Getting into poker is becoming increasingly popular, but it’s not a game where it’s advisable to simply jump straight in if you don’t know what you’re doing. Of course, you need to find somewhere to actually play the game so this list can make sure you have access to the best online poker for us players.
That’s not enough though, you really need to learn the rules and the jargon that goes with the game, and that’s where this article can prove to be an absolute life-saver, and maybe even a money maker.
Act – this refers to what you will do with your hand on your turn. Your act is to fold, raise, check, etc.
Acting out of turn – this is where a player verbalizes their intention on how to play, despite it not currently being their act. However, this can be done to deceive the others at the table.
Aggressive player – a player who consistently bets and often raises the bet.
Bad beat – where a player appears to have a strong hand for a majority of the play but still loses due to a series of unlikely cards appearing at the end of the play.
Bleeding (player) – the phase in which a player is losing a lot of hands and subsequently ‘bleeding chips’.
Face card – the name for any card with a face on, i.e. King, Queen, or Jack.
Fish – a fish is a name given to a player who is inexperienced in poker or someone who is losing a lot. Named after the aquatic animal as fish can often be plucked out of the water and exploited, this is how experienced poker players see newbie poker players, so be careful!
Flop – the first three community cards are often referred to as ‘the flop’, this can also be used to refer to the phase where players state their action.
Hit and run – this is a term that you don’t want to be associated with. It is where a player wins a large amount of money and then quickly leaves the table, essentially taking a considerable amount of the pot from the game. The poker community typically expects players to stick around after a win as it is considered poor etiquette not to do so. It is less frowned upon via online formats.
Grinding and grinders – the motion of grinding is to play poker for multiple hours to make incremental gains. People who do this are often referred to as ‘grinders’.
In the money (ITM) – the phrase used to describe when a player has a finishing position that is rewarded with a cash prize.
Multi-tabling – the process of playing on a few tables at once, while almost impossible in the real world, it is common for online players to participate in multiple games at once.
The river (fifth street) – this is the last phase of the play when all five community cards are revealed. Called a river as the aesthetic of the five cards being revealed looks a little bit like a flowing river.
River rat – a player who gets extraordinarily lucky by sticking in the game until the end of the river and was destined to lose before the final card was revealed.
Rush – a period in which a player is experiencing a winning streak. Taken from the concept of ‘oh what a rush’, meaning that someone is having a good time.
Satellite (tournament) – this is the phrase given to small tournaments which often include entry to a bigger and more prestigious event as part of their prizes. Satellite tournaments can often be held in remote or varied areas.
Tank – the phrase used to describe when a player is taking an excessively long time to take their turn.
Tell – players often look for a ‘tell’ in their opponent. This is any movement, noise, or general action that can reveal information about the player. I.e. a player might always touch his ear when he’s got a good hand in excitement. Named simply because this action when caught, tells and reveals information.
Texas Hold’em – the name for the most popular variant of poker, often referred to as just poker but the full name refers to the place of origin and that you retain the same cards you are dealt at the start of the round, as in you’re holding those cards, not changing them.
Tilt – a state of mind that a player enters after numerous bad hands or unfortunate luck. Players in tilt are often not going to bet with logic and act on emotion rather than strategy.
The turn (fourth street) – The turn is the name referring to the moment when the fourth community card is revealed and the betting phase. Aptly named as this is the moment when players’ luck can start to turn.
Under the gun – sometimes written online as UTG, under the gun refers to the first player of the round having to act without seeing the flop or community cards. The player must act and place a blind bet.
WSOP – the common name and acronym for the World Series of Poker. WSOP operates many events throughout the calendar year across the globe celebrating poker and the best players.
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