When learning the ins and outs of poker, it is highly advised that you join a real game, live or online. Not only do you get to practice all the tactics and strategies you've learned, but real poker games also provide you with a chance to interact with fellow players.
If you want to feel that you are a part of the gang straight off the bat, learning to speak like a pro can help! Before you complete the Everygame login process, find out which poker terms can help you sound like a seasoned player.
Poker A-B-C: Terms You Must Know
So, which poker terms should you learn before enjoying a hearty poker session? To start you off, we've gathered terms for each letter of the alphabet:
Action – This term can refer to any move you can make in poker: bet, raise, call, check, and fold.
Button – The most profitable seat at the poker table, located to the right of the small blind and to the left of the cutoff. In this position, you are the last to act pre and post flop, giving you a chance to watch your opponent's moves before making your own.
Card dead – When you are on a run where you are only dealt bad hands that cause you to fold repeatedly, you can say you are card dead.
Ducks – In Texas Hold'em, it is a nickname for poker Twos.
Early position – The first two or three seats at a full poker table, specifically when you have a 6-handed table.
Fish – A common term used to describe weak poker players. This nickname is considered derogatory, so it should be used cautiously.
Grinding – When poker players say they have been grinding it at the tables, it means they have been playing for many hours and slowly building a profit.
Hero call – Deciding to call a speculative hand, all while hoping your opponent is bluffing.
ITM – Short for 'in the money', this term refers to players who are destined to win cash prizes since they have successfully burst the bubble.
Jam – This term refers to a situation where you shove all-in.
Kicker – Also called a side card, a kicker doesn't help you create a winning hand by itself, but it can break ties between hands of the same rank.
LAG – A term that describes a loose-aggressive player, who prefers to play many starting hands with an aggressive attitude.
Mark – Refers to weak players at the table, as strong players will often make a profit by going after the mark.
Nosebleed – The highest stakes offered in poker, usually when games start at $200/$400 or more.
Out – A card that can potentially give you the best hand possible.
Play the board – When you rely mainly on the community cards to formulate a hand, you are playing the board.
Quads – We're not talking about your thigh muscles as this term refers to a four-of-a-kind hand in poker.
River rat – This very complimentary term refers to a player who gets lucky and sucks out on the river. When players tend to call too wide on the earlier streets and still survive until the river fits this description perfectly.
Snap call – When a player makes a rapid decision without any hesitation. However, this term can also refer to snap folding, snap shoving, and more.
TAG – A term that describes a tight and aggressive player, someone who enters the pot with a strong range of holdings.
Under the Gun – The player who is first to act on the first betting round, aka the person sitting to the left of the big blind.
Value bet – When you make a bet with a made hand, all while hoping to still beat a worse holding.
Whale – When you meet a bad poker player who likes to enjoy higher stakes games, you can rest assured that you've played against a whale.
Do You Feel Prepared to Face the Poker Crowd?
Learning the lingo is just as important as understanding poker rules, especially if you plan on becoming a prominent part of the poker community. So, get out there, and use some of those terms as you interact with fellow poker lovers!