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Sep 01, 2009 A Beginners Guide to Playing Live Poker. By Tim Ryerson September 1, 2009. You’ve probably seen poker in the movies where they all say “I see youand I’ll raise” – STOP! This is incorrect, and phrases like “I see you” are classed as a call, plain and simple. If you wish to make a raise then just say “raise”. In no-limit and pot-limit games, there is a minimum amount that is required to be bet in order to open the action. In games with blinds, this amount is usually the amount of the big blind. Standard poker rules require that raises must be at least equal to the amount of the previous bet or raise.

Texas Hold ‘em is one of the most popular forms of poker, and over the years it has developed a language all it’s own. While you’ll definitely want to be familiar with the most basic poker terms before trying out variations of the game, when you’re ready to tackle Texas Hold ‘em, consult this comprehensive glossary.

Poker Terms:

Anchor: The player seated in the last position before the dealer.
Ante: The minimum amount players must put in the pot before betting begins. This occurs prior to cards being dealt. Antes are separate from blinds. In Texas Hold ‘em tournaments, they typically appear in later stages of play.
Baby: A card with a low rank.
Blank: A community card that does not affect the players’ hands.
Bluff: Pretending that you have a better hand than you do.
Board: Card that are on the table and are thus “on the board.”
Burning a Card: Discarding the top card of the deck. This is done before the community cards are dealt at the beginning of each round of betting.
Buy-In: The minimum amount you must bring to the poker game. Also, the cost of participating in a poker tournament. In Fixed-Limit Texas Hold ‘em, it is the equivalent of 10 times the small blind.
Catch: When a player makes the hand for which they were drawing.

Community cards are the cards that are dealt face-up and shared by all players.

Community Cards: The cards that are dealt face-up and shared by all players.
Dealer Button: The disc that identifies the dealer’s position on the table.
Drawing to a Hand: When a player remains in a round hoping to make his or her hand when more cards are dealt.
Flop: The first three community cards dealt face-up on the table.
Free Card: A community card on the turn or river in which there was no betting in the previous round (everyone checked).
Hand: A player’s best five cards, always including the two initial cards dealt to the individual.
Hole Cards: Also known as Pocket Cards, these are the two cards dealt face-down to each player at the beginning of every round.
House: The host of a game. Generally, a casino or poker website.
Kicker: The remaining undeclared card in a five-card poker hand (the top high card after matched hands).
Limit Game: A version of Texas Hold ‘em in which a player can only bet or raise the equivalent of the big blind.
Live Blind: When the player who posted the big blind still has the option of raising when it is his or her turn.
Muck: When a player discards his or her hand without showing it to the table.
No-Limit Game: A version of Texas Hold ‘em in which players may bet any amount of chips they choose.
Nuts: The best possible hand based on the cards that were dealt.
Outs: The cards that may allow a player to win the hand.
Off Suit: Two cards of different suits.

The first two “down” cards dealt to a player are called Pocket cards or Hole cards.

Pocket Cards: The first two “down” cards dealt to a player, often called Hole Cards by stud players.
Post a Blind: When a player puts in money for a forced blind.
Pot: The amount of chips/money that accumulates as players place bets. In a game of Texas Hold ‘em, all winnings are paid from the pot.
Pot Limit: A version of Texas Hold ‘em in which players may only bet up to the amount of money in the pot.
Rags: Bad cards.
Rake: The percentage of the pot that is taken by the house.
River Card: The final community card that is dealt.
Semi-Bluff: Bluffing when a hand still has drawing potential.
Showdown: When remaining players reveal their hands to determine a winner after the last betting round.
Slow Playing: When a player does not play aggressively with a powerful hand. Also known as “Sandbagging.”

Stack: A player’s chips.
Straddle: An optional third blind posted by the player three seats left of the dealer. It is equal to twice the amount of the big blind and announced before the cards are dealt.

Poker Hand Terms:

Ace-High: A hand composed of five cards that contains one ace but no hand combinations (e.g. a straight or a pair).
Bad Beat: When a player that has a strong hand is beaten by an even stronger hand.
Big Pair: A pair of cards with a value of 10 or more.
Big Slick: An ace and king. This is one of the best starting hands in Texas hold ‘em.
Big Chick: An ace and queen.

Broadway is a straight composed of 10, J, Q, K, A.

Broadway: A straight composed of 10, J, Q, K, A.
Boat: Same as a “Full House”.
Bottom Pair: A pair of cards that includes the smallest ranked card in the flop, the turn or the river.
Bullets: A pair of Aces. Also known as “Pocket Rockets”.
Dead Man’s Hand: A two-pair hand of aces and 8’s. Legend has it that Wild Bill Hickock was shot and killed while holding this hand.
Deuces: A pair of 2’s.
Doyle Brunson: A 10-two hand of any suit. Named for the player who won the World Series of Poker with this hand two years in a row.
Flush: A hand in which all five cards have the same suit.
Flush Draw: A hand where four cards are the same suit, and only one more card is needed to form a flush.

A 4 of a kind has four different cards of the same rank or value.

Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same ranking.
Full House: A hand made of a pair and three-of-a-kind (also known as a boat).
Gutshot: When the two cards in a player’s hand and two community cards form the high and low ends of a straight, leaving him or her one card from making the hand. Also known as an inside straight draw.
Hooks: When hole cards (a.k.a. pocket cards) are a pair of jacks.
Made Hand: When a player makes a pair or better.
Monster: An extremely strong hand.
Nut Flush: The highest-ranking flush being played during a round.
Over Pair: A pair that is higher than the rank of any of the community cards.
Pair: Two cards of the same rank and different suits.
Pocket Rockets: When a player’s receives a pair of aces as hole cards.
Quads: Four of a kind.
Rags: Cards that are useless and do not improve a player’s hand.

A top pair is created with the highest card on the board.

Rockets: See entry for “bullets.”
Royal Flush: A flush consisting of 10 J Q K A of any one suit.
Runner-Runner: A hand created by catching the needed cards on the turn and the river.
Seven Deuce: The weakest starting hand.
Straight: Five cards of any suit that are in sequential order.
Straight Flush: Five cards of the same suit that are in sequential order.
Suited Cards: Cards that are the same suit.
Top Pair: A pair that is made with the highest card on the board.

A 3 of a kind is 3 cards of the same rank but different suits.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank but different suits. Also known as a set.
Two Pair: A hand that has two pairs.

Poker Betting Terms:

All-In: When a player bets all of his or her chips on a hand.
Bet the Pot: Making a bet that is equal to the size of the pot.
Big Blind: A forced bet posted by the player two seats to the left of the dealer. This is the equivalent of the minimum bet in the game.
Call: When a player places a bet equal to the bet of the previous player.
Cap: In a Fixed-Limit Texas Hold ‘em game, a cap is the last raise in a round made before the predetermined maximum number of raises is reached. For the rest of the round, players can only call or fold.
Check: When a player wants to stay in the game but not place a bet. This is only allowed if no other bets have been placed in that round.
Check Raise: The act of checking, then raising if the betting gets back to you. This can only be done post-flop.

The fifth and final card dealt in a round is known as the River.

Fifth Street: The third round of betting, so called because all remaining players have five cards. Also the fifth community card that is dealt. May be known as the “River”.
Fold: When a player discards his or her cards and gives up a chance at the pot.
Fourth Street: The second betting round, so called because all remaining players have four cards. Also the fourth community card that is dealt. May be known as the “Turn”.
Limping In: When a player calls the big blind instead of raising.
Live Blinds: Blind bets that are currently in play.
Over the Top: To bet after a previous raise or raises. Also known as a “Re-Raise”.
Raise: When a player increases the bet made by the previous player. This action increases the stakes for the remaining players.
Re-Raise: An increase after previous raises. Also see “Over the Top.”
River: The fifth and final card dealt in a round. Also known as “Fifth Street.”
Small Blind: A forced bet posted by the player to the direct left of the dealer. It is equal to half the amount of the big blind.
Turn: Dealt card that signals the second round of betting. Also known as “Fourth Street.”

Poker Player Terms:

Dog: The player who is the underdog in the hand.
Go on Tilt: When a player plays irrationally or recklessly.
Heads Up: When there are only two players left in the game.
Maniac: A loose and aggressive player.
Rock: A player who will only play the best hands.
Rounder: A skilled player.
Under the Gun: The player that must act first during a betting round.

Playing poker live for the first time can be a nerve racking experience, and also a bit intimidating. The last thing you want to do is upset another player by doing things you shouldn’t, right? The purpose of this column is to offer some hints and tips on good poker etiquette and to make the introduction to live poker as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

I’ll assume that you already know the basic rules of poker and are comfortable with the mechanics of the game. But there are many more rules, regulations, and etiquette issues you should know before embarking on your first foray into live poker.

Don’t let anything in this column put you off playing live poker. Everyone was a novice at one stage and poker players are generally a friendly bunch who are welcoming to new players. If you explain you’re new to the game then nobody will expect you to be perfect, but the following points should help you integrate into the game without any unexpected bumps:

#1 – Keeping Up with the Game

Poker players get frustrated when the game is moving slowly. Pay attention to the game so you know when it’s your turn to act. When it’s your turn to post blinds/antes, then do so without having to be continually prompted. Everyone can forget sometimes, so don’t beat yourself up about this too much – but players will appreciate it if you pay attention and keep up with the flow of the game. Also, only act when it’s your turn – don’t check, call, or fold out of turn. This annoys other players.

#2 – “I See You….And”

You’ve probably seen poker in the movies where they all say “I see you…and I’ll raise” – STOP! This is incorrect, and phrases like “I see you” are classed as a call, plain and simple. If you wish to make a raise then just say “raise”. Then make your bet. At some venues you might get away with this kind of sloppy table talk, but it’s a bad habit and one that should be eliminated early on.

#3 – Saying “Raise” When You Mean “Bet”

Another very common verbal error that beginners to poker make is saying “raise”, when they are just making a bet. Don’t say raise when you mean bet. For example, after the flop the first to open the betting should say “bet” rather than “raise”. Even though there is money in the pot, they aren’t raising a new bet – they’re opening the betting. Saying “raise” should only occur when you’re actually increasing the bet and thereby raising someone else’s previous bet. Other players probably won’t say anything because it’s such a common occurrence, but a good one to avoid nonetheless. It won’t get you into trouble but saying raise when it’s just a bet is like holding up a big neon sign saying “I’m a poker novice”.

#4- String Betting

A string bet is when a player entering his chips into the pot as a bet or raise proceeds to move chips in multiple chip movement, such as dropping chips one at a time or going back to their chip stack to pick up more chips. The ruling for string bets varies from region to region, with some places being far stricter than others. Avoiding a habit for string betting is a good idea as it can prove to be a costly mistake. Here’s some advice – when you want to make a bet, put the chips in one smooth movement. Better still; verbally declare your bet amount before even touching your chips.

If you’re wondering why this is even at all important, then let me be clear about why string betting is frowned upon. String betting is not allowed because it opens up the possibility for cheating, by trying to gain a visual tell or response from another player in the pot. Other players will probably pull you up on string betting – so just be extra careful when making bets.

#5 – The One Chip Rule

Here’s another betting situation that beginners to live poker often fail to understand – until it’s too late. If you don’t announce raise or call and throw one chip into the pot then it can be classed as a call. For example if it’s 100 to call and you place one 500 value chip across the line without declaring raise or call it’s usually only classed as a call. This is why it’s good to declare your action verbally before moving your chips. Just like with string betting, verbal declarations help cut out any potential mistakes.

#6 – Verbal Goes

In a few of the points mentioned so far, I’ve recommended making verbal declarations. I even said “verbal declarations help cut out any potential mistakes” – but they can also be costly, if made in error. You’ll often here poker players say “verbal goes”, and what they mean by this is – what you said first and foremost stands. If you say “call” and proceed to muck your cards, then your call stands and you have to put the chips in (you cards will be dead though in this example).

Make sure you’re up with the game (see #1) before making any verbal declarations. For example, if someone had made a raise before you and you thought there hadn’t been a raise, yet you announced call, then your call will stand. Sometimes this ruling is relaxed, especially for beginners, but it could cost you a lot of chips/money. So use verbal utterances with great care and concentrate on what’s occurred before it’s your turn, so you know exactly what you’re calling or raising.

#7 – Cards on the Table

The cards should remain on the table at all times. Sometimes new players like to hold the cards up towards their chest when sneaking a look – and most people won’t be too strict about this. It’s something beginners tend to do. However, your cards should be visible at all times. Do not hold your cards under the table or away from view. It’s quite obvious why this would be unacceptable, but I’ve seen many new players do this.

When your cards are on the table, avoid covering them with your hands. Other players should be able to see who is involved in the hand, and shouldn’t have to ask “do you still have cards?” If you want to protect your hand then just place a chip onto of them or buy a card protector.

#8 – Mucking Your Cards

When the time comes to fold (muck) your cards, then place them into the muck pile. A lot of new players will barely push their mucked cards forward. This can cause confusion, with other players unsure whether they’ve actually been folded. Avoid any potential confusion and properly muck your cards face down along with the other mucked cards.

Be careful and muck your cards properly. Don’t wildly throw your cards into the muck, because if you cards should miss their intended target and end up on an opponent’s hole cards, then their cards could be declared dead. They won’t be best pleased with you either! This is one reason why it’s a good idea to protect your cards (see previous point), should someone do the same to you.

#9 – Talking / Gesturing During a Hand

When a hand is in progress you should refrain from talking about the hand. General table talk is usually acceptable, but if things get serious then pipe down. If by chance you would have made a great hand, then don’t let the whole table know about it either. For example, you fold 7/2 pre-flop and the flop comes 772. Don’t thump the table, yell “Oh my god!” or shake your head profusely. Do this after the hand if needs be, but never during it. It indicates what you had to the other active players involved in the hand and is considered very poor etiquette.

#10 – Slow Rolling

If a hand enters a showdown (where cards are revealed) then you should show your hole cards as soon as possible, if you’ve been called. If your opponent has shown their cards first and you have a better hand, then reveal it immediately. Don’t let your opponent think they might have won the pot, then slowly turn over the nuts (best possible hand). This is known as “slow rolling” and is one of the main ways to upset people at the poker table. You want to win their chips, not upset them!