Texas Holdem Dictionary - Poker Related Terms and Glossary

Below is our Texas Holdem online poker dictionary. Here you'll find a listing of common Texas Holdem terms and much more. We recommend that you learn these terms as it will come in handy both if you're playing poker in a land based poker room, with your buddies, or at an online poker room such as Party Poker or Pacific Poker.

Antes

A predetermined amount of money that each player must put in the pot before the round begins. However, in Holdem Poker, instead of antes, two players post blinds.

Bet

When a player raises the pot. If a player makes a bet, the other players must now decide if they want to call the bet, call it and then raise the bet or fold their cards.

Blinds

In Holdem Poker, blinds are used in place of the antes. There are two blinds that must be posted, the small and the big blind. The player in the small blind position (the player to direct left of the button) must put a predetermined amount of money into the pot, usually one half to two thirds of the minimum bet, before the cards are dealt. The big blind (the player to the left of the small blind), must post an amount equal to the minimum bet.

Board

The five community cards in a Holdem game.

Buck.

Another word for the Dealer button.

Call

To simply put the necessary amount of money into the pot in order to stay in the game. When you call, you are not raising the pot.

Check

If no one prior to you has raised the pot, you have the option of checking, which would mean that you want to stay in the round but don’t want to add any money to the pot.

Dealer Button

Also referred to as “the button” or the “buck”, the dealer button is a small round disk that is put in front of a player to signify that they are sitting in the dealer’s position. The button will rotate one player to the left after every round. The button is used to signify to the players who must post the blinds and which player will start the betting.

Fifth Street

Also known as “The River”, Fifth Street is the fifth and final community card to join the board.

Flop

The first three community cards. The 3 cards in the flop are dealt at the same time, face up, after the first round of betting.

Flush

A hand consisting of 5 cards, in any order, all of the same suit. For example, 6, 8, J, Q and Ace (all hearts).

Fold

The action made by the player when they do not wish to call, raise or check. They will give up their cards to the dealer and will not participate in the remainder of the round.

Four of a Kind

A hand consisting of four cards all of the same rank.

Fourth Street

Also known as “The Turn”, Fourth Street is the fourth community card to join the board. The dealer deals the fourth street after the second round of betting concludes.

Full House

A hand consisting of one pair as well as a three of kind. For example, 6, 6, J, J, J.

High Card

In a hand where no combinations have been made (pair, flush, straight, etc.) the card with highest rank (the high card) in your hand will determine the value of your hand. For example, in a hand consisting of a 6, 9, 10, Q and K, the King would be the high card.

Kicker

In a situation where two or more players are holding the same made hand, for example, a pair of Jacks or Three of a kind, the player who has the next highest ranked card (a card that is not used in the made hand) will win the pot. This card is known as the kicker.

No Limit

A version of Texas Holdem Poker where the players have no limit in how much they can bet (up to the amount of chips they hold of course). If you chose to bet all your chips, you are said to be “All In”.

Nut Hand (Nuts)

The best possible hand that, given the cards on the board, can be made.

Pair

A hand consisting of two cards of the rank and three other cards. For example, 10, 10, 4, J, K.

Post

The action made by players when they put money into the pot.

Raise

The action of putting more money into the pot than necessary to stay in the hand. If you raise or bet, then any other player who wants to stay on the round must at least call your raise.

Ring Games

Poker games that are not played as part if a tournament. Ring games are the traditional poker games that always use fixed antes or blinds.

River

Also known as “ Fifth Street”, the river is the fifth community card dealt to the board.

Showdown

Occurs once the final betting round has ended. At this point the players who are still in the game reveal their hands and the winner is determined.

Slowplay

Tactics used by players who will act as if they have a low hand early on in the game in order deceive the other players.

Straight

A hand consisting of 5 cards in sequential ranking order. The suits of the cards are of no significance. For example, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Straight Flush

A hand consisting of 5 cards in sequential order that are all of the same suit. For example, 8, 9, 10, J and Q (all hearts). The ranked hand in Poker is the Royal Flush, a straight flush containing the 10, J, Q, K and Ace.

Suited

A hand that contains cards of the same suit.

Three of a Kind

A hand consisting of three cards all of the same rank and any other two cards. For example, 9, 9, 9, 6, J.

Trips

Another term for a three of a kind.

Turn

Also known as “ Fourth Street”, the turn is the fourth community card to join the board.

Two Pair

A hand consisting of two separate pairs and one kicker. For example, 7, 7, J, J, K.

Unsuited

A collection of cards that are of different suits. - Cards of different suits (i.e. one heart and one club)