Poker Glossary - A to D

ACTIVE PLAYER - A player still involved in the pot, a player who has a live hand.

ADVERTISE - As in, to advertise a hand. To bluff with the intention of being caught out, so that later on you might trap the same opponents when you are not bluffing.

ALL-IN ("GO ALL-IN") - To BET all the chips that you have at the table at that time.

ANTE - A BET that all players must make to build up a pot before any cards are dealt, not to be confused with the BLIND, which only applies to some of the players on any given hand.

BABY CARD - A small card that has a value of eight or less, especially used in poker games where a Low hand wins half the pot (split games) or the entire pot (Razz).

BACKDOOR - When a player makes a hand that he wasn't originally drawing for initially.

BAD BEAT - When a big hand is beaten by an even bigger hand, or when a hand is beaten by a long shot draw.

BELLY-BUSTER STRAIGHT - Also known as an inside straight, or a gut-shot straight. A straight draw to a single card.

BEST OF IT - A situation where your hand or wager is expected to be profitable in the long run given the scenario at hand.

BET - To put money into the pot before anyone else on any given round.

BET INTO - To initiate betting even though you are already aware that your opponent has a potentially strong hand; basically to attempt to wrest the initiative away from the original bettor.

BETTING THE POT - To bet the total amount of money currently in the pot. This applied to pot-limit games and also to no-limit games.

BICYCLE - Also known as a wheel. This is usually an A-2-3-4-5 straight. In deuce-to-seven it is a 2-3-4-5-7. It is the best possible hand in lowball, and the lowest possible straight in other poker games.

BIG BLIND - The largest blind bet in a game that has multiple blinds.

BLANK - Also known as a brick. This is a card that does not help a player's hand.

BLIND - A forced bet, not to be confused with an ANTE, that commits chips to a pot prior to any cards being dealt, but only for that player.

BLUFF - A bet made when you think that your hand is not the best hand.

BOARD - The community cards that everyone can see in a poker game.

BRING IT IN - To start the betting on the first round. In some games, like stud, the bring in is forced on one player - the one who has the lowest value up-card showing.

BUSTED HAND - A drawing hand that does not turn into a hand of any value.

BUST OUT - When you are knocked out of a game or tournament.

BUTTON - When there is a house dealer or a computerized deal, a button is put in front of a player to represent that he is playing the dealer's position. This button moves clockwise at the completion of each hand.

BUY IN - The minimum amount of chips necessary to secure a seat in any given poker game or poker tournament.

CALL - To put money in the pot that exactly matches the size of the previous bet or raise.

CALLING STATION - A derogatory term used to describe a very weak player who will call nearly every bet, never folding or raising. A calling station is almost impossible to BLUFF.

CHECK - Declining to bet when it is your turn, but remaining in the hand. Also known as "knocking" in garage games.

CHECK BLIND - Checking your hand "in the dark" before the next card, or cards, is dealt.

CHECK RAISE - To check your hand and then raise in the same betting round when the action returns to you after another player has led out with a bet. Once considered an unethical move in poker, it is now used by every player in all forms of poker. A trapping play.

CHIPS - A round token used as a substitute for cash money. Professional poker players often refer to them as "checks" not to be confused with "checking a hand".

COLD CALL - A player who calls a raise and a re-raise in the same round of betting after he first checks.

COLD DECK - A superstition held onto by weak players who believe they're not getting enough good hands. When the deck is cold a player often asks for a deck change, delaying the game and annoying players who are good enough to win without resorting to voodoo rituals.

CONCEALED PAIR - A pair where both cards are face down, also known as a WIRED PAIR.

CRYING CALL - Calling a bet with a hand that you think has a very small chance of winning the hand. Generally crying calls are made by weak players sliding towards another loss.

DEAD HAND - A misdealt hand, or any hand that is no longer "live" and that a player is no longer allowed to play (for instance, if a mucked hand touches your hand and the cards become mingled your hand is considered dead as well, hence card protectors.)

DEALER'S CHOICE - Poker game whereby whomever is dealing that hand may nominate the game that will be played that round.

DEUCE - A two.

DOG - An abbreviated form of underdog. Not the favorite to win the hand.

DOOR CARD - The first exposed card in any stud game.

DOUBLE THROUGH - To go all-in and win the amount equal to what you bet, also known as doubling up.

DRAWING DEAD - When your hand is already beaten by another hand even though there are still cards to come; when you cannot win the hand you are said to have no OUTS.

Poker Glossary E to S