Poker glossary

145 terms, written as you will see them at the tables and in poker software, each with an explanation.

3-bet Beginner

A re-raise of a raise. Preflop, the big blind counts as the first bet, the open is the second, and the re-raise is the third (3-bet).

Example: The CO opens to 2.5 bb and you, on the BTN with Q♠Q♥, 3-bet to 8 bb.

4-bet Intermediate

A re-raise of a 3-bet. Preflop it's the fourth "bet": big blind, open, 3-bet and 4-bet.

Example: The CO opens to 2.5 bb, the BTN 3-bets to 8 bb and the CO 4-bets to 20 bb with K♠K♦.

Act in turn Beginner

A rule of etiquette and procedure: you only act when it's your turn. Acting out of turn gives away unfair information; depending on the room, that action may become binding if the action before you doesn't change.

Example: The CO hasn't acted yet and you, on the BTN, say "call". In many rooms, if the CO doesn't change the action (folds or just calls), your "call" stands; the exact consequences depend on house rules.

All-in Beginner

To bet all the chips you have on the table. If someone covers your all-in, you can only win from each opponent as much as you put in (the rest goes to a side pot).

Example: You have 40 bb left and your opponent has 100 bb. You go all-in: if they call, the most you can win from them is 40 bb.

Alpha (α) Upper-Intermediate Level

The minimum fold frequency a pure bluff needs to not lose chips: bet / (pot + bet). It's the "bluff break-even" from the Intermediate level, now with a name.

Example: You bet 6 bb into a pot of 9: α = 6 / 15 = 40%. If your opponent folds more than that, the bluff wins chips on its own.

Ante Intermediate

A small forced bet added to the pot before the deal, on top of the blinds. It's typical of tournaments; in cash games it's uncommon and depends on the card room.

Example: Many tournaments use the "big blind ante" format: the player in the BB pays the ante for the whole table. It's a tournament convention, not a universal rule.

Bankroll Intermediate

Money set aside exclusively for poker, separate from your living expenses. Prudent management uses many buy-ins to absorb variance. It should only be money you can lose without affecting your life.

Example: A common conservative guideline in cash games is to have at least 30–50 buy-ins for your stakes: for 100 bb at 0.5/1, between 3,000 and 5,000 bb. It doesn't promise anything: it's protection against bad runs.

Barrel Intermediate

Continuing to bet on consecutive streets. Double barrel = flop and turn; triple barrel = flop, turn and river.

Example: You c-bet the flop, bet again on the turn (double barrel), and again on the river (triple barrel).

BB (Big Blind) Beginner

The seat that posts the big blind. It's the last to act preflop and, since it already has 1 bb invested, it usually defends more hands against a raise.

Example: The BTN opens to 2.5 bb and the SB folds. The BB only has to call 1.5 bb more to see the flop in a 5.5 bb pot.

Best response Upper-Intermediate Level

The strategy that wins the most against a FIXED strategy from your opponent. It's exact only if you know that strategy: if your opponent's range is an assumption, the best response is "exact, given assumptions". At equilibrium, each player is already playing a best response to the other.

Example: If the SB shoves every hand with 10 bb, the BB's best response is to call 66.2% (in the push/fold model), much more than the 37.3% at equilibrium.

Bet Beginner

To put chips in on a street where nobody has bet yet. It forces the other players to call, raise or fold.

Example: On the flop the pot is 5.5 bb; the BB checks and you bet 3 bb.

Bet sizing Beginner

How much you bet relative to the pot (for example 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or pot-sized). It changes the price you give your opponent and which hands call you.

Example: In a 6 bb pot, betting 2 bb is 1/3 pot and gives your opponent a price of 2/10 = 20%; betting 6 bb is pot-sized and requires 33.3%.

Big blind Beginner

The full forced bet posted by the second player to the left of the button. It's the standard unit of measurement (bb).

Example: With 0.5/1 blinds, the big blind is 1 bb. If everyone just calls without raising, the BB can check and see the flop for free.

Blinds Beginner

Forced bets posted by the two players to the left of the button before the cards are dealt (in heads-up, with only two players, the button posts the small blind and the other player the big blind). They create an initial pot to fight over.

Example: With 0.5/1 blinds, the SB posts 0.5 bb and the BB posts 1 bb before seeing their cards.

Block bet Upper-Intermediate Level

A small bet by the first player to act, typically on the river, to see a cheaper showdown or collect some thin value, aiming to stop your opponent from making a bigger bet.

Example: With second pair out of position on the river, betting 1/4 pot instead of checking and facing a 3/4 bet.

Blocker Intermediate

A card in your hand that reduces the possible combos of certain hands your opponent could have.

Example: On K♠9♠4♠2♦7♣ you have A♠10♦: with the ace of spades, your opponent can't have the nut flush. That makes your bluff more credible.

Bluff Beginner

Betting or raising with a hand that's probably worse, looking to make your opponent fold a better one.

Example: On a K♣8♠4♦2♥6♣ river you have Q♥J♥ (just high card) and bet 4 bb into a 6 bb pot, hoping your opponent folds a small pair.

Bluff-catcher Intermediate

A hand that only beats your opponent's bluffs and loses to all their value bets. Whether to call depends on their bluffing frequency and the pot odds.

Example: With J♣J♦ on K♠Q♠8♦4♣2♠, facing a river overbet, you only beat bluffs: your hand is a bluff-catcher.

Board Beginner

The community cards visible at a given point in the hand (3 on the flop, 4 on the turn, 5 on the river).

Example: On the turn the board is Q♠8♥3♦J♣: four community cards.

Board texture Intermediate

What the board looks like: how connected it is, how many cards share a suit, whether it's paired, and whether it's high or low. It determines which ranges benefit and which sizes make sense.

Example: K♣7♦2♠ is dry; J♥10♥8♣ is wet. C-bet strategies are very different on each.

Broadway Beginner

The T, J, Q, K and A cards. The highest straight, T-J-Q-K-A, is also called Broadway.

Example: K♦Q♣ is a hand with two broadway cards. On an A♥J♠10♣ board it completes the Broadway straight.

BTN (Button) Beginner

The seat with the dealer button. It acts last on every street after the flop, which is why it's the most profitable position and the one that opens the most hands.

Example: It's folded to you on the BTN with Q♣9♣: you open to 2.5 bb, because only the blinds are left and you'll be playing in position.

C-bet (Continuation bet) Intermediate

A flop bet by the player who was the last aggressor preflop, "continuing" the initiative.

Example: The BTN opens to 2.5 bb, the BB calls and checks on K♣7♦2♠. The BTN c-bets 1.8 bb (1/3 of a 5.5 bb pot).

Call Beginner

To match the bet or raise you're facing so you can stay in the hand.

Example: The CO opens to 2.5 bb and you call from the BTN, also putting in 2.5 bb.

Calling station Intermediate

A player who calls too much and folds too little. Against them you should bluff less and bet more for value, even thin value.

Example: A calling station calls three streets with 9♣7♣ on 9♥K♦4♠2♣J♦. With K♥10♦ you bet all three streets for value.

Capped range Upper-Intermediate Level

A range that is missing (or almost missing) the strongest hands because, with them, the player would have taken a different line earlier (for example, raising). It's the opposite of an "uncapped" range.

Example: A player who just calls a 3-bet in position usually has few AA and KK (with those hands they often 4-bet): their range is capped.

Card removal Upper-Intermediate Level

The change in the number of combos your opponent can have because of the cards you hold. It's measured exactly: each of your cards removes the combos that use it. What decides is how much it removes from their value and how much from their bluffs (or their folds).

Example: On A♠T♦6♣3♥8♠, holding the A♥ leaves AK at 8 combos instead of 12 and AQ at 8 instead of 12: a third fewer of each.

Cash game Intermediate

A format where the chips represent real money, the blinds don't go up, and you can join or leave whenever you want (and rebuy).

Example: You sit down at a 0.5/1 6-max table with 100 bb. If you lose chips you can rebuy; if you get up, you take whatever you have with you.

Check Beginner

To pass the action without betting. You can only check if nobody has bet before you on that street.

Example: On the flop the BB checks and you, on the BTN, check too: the turn comes without anyone putting in chips.

Check-raise Intermediate

Checking and then, when your opponent bets, raising on the same street. A check-raising range is usually built from strong hands and semi-bluffs.

Example: The BB checks on 8♠7♠3♦, the BTN bets 2 bb and the BB raises to 7 bb with 9♠6♠ (flush draw + open-ended straight draw).

Chip EV Upper-Intermediate Level

Expected value measured in chips (or bb). In cash games, chips are money; in tournaments with tiered payouts they aren't: there, ICM rules.

Example: This level's validated push/fold ranges are in chip EV: they don't apply as is to a tournament bubble.

Clean outs Beginner

Outs that give you the best hand without improving your opponent at the same time.

Example: With 9♣8♣ on 7♦6♦2♠ you have 8 straight outs, but the 10♦ and 5♦ put three diamonds on board: against a possible flush, only 6 outs are clean.

CO (Cutoff) Beginner

The seat to the right of the button. It's the second-best position: only the button and the blinds act after it.

Example: It's folded to the CO, who opens to 2.5 bb with A♥9♦; only the BTN, SB and BB are left to act.

Cold call Intermediate

Calling a raise without having voluntarily put money in earlier in that round. The typical case is calling an open from a later position.

Example: The HJ opens to 2.5 bb and the BTN calls with 9♥8♥: that's a cold call.

Combo Intermediate

Each specific way of holding a hand based on suits. A pair has 6 combos, a suited hand 4 and an offsuit hand 12 (16 in total for a non-pair).

Example: AK has 16 combos. If there's an ace on the board, 3 aces remain: AK drops to 3 × 4 = 12 combos.

Community cards Beginner

The five face-up cards in the middle that all players share to make their best five-card hand.

Example: With A♥K♦ and community cards K♣9♠4♦2♥7♣, you make a pair of kings with an ace kicker.

Condensed Intermediate

A range concentrated in medium-strength hands, without the strongest ones (they would have been raised) or the weakest (they would have been folded). It is capped and also lacks the weakest hands: a capped range isn't always condensed. It's typical of the player who calls.

Example: If the BTN just calls an open from the CO and never calls with AA or KK (always 3-bets them), their calling range is condensed.

Confidence interval Upper-Intermediate Level

The range of true frequencies that are consistent with what you observed in a sample. The exact 95% binomial interval leaves out the frequencies for which your result would be very unlikely (less than 2.5% probability on each side). With few hands it's very wide.

Example: You saw an opponent shove 9 of 12 hands (75%): the exact 95% interval goes from 42.8% to 94.5%.

Connectors Beginner

Two cards of consecutive rank. If they're also the same suit they're called suited connectors and can make straights and flushes.

Example: 8♥7♥ is a suited connector: on a 9♣6♦2♥ flop it has an open-ended straight draw.

Dealer button Beginner

The disc that marks who is (nominally) the dealer each hand. It moves one seat clockwise every hand and determines the blinds and the order of action.

Example: If the button is at your seat, you're the BTN: after the flop you act last.

Delayed c-bet Intermediate

The preflop aggressor checks the flop and bets the turn. It's used to control the pot on bad flops or to protect their checking range.

Example: The BTN opens, the BB calls; the flop is 9♥8♥6♣ and both check. On the 2♦ turn the BB checks and the BTN bets 3 bb: a delayed c-bet.

Dirty outs Beginner

Cards that improve your hand but can also give your opponent a better hand. You should discount them when counting outs.

Example: You have A♥K♦ on Q♠J♠4♣ and you're hoping for a T to make a straight. The 10♠ gives it to you, but it also completes the spade flush: it's a dirty out.

Donk bet Intermediate

A bet by an out-of-position player into the aggressor from the previous street, without letting them act first. It's uncommon in baseline strategies, but it has specific uses.

Example: The CO opens and the BB calls. On the flop the BB bets 2 bb right away instead of checking to the aggressor: that's a donk bet.

Downswing Intermediate

An extended period of losses. It can come from variance or from your own mistakes; it's a good idea to review hands calmly and, if needed, move down in stakes or take a break.

Example: You're down 30 buy-ins in a month. You review your hands, move down in stakes to protect your bankroll, and take a few days off if you notice tilt.

Draw Beginner

A hand that isn't complete yet but can become a strong hand with the next cards, like a flush draw or a straight draw.

Example: With 10♥9♥ on K♥4♥2♣ you have a flush draw: you need one more heart.

Dry board Intermediate

A board with little connectivity and no flush draws: hands change little from one street to the next.

Example: K♣7♦2♠ is dry: there's no flush draw and almost no straights are possible. A small c-bet works well.

Dynamic board Upper-Intermediate Level

A board where many of the next cards change equity a lot and flip who's ahead (flush and straight draws, connected cards).

Example: On T♥ 9♥ 4♣, A♠A♣ against K♥J♥ has 52.2% on the flop; 12 of the 45 turns put it behind and 33 raise it to 61–77%.

Effective stack Beginner

The smallest stack among the players involved: it's the most that can actually be won or lost between them.

Example: You have 150 bb and your opponent has 80 bb: the effective stack is 80 bb. Your extra 70 bb aren't in play against them.

Equilibrium (Nash) Upper-Intermediate Level

A pair of strategies where neither player gains by changing theirs if the other doesn't change. POKER AULA calculates exact equilibria only for small, restricted games (like push/fold), with their assumptions; not for full poker.

Example: In heads-up push/fold with 10 bb, if the SB plays the equilibrium range, the BB gains nothing by calling with more or fewer hands.

Equity Beginner

Your probability of winning the hand if all the remaining cards were dealt with no more betting (counting ties as half).

Example: Preflop, A♠A♦ against K♠K♥ has about 82% equity; the kings, around 18%.

Equity denial Upper-Intermediate Level

Betting so that your opponent folds hands that are behind now but have a chance to outdraw you. It's not "protecting" at any cost: it makes sense when those hands fold and you don't give up much value.

Example: With an overpair on a flop with draws, betting folds out overcards and gutshots that, if they see free cards, sometimes beat you.

Equity realization Intermediate

How much of your raw equity you turn into actual winnings. Playing in position and having playable hands (suited, connected) helps; playing OOP with weak hands reduces it.

Example: K♣7♦ in the BB might have 35% equity against a range, but OOP and struggling to continue on many boards, it realizes quite a bit less.

EV (Expected Value) Intermediate

The average profit or loss of a decision if it were repeated many times. It's calculated by adding up each outcome times its probability. It's an average, not a promise for any single hand.

Example: You bluff 10 bb into a 10 bb pot. If your opponent folds 60% of the time: EV = 0.6 × 10 − 0.4 × 10 = +2 bb (not counting your equity when called).

Exploit Intermediate

Deviating from a balanced strategy to take advantage of a specific, repeated mistake by an opponent. It works as long as the opponent doesn't adapt.

Example: If the BB folds to 70% of your c-bets, you bet more often with weak hands; if they never fold, you bluff less and bet more for value.

Float Upper-Intermediate Level

Calling a bet (usually in position) with a weak hand or a small draw, planning to win the pot later if your opponent gives up.

Example: You call the c-bet in position with ace high and backdoors, and bet when your opponent checks the turn.

Flop Beginner

The first three community cards, dealt together, and the betting round that follows.

Example: After calling preflop, the flop is K♠7♦2♣. With A♥K♦ you've hit a pair of kings.

Flush Beginner

Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. It beats a straight and loses to a full house. Between flushes, the highest card wins.

Example: With A♥6♥ on K♥9♥2♣4♥ you have an ace-high flush.

Flush draw Beginner

Having four cards of the same suit and needing a fifth. There are 9 cards of that suit left: 9 outs.

Example: With A♥6♥ on K♥9♥2♣ you have the nut flush draw. From flop to river you hit about 35.0% of the time; from turn to river, 9/46 ≈ 19.6%.

Fold Beginner

To give up the hand and forfeit everything you've already put into the pot. Once you fold, you can't win that hand.

Example: The CO opens to 2.5 bb, you have 7♣2♦ on the BTN and you fold: you put nothing more in and wait for the next hand.

Fold equity Intermediate

The extra value a bet or raise gets from the chance that your opponent folds. A pure bluff needs your opponent to fold at least bet / (pot + bet) of the time.

Example: A 1/2-pot bet (5 bb into 10 bb) needs 5/15 ≈ 33% folds to make money on that alone; a pot-sized bet needs 50%.

Four of a kind Beginner

Four cards of the same rank. It only loses to a straight flush.

Example: With J♥J♦ on J♣J♠5♦ you have quad jacks.

Full house Beginner

Three of a kind plus a pair. The three of a kind is compared first, then the pair.

Example: With 8♠8♦ on 8♣K♥K♠ you have eights full of kings (8-8-8-K-K).

Geometric sizing Upper-Intermediate Level

The same fraction of the pot on every street that gets the whole effective stack in over N streets if your opponent always calls and nobody raises: f = ((1 + 2 × stack / pot)^(1/N) − 1) / 2. It's a reference for planning, not a recommendation.

Example: Single-raised pot of 5.5 bb with 97.5 bb behind: over 3 streets, f ≈ 116% of the pot on each. In a 3-bet pot (16.5 bb, 92.5 behind), f ≈ 65% over 3 streets and ≈ 125% over 2.

GTO (Game Theory Optimal) Intermediate

A theoretical equilibrium strategy that can't be exploited; it's calculated with specialized software (solvers) under simplified assumptions. It's a theoretical reference for understanding the game.

Example: A solver might suggest c-betting almost the entire BTN range for 1/3 pot on K♣7♦2♠. In practice, against an opponent who never folds, you're better off deviating (exploiting).

Gutshot Beginner

A straight draw missing one card in the middle. Only one rank completes the straight: 4 outs.

Example: With 9♣8♦ on J♥7♠2♣ only a T gives you a straight (7-8-9-T-J): 4 outs, about 8.5% on the turn and 16.5% from flop to river.

Hand history Intermediate

A record of a hand played: positions, cards, board and actions with amounts. It's the raw material for studying and reviewing mistakes.

Example: You export a hand: "CO opens to 2.5 bb, BB calls; flop K♣7♦2♠, BB checks, CO bets 2 bb..." and you analyze it after the session.

Heads-up (HU) Beginner

A situation with only two players: either in a specific hand or at a two-player table. At a heads-up table, the button posts the small blind and acts first preflop.

Example: The BTN opens and only the BB calls: the flop is played heads-up.

High card Beginner

The lowest hand in the rankings: you don't make any combination, and hands are compared card by card starting with the highest.

Example: With A♥Q♦ on K♣9♠6♦4♥2♣ you have ace high (A-K-Q-9-6).

HJ (Hijack) Beginner

The seat to the right of the cutoff. In 6-max it's the second position to act preflop.

Example: If the UTG folds, the HJ can open to 2.5 bb with a somewhat wider range, for example including K♠Q♦.

Hole cards Beginner

The two face-down cards dealt to each player, which only that player can use.

Example: You're dealt A♥K♦: those are your hole cards; your opponents don't see them unless the hand goes to showdown.

ICM (Independent Chip Model) Upper-Intermediate Level

A model that converts tournament chips into prize value. With tiered payouts, losing chips hurts more than winning them helps: calling ranges get tighter. It's a topic for a future tournament course.

Example: On a tournament bubble, calling an all-in with a hand that has 52% equity can be a mistake even if it wins chips on average.

Implied odds Intermediate

The chips you expect to win on later streets if you hit your hand. They let you call even when the direct pot odds aren't enough.

Example: On the turn the pot is 20 bb and your opponent bets 10 bb: you need 10/40 = 25%, but your flush draw has 19.6%. For calling to be profitable you need to win about 11 bb more on the river when you hit (a total pot of 10 / 0.196 ≈ 51).

Indifference Upper-Intermediate Level

The point where two of your opponent's options are worth the same (for example, calling or folding a bluff catcher). In the polarized river model, the bettor makes the caller indifferent with bluffs / (value + bluffs) = bet / (pot + 2 × bet).

Example: A 2/3 pot bet (6 into 9): 6 / 21 = 28.6% bluffs in the betting range; more or less than that gives your opponent a response that wins chips.

IP (In Position) Intermediate

Acting after your opponent on the postflop streets. It gives you information and control over the size of the pot.

Example: The BTN against the BB plays IP on the flop, turn and river.

Kicker Beginner

A card that isn't part of your main combination but breaks ties against hands of the same type.

Example: Board A♦8♣5♠3♥2♦. With A♥K♣ you beat A♠Q♦: both of you have a pair of aces, but your king kicker beats the queen.

LAG (Loose-Aggressive) Intermediate

Loose-aggressive: a style that plays many hands with a lot of aggression. Played well, it's hard to face; played badly, it loses a lot.

Example: A LAG opens lots of hands from the CO, 3-bets often, and barrels on boards that favor their range.

Limp Beginner

Entering the pot preflop by just calling the big blind instead of raising. As a first action it's generally discouraged because it doesn't give you the initiative or the chance to win the pot right away.

Example: It's folded to the CO, who just puts in 1 bb with J♣9♦. That's a limp; the baseline recommendation is to open to 2.5 bb or fold.

Linear (merged) Intermediate

A range that includes the best hands continuously from the top down, with no gaps and few bluffs. It's usually bet with small or medium sizes.

Example: A linear 3-bet against an opponent who calls a lot: QQ+, AK, AQ, AJs, KQs... all hands that play well when called.

Live combos Upper-Intermediate Level

The combinations of a hand that are still possible after removing the cards you can see: the board and your own hand. The cards you can see can't be in your opponent's hand.

Example: AK has 16 combos. On a K-9-4 flop, 12 remain; if you also hold A♠K♦, 6 remain.

Made hand Beginner

A hand that already has showdown value (a pair or better), as opposed to a draw that still needs to improve.

Example: With A♥J♦ on J♣8♠3♥ you have a made hand: top pair.

MDF (Minimum Defense Frequency) Upper-Intermediate Level

The part of your range you have to continue with (call or raise) facing a bet so that a bluff with any two cards doesn't automatically win chips: pot / (pot + bet) = 1 − α. It applies to the RANGE that reaches that point, not to each hand.

Example: You face a 6 bb bet into a pot of 9: MDF = 9 / 15 = 60%. If you fold more than 40% of your range, any bluff wins.

Merged range Upper-Intermediate Level

A betting or 3-betting range that includes strong and medium hands that want to get called by worse, without a separate group of bluffs. It's the opposite of a polarized range (very strong + bluffs). In practice, it's what the Intermediate level called a linear range.

Example: A 3-bet with QQ+, AK, AQ, KQs and JJ–TT against an opponent who calls a lot is merged: many medium hands bet for value.

Monotone Intermediate

A flop with all three cards of the same suit. A flush may already be made, and blockers in that suit matter a lot.

Example: On Q♠8♠3♠, holding the A♠ blocks the nut flush even if you don't have a made flush.

MP (Middle Position) Beginner

The seats between the early and late positions. At 9-handed tables there are several; in 6-max the HJ is sometimes called MP.

Example: At a full 9-handed table, the middle positions come after UTG and UTG+1; they open a bit wider than the UTG but tighter than the CO.

Muck Beginner

The pile of discarded cards, and the act of throwing your hand away without showing it. In most card rooms a hand that touches the muck is dead; the details depend on house rules.

Example: On the river your opponent shows K♣K♦ and you, with Q♥Q♠, toss your cards face down into the muck without showing them.

Multiway Intermediate

A pot with three or more players. Bluffs work worse and you need a stronger hand to bet for value.

Example: The CO opens, the BTN and the BB call: the flop is played multiway in an 8 bb pot.

Nit Intermediate

A player who plays very few hands and bets big almost exclusively with very good hands.

Example: A nit who has only raised with AA and KK in 200 hands makes a 3-bet: you fold A♥Q♦ without hesitating.

Nut advantage Intermediate

When your range contains more very strong hands than your opponent's on a given board. It enables big sizes and overbets.

Example: On A♠A♦7♣ the UTG opener has more AK and AQ than the BB, who would have 3-bet many of those hands.

Nuts Beginner

The strongest possible hand on the current board. It can change with every new card.

Example: Board K♠9♠4♠2♦7♣: the nuts is the ace-high flush, for example A♠3♠. No straight or full house is possible.

OESD (Open-ended straight draw) Beginner

Four consecutive cards that can complete a straight at either end. It has 8 outs (four cards of each rank).

Example: With 9♣8♦ on 7♥6♠2♣ any T or 5 gives you a straight: 8 outs. You hit on the turn 8/47 ≈ 17.0% of the time; from flop to river ≈ 31.5%.

Offsuit (o) Beginner

A starting hand with two cards of different suits. It's written with an "o" (AKo). There are 12 combinations of each offsuit hand and 4 of each suited one.

Example: K♣J♦ is KJo. It's weaker than K♣J♣ (KJs), which is why it's opened from fewer positions.

OOP (Out of Position) Intermediate

Acting before your opponent on the postflop streets. It's a disadvantage: you decide with less information.

Example: A SB that calls an open from the CO plays the whole hand OOP.

Open raise Beginner

The first raise preflop when nobody has entered the pot yet. In the baseline format the standard open is to 2.5 bb.

Example: The UTG and HJ fold; the CO open-raises to 2.5 bb with K♦10♦.

Outs Beginner

Cards left in the deck that turn your hand into the likely winner. For quick estimates: the rule of 2 (one card) and the rule of 4 (flop to river), which are approximations.

Example: With 9 outs on the flop, the rule of 4 gives 36% (exact: 35.0%) and the rule of 2 on the turn gives 18% (exact: 9/46 ≈ 19.6%).

Overbet Intermediate

A bet larger than the pot. It's used with polarized ranges, especially when you have a nut advantage.

Example: The pot is 20 bb on the river and you bet 30 bb (1.5 times the pot). Your opponent needs 30/80 = 37.5% equity to call.

Overpair Beginner

A pocket pair higher than every card on the board.

Example: With Q♠Q♥ on J♦7♣3♠ you have an overpair: you beat any opponent who only has top pair (one pair of jacks).

Pair Beginner

Two cards of the same rank. Between two identical pairs, the other three cards (kickers) break the tie.

Example: With 9♥8♥ on 9♣5♦2♠J♥K♣ you have a pair of nines.

Paired board Intermediate

A board with two cards of the same rank. It reduces the combinations of trips and usually favors small, frequent bets from the aggressor.

Example: On 8♣8♦3♠ there are few trips combos (only two eights left), and a full house is possible with 3-3 or 8-3.

Pocket pair Beginner

Two cards of the same rank as your hole cards. It's already a pair before the flop and can flop a set.

Example: You're dealt 6♣6♦: you have pocket sixes. On a 6♥K♦2♠ flop you hit a set.

Polarized Intermediate

A range made up of very strong hands and bluffs, without many medium-strength hands. It's usually bet with large sizes.

Example: On the river you bet 1.5 times the pot with straights and missed draws, but check your middle pairs: that betting range is polarized.

Position Beginner

Your place in the order of action relative to the button. Acting after your opponent gives you more information, which is why the late positions are the most profitable.

Example: In 6-max the preflop order is UTG, HJ, CO, BTN, SB and BB. After the flop the blinds act first and the button last.

Pot Beginner

The total chips the players have put into the hand. It goes to whoever has the best hand at showdown or whoever is the last player left in the hand.

Example: The CO opens to 2.5 bb, the BTN calls and the blinds fold: the pot on the flop is 2.5 + 2.5 + 0.5 + 1 = 6.5 bb.

Pot odds Beginner

The ratio between what you have to call and the final pot. Minimum equity to call = call / (pot before the bet + bet + call).

Example: The pot is 100 and your opponent bets 50. You call 50 for a final pot of 100 + 50 + 50 = 200: you need 50/200 = 25% equity. A flush draw on the turn (≈19.6%) isn't enough on pot odds alone.

Preflop Beginner

The first betting round, with only your two cards and before any community card is shown.

Example: Preflop the UTG acts first; the HJ opens to 2.5 bb and everyone else folds: they win the blinds without seeing a flop.

Probe bet Upper-Intermediate Level

A bet on the turn by the player out of position after the preflop aggressor checked the flop (didn't c-bet).

Example: The BTN opens, the BB calls; on the flop both players check. On the turn the BB bets: a probe bet.

Push/fold Upper-Intermediate Level

A way of playing a short stack where the only aggressive move is going all-in. As a model, it's a small game that can be solved; in the full game there are other options (limp, min-raise), so it's a baseline, not "the only play".

Example: With 10 bb in the SB, against the BB, go all-in or fold: the BB can only call or fold to the all-in.

Raise Beginner

To increase a previous bet. In most card rooms the minimum raise must be at least the size of the last increase.

Example: Your opponent bets 3 bb on the flop and you raise to 9 bb. The increase was 6 bb, so a new minimum re-raise would be to 15 bb.

Rake Intermediate

The percentage the card room takes from each pot (in cash games) or from the buy-in (in tournaments). The amount and cap depend on each room, and it reduces everyone's winnings.

Example: A room might take, for example, 5% of the pot up to a cap: in a 20 bb pot, 1 bb is taken. If there's no flop, many rooms don't take anything ("no flop, no drop").

Range Beginner

The set of hands a player could have in a given spot. Thinking in ranges, not one exact hand, is the foundation of modern poker.

Example: If the UTG opens, their range includes pairs like J♣J♦ and hands like A♥Q♥, but almost never 9♣4♦.

Range advantage Intermediate

When your range has, on average, more equity than your opponent's on a given board. It lets you bet more often.

Example: The UTG opens and the BB calls; the flop is A♥K♦4♣. UTG has many more AK, AQ and AA: they have the range advantage and can c-bet often and small.

Reverse implied odds Intermediate

The chips you can lose on later streets when you hit a hand that looks good but is second best.

Example: You call with K♦9♣ and flop top pair on K♥7♠3♦ against a UTG range full of AK and KQ: when you get a lot of action, it's usually because you're beaten.

RFI (Raise First In) Beginner

Raise first in: being the first to enter the pot preflop, and doing it with a raise. RFI ranges show which hands to open from each position when everyone before you has folded.

Example: It's folded to the BTN; that's an RFI spot. Its opening range is much wider than the UTG's.

River Beginner

The fifth and final community card. After its betting round, if two or more players remain, there's a showdown.

Example: The river is the 3♠ and the full board is K♠7♦2♣9♥3♠: no more cards are coming.

Royal flush Beginner

A straight flush from 10 to ace (T-J-Q-K-A of the same suit). It's the best possible hand in poker and can't be beaten.

Example: With A♠K♠ on Q♠J♠10♠ you have a royal flush in spades.

SB (Small Blind) Beginner

The seat to the left of the button that posts the small blind. Preflop it acts second-to-last, but after the flop it acts first: it's the worst position.

Example: It's folded to the SB; it already has 0.5 bb in, but if it plays against the BB it will be out of position for the rest of the hand.

Semi-bluff Intermediate

Betting or raising with a draw that's probably behind right now but has good equity if called. It can win by getting a fold or by improving.

Example: With J♥10♥ on Q♥9♣4♥ (flush draw + open-ended straight draw) you bet: many hands fold, and if you get called you have a lot of equity.

Set Beginner

Three of a kind made with a pocket pair and a matching card on the board. It's stronger and better disguised than trips.

Example: With 7♥7♦ on K♣7♠2♦ you have a set of sevens.

Showdown Beginner

The final moment when the players still in the hand show their cards to see who wins. The cards on the table speak for themselves.

Example: On the river you call a bet; your opponent shows K♣Q♦ and you show A♥K♦ on a K♠7♦2♣9♥3♠ board: you win with your kicker.

Showdown value Intermediate

A hand's ability to sometimes win at showdown without needing to bet. These hands usually prefer to check rather than bluff.

Example: With 8♥8♣ on K♦9♠4♣2♥3♦ you beat bluffs and some small pairs: it has showdown value, so checking is the better play.

Small blind Beginner

A forced bet of half the big blind, posted by the player immediately to the left of the button (in heads-up, the button posts it).

Example: With 0.5/1 blinds, the small blind is 0.5 bb. If someone opens to 2.5 bb, it costs the SB 2 bb more to call.

Split pot Beginner

When two or more players have exactly the same hand, the pot is divided equally between them.

Example: Board 10♠J♦Q♥K♣A♣: there's an ace-high straight on the board. Nobody can beat it (no flush or full house is possible), so everyone who reaches showdown splits the pot.

SPR (Stack-to-Pot Ratio) Intermediate

Stack-to-pot ratio: the effective stack divided by the pot at the start of the flop. With a low SPR it's easier to commit with top pair; with a high SPR you need stronger hands to play for your whole stack.

Example: 3-bet pot: CO opens to 2.5, the BTN 3-bets to 8 and the CO calls. Pot = 8 + 8 + 0.5 + 1 = 17.5 bb; 92 bb left: SPR ≈ 5.3. In a single-raised pot BTN vs. BB (5.5 bb, 97.5 bb behind), SPR ≈ 17.7.

Squeeze Intermediate

Making a 3-bet after an open and one or more cold calls. It takes advantage of the fact that the caller usually has a capped range.

Example: The CO opens to 2.5 bb, the BTN calls and the SB squeezes to 13–14 bb with A♥Q♦: the 11 bb 3-bet it would make against a single open, plus one open for the caller.

Stack Beginner

The number of chips a player has in front of them. It's usually measured in big blinds (bb) so you can compare tables with different stakes.

Example: At a 0.5/1 table with 100 chips, you have a 100 bb stack.

Static board Upper-Intermediate Level

A board where the equity of the hands involved barely changes with the next cards: few cards change who's ahead. It's measured with the equity of specific hands before and after the turn.

Example: On K♦ 9♠ 4♣, A♥K♣ against K♠J♦ has 85.7% and 42 of the 45 turns leave it at 84.1% or more.

Straight Beginner

Five cards of consecutive rank, of any suit. The ace can play high (T-J-Q-K-A) or low (A-2-3-4-5), but it can't "wrap around".

Example: With 9♣8♦ on 7♥6♠5♣ you have a 9-high straight (5-6-7-8-9).

Straight flush Beginner

Five consecutive cards of the same suit. It's the second-highest hand in the rankings; the top one is the royal flush.

Example: With 9♥8♥ on 7♥6♥5♥ you have a 9-high straight flush.

String bet Beginner

Putting chips in with several motions without having announced the amount. In almost all live card rooms it isn't allowed and only the first motion counts; online it doesn't exist because the software locks in the action.

Example: You put in 3 bb, look at your opponent, and add another 6 bb to raise. If you didn't say "raise" first, the room will probably treat it as a 3 bb call. The safest thing: announce out loud.

Suited (s) Beginner

A starting hand with both cards of the same suit. It's written with an "s" (AKs). It gains some equity over the same hand offsuit thanks to its flush chances.

Example: A♥K♥ is AKs. It can make a flush, something A♥K♦ can't do using both cards.

TAG (Tight-Aggressive) Intermediate

Tight-aggressive: a style that plays a selective range of hands but plays them aggressively (raising and betting more than calling). It's the recommended baseline style.

Example: A TAG opens a tight range from UTG and, when they enter a pot, usually raises or bets instead of calling passively.

Thin value Intermediate

A value bet with a hand that's only a slight favorite against the calling range. If your opponent calls with enough worse hands, it adds EV.

Example: With K♥10♦ on K♣8♠5♦3♥2♣ you bet 1/3 pot on the river against an opponent who calls with any king or 8x: thin value.

Three of a kind Beginner

Three cards of the same rank. It can be made as a set (pocket pair + one on the board) or as trips (one in your hand + a pair on the board).

Example: With Q♥Q♦ on Q♠8♣3♦ you have three queens (as a set).

Tilt Beginner

An emotional state (anger, frustration, anxiety) that makes you make worse decisions than usual. Spotting it in time and ending the session is part of playing responsibly.

Example: You lose two big pots in a row and start calling raises with K♣5♦ "to win it back". That's tilt: the healthy move is to get up, breathe, and come back another day.

Top pair Beginner

Making a pair with the highest card on the board. Its strength depends a lot on your kicker.

Example: With A♥Q♣ on Q♦8♠3♥ you have top pair with an ace kicker (TPTK).

Tournament (MTT) Intermediate

A format with a fixed buy-in: everyone starts with the same chips, the blinds go up in levels, and play continues until one player has all the chips. Prizes are paid out by finishing place.

Example: You pay the buy-in and get 20,000 chips; the blinds go up every 20 minutes and from a certain level an ante is added. The chips aren't directly worth money.

Trips Beginner

Three of a kind made with one hole card and a pair on the board. Since the pair is visible, it's more likely your opponent has it too: the kicker matters a lot.

Example: With A♥9♦ on 9♣9♠4♥ you have trip nines with an ace kicker.

Turn Beginner

The fourth community card and the betting round that follows it.

Example: The board on the flop is K♠7♦2♣; the turn brings the 9♥ and the board becomes K♠7♦2♣9♥.

Two pair Beginner

Two different pairs plus a fifth card. The higher pair is compared first, then the lower pair, then the kicker.

Example: With K♥7♥ on K♣7♦2♠ you have two pair, kings and sevens.

Two-tone Intermediate

A flop with two cards of the same suit: flush draws are possible.

Example: K♥9♥4♣ is two-tone: any hand with two hearts has a flush draw.

Unblocker Upper-Intermediate Level

A card that does NOT remove combos from the hands your opponent would fold. A good bluff usually blocks what calls and unblocks what folds.

Example: On a board where a flush is possible, a bluff with no cards of that suit doesn't remove the missed draws your opponent would fold.

Uncapped range Upper-Intermediate Level

A range that can still contain the strongest possible hands in that line.

Example: The 3-bettor has an uncapped range on an A-K-x flop: they can have AA, KK and AK.

UTG (Under the Gun) Beginner

The first player to act preflop, to the left of the big blind. With everyone left to act behind, UTG should play the tightest range.

Example: In 6-max, the UTG has five opponents still to act; they open strong hands like A♠Q♦ or 10♣10♥ and fold K♣8♦.

Value bet Beginner

Betting with a hand that's probably best, looking to get called by worse hands.

Example: With A♥K♦ on K♣8♠4♦2♥6♣ you bet 6 bb on the river: you want worse hands like KQ, KJ, KT or an 8 to call.

Variance Intermediate

Short-term swings in results caused by luck. You can make good decisions and lose, or bad ones and win, over many hands.

Example: You get it all in preflop with A♠A♦ against K♠K♥ (≈82%): you win most of the time, but losing ≈1 time in 5 is normal. Judge decisions, not results.

Wet board Intermediate

A connected board and/or one with flush draws: many hands have draws, and the following cards change the situation a lot.

Example: J♥10♥8♣ is wet: there are possible straights, open-ended draws and a flush draw.