Poker definitions - Poker Dictionary N-Z

N

No Limit

A game where players can bet as much as they like (as long as they have it in front of them) on any round of betting.

Nuts

The best possible hand at any point of the game. A hand that cannot be beat.

O

Odds

The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making a hand.

Offsuit

Cards of a different suit.Omaha A game in which each player is dealt four down cards with five community cards. To make your hand, you must play two cards from your hand and three from the board.

Open

To make the first bet.

Open-ended Straight

Four consecutive cards whereby one additional (consecutive) card is needed at either end to make a straight.

Open Card

A card that is dealt face-up.

Open Pair

A pair that has been dealt face-up.Option An option is a Live Blind made in the dark before the cards are dealt. If no one raises, the “option” player may raise the pot.

Out Button

A disc placed in front of a player who wishes to sit out a hand(s) but remain in the game.

P

Paints Face

or picture cards (Jack, Queen and King).Pair Two cards of the same face or number value.

Pass

To fold.

Pay Off

To call on the final round of betting when you may or may not think you have the best hand.

Picture Cards

Face cards (Jack, Queen and King).

Play Back

To raise or re-raise another playerʼs bet.

Playing the Board

In flop games when your best five card hand is all five of the community cards.Pocket The down cards or hole cards.

Pocket Rockets

A pair of Aces in the pocket or hole.

Position

Where a player is seated in relation to the dealer, therefore establishing that playerʼs place in the betting order.

Post

When you post a bet, you place your chips in the pot. (You must post the Blinds.)Pot The money or chips in the center of a table that players try to win.

Pot Limit

This is a game where the maximum bet can equal the pot.Prop A person hired by the cardroom to work as a shill.

Push

When the dealer pushes the chips to the winning player at the end of a hand. Itʼs also when dealers rotate to other tables.

Put Down

To fold a hand.

Q

Quads

Four of a kind.

Qualifier

In High-Low games, it is a requirement the Low hand must meet to win the pot.

R

Rack

A tray that holds 100 poker chips in five stacks of twenty chips each.

Rail

The rim of a poker table or a barrier outside a poker area.

Railbird

Someone who hangs around a poker room who watches the games and/or is looking to get into action.Raise To increase the previous bet.

Rake

Chips taken from the pot by the cardroom for compensation for hosting the game.

Rank

The value of each card and hand.

Rap

When a player knocks on the table indicating that he/she has checked.Razz Seven Card Stud where the lowest five cards win the pot.

Re-buy

The amount of money a player pays to add a fixed number of chips to his/her stack in a tournament.

Re-raise

To raise a raise.

Ring Game

A “live” game that is not a tournament.River This is the last card given in all games. In Holdʼem and Omaha, it is also known as 5th street. In Stud games, it is also known as 7th street.Round of Betting This is when players have the opportunity to bet, check or raise. Each round of betting ends when the last bet or raise has been called.

Rounders

Guys who hustle for a living. This is also the name of a popular poker movie starring Matt Damon and Ed Norton.

Royal Flush

This is an Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10) of the same suit. It is the best possible hand in poker.

S

Satellite

It is a mini-tournament to gain an entry into a larger tournament.

Scoop

To win the entire pot.

Seating List

A waiting list. A player would put his or her name on this list if there were no seats at the table at which they wish to play.

Second Pair

In flop games, when you pair the second highest card on the board.

See

To call.

Seven-card Stud

A well-known poker game in which players get three down cards and four up cards. You play the best five of those seven cards. Click here for information on Seven-card Stud.

Seventh Street

This is the final round of betting in Seven Card Stud and Stud 8 or Better.Shills Shills are paid props who help start and maintain poker games.Showdown At the end of the final betting round, itʼs when all active players turn their cards faceup to see who has won the pot.Side Pot A separate pot(s) which is contested by remaining active players when one or more players are all-in.

Sixth Street

In Seven-card Stud, this is the fourth “up” card dealt to the player (their 6th card). It is also the 4th round of betting.

Solid

A fairly tight player (and reasonably good).

Small Blind

The amount put in the pot by the person immediately to the left of the dealer “button” prior to the cards being dealt.

Speed Limit

A pair of fives.

Split

Tie.

Stack

A pile of chips.

Stay

When a player remains in the game by calling rather than raising.

Steel Wheel

A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.

Straddle

A straddle is a Blind bet which is usually double the size of the Big Blind\ (and that player may raise when the action gets to him).Straight Five consecutive cards of any suit.

Straight

Flush Five consecutive cards of the same suit.

Structure

The limits put on the blinds/ante, bets, and raises in any particular game.Stud Games Games in which players get down cards and up cards.

Stuck

A player who is losing in a game.

T

Texas Holdʼem

This is also the name for Holdʼem, the most popular form of poker.

Third Street

In Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud 8 or Better, this is the first betting round on the first three cards.

Thirty Miles

Three tens.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same number or face value (“trips”).

Tight

A player who doesnʼt play many pots. A tight game is one that doesnʼt have much action.

TOC

Tournament of Champions.

Top Pair

In flop games, when the player pairs one of his down cards with the highest card on board.

Treys

A pair of threes.

Trips

Three of a kind.Turn In flop games, this is the fourth card dealt. It is the third round of betting.

Two Pair

A hand consisting of two different pairs.

U

Up Card

A card that is dealt face-up.

V-W

Walking

Sticks A pair of sevens.

Wild Card

A card that can be played as any value.

Worst

Hand A losing hand.

WSOP

World Series of Poker.

X-Y-Z

None.