Poker Glossary

The terms, slang, and jargon you’ll hear at the table — defined plainly, for Texas Hold’em and most poker games.

Action

Betting activity in a hand; also, it’s “your action” when it’s your turn to act.

All-in

Betting all of your chips on a hand.

Ante

A small forced bet from every player before the hand, building the pot.

Backdoor

A draw needing both the turn and river to complete (a “runner-runner”).

Bad beat

Losing a hand you were a strong favorite to win.

Big blind (BB)

The larger of two forced bets posted before the cards; also a unit for measuring stacks.

Bluff

Betting a weak hand to make better hands fold.

Board

The community cards shared by all players.

Bubble

The point in a tournament just before the paid places begin.

Button

The dealer position — the best seat, acting last after the flop.

Call

Matching the current bet to stay in the hand.

Check

Passing the action without betting, when no bet is owed.

Color up

Swapping many small chips for fewer larger ones as blinds rise.

Cutoff

The seat to the right of the button — a strong late position.

Draw

An incomplete hand that can improve, like a flush or straight draw.

Equity

Your share of the pot on average, given your chance to win.

Flop

The first three community cards, dealt at once.

Fold

Giving up your hand and forfeiting the pot.

Gutshot

An inside straight draw needing one specific rank (4 outs).

Hero call

Calling a big bet with a marginal hand, believing it’s a bluff.

ICM

Independent Chip Model — pricing tournament chips by finish probability, used for deals.

Kicker

A side card that breaks ties between equal hands.

Limp

Just calling the big blind preflop instead of raising.

Muck

To discard a hand without showing; also the pile of folded cards.

Nuts

The best possible hand on a given board.

Offsuit (o)

Two cards of different suits, e.g. AKo.

Outs

Unseen cards that improve you to a likely winning hand.

Overpair

A pocket pair higher than any card on the board.

Position

Where you sit relative to the button; acting later is an advantage.

Pot odds

The ratio of the current pot to the amount you must call.

Rake

The fee a cardroom takes from each pot or tournament.

Rebuy

Buying more chips after busting or dropping low, where allowed.

River

The fifth and final community card.

Set

Three of a kind using a pocket pair plus one board card.

Suited (s)

Two cards of the same suit, e.g. AKs.

Tilt

Playing emotionally and poorly, usually after a loss.

Turn

The fourth community card.

Value bet

Betting a strong hand hoping worse hands call.

Wheel

The lowest straight, A-2-3-4-5.

Poker slang varies by region and game. These are the common meanings you’ll encounter most. Provided for reference and education. Rules and conventions can vary by game and venue. Rebuy Labs is software for organizing and studying poker; it does not accept wagers or handle player funds. If gambling stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.