If you’re new to poker slang, getting familiar with some slang and common poker terms is a great way to feel more at home at the table. While knowing the lingo won’t necessarily make you a better player, it will help you understand the game better and enjoy it more by giving you the tools to follow conversations and strategies. poker slang
Poker Slang
A
ABC Poker
A straightforward and predictable approach where players only bet strong hands and fold everything else.
Airball
When a player is bluffing with no hand or chance of improving, often referred to as bluffing with “air.”
American Airlines
The term “pocket rockets” refers to Texas Hold’em pocket aces (AA).
Ammo (Ammunition)
Refers to a player’s chip stack. Running out of ammo means you’ve lost all your chips.
Angle Shooting
Using tactics that aren’t against the rules but are considered unethical to gain an advantage, like hiding chips or falsely announcing your hand. poker slang
Arsenal
Describes a player’s range of skills and strategies. A player with a big arsenal can adapt and use different tactics during a game to outplay opponents. poker slang
B
Belly Buster
Poker Slang Only a single card can finish the straight in an inside straight draw. For example, a 7 on a board of A-6-5 with a hand of 9-8.
Big Blind Special
A situation where the player in the big blind wins a hand after seeing the flop for free.
Big Slick
The hand Ace-King of any suit, also known as Anna Kournikova, Korean Airlines, or AK-47.
Bloodbath
A situation where multiple players are about to engage in a large pot, often with strong hands or big draws, leading to substantial chip losses.
Brick
A card that doesn’t help any player complete their draw.
Busted
Refers to losing all your chips in a tournament or cash game. Can also mean running out of money entirely. poker slang
C
Cambodia
Refers to the hand 7-4 offsuit. It’s a quirky term, originating from NYC cardrooms.
Cardrack
A player who consistently gets dealt good hands.
Chip Dumping
An unethical practice where a player intentionally loses chips to another player, often in tournament collusion scenarios. poker slang
Clicking Buttons
Refers to players making nonsensical moves, often due to lack of understanding.
Cooler
A situation where both players have strong hands, and there’s little they can do to avoid a large pot loss.
Cowboys
A nickname for pocket kings (KK).
D
Dolly Parton
refers to the hand 9-5, which takes its name from Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5”.
Donkey
A derogatory term for a player who lacks skill, making obvious mistakes.
Doomswitch
A term used humorously to describe bad luck in online poker, where players feel they’re being “programmed” to lose. poker slang
Ducks
Because of their duck-like shape, pocket deuces (2-2) are known by this nickname.
Dirty Stack
A chip stack that isn’t organized, often with mixed denominations.
F
Fist Pump
A celebratory gesture when a player wins a hand or hits a big pot.
G
Gappers
Hole cards that can form a straight, but require a “gap” in the middle. For example, a hand like 5-7 is a one-gapper.
Gears
A player’s ability to adjust their play and strategy based on the situation at the table.
GG
Short for “Good Game,” used to acknowledge a good match or sometimes sarcastically after a bad play.
Going South
Refers to the unethical practice of removing chips from the table to reduce your stake.
H
Hero
The player whose hand is being analyzed or discussed in a review.
High Society
Usually used in games with larger stakes, this term describes a stack of the largest denomination chips at the table.
Hit And Run
When a player wins a large pot and then leaves the game shortly afterward, which can be seen as unethical.
I
Idiot End
The player can only finish the lowest possible straight in a straight draw.
J
Jam
when a player puts all of their chips into the pot by raising all-in.
L
Live One
A player who is not very skilled but has a large bankroll and doesn’t mind losing, making them an easy target for better players.
Lodden Thinks
A game played between poker hands, where players bet on what another player is thinking about a random topic.
M
Muck
To fold a hand without revealing it, especially at a showdown when your opponent has a better hand.
N
Nitfest
A game where all players are playing extremely tight and cautiously, leading to little excitement or action.
Nosebleeds
Refers to ultra-high stakes poker games where significant amounts of money are at risk.
O
Nut Nut
The “best possible hand” with a chance to improve to an even better hand, such as a nut straight with a draw to the nut flush.
P
Pwned
A term originating from online gaming meaning you were outplayed or severely beaten.
Rags
Bad, unplayable starting hands that should be folded right away.
Robusto
The opposite of “busto,” referring to a player who has significantly increased their bankroll.
R
Runner Runner
A hand that requires hitting cards on both the turn and river to make a strong hand, like hitting two clubs to complete a flush.
S
Sailboats
Slang for pocket fours (4-4), due to the shape of the number 4 resembling a sailboat.
Set Mining
The strategy of calling with a small pocket pair with the aim of hitting a set (three of a kind) on the flop.
Shark
A highly skilled poker player who preys on weaker players.
Shill
Someone who promotes or defends a poker site or product for personal gain, often falsely.
T
Tanking
When a player takes a long time to make a decision, typically when facing a large bet.
Walking Chips
Refers to having a large chip stack and taking a break from the table, though this is generally not recommended.
Whiff
When a player misses their draw completely, such as a flush or straight that doesn’t hit.
Understanding these poker slang terms can enhance your experience, whether you’re playing live, online, or simply watching a game. poker slang
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