Listed here are some of the most common poker terms and slang you will here. There are hundreds more but this should be enough to help you if you are new to the game.
ABC Poker
Playing basic poker without making any fancy moves.
All-In
You are all-in when you bet all of your remaining chips at the table.
Ante
A small bet put in the pot by each player at the beginning of a hand.
Bad Beat
When you are the clear favourite in the hand but the other player gets lucky and wins the hand.
Blinds
A small blind and the big blind are put in before each hand by two players.
Bluff
When a player with the worst cards makes a bet to try and win the hand.
Board
This is the term used for the community when they are on the table.
Button
The dealer button is passed around the table after each hand and is used to indicate the dealer.
Call
If someone makes a bet of $10 and you match that bet then that is considered calling the bet.
Calling Station
A player who calls bets a lot and doesn’t raise or fold.
Check
If you don’t want to bet you can check. You can only check if no one bets before you and if someone bets after you check then you must call or fold.
Check-Raise
This is when you check with the intention of raising when the next player bets.
Connector
A starting hand that is connected such as 9T.
Continuation Bet
When your raise gets called pre flop and you make a bet on the flop even if you didn’t make a hand.
Cut-Off
This is the position directly to the right of the button.
Donkey
Generally just a really bad player who doesn’t know what he/she is doing.
Draw
A hand that has potential to be the best hand but you need to hit another card to make it.
Drawing Dead
When you have absolutely no chance of winning the hand.
Gutshot
A straight draw that has 4 outs. For example you have 68 and the board is 45T you can hit 1 of four 9’s to make your hand.
Hole Cards
The two cards that you are dealt and hold in front of you.
Kicker
A card that decides a hand if it is tied. For example if you have AK, another player has A7 and the board is AQ62J, you win because your kicker beats his 7.
Maniac
Exactly what it says, a player who plays like a mad man and is unpredictable.
Nit
A player who plays really tight and only plays good hands.
Nuts
If you have the best possible hand then you have the nuts.
Out
A card that will complete your hand that is still in the deck.
Overcard
Cards that are above the cards on the flop. For example if you have AK and the flop is TJ6 then you have two overcards.
Overpair
If you hold a pair higher than any of the cards on the board.
Pot Odds
The amount of money in the pot compared to how much you have to call.
Pre-Flop
The point where you have been dealt your two hole cards before the flop.
Raise
To increase the current bet amount. If someone bets $10 and you make it $40 then that is a raise.
River
This is the fifth and final card on the board.
Semi-Bluff
When you don’t have the best hand and make a bet but have a lot of outs to still win the hand.
Set
This is another name for having three of a kind.
Short Stack
A player who has the fewest amount of chips at the table.
Showdown
When all of the betting is complete and the players still in the hand show there cards.
Slow Playing
When you have a very good hand and you play it slowly to try and get the most value.
Split Pot
When the hand is tied between players and the pot is split equally.
Suited
When you have two cards of the same suit. For example you have AK of hearts.
Tell
Something you have noticed your opponent does to give away his hand strength.
Tilt
When you lose control of your emotions and start playing badly.
Under the Gun
This is a pre flop position directly to the left of the button when you are the first player to bet, fold or call.
