Poker Guide
Poker Glossary

The game of Poker is itself self-explanatory once you start playing. However, the game is played with a lot of elements it is better to get acquainted with the terms used in the game. Below are some of the common terms that you will come across in the game of Poker.

Ante : A small bet that all players must make before the start of a hand to create a pot.

Bet : The first chips are placed in the pot. Pre-flop, the small blind are also classified as the first bet.

Big Blind : This is the larger of the two blinds in a Hold'em game.

Bluff : A player makes a bet or raise in an attempt to make their opponents fold a stronger hand.

Call : Match the current bet to stay in the hand.

Check : Passing the opportunity to bet, but remaining in the hand.

Centre Pot : This is the first pot created during a poker hand.

Community cards : Cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table that all players can use to make their hand. They are also called ‘Board’.

Dealer : The player in the poker game who actually is dealing the cards. A dealer button or a sign will highlight who has the dealing power as it moves from player to player in a clockwise manner.

Flop : The first three community cards dealt face-up after the first round of betting.

Fold : Discarding your hand and forfeiting the pot.

Heads Up : This is a pot where only two players are in contention.

Jackpot : A special bonus paid to the loser, this is funded with the money that is removed from the game as a part of the rake.

Kicker : This is an unpaired higher-value card to determine the winner of near-equivalent hands. For example, you have AK and your opposition has AQ if the flop has an ace in it you both have a pair of aces but you have a king as your kicker.

No Limit : It is a version of the poker game where players can bet any amount of chips when it is their turn to act.

Nuts : The best possible hand made at any given point.

Offsuit : A Holdem starting with two cards of different suits.

Pocket : Your unique cards that are only visible to your eyes.

Heads-up : A game with only two players.

Pot : The total amount of chips or money that players bet during a hand.

Raise : Betting more than the previous bet to increase the size of the pot.

Rake : To increase the amount of the current bet.

Rank : The numerical value of the cards.

River : The fifth and final community card was dealt face-up after the third round of betting.

Rock : A player who only raises when he/she has the best cards.

Set : Three of a kind when you have two ranks in your hands, with one on the board.

Showdown : The final stage of a hand where the remaining players reveal their hands to determine the winner.

Small blind : The forced bet made by the player sitting to the left of the dealer, typically half the size of the big blind.

Straight : A hand consisting of five cards in sequential order.

Three of a kind : A hand with three cards of the same rank.

Turn : The fourth community card dealt face-up after the second round of betting.

Two pair : A hand with two pairs of cards of the same rank.

Full House : A hand with three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank.

Royal Flush : A hand with a 10, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit.