Poker Glossary: All terms from A to Z

The poker world has its own language. This glossary will help you master it. It contains all the key terms you will encounter at the poker table or in educational materials. Use the table of contents for quick navigation or Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to search for a specific word.

Aggressor

The player who last made an aggressive action (bet or raise) in the current betting round.

• Example usage: "On the flop, I was the aggressor, so I decided to make a continuation bet".

Outs

Cards that are still left in the deck and can improve your hand to a winning one.

• Example usage: "I had a flush draw, which means 9 outs to improve".

Button

The dealer chip that indicates the player who is in the most advantageous, late position at the table.

• Example usage: "On the button, we can open a fairly wide range".

Buy-in

The amount of money that must be paid to participate in the tournament.

• Example usage: "The buy-in for this tournament is $100".

Pot

The total number of chips bet by the players in a single hand.

• Example usage: "There were already 35 bb (3500 chips) in the pot, and I decided to go all-in".

Bankroll

The total amount of money that a player has set aside exclusively for playing poker.

• Example usage: "It's important to play within your bankroll and not risk all your money".

Bet

The first bet made in any betting round.

• Example usage: "On the flop, everyone checked to me, and I made a bet of half the pot".

Blind

A mandatory bet made by two players to the left of the button (small and big blind) before the cards are dealt.

• Example usage: "Blinds increase every 15 minutes, we need to play more aggressively".

Bluff

A bet with a weak hand in the hope that an opponent with a stronger hand will fold.

• Example usage: "The river didn't complete my flush, and I decided to attempt a bluff".

Broadway

A straight from Ten to Ace (T-J-Q-K-A). Cards from ten to ace are also referred to as "broadway cards".

• Example usage: "I had two Broadway cards in my hand, so I called the raise".

Value

The profit you expect to gain from your bet when you believe you have the best hand. A value bet is a bet made to get called by worse hands.

• Example usage: "With my full house, I bet on the river for value".

WTSD (Went To Showdown)

A statistic in the HUD that shows how often a player goes to showdown after seeing the flop.

• Example usage: "This player has a high WTSD, meaning he doesn't like to fold".

Gutshot

A straight draw missing one card in the middle. For example, you have 8-9, and the board shows 6-T-A. You only need a seven. You have 4 outs.

• Example usage: "I hit my gutshot on the river and won a huge pot".

Range

The entire spectrum of possible hands that a player could have in a given situation. Strong players think in ranges, not specific hands.

• Example usage: "Considering his raise from early position, his range is very strong".

Donk Bet

A bet made by a player out of position against the player who was the aggressor on the last street.

• Example usage: "I raised preflop, but on the flop, my opponent unexpectedly made a donk bet".

Draw

An incomplete hand that needs one or more cards to improve to a strong combination (straight or flush).

• Example usage: "On the flop, I had a combo draw: both a straight and a flush".

Quads / Four of a Kind

A combination of four cards of the same rank.

• Example usage: "My opponent had a full house, but my pocket aces gave me quads on the flop A-A-5".

Cut-Off

The position at the table to the right of the button. One of the most profitable positions.

• Example usage: "Everyone folded to me, and I opened with a raise from the cut-off".

Kicker

A card that does not belong to the main combination but is used to determine the winner in the case of a tie of combinations.

• Example usage: "We both had a pair of aces, but my kicker King was higher than his Queen".

Call

To match an opponent's bet.

• Example usage: "I made a call on the river because the pot odds were too good".

Connectors

Two pocket cards that are sequential, such as 7-8 or T-J. If they are suited, they are called "suited connectors".

• Example usage: "Suited connectors are good for play in late position".

Continuation Bet

A bet on the flop by the player who was the preflop aggressor.

• Example usage: "I raised with A-K, missed the flop, but still made a continuation bet".

Nuts

The strongest possible combination in that situation on the board.

• Example usage: "On the flop 7-8-9, I had T-J, that was the nuts".

Overbet

A bet that exceeds the current size of the pot.

• Example usage: "To push out a potential flush draw, I made an overbet on the turn".

All-in

A bet of all your chips.

• Example usage: "With pocket aces, I was happy to go all-in preflop".

Position

Your place at the table relative to the button, determining the turn order.

• Example usage: "Playing in position is key to winning poker".

Postflop

All betting rounds that occur after the flop (flop, turn, and river).

• Example usage: "My play preflop is good, but I need to improve my postflop".

Preflop

The first betting round that occurs after pocket cards are dealt, but before the flop comes out.

• Example usage: "Most mistakes rookies make are on the preflop".

Raise

To increase the previous bet.

• Example usage: "My opponent bet, but I raised to show strength".

River

The fifth and final community card on the table, after which the final betting round occurs.

• Example usage: "I bet on the flop and turn, but on the river, he hit a straight".

ROI - Return on Investment

A measure of a tournament player's profitability expressed as a percentage. It shows how much profit a player makes from their buy-ins.

• Example usage: "A good tournament player should have an ROI of at least 20-30%".

Set

A three-of-a-kind formed from your pocket pair and one card on the board. Considered a very strong and hidden hand.

• Example usage: "I had pocket sevens, and I hit a set on the flop".

Squeeze

A 3-bet in the preflop after a raise from one player and a call from one or more others.

• Example usage: "I saw a raise and a call, and decided to squeeze with my A-Q".

Stack

The total number of chips a player has at that moment.

• Example usage: "I was left with a short stack, time to look for an all-in opportunity".

Straight

A combination of five cards in sequence of any suits.

• Example usage: "On the turn, I completed my straight and beat my opponent's two pairs".

Tight

A style of play where a player plays a very narrow and strong range of hands.

• Example usage: "The player to my right is very tight; if he raises, he definitely has a monster".

Turn

The fourth community card on the table.

• Example usage: "The flush draw didn't complete on the turn; only the river is left".

Tilt

A player's state when they start making suboptimal aggressive decisions due to strong emotions (usually after a loss).

• Example usage: "After that bad beat, I went on tilt and lost another two stacks".

Trips

A three-of-a-kind formed from one of your pocket cards and two cards on the board. Less hidden than a set.

• Example usage: "I had an ace, and on the flop A-A-5, I made trips".

Flop

The first three community cards dealt on the table after the first betting round.

• Example usage: "This flop didn't connect with me at all, and I folded to the continuation bet".

Flush

A combination of five cards of the same suit.

• Example usage: "On the river, the third spade came, and I completed my flush".

Fold

To discard your cards, opting out of further participation in the hand.

• Example usage: "I didn't have the guts to call his raise on the river, and I folded".

Freeroll

A tournament with free entry but real cash prizes.

• Example usage: "I won my first $10 in a poker freeroll".

Full House

A combination of three of a kind and a pair.

• Example usage: "I thought my flush was the best hand, but he had a full house".

HUD - Heads-Up Display

A program (e.g., PokerTracker, Hand2Note) that displays statistical information on opponents directly on the table in real time.

• Example usage: "My HUD showed that this player is very aggressive".

Heads-Up

One-on-one play.

• Example usage: "We were down to two, and the heads-up stage began".

Pot Odds

The ratio between the current size of the pot and the size of the bet you need to call. Used to make a decision about whether it's profitable to call with a drawing hand.

• Example usage: "The pot odds were 3 to 1, and my chances of hitting a flush were 4 to 1, so the call was not profitable".

Showdown

The revealing of cards at the end of the hand to determine the winner.

• Example usage: "After his call on the river, we went to showdown".

Equity

Your share of the pot corresponding to your chances of winning at that moment.

• Example usage: "With a pair of aces against a random hand preflop, your equity is about 85%".

Exploit

A playing strategy aimed at taking advantage of specific mistakes and weaknesses in your opponents' games.

• Example usage: "This player folds too often to continuation bets; my strategy is to exploit this weakness".

Conclusions and Next Steps

This glossary is your reliable assistant in the world of poker. Return to it every time you encounter an unfamiliar word, and very soon you will start speaking the same language as experienced players.

And for those who want to move from words to action and build a winning system, we have prepared the course "FF-Start".

[Button: Learn more about the "FF-Start" course]

FAQ

Why are there so many English terms in poker?

Modern poker originated and gained tremendous popularity in the USA. With the advent of online poker, English terminology became an international standard understood by players worldwide.

What’s the difference between a "set" and a "trips"?

Both terms mean three of a kind. The difference lies in how they are formed. A set is a pocket pair + one card on the board (for example, you have 7-7, and the board is A-K-7). Trips are one card in your hand + two on the board (you have A-7, and the board is A-A-K). A set is considered a stronger and more concealed hand.

Do you need to know all these terms to start playing?

No. To start playing, it is enough to know 10-15 basic terms (pot, bet, raise, fold, flop, etc.). However, the deeper you study strategy, the more terms you will encounter. This glossary is your reliable guide along the way.