If you’ve ever sat down at a poker table or even watched a high-stakes tournament on TV, you’ve probably heard a flurry of terms that left you scratching your head. They sound so mind-bending at first, don’t they? We admit that poker has a language all its own, but understanding it can make the game much more enjoyable.
For instance, you probably hear people talking about Gamstop all the time – it is a special self-exclusion system for UK gamblers. In this case, it’s also worth knowing some easy ways to bypass Gamstop and have fun playing poker whenever you feel like doing so. But the overall poker terminology goes well beyond that, and we ought to check it out in the next few sections.
What are the terms used in poker? Poker Terms for Beginners
Though some terms are fairly common, our advice is to still breeze through the basic stuff just to avoid missing out on something very relevant.
Poker terms explained: Blinds
In Texas Hold’em, the two players to the left of the dealer post small and big blinds before any cards are dealt. These are forced bets that ensure there’s money in the pot to play for right from the start.
Poker phrases: Button
The button is a marker that indicates who the dealer would be if the players were dealing the cards themselves. The button moves one seat to the left after each hand, ensuring everyone has a turn in each position.
Terms in poker: Call
When you call, you’re matching the current bet made by another player. For instance, if the bet is $10, you would put in $10 to stay in the hand.
Poker terms: Check
If no one has bet in the current round, you can check, which means passing the action to the next player without putting any money in the pot. It’s like saying, “I’m still in, but I don’t want to bet right now.”
Poker slang: Raise
Raising means not only matching the current bet but also increasing it. For example, if the bet is $10 and you raise it to $20, the next player has to call $20 to stay in.
Advanced poker terms list
Some expressions are typical for pro gamblers who sometimes like to brag about their in-depth understanding of the game. This applies to traditional casino games as well as online casinos and all of its poker variations.
All-In
Going all-in means you bet all your remaining chips. It’s a high-stakes move that can either pay off big or send you packing.
Bluff
A bluff is a bet or raise made with a weak or even worthless hand, intended to make other players fold stronger hands. It’s one of the most iconic strategies in poker.
Flop, Turn, and River
These terms refer to the community cards you’ll see in Texas Hold’em:
- Flop: The first three community cards.
- Turn: The notorious number four.
- River: The last card there is.
Pot
The pot is the total amount of money bet during a hand. Winning the pot means winning all the chips that have been bet in that round.
Poker Glossary: The Conclusion
Poker is mainly a game of strategy and skill paired with a little bit of luck on occasion. Knowing the phrases that pepper the gaming table is supposed to help you play more confidently even if surrounded by the pros. So next time you find yourself in a game, whether online or in person, you are going to be able to follow the action with a sharper perspective. So, ante up, and may the flop be ever in your favor.
