📖 Poker terms: the beginner’s glossary
The table is full of jargon. Here are the important terms, in plain language, from the basics to the phrases you will hear mid-hand, with a little table etiquette.
The basic terms
- Blind: a forced bet before the deal.
- Flop: the first three community cards.
- Turn: the fourth community card.
- River: the fifth community card.
- Pot: the total of all bets in a hand.
- Call: match the bet.
- Raise: increase it.
- Check: pass without betting.
- Fold: drop out.
- All-in: bet all your chips.
Phrases you will hear mid-hand
- Button: the dealer position, acting last after the flop.
- Under the gun: the first seat to act preflop, just left of the big blind.
- The nuts: the strongest possible hand at that moment.
- Bluff: betting a weak hand to make an opponent fold.
- Muck: to discard your cards without showing them.
- Tilt: playing badly out of frustration after a lost hand.
A little table etiquette
Two rules keep the night pleasant: act in turn, without signaling in advance what you plan to do, and do not talk about a hand that is still live once you have folded. And when you go all-in or raise, say the amount out loud so there is no confusion.
Frequently asked
What are the flop, turn and river?
The community cards in Hold’em: the flop is the first three, the turn the fourth, and the river the fifth and last.
What is the difference between call and raise?
Calling matches the current bet to stay in the hand; raising increases it.
What are the nuts?
The strongest hand you can hold at that moment given the community cards on the table.
What is a bluff?
Betting or raising with a weak hand to convince an opponent you are strong, and get them to fold.
This guide teaches the rules only. Adds Up is not a gambling product and moves no real money.