Glossary of Poker Terms
Ujogo has all the poker terms you'll need to know to play the game like a pro. Play with confidence knowing that Ujogo has all poker lingo at your fingertips.
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-
ACTION
Money that is being bet. "No action" means a hand or game has few bettors and fewer raisers.
ACTIVE PLAYER
A player who is still in the pot.
ALL-IN
To have all of one's chips in the pot. A player who is all-in cannot be forced out of the pot by more betting, but is only eligible to win that portion of the pot he or she has contributed to. A SIDE POT is often created when a player is all-in.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
A pair of Aces in the hole. Also known as POCKET ROCKETS.
ANTE
A small bet all poker players are required to make before a hand is dealt. In Holdem, antes are incremental forced bets (beyond the SMALL and BIG BLINDS) which occur in later rounds of a tournament. Not all games have an ante.
-B-
BACK DOOR
Applies to a long-shot draw. Most often applied to straights and flushes.
BAD BEAT
A good hand beaten by another hand which, even though it won, had a large negative expectation.
BAD-BEAT JACKPOT
A prize that is shared by the players in a game, when a very good hand (such as FOUR-OF-A-KIND) is beaten by a higher hand. Ujogo awards a Bad Beat Jackpot to qualifying ring game players.
BANKROLL
Current total funds available. This can be incremental to the amount of money currently "in play".
BARN
A FULL HOUSE, three of a kind and a pair.
BELLY BUSTER
Drawing to two GUT SHOT straight draws. Example: If a player's HOLE CARDS are 10 and an 8, and the BOARD shows 6, 9, Q, then there are two inside straight draws. In this case two cards, a 7 or a J, will complete the straight. This is also referred to as a double gut shot. The odds of completing this straight draw are exactly the same as for an OPEN ENDED straight.
BET
To put money into the pot, pursuant to the rules of the game, thus maintaining a chance of winning the pot.
BICYCLE
The lowest possible straight: A-2-3-4-5. More common term: WHEEL.
BIG BLIND
The larger of the two forced bets pre flop. The person in second position posts the big blind, which is equivalent to other player's minimum entry bet.
BIG SLICK
HOLE CARDS of A-K, suited or not.
BLANK
Refers to a dealt card that does not offer any value to a player's hand.
BLIND
A mandatory bet made by certain player(s) usually sitting left of the BUTTON before each new hand is dealt.
BLUFF
To make a bet or raise with a poor hand, in hope that the remaining active player(s) will fold.
BOARD
The exposed COMMUNITY CARDS.
BOAT
A FULL HOUSE, three of a kind and a pair.
BOT
This is short for robot. In regard to online poker, it refers to a software application that people use to play in hopes of beating the average player. Note: Players on www.ujogo.com who are found to be using bot software will have their account terminated and prizes won will not be fulfilled. See Terms and Conditions for more details. Ujogo may use our own "bots" from time to time to fill empty seats at tables, or for testing purposes.
BROADWAY
This refers to an Ace-high straight: 10-J-Q-K-A
BULLETS
Aces.
BUMP
Slang for RAISE.
BURN
To discard the top card of the deck prior to dealing, usually done for every dealing round except the first. The theory being that if somehow the cards are marked (illegally) no one will know what card will next be dealt, only what card will be burned. This makes marked cards less of an advantage, hence tends to reduce cheating. On-line, burn cards are not necessary.
BUTTON
A distinctive token or disc held by the player sitting in the theoretical dealer's position, when a house dealer is used. The button rotates clockwise around the table so that every player has an opportunity to be the last to act. Also, "THE BUTTON" can refer to the player who currently has the button.
BUY-IN
The minimum amount of Ujogo Cash necessary to join a Ring Game or to buy into a Tournament or Sit N Go.
-C-
CALL
To put into the pot the minimum amount of poker chips necessary to continue playing.
CALLING STATION
This refers to a player who rarely folds, thus who frequently calls better hands and loses. Also referred to as a PAY STATION.
CHASE
To continue in a poker hand, often at poor odds, in the hopes of catching a much better hand. "He called, chasing the flush."
CHECK
To bet zero, when it is legal to do so. Frequently a sign of only a fair hand, but may be a bluff.
CHECK RAISE
To check initially, then raise a bet made later on in the same betting round. Frequently a sign of strength, but may be a bluff.
COMMUNITY CARDS
Cards that are available for every player to use in making a hand. Usually dealt face up somewhere in the middle of the table.
COLD CALL
Calling (but not raising) when faced with more than one bet in a single action. If one opponent bets, and another raises, and you call, you have cold called.
COLD DECK
Deck of cards that a cheat has fixed. Players who feel very unlucky often refer to a deck as being cold, suggesting that it might have been fixed.
COWBOYS
Kings.
-D-
DEAD MONEY
Money contributed to the pot by poker players who have folded. Some players who often lose are sometimes called "dead money" by other players.
DONKEY
A bad player who makes blatantly bad poker plays. A weak player.
DOYLE BRUNSON
In Texas Holdem poker, 10-2 in the hole. So named because Doyle Brunson won two straight World Series of Poker Main Events in 1975 and 1976 with 10-2 on the last hand.
DRAW
The remaining COMMUNITY CARDS to be dealt can collectively be called "the draw". Drawing also refers to a player who is waiting for another card to show up and thus improve his or her hand.
DRAWING DEAD
A draw in which it is impossible to obtain a winning hand for any of a variety of reasons: an opponent's hand is better than whatever you are drawing to, the card(s) that make your hand are out of play, or the cards that make your hand give an opponent an even stronger hand.
DRAW OUT
To catch a card that improves your situation from a losing poker hand to a winning poker hand, especially when you beat someone holding a hand that usually figures to win. Also referred to as: SUCK OUT.
-E-
EARLY POSITION
Being one of the first players to act in a betting round. See also: MIDDLE POSITION, LATE POSITION.
-F-
FAMILY POT
When all players at the table have matched the largest bet made before the flop.
FAVORITE
Before all the cards are dealt, a hand that has the best chance of winning.
FEE
The amount of chips required to enter a tournament or Sit N Go. The fee goes to the house and is separate from the contribution, if any, to the PRIZE POOL.FIFTH STREET
The last COMMUNITY CARD, also known as the RIVER.FILL UP
To draw a card that completes a strong hand (straight, flush, full house, straight flush).
FIRE
To make the first bet in a poker betting round. Used to emphasize that the player bet when a check was possible, showing strength.
FISH
A weak player who loses constantly. This term is most often used to describe weak players in a RING GAME.FISHHOOKS
Jacks. So named because the "J" resembles a fish hook.FIXED LIMIT
A betting structure where the amount of each bet is a specific fixed quantity. Usually specified as A-B, where A is the amount to bet in the first few betting rounds and B (usually twice the size of A) is the amount bet in the later rounds.FLAT CALL
To call a bet. Emphasizes that the caller did not raise.FLOP
The first three COMMUNITY CARDS, dealt simultaneously.FLOP IT
To make a hand on a flop.FLUSH
A poker hand consisting of five cards all one suit.
FOLD
To decline to call a bet, thus dropping out of a hand.FOUR-OF-A-KIND
A poker hand containing all four cards of the same rank.FOURTH STREET
The fourth COMMUNITY CARD. Also referred to as the TURN.
FREE CARD
A card dealt after all players checked in a betting round.FREEROLL (HAND)
Having a lock on part of a pot (sure to win a greater fraction of the pot than one is betting) and playing to win more or all of it.FREEROLL (TOURNAMENT)
A single or multi-table tournament for which the players do not need to pay to play. The "House" provides the prize pool for free.FULL BOAT
See: FULL HOUSE.FULL HOUSE
A poker hand consisting of 3-of-a-kind and a (different) pair.FULL OF
Describes a full house. "Fives full of queens" is 5-5-5-Q-Q.
-G-
GUTSHOT
A draw to an inside straight, as in 2-3-4-6, needing a 5 to complete the straight.
-H-
HEADS UP
Playing a single opponent.
HIT
To make a hand or catch a card or cards that improves one's hand.
HOLE CARDS
The face-down cards dealt to each player.
-I-
IMPLIED ODDS
A refinement to POT ODDS, which includes money not yet in the pot. Considers the potential extra bets and winnings made when a player forms a very good hand.
INSIDE STRAIGHT
Four cards to a straight, where only one rank will complete the hand. E.g., 4-5-6-8 is an inside straight since only a 7 will fill (i.e., complete) the hand. Often called a GUTSHOT.-K-
KICKER
In poker hands containing pairs and trips, the highest card not matched. The kicker is used to determine a winner in the case of a tie. For example, if two players have a 7 in the hole, and the board is 7-7-9-8, if one or both players have, as the other hole card, a higher rank than 9, the higher of the two is the winning kicker. If one player has a J and the other a Q, the Q is the winning kicker. If both players have, as the second hole card, a rank of 8 or lower, the 9-8 are the kickers and there is a tie.
KICKER TROUBLE
Not having as high a kicker as an opponent.
-L-
LADIES
Two Queens.
LATE POSITION
For a particular betting round, a player who does not have to act until most of the other players have already acted.
LEAD OUT
To bet first, even when one had the option to check. See: FIREFIRE.
LEADERBOARDS
Monthly contests for the most Ujogo Cash and the most Ujogo Points accumulated. Those who finish atop these leaderboards will earn additional Ujogo Points which can be redeemed through our store.
LIMIT
A poker game wherein the amount to be bet is fixed, or at most variable within a prescribed minimum and maximum. See: FIXED LIMITLINE OF CREDIT
When poker players' Ujogo Cash balances dip below $1,000, they are allowed to "borrow" money, or take out a line of credit. This line of credit does not actually cost anything, but it does allow players to gain a better understanding for how they actually perform. These lines of credit impact your leaderboard-available balances, but can also be repaid via the My Account page when sufficient Ujogo Cash balances are available.LIVE CARD[S]
A card or cards probably not held by other players.LOCK
A poker hand that cannot be beat under any circumstances. See: NUTS.LOOSE
Playing more hands than the norm, or staying in the hand longer than the norm.-M-
MAIN POT
The main pot is the initial pot into which all active players bet. When one or more players have gone all-in, one or more SIDE POTS, are created. The active players' bets go is the active side pot.MANIAC
A poker player who bets, raises and reraises without regard to the quality of his hand.
MIDDLE POSITION
Betting positions approximately halfway around the table from the first player to act. See: EARLY POSITIONEARLY POSITION and LATE POSITION
MUCK
As a noun, this refers to the pile of folded cards and discarded cards. As a verb, at showdown time, the act of returning a losing hand to the dealer face-down.-N-
NO-LIMIT
A poker game where there is no maximum bet; a player can bet up to his or her entire chipstack.NUTS
The best possible hand at the time. Not a LOCK unless all cards have been dealt.-O-
OBSERVER
These are players who are not active in the game, yet are viewing and potentially contributing to the chat.OFFSUIT
Not of the same suit.OPEN
Make the first bet in a hand.OPEN-ENDED STRAIGHT
Four cards to a straight which can be completed by drawing a card at either end. E.g., 6-7-8-9 is an open-ended straight.OUT
A card that will improve your hand, often substantially. A hand with many 'outs' is preferable to a hand with only 1 or 2. Knowing the number of remaining outs will help a player calculate the POT ODDS.OVER
A term used in describing two pair or a full house. "Kings over tens" means two pair, kings and tens. "Jacks over", also "Jacks up" describes a poker hand that is two pair: Jacks with an unspecified lower pair. Also used to describe a full house, distinguishing the three of a kind from the pair. The hand J-J-J-A-A could be described as "Full house, Jacks over Aces".
OVER CARDS
Refers to having at least one card among your HOLE CARDS that is higher in rank than all of the COMMUNITY CARDS.OVER PAIR
A pair in the hole that is larger than any community card on the board.-P-
PAIR
One of the most common poker terms, a pair means two cards of the same rank.
PAY OFF
Calling a poker bet with little expectation of winning.POCKET [CARDS]
See:HOLE CARDSPOCKET ROCKETS
A pair of Aces for HOLE CARDS.POCKET PAIR
2 hole cards of the same rank.POSITION
One's location in the betting sequence, relative to the players still in the hand.POST OAK BLUFF
To make a small bet in relation to the size of the pot to bluff and try to take it down. This makes it appear that the person betting is acting as if his or her hand is very strong, and is trying to make a VALUE BET to extract a for more chips from another player.POT
The total amount of money bet so far in a poker hand.POT LIMIT
A game where the maximum bet is determined by the size of the pot at the time. Note that a player wanting to raise first calls the bet, then totals the pot to determine the maximum amount he can raise.POT ODDS
The amount of chips in the pot divided by the amount of chips you must bet in order to call. Often used to determine if a pot offers enough reward to play on the come.
-Q-
QUADS
See: FOUR-OF-A-KIND-R-
RACE
When at least two poker players are all-in pre flop, each having roughly a 50/50 chance of winning the pot.RAGS
HOLE CARDS or COMMUNITY CARDS that are small, not suited and not in sequence.RAINBOW
When all shown COMMUNITY CARDS contain cards ofdifferent suits.RAISE
To wager more than the minimum required to call, forcing other players to put in more money as well.READ
An inexact science used to determine whether an opponent has a good, medium or bad hand by observing his personal behavior. On line, reads are often determined by betting patterns, time taken to make a decision or by chat conversation.REBUY
To purchase additional chips after an initial buy-in, usually after losing most or all of the previous buy-in. This term applies to both RING GAME and TOURNAMENT play.REPRESENT
Implying, by one's betting style, that one has a particular hand.RERAISE
To raise after an opponent has raised.
RING GAME
A game where players can come and go as they choose. Sometimes, this is referred to as a 'cash game'.RIVER
The last COMMUNITY CARD dealt.ROYAL FLUSH
An ace-high straight flush, the best possible hand in poker.RUNNER-RUNNER
A poker hand made using both of the last two cards dealt.
RUSH
A winning streak or a streak of good cards.-S-
SAND BAG
Playing a strong hand as if it were only a fair one. See: SLOW PLAY.SEMI-BLUFF
To bluff with an unmade hand that figures to win if it hits.SET
THREE-OF-A-KIND where two of the cards are HOLE CARDS.SHARK
A good/crafty player.SHORT-STACKED
Playing with only a small amount of money, thus limiting one's risk and reward.SHOW DOWN
The point at the end of the hand where all active players reveal their cards and the pot is awarded to the winner(s).SIDE POT
When an active player runs out of chips during the course of a hand, the remaining players participate in a second or side pot for the rest of the hand. Additional side pots are possible if several players run out of chips at different points in a poker hand.SIT N GO
At Ujogo.com, a Sit N Go is a single table tournament. Sit N Gos do not have scheduled start times, they start when the table fills up. Players register the same as for scheduled tournaments.SLOW PLAY
To play a strong hand weakly, by checking instead of betting or by calling instead of raising. Usually done to win extra bets by keeping more players around for future rounds of betting.SMALL BLIND
In games with two blinds the first blind is the small blind because it is usually one-half (or less) the second or BIG BLIND.SNOWMEN
Two Eights.SPLIT POT
A pot that is split between two or more players.STACK
The stack of chips a player has on the table.
STEAL
To win the pot by bluffing.
STEAM
Playing wildly, calling and raising a lot, because one is upset.
STRAIGHT
A hand consisting of 5 cards in sequence but not necessarily in suit.STRAIGHT FLUSH
A hand consisting of 5 cards in sequence and the same suit.SUCK OUT
When A strong hand is beat by another player's hand because they hit their DRAW.SUITED
Two or more cards of the same suit.-T-
TELL
Those specific actions which may allow other observant players determine the strength of a another player's poker hand. On-line, tells are most given off by consistent betting patterns, time taken to act, or chat conversation.THREE-OF-A-KIND
Three cards all the same rank.TIGHT
A style of poker play that entails playing fewer hands than average.TILT
Playing worse (usually, more aggressively) than usual because a player has become emotionally upset.TOP PAIR
Having a hole card that matches the highest card on the board.TOP TWO PAIR
Having hole cards that make that match the two highest cards on the BOARD.TOURNAMENT
A highly structured poker game involving potentially dozens of tables. Once a tournament has started, additional players may not enter. As the game progresses players are eliminated until only one winner remains.
TREYS
Two threes.TRIPS
THREE-OF-A-KIND. When two of the three cards are on the BOARD. The term SET is used when two of the three cards are HOLE CARDS.TURN
The fourth COMMUNITY CARD.-U-
UNDERDOG
Before all the cards are dealt, a hand that does not figure to be the winner.UNDER THE GUN
The position that has to act first in a round of betting.UP
Designates the higher card of a hand consisting of two pair. Thus, "Queens up" refers to two pair, of which the higher pair is queens and the lower pair is unspecified.-V-
VALUE BET
Betting a hand that, in the long run, is expected to win more than it loses.
-W-
WALK
A pot won by the BIG BLIND when no one opens.
