Intro A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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A

(n) 1. able. 2. Abbreviation for an ace, usually found only in written text about cards. A, for example, is the ace of spades.

(n) a-b-c.

(n) In low games, 3-2-A, as 8-6-a-b-c for 8-6-3-2-A. Also abc, A-B-C, or A.B.C.

(adj, adv) 1. Playing predictably, or by the book. "He plays A-B-C." "He's an A-B-C player." Also, 1-2-3. 2. See a-b-c.

(n) In low games, 4-3-2-A, as 8-a-b-c-d for 8-4-3-2-A. Also abcd or A.B.C.D.

(n) a-b-c-d.

(n) Same as age. Sometimes called just A.

(adv phrase) With respect to the rules of poker, proper; a vague phrase invoking authority. Named for Edmond Hoyle.

(n) The highest or lowest card in the deck. If the cards are arranged in order, the ace either starts this sequence: A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-T-J-Q-K; or finishes this one: 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-T-J-Q-K-A. In high poker, the ace is the highest card in a hand, with one exception: when it is part of a 5-high straight, that is, in this hand: A-2-3-4-5, of mixed suits. In low poker (ace-to-five lowball), especially as played in California cardrooms, the ace is the lowest card in a hand. In high-low (split) poker games, the ace is either high or low, depending on how it is used. It can even be both high and low in some hands. For example, 7 4 3 2 A is a 7-low hand, and an ace-high flush. Also called bullet, bull, rocket, seed, spike, and other names.

(n phrase) In high poker, a no pair hand whose highest card is an ace. "I have ace high; can you beat that?" Also, "I have an ace high; can you beat that?" "Yeah, I got a pair of deuces."

(adj) A term that often modifies (refers to) a straight or flush topped by an ace. "I was drawing to an ace-high flush, but all I made was an ace high."

(n phrase) royal flush.

(adv, n phrase) In a stud game, having an ace as one's downcard or one of one's downcards. This being a desirable condition, the phrase passed into general usage as an advantage or resource kept in reserve until an opportunity presents itself.

(n phrase) See kicker.

(n) A form of high draw poker, in which a player cannot open the pot without holding at least two aces as openers. Compare with jackpots.

(v phrase) To win (perhaps by bluffing) while holding an ace high hand (that is, a relatively worthless hand, since it doesn't contain even a pair). This phrase passed into general usage with the meaning of winning by deception or just barely beating someone. (If your opponent holds a totally worthless hand, an ace-high hand would just barely beat him; that is, you would ace him out.)

(n phrase) A five-card hand consisting of two aces and three other worthless cards.

(n phrase) A full house consisting of three aces and a smaller pair.

(n) 1. aces up. 2. aces full.

(n) two pair, the higher of which are aces.

(n, adj) The version of lowball draw, popular in California (but played in many other areas), in which the lowest card is the ace, and straights and flushes have no significance. The best hand is A-2-3-4-5, sometimes called a lowball or a wheel. Usually the joker is set as the lowest unpaired card in the hand (a very few clubs play lowball without the joker). The game is played bet-or-fold before the draw. Ace-to-five is also sometimes called California lowball, particularly when the sevens rule is in effect (but all ace-to-five games do not necessarily have the sevens rule). Also see deuce-to-seven.

(n) ace-to-five.

(n) ace-to-five.

(n phrase) Describing the situation in which a cheater has withdrawn an ace from the deck to be introduced into the game later, or, more generally, has taken some unfair advantage. The phrase passed into general usage to describe the situation in which someone is hiding some probably unfair advantage. Compare with ace in the hole.

(n) 1. two pair, aces and deuces. 2. In hold 'em, A-2 as one's first two cards. 3. A non-poker game, usually played in home games, but also found rarely in casinos, in which players bet that a third card in succession will fall in rank between the first two, which are dealt face up before the bet. Sometimes called Red Dog.

(n) aces up.

(v) Make a poker play at the required time; bet, call, raise, or fold, as appropriate, in turn. When it's your turn to do something, someone might say, "It's your turn to act," or, "It's up to you to act."

1. (n) The relative liveliness of a game, often measured by the frequency and quantity of bets and raises. "This game has a lot of action." Often part of the phrase fast action. 2. Being required to act. When it's your turn to do something, someone might say, "It's your action," or, "The action is up to you." 3. That portion of the pot that a player short of the full bet can win a multiple of. In a no-limit game, if John bets $100, Jim calls the whole $100, and you call, but you have only $20, you are said to have $20 worth of action in the pot. A side pot of $160 will be created between John and Jim; $20 of John's bet goes into the main pot, as does $20 of Jim's bet, and all of your bet; you can win the $60 main pot if you win. 4. (adj) Lively, usually loose or liberal. "He's an action player." Also see give action.

(n phrase) A bet that must be posted, in a seven-card stud high-low game, by the winner of a scoop pot above a certain size, signifying a full bet (a blind raise, in other words), rather than just a call of the original forced bet. Any player who acts before the action button can only call the bring-in. The holder of the action button essentially raises blind, and then, when it gets back to those who have only so far called the opening bet, they can either call or raise. For example, if the low card normally must bet $1 in a $5-$10 game, and there is an action button out, anyone who calls the $1 is committing to bet $5 later. No one would call the $1 without intending at least to call the blind raise by the action button. Whether the action button acts in turn, or after everyone else has acted, depends on the cardroom. Posting an action button is not the same as a kill (definition 2).

(n phrase) In many cardrooms, with respect to an all-in bet, only a full bet is considered a legitimate wager, in terms of whether this constitutes a raise that can be reraised. Anything less than a full bet is considered to be action only, that is, other players can call such a bet but not raise it. For example, Chloe bets $10. Henry calls. John goes all in for $14. When the bet gets back to Chloe, she is permitted only to call the extra $4; the same goes for John. See discussion at full bet.

(adj) Still in contention for a pot. "Before the draw, there were five people in the pot; after the draw, there were three active players."

(n phrase) A hand still in contention for a pot. See active.

(n phrase) A player still in contention for a pot. See active.

(v phrase) Buy an add-on.

(n) 1. A last buy-in optionally permitted in a rebuy tournament, usually with no minimum chip requirement. That is, at the point of the add-on, every player still in the tournament can get another buy-in, generally in a larger amount than any of the rebuys. The add-on usually comes after a predetermined amount of time, say one hour. 2. The act of adding on, or the point in a tournament at which players can add on.

(n) Same as edge (definition 1 or 2).

(n phrase) A thief or cheater, that is, someone who wins by taking an advantage.

(n phrase) A cheating device, as a marked card or a mechanical device for hiding one or more cards, as, for example, a holdout machine.

(v) Bluff in an obvious manner, or make a point of showing a bluff after winning with it, usually for the purpose of setting up one or more other players. (See set up.) Sometimes, rarely, show good cards to let opponents know that's all you play, presumably so you can bluff them later.

(n) The act of advertising (see advertise).

(n phrase) A private game, played after a cardroom closes for the night, often held in a motel or hotel room, and sometimes crooked.

(n phrase) See rabbit.

(n) 1. The highest-stakes game in a given establishment. Compare with B-game, big apple, C-game. Opposite of Z-game. 2. One's best game, in terms of the quality of one's play, as, "He's playing his A-game."

(n) An obsolete term for the player immediately to the left of the dealer in games that use an automatic betting scheme. Also called edge, elder hand, or eldest hand. Sometimes the player in that position is the last to bet before the draw, which is equivalent to the situation involving an under-the-gun blind. Also see able.

(n) The partner of a thief in a cheating scheme.

(n) Pertaining to a style of play characterized by much betting, raising, and reraising. This is not the same as loose play. Some of the best players are very selective about the cards they play, but when they do get into a pot, play those cards aggressively.

(adv) 1. Winning. "Are you ahead or behind?" 2. With regard to a reference position at the table, acting before (usually immediately before). If the deal is one position to your right, you are ahead of the deal. If a player is sitting to your right, he acts ahead of you.

(n) In hold 'em, 6-2 as one's first two cards.

(n) 1. In a lowball game, letting another player know whether you are going to draw cards or not, sometimes letting the player know how many, usually with the intention of getting that player into the pot. Usually part of the phrase give air. "Gimme some air. I'll draw two if you're drawing one." 2. Inadvertently exposing cards; usually part of the phrase put air into [a hand]. "You'll like sitting next to Johnny; he puts a lot of air into his hand." That is, if you sit next to Johnny, the way he holds his cards you can often see some of them, which, presumably, gives you an edge (albeit an unethical one) on him.

(n) In hold 'em, A-J as one's first two cards. Also called foamy cleanser.

(n phrase) Three kings.

(n phrase) king crab.

(v, imitative) "I'll call."

(n) The king of clubs. Probably comes from Alexander the Great.

(adj or adv phrase) Having a spade or club flush. Also, all blue, all purple.

(adj or adv phrase) Having a spade or club flush. Also, all black.

(adj or adv phrase) Having a flush. This term is used only by those who have played a lot in home games and not much in cardrooms. (If four-color decks (see four-color deck) come more into prominence, the phrase may be heard more in cardrooms.)

(adv) Out of chips, due to having put one's remaining chips into the current pot, while other active players still have more chips and have the option of further betting. "He can't call the whole bet because he's all in."

(adj) Tending to run out of chips, due to going all in frequently. "He sure likes to chunk 'em in. He's an all-in player."

(n phrase) A bet made by a player in which he puts all his chips in the pot because he is all in.

(adj or adv phrase) Having a heart or diamond flush. Also, all red.

(adj or adv phrase) Having a spade or club flush. Also, all black, all blue.

(adj or adv phrase) Having a heart or diamond flush. Also, all pink.

(adv phrase) Betting all one's chips, usually preceded by go. "If I make this hand, I'm going all the way."

(adv phrase) "I'm betting all my chips."

(n phrase) A card thief working with no confederates.

(n phrase) skip straight.

(v) "All my chips." An announcement, usually in a no-limit game, on his turn that a player is betting or raising all of his chips.

(n phrase) 1. In hold 'em, a pair of aces as one's first two cards. 2. In other games, a pair of aces. 3. In both senses, sometimes a pair of red aces (since the logo of the airline is two red A's).

(n phrase) See Mad Genius of Poker.

(n) ammunition.

(n) Chips. "Houseman, I need more ammunition" is a request for more chips.

(n) A form of seven stud in which cards are passed to left and right, sometimes multiple times, and sometimes with five cards chosen at the end and rolled, that is, exposed one at a time. Also called pass the trash, Screwy Louie.

1. (n) A maneuver, usually on the border between legality and illegality (but usually clearly unethical), to take unfair advantage of another player. Example: Some clubs consider putting fewer chips than required into the pot an uncompleted bet that is not valid until completed, and that, furthermore, can be removed until such time as sufficient chips are bet. (Fortunately, there aren't many such clubs.) In such a club, you bet $100 and another player puts in $99. You show your cards, which have him beat. He says, "I put in only $99; I didn't call your bet." He withdraws the chips. Of course, if he had you beat, he would quietly take the whole pot. If someone pointed out at that juncture that he called only $99, he would probably say, "Oh, pardon me, just an oversight; I meant to call," add the missing chip, and then drag the pot. All of that is part of an angle. See angle shooter. 2. (v) Perpetrate an angle. More commonly shoot an angle.

(n phrase) A poker player who uses various underhanded, unfair methods to take advantage of inexperienced opponents. The difference between an angle shooter and a cheat is only a matter of degree. What a cheat or thief does is patently against the rules; what an angle shooter does may be marginally legal, but it's neither ethical nor gentlemanly. Nor is it in the spirit of the game. Unfortunately, poker is not a gentleman's game. In addition to learning how to protect yourself against cheating players, you must learn to watch out for the angle shooters. See angle.

(n) An angle, or the act of shooting an angle.

(v) declare.

(n phrase) A verbal declaration by a player, in turn, in a no-limit or spread game, of the amount of his bet, or, in other games, that he is betting. In games in which announced bets are permitted, they are usually binding (when made in turn).

1. (n) One or more chips put into each pot by each player before the cards are dealt. An ante is not part of a player's next bet, as opposed to a blind, which usually is. 2. All of the antes in a particular pot, taken as a whole; usually preceded by the. "Nobody else had openers when I had aces full, and all I won was the ante." 3. The player to the left of the dealer, usually in an ante and straddle game. 4. (v) Put an ante into a pot. "Someone's light in this pot; did you ante, Andy?"

(n phrase) A game in which the player to the left of the dealer (the ante) puts in (usually) one chip before getting any cards, and the player to his left (the straddle) puts in two chips. (Sometimes the dealer also puts in one chip.) The first player to have a choice on making a bet after having seen his cards is the player two positions to the left of the dealer. This is an old name for what is now called a two-blind traveling blind game. This is similar to a blind and straddle game. Also see little blind, middle blind, big blind.

(n) An ante, or a chip used to ante.

(v phrase) Put one's ante in the pot.

(v phrase) A request, usually by the dealer, to one or more players to ante up.

(adv) Much. "How'd you do today?" "Oh, I didn't win anything."

(n phrase) open on anything.

(n) apology card.

(n) In lowball, the appearance in the current hand of the card that would have made one's hand the previous hand. For example, a player draws to A-2-3-4 and catches a four. Next hand, he looks at the first card he receives from the dealer. It's a five, which he turns face up for the whole table to admire (presumably because some of them may never have seen a five before), while saying, "There it is, the apology card."

(n) Big game, often the biggest game in a particular club. "I lost $1000 in the apple today." Also, big apple.

(n) The queen of clubs. May be an anagram of regina (queen in Latin), or a corruption of Argea.

(n phrase) four-card flush.

(n phrase) In high draw poker, a special straight, a nonstandard hand sometimes given value in a private or home game, five cards in a series in which the sequence of cards is considered to continue from king through ace, as, for example, J-Q-K-A-2. Sometimes the hand ranks between three of a kind and a "normal" straight; sometimes it ranks between a "normal" straight and a flush.

(n) mechanic.

(n phrase) painter.

(n phrase) A California game (see California games), a form of five-card stud played with a stripped deck.

(n phrase) The former name for California games. The term is still sometimes used in casinos and cardrooms.

(n phrase) Asian five-card stud.

(n phrase) An ancient Persian game that some say is an ancestor of poker.

(n phrase) The player who is first to bet in a particular round.

(adv) Being in a must-bet situation.

(n phrase) A bet, often a bluff, made, regardless of one's cards, in a situation in which the bet usually wins. For example, in a lowball game, if one player drew four cards and passes after the draw, and the next player drew one, the latter almost always makes an automatic bet, because most of the time that player has the best hand and the few times that he doesn't, the drawer of four cards doesn't call anyway.

(n phrase) automatic bet.

(n) The percentage of a pot kept by the management to pay expenses; usually called drop.