The second raise during a round of betting. Also known as a re-raise.

The third raise during a round of betting. A 4bet occurs when a player that 3bets is raised.

A full house made with three aces and another pair. Can also be used as kings full, queens full, etc.

When the best possible hand contains no pair, straight, flush, etc., only a high card ace.

A two pair hand that includes a pair of aces and any other pair.

In a poker tournament that allows re-buys, a player may elect to “top up” by the end of the re-buy period. Doing so will will add the starting chip amount to their balance for a fee equal to the original buy in.

An aggressive player is more comfortable betting or raising rather than calling and checking. By playing aggressively, a player will pick up many pots without holding the best hand. This opponent type is much more difficult to play against than the passive player because they will always keep you guessing and cause you to make mistakes either by folding the best hand or calling with the worst hand.

Once all of a player’s chips are in the pot, he is considered to be all-in. All future bets will be placed in a side pot which will be eligible to win by the other players involved in the hand.

Slang term for pocket aces.

A forced bet that must be made prior to receiving one’s cards, in addition to the blinds. Often seen in the late stages of tournament play or on specifically named ante tables.

When a draw requires two more cards (turn and river) to complete the draw.

When a hand that is way behind “sucks out” on the river to win the hand. Generally used when the winning player should have folded earlier in the hand.

The total amount of money a player has available solely for playing poker. The larger the bankroll a player has the more security he has against bad swings. Playing with too small of a bankroll can cause tilt issues and is never recommended. See “Bankroll Management” for a discussion about optimal bankroll size.

Bet

The first wager during any given betting round.

In limit Hold’em the big bet is made during the turn and river betting rounds. The big bet is 2x the big blind.

Big Blind

A forced bet two seats to the left of the button, prior to receiving cards. In a 1/2 no-limit game, the big blind (bb) is $2.

An ace and a king as the hole cards.

Blinds

A required bet that must be made prior to getting cards. The small blind must be posted by the player to the left of the button and the big blind by the player two seats to the left of the button.

A bet made with the intention of making your opponent fold what is likely the best hand.

A full house.

The cards placed face up in the center of the table that are used by all of the players.

A pair that includes the lowest community card and one hole card.

Pocket aces.

Button

A marker that signifies the position of the “dealer”. The player on the button will always act last after the flop.

Buy-In

The total amount of chips that can be wagered on a given hand. Your buy-in is equal to the amount of chips that you sat down with at the table.

Matching another player’s bet or raise without raising yourself.

Calling Station

A player who seemingly calls almost all bets. Also known as simply a “station”.

A Cbet is made by the preflop aggressor when he is checked to after the flop. If I raise you 3 times the big blind before the flop and then bet on the flop, I am making a C-bet. By Cbetting on the flop you stand a good chance of claiming the pot without having to show down your hand. Since your opponent will miss the flop about 2/3 of the time, he will be required to give up his hand to your C-bet or risk calling without a hand.

When no one has yet bet during a betting round, a player may check. Checking is simply passing on the opportunity to make a bet.

Check-Raise

Checking and then raising when the player you checked to bets.

The five cards face up on the table. This is the same as the board cards.

Cold Call

To make a call when faced with a bet and a raise.

When the board presents two pair higher than your pair, making your “third pair” valueless.

A pair of kings.

The player to the right of the button.

Twos or deuces.

The players that must act first during every betting round.

When involved in a hand with one opponent, the effective stack size is the amount of chips that the short stacked player has. Since you cannot bet more than you or your opponent have in your stacks, only consider the effective stack size when deciding on your play.

Otherwise known as the “river”, this is the fifth and final community card.

A slang term for a bad poker player.

Flat Call

To flat call, or simply “flat”, is to call a bet without making a raise.

Flop

The first round of betting is made on the flop, or the first three community cards.

Flush

A hand containing five cards of the same suit.

Fold

To give up on a pot without committing any more chips.

Four Flush

Having four cards of the same suit with at least one card to come.

Four of the same value card, also known as “quads”.

The 2nd round of betting is made on fourth street, more commonly known as the “turn”.

Full House

A hand comprised of three of a kind and a pair.

A gut shot is a straight draw that requires one card that is not at either end of the straight. A gut shot is twice as difficult to draw to than an open ended straight draw. Also known as an inside straight.

You are heads up when playing against only one other player or when only two players are involved in a given hand.

Generally used in heads up cash games, when a player wins one or more pots early in a match and sits out immediately. Considered to be poor etiquette. (HNR)

Hold ‘Em

Hold’em, or Texas Hold’em, is currently the most popular poker variant. This game uses five community cards and two hole cards. Players are to make the best five card poker hand utilizing any of the seven cards.

Hole Cards

The two cards dealt face down to every player.

Inside Straight

An inside straight is a straight draw that requires one card that is not at either end of the straight. An inside straight is twice as difficult to draw to than an open ended straight draw. Also known as a gut shot.

To go “all in” as a bet or raise. By jamming you are committing all of your chips to the pot.

The highest card in a hand that is not paired.

Loose Aggressive player type.

The players that act last during a given betting round.

Limit

A betting structure where the bet sizing is limited for each round of betting. During the first two rounds of betting the bet size is set at a bet equal to the big blind. During the second two rounds of betting the bet size is exactly two times the big blind, this is known as a big bet (BB).

Calling the blind without raising before the flop.

Loose

A loose player likes to play a wide range of starting hands. They also don’t like giving up after the flop and will often call bets with marginal holdings. Overly loose players are seldom bluffed off the best hand, but often lose at showdown.

Loose Passive player type.

A maniac is an extreme version of a LAG (Loose Aggressive). They will play almost any two cards and make crazy moves. They exhibit constant, untamed aggression.

The micro stake games start at the .01/.02 cent level and are generally considered to end at the .10/.25 or sometimes the .25/.50 level.

When one of a player’s two hole cards pairs with the middle valued board card that player has middle pair.

The players that act after the players seated in early position and before the players in late position.

When you fold your hand you are placing it in the muck, or “mucking” your hand.

An extremely strong hand that is unlikely to be beaten.

A betting structure where any bet amount is accepted, provided that the bet is at least the amount of the big blind.

The best hand possible at any given time. If a player holds AA on a A92 (rainbow) flop, that player holds the nuts.

When the cards do not share the same suit.

The bubble refers to tournament play when the next player eliminated will be the last player that doesn’t finish in the money. Being eliminated on the bubble is particularly painful.

A straight draw that includes four sequential cards where either of two cards will complete the straight. If you hold 5678, any 4 or 9 will complete the open-ended straight draw.

The number of cards available in the deck that will complete a hand. If you hold a four flush, there are 9 outs (the 9 remaining cards of that suit) that will complete the flush.

A bet that is larger than the size of the pot made in a no-limit game.

The hole cards are higher ranked than the board cards but there is no pair.

A pocket pair that is higher than any of the board cards.

Pair

Any two cards that have the same value.

Passive

A passive player generally elects to check rather than bet, or call rather than raise. Passive players do not win pots by making their opponent fold. Because they do not make their opponents fold, they must always have the best hand to win.

Pocket Pair

When the hole cards are of the same value you hold a pocket pair.

Position

The location of a player at the table. Position is always relative the the button and changes from hand to hand as the button rotates clockwise around the table.

Pot

All of the chips that have been currently wagered. The pot is the maximum amount that can be won at a given time.

A betting structure where the maximum bet size is equal to the amount of chips in the pot. Similar to no-limit, however, overbets may not be made.

Pot odds is used to illustrate the ration between the bet amount to call and the amount currently in the pot (including the bet amount).

Pre-flop

The betting round made before the first three community cards are dealt.

Quads

Four of a kind.

Rainbow

When all of the suits are different on the flop. This makes it impossible for a player to have a strong flush draw.

Raise

To increase the current bet by the raise amount.

The casino or card room commission taken from every pot.

Re-Raise

The act of further raising another player’s raise.

A cash game. Unlike a tournament, players may come and go during a ring game.

River

The last community card, also known as fifth street.

A tight player that only plays very strong hands.

Royal Flush

This is the best possible hand in poker. It consists of AKQJT, all of the same suit.

When one of a player’s two hole cards pairs with the second highest valued board card that player has second pair.

Set

Three of a kind or trips.

A strong winning player.

Showdown

After the final round of betting the players showdown, or see who holds the winning hand.

Representing a monster as a weak hand and attempting to induce betting.

Small Blind

The first player to the left of the dealer button must post a bet equal to half the big blind, known as the small blind. In a 1/2 no limit game the small blind is $1.

When there is no winner because both players have the same hand the pot is split and the players divide the pot evenly.

The term steal can be used to describe a pre-flop raise, from late position, that has the potential for taking down the blinds uncontested. A steal could also describe a bluff on later streets.

Straight

Five cards in numerical order and not all the same suit. JT987 is an example of a jack high straight.

Straight Flush

Five cards in numerical order that are all the same suit. JT987 all hearts is an example of a straight flush.

To win a pot with what was the worst hand when most of the money went in. An example would be going all in on the flop with middle pair, getting called by top pair, and making three of a kind on the river.

Tight Aggressive player type.

Tell

An action that provides another player some insight into your hand strength or intentions. In online poker tells are often “timing tells” or “bet sizing tells” where the speed that you perform an action or the size of your bet gives away what you are trying to do.

Three of a Kind

Three cards that have the same numerical value.

Tight

Tight players have a very specific starting hand requirement. They are fine folding often before the flop. After the flop a tight player must have a stronger than average hand to continue putting money in the pot. Due to the tight player’s strong starting hands and ability to fold post flop, they will often show down the best hand, but will lose many pots to bluffs.

Tilt

Used to describe when a player begins to play in a way that is not standard for them, and is often overly aggressive or loose. Tilt is often caused by losing a big pot or being sucked out on.

Top Pair

A hand where you make a pair using one of your hole cards and the highest value card on the board.

Tight Passive player type.

Trips

Also known as three of a kind.

Turn

The fourth community card, also known as fourth street.

Two Pair

A hand that contains two of any pair.

A pocket pair that is lower than any of the community cards.

The playing seated to the left of the big blind is considered under the gun. This player must act first pre-flop.

You make a value bet in an attempt to get an opponent to call you with a worse hand, thus gaining value.

A pocket pair.