Explore 57 common hold’em terms. Search or choose a category to find the word you need.

Texas Hold'emTexas Hold'emBasics

A poker game where two hole cards and five community cards form the best five-card hand.

Hole CardsHole CardsBasics

The two private cards only you can see.

BoardBoardBasics

The five community cards in the center of the table.

FlopFlopBasics

The first three community cards, dealt together.

TurnTurnBasics

The fourth community card.

RiverRiverBasics

The fifth and final community card.

ShowdownShowdownBasics

Revealing the remaining players’ cards after the final betting round to determine the winner.

PotPotBasics

All chips collected in the hand. The winner takes them.

Side PotSide PotBasics

Additional chips bet by the remaining players after someone goes all-in. That all-in player cannot win this pot.

Split PotSplit PotBasics

Dividing the pot when the best five-card hands are identical.

KickerKickerBasics

The remaining high card that breaks a tie between hands of the same rank.

BlindBlindBetting

Mandatory chips posted before cards are dealt: the small blind and big blind.

AnteAnteBetting

A mandatory chip payment in tournaments, separate from the blinds.

CheckCheckBetting

Passing the action without betting.

CallCallBetting

Matching the amount bet by the previous player.

RaiseRaiseBetting

Betting more than the previous player.

3-Bet3-BetBetting

Raising a raise. Preflop, the blind counts as the first bet.

All-inAll-inBetting

Betting all your remaining chips.

FoldFoldBetting

Discarding your cards and giving up the hand.

LimpLimpBetting

Entering preflop by calling the big blind without raising.

Continuation BetContinuation BetBetting

A bet on the flop by the player who raised preflop.

BluffBluffBetting

Betting as if your weak hand is strong to make opponents fold.

Value BetValue BetBetting

Betting a strong hand to get a call from a weaker hand.

Pot OddsPot OddsBetting

The ratio between the cost of a call and the pot you could win, used to decide whether to call.

Button · BTNButton · BTNPosition

The dealer position. An advantageous seat that acts last after the flop.

Small Blind · SBSmall Blind · SBPosition

The seat immediately left of the button, posting half the big blind.

Big Blind · BBBig Blind · BBPosition

The seat left of the small blind, posting the blind amount.

Under the GunUnder the GunPosition

The seat left of the big blind, acting first preflop.

Hijack · HJHijack · HJPosition

The seat immediately to the right of the cutoff.

Cutoff · COCutoff · COPosition

The seat immediately to the right of the button.

In PositionIn PositionPosition

An advantageous situation where you act after your opponent.

Pocket PairPocket PairHands

Two hole cards of the same rank, such as 7♠ 7♥.

SuitedSuitedHands

Two hole cards of the same suit, written s, as in AKs.

OffsuitOffsuitHands

Two hole cards of different suits, written o, as in AKo.

ConnectorConnectorHands

Hole cards with consecutive ranks, such as 9♠ 8♠.

NutsNutsHands

The strongest hand possible on that board.

DrawDrawHands

A hand needing one or two more cards to complete, such as a flush or straight draw.

OutsOutsHands

The number of remaining cards that would complete your hand.

SetSetHands

Three of a kind made with a pocket pair and one matching board card.

Top PairTop PairHands

A pair made by matching one of your cards with the highest card on the board.

WheelWheelHands

The lowest straight, A-2-3-4-5.

Buy-inBuy-inTournaments

The entry fee for a tournament or the amount you bring to a ring-game table.

GuaranteedGuaranteedTournaments

The total prize pool guaranteed regardless of the number of entrants.

FreerollFreerollTournaments

A tournament with no entry fee.

SatelliteSatelliteTournaments

A qualifying tournament awarding entry to a higher event, such as an R1 ticket.

Blind LevelBlind LevelTournaments

A tournament stage where the blinds increase at set intervals.

Late RegistrationLate RegistrationTournaments

Entering a tournament after it starts, within the allowed registration period.

Re-entryRe-entryTournaments

Paying another buy-in to enter again after elimination.

BubbleBubbleTournaments

The position immediately before the paid places. Elimination on the bubble earns no prize.

In The MoneyIn The MoneyTournaments

Reaching a paid finishing position.

Final TableFinal TableTournaments

The last remaining table in a tournament.

FlightFlightTournaments

One of several Day 1 sessions. Choose one, and advance to Day 2 if you survive.

StackStackTournaments

A player’s chips, often expressed in big blinds (BB).

Ring Game · Cash GameRing Game · Cash GameRing games

A game you can join and leave when you wish. Chips represent game money.

6-Max6-MaxRing games

A table with up to six players.

Heads-up · 2-MAXHeads-up · 2-MAXRing games

A table where two players compete one on one.

RakeRakeRing games

A portion of a ring-game pot deducted as a game fee.