
Ante – A bet placed by every player after being dealt their hands. Also known as blinds in some forms of poker.
All-in – A player bets all their chips at once.
Bet – The amount that a player bets.
Betting Round – The period in which players can make bets before play.
Blind – A forced bet by all players to ensure that there are chips in front of all players.
Big Blind – A forced bet placed by the person to the left of the dealer to start the pot. Usually, double the value of a small blind.
Bluff – Assuming you have a poorer hand, but still calling or raising to make your opponent fold.
Call – To imitate the most recent bet or raise by the minimum amount, without raising it further.
Check – If a round still has no bet, you can elect to check, which is betting an amount of zero. You may call or raise should another player place a bet.
Community Cards – Cards placed face-up on the table for everyone to see.
Dealer – The one in charge of dealing the cards. In the case where a player acts as the dealer, the dealer role moves one player to the left after each round.
Flop – The first 3 community cards. These are placed for all to see during the 1st round.
Fold – A player surrenders their hand and takes no further part in that round.
Heads up – Only two players are left competing, head to head, for the purse.
Kicker – The highest unpaired card in your hand. In the event of two similar hands, the higher valued kicker wins.
Laydown - To fold.
Limit – The largest amount that can be bet or raised in one round.
Made hand – A hand good enough not to require drawing another.
Muck – Throwing a hand.
No-Limit – A game or round in which a player can bet as high as they want.
Pocket – Two cards that you were dealt, and still have in your hand.
Raise – Increasing a bet after you’ve called.
Rake – An amount taken as a commission by the game facilitator. This could be a set fee or a percentage.
Small Blind – A forced bet to start the pot. Usually half the value of a big blind.
Showdown – Showing of cards to determine who has the better round after all bets are placed.
Side Pot – A separate pot created should a player have insufficient chips to make a full bet. Should that player win, they would draw from the side pot, as they didn’t contribute fully to the main pot.
Split Pot – In the event of two or more identical hands, the pot is divided equally between the relevant players.
Tell – An involuntary gesture or action which may show that a player is bluffing.
Tilt – Making emotional decisions during a game, instead of using odds and reason.
Turn – The fourth community card on the table, placed face-up after the second round.
Two pair - A hand containing two pairs.