Basic poker terms Flashcards
villain
aka “vill.” The key opponent in question.
button
The person who holds the “dealer button”; this person is last to act post-flop.
Hero
The person providing the hand history, or whom the hand history revolves around; the “good guy.”
check raise
when someone checks, a person behind them bets, and the person who initially checked now puts in a raise
semi bluff
to bet with an unmade hand, that has the chance to improve if called
draw
an unmade hand that has a chance to improve on a later street
preflop
the street which occurs before the flop is dealt.
postflop
all streets which occur after the flop is dealt. this term pays homage to the importance of the flop in hold’em. there is no term for “post turn” or “pre river”
showdown
after all of the cards have been dealt, the betting is finished, and players are remaining in the hand: they now reveal their hands.
hijack
the person directly to the right of the cutoff, and two to the right of the button. third-last to act postflop
action
a bet or series of betting. “There was action in front of me, and so I decided not to try to steal the pot.” Also used to describe a game: “This game was full of loose players, and action-packed.” Or how many games one can find: “I’ve been sitting at ten tables and no one has joined all day. I can’t get any action.”
slowplay
declining to bet with a strong hand, hoping others will bet for you
HU
“heads-up” - two players against each other.
UTG
“under the gun” - the person who is first to act preflop, and third to act postflop (after the blinds, if they remain in the hand)
cutoff
the person to the right of the button, and second-last to act postflop.
check-call
aka x/c. When someone checks and then calls a bet on the same street.
limp-reraise
To limp preflop, get raised, and then come over the top with a reraise.
flat
aka flat-call. When someone calls a single bet.
monster
A very excellent hand.
maniac
an overly aggressive player. typically very loose as well.
race
typically refers to something from 50-50 to 45/55% split chances of winning. “I was hoping to cooler him with AK, but he turned up 88 and I saw it was just a race.”
running good / running bad
aka running hot, running cold. the cards have been falling in a lucky or unlucky fashion. “I can
multi way pot
a pot with three or more players
muck
aka lay down. to fold
stuck
being a net loser in a given session. “I don’t want to quit right now, I’m stuck $1000.”
outs
cards that can come to complete your draw.
scare card
a card which either you or your opponent will perceive as scary in some way. Scare cards usually complete a flush draw, an obvious straight draw, or high cards.
suckout
aka outdraw. when one’s hand improves against the odds, to defeat the opponent. “On the flop he only had a gutshot, but by the river he sucked out.”
donk
aka donkey: a bad poker player
the nuts
aka stone cold nuts; nizzles. the best hand possible given the board. also “effective nuts” - a hand that may not be the absolute best possible, but nevertheless figures to be the best given the action, number of players, etc.
3bet
The second raise preflop. IE: the blinds are posted; someone raises; the next raise is called a 3bet.
TAG
a tight-aggressive style of play. Also used as a noun for people who utilize this style. TAG means playing tight and aggressive preflop, and aggressive (but not necessarily tight).
LAG
a loose-aggressive style of play. Also used as a noun for people who utilize this style. LAG means playing loose and sometimes aggressive preflop, and loose + very aggressive postflop. tight and aggressive preflop, and aggressive (but not necessarily tight).
snap-
aka insta-. To act instantly without thought. Snap-call, snap-bet, insta-shove, insta-check. etc
shove
to push all-in.
soul read
To find a hidden meaning behind someone’s action. “I 3barreled him on a very scary board, but he called me down with bottom pair. I guess he soul read me.”
milk bet
To bet a tiny amount with a hand that is almost always the best.
tricky
Used to describe a fancy, trappy style of play.
trapping
feigning weakness with a strong hand
c-bet
aka continuation bet. When the person who was last to put in a raise preflop, elects to bet the flop. On the turn, assuming they cbet the flop, their turn bet may also be called a c-bet, although it is more commonly referred to as “turn barrel” or “2barrel.”
cold call
aka overcall. When there is a bet and a raise, and a third person not yet involved in the action calls.
grind
to play in a predictable fashion, often for long hours, eking out a small winrate.
hitting the flop
aka connecting with the flop, “getting there.” When your cards match the flop’s to make some kind of pair, draw, etc. Also “hitting the turn”, the river etc.
pot-committed
When one has put so much money in the pot and has so little remaining chips in their stack that they feel they cannot fold.
cooler
When one excellent hand runs into another excellent hand, and neither party is expected to fold ever. (IE AA vs KK preflop in a headsup match. KK never folds, and it’s a “cooler” to run into AA)
flopped
what your hand became on the flop. “I flopped a pair.” “I flopped nothing.” Also can say turned, rivered. “I rivered the nuts. I was so happy, but unfortunately my opponent folded to my bet.”
gutshot
aka gutter; inside straight draw. a straight draw with four outs. IE 76 on JT9 has the lower end or “idiot end” of the inside straight draw.
double-gutter
a “double” inside straight draw. Has 8 outs. IE 76 on T84. Any five or nine completes a straight.
implied odds
The money one expects to win if his draw completes. “Sure my flush draw was only 4.5:1 to hit, but I figured if I got there on the turn, I would have a chance to stack him.”
standard
The ordinary action or line that a normal TAGgish reg would take.
minbet
To bet the minimum amount (one big blind).
minraise
To raise someone else’s bet the minimum, on any street.
limp
to call the blinds preflop, instead of raising.
overlimp
to limp behind someone else’s limp.
calling station
a player who resists folding.
unknown
noun: a player the hero has no reads on, presumably because they just sat down. “Often I would bet this card on the turn, but vs an unknown I thought it was a weird spot.”
hero call
aka crying call: a desperate call which does not expect to be good very often.
hero fold
a tough fold which is rarely made.
deep
stacksizes of 200BB +
very deep
stack sizes of 400BB +
normal stacks
stack sizes of 80-120BB deep
semi deep
120 - 180BB deep
desperation bluff
a bluff which has little hope of winning. Can be any size. Unlike “thin bluff”, it is unprofitable by nature
rainbow flop
when the flop comes three different suits: only a backdoor flush draw is present.
monotone flop
when the flop comes three of a single suit.
pairing the board
when a pair is present on the board.
