The amount put in the pot by the person immediately to the left of the dealer 'button' prior to the cards being dealt.
Speed Limit	A pair of fives.
Split	Tie.
Stack	A pile of chips.
Stay	When a player remains in the game by calling rather than raising.
Steel Wheel	A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.
Straddle	A straddle is a Blind bet which is usually double the size of the Big Blind\ (and that player may raise when the action gets to him).
Straight	Five consecutive cards of any suit.
Straight Flush	Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Structure	The limits put on the blinds/ante, bets, and raises in any particular game.
Stud Games	Games in which players get down cards and up cards.
Stuck	A player who is losing in a game.
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T
Texas Hold'em	This is also the name for Hold'em, the most popular form of poker.
Third Street	In Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud 8 or Better, this is the first betting round on the first three cards.
Thirty Miles	Three tens.
Three of a Kind	Three cards of the same number or face value ('trips').
Tight	A player who doesn't play many pots. A tight game is one that doesn't have much action.
TOC	Tournament of Champions.
Top Pair	In flop games, when the player pairs one of his down cards with the highest card on board.
Treys	A pair of threes.
Trips	Three of a kind.
Turn	In flop games, this is the fourth card dealt. It is the third round of betting.
Two Pair	A hand consisting of two different pairs.
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U
Up Card	A card that is dealt face-up.
V-W
Walking Sticks	A pair of sevens.
Wild Card	A card that can be played as any value.
Worst Hand	A losing hand.
WSOP	World Series of Poker.