[Complete Guide] Texas Hold’em Glossary | Master All Basic Poker Terms and Meanings

Texas Hold’em is hugely popular at casinos and online poker rooms around the world.

Understanding the specialized terminology and meanings used in Texas Hold’em will let you enjoy poker even more than before. It’s also important for improving your win rate and playing advantageously.

So that both beginners and experienced players can understand, this article explains the basic terms and meanings used in poker — centered on Texas Hold’em — in a list format.

In this article:

· The meanings of terms used in Texas Hold’em
· Basic poker terminology
· When each term is used

Let’s go through them in Japanese syllabary order, starting with the A row!

If you want to learn while actually playing, “Online Poker” is recommended!Among platforms, try registering for KK Poker, which has top-level popularity in Japan and many beginners. Register through our site and join a club to get a registration bonus usable in all games.

(Vowels) Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There are 16 terms that start with vowels.

Outs

Refers to the remaining cards needed to complete a hand with a high chance of winning.

For example, if you hold the 10, J, Q, K of Spades (♠), the outs are the Ace of Spades (which completes a Royal Straight Flush) or the 9 of Spades (which makes a Straight Flush).

Also, with a hand like this, all Spade cards that complete a Flush, as well as the Ace or 9 of another suit that completes a Straight, also count as outs.

Out of Position

A position where you must act before your opponent.

Since you cannot see your opponent’s action first, it is considered a disadvantageous position.

Action

Action refers to “your move on your turn.”

There are 5 actions: fold, call, check, raise, and all-in.

Aggressive

A proactive play style that actively selects strong actions such as betting and raising. The opposite is Passive.

Early Position

Early Position refers to ‘a position where it is your turn to act relatively early.’

It is considered a disadvantageous position, making it difficult to make big moves.

Under The Gun

Under the Gun means ‘under the gun’ — that is, ‘a position so disadvantageous it’s like having a gun pointed at you.’

It is the seat next to the Big Blind (BB), and is called this because it is the position from which real betting begins.

Underdog

A hand with a low probability of winning.

In Position 

The opposite of Out of Position — a position where you act after your opponent.

Since you can react after seeing the opponent’s action, it is considered a relatively advantageous position.

Air Bluff 

Betting or raising when you have no hand at all.

Equity

An expected value calculated by multiplying win rate by pot size.

In poker, the concept of stealing each other’s equity is extremely important.

Odds

The required win rate in poker.

Overcard

A hole card with a higher number than any card on the board (community cards).

Overpair

A pocket pair with a higher number than any card on the board.

Offsuit

A starting hand combination where the two cards have different suits.

Open End Straight Draw

A hand where drawing either the lower or higher end card completes a straight.

In this case, the player in the red box can draw a 7 to complete the straight 5-6-7-8-9, making this an Open End Straight Draw.

Open End Flush Draw

A hand where drawing either the lower or higher end card completes both a straight and a flush.

In this case, the straight 4-5-6-7-8 is already complete, but drawing the ♥6 would create a ‘Straight Flush,’ making this an ‘Open End Flush Draw.’

Open Bet

The first bet made when no one other than the blinds has yet entered the pot.

Also abbreviated as ‘open.’

Original Bettor

The player who made the first bet.

All-In

One of the actions — ‘wagering all of your chips.’

Performed when you have a confident hand, or when bluffing to make the opponent fold.

(Consonants) Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There are 9 terms in the kick consonant row.

Cut Off

The position to the left of the Button (DB).

Gut Shot Straight Draw

A hand like 2-3-5-6 where you ‘must draw the card in the middle’ to complete a straight.

Kicker 

A card that is not needed to make a hand.

For example, if the board has a J-J Two Pair and your hand is J and 4, the 4 is not needed to make Three of a Kind, so it becomes the kicker.

Gap Connector

A state where the two hole cards differ by 2 in number, like 2-4 or 6-8. If they differ by 3 it’s called a ‘2-Gap Connector,’ and by 4 it’s called a ‘3-Gap Connector.’

Crack

Beating an opponent with a strong hand.

For example, say the opponent has a pair of AA and you hold 5-7. Normally you’d lose, but if the community cards are 3-4-6-9-Q, your straight is complete — this is called a ‘crack.’

Crying Call

Calling even when the probability of losing is higher than winning.

Often done when too many chips have been committed and you cannot fold.

Connector

A state where the two hole cards are consecutive numbers.

Call

One of the actions — matching the same amount as the previous player’s bet.

Community Card

The cards placed in the center of the board that are shared and usable by all players.

Also called the Board.

(Sibilant) Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There are 15 terms in the S row.

Side Pot

A pot that occurs when players with different chip amounts each go all-in.

Sick Call

Calling against an opponent’s bluff with a hand that currently has little chance of winning.

Also called a Tough Call.

Showdown

When the hand plays out to the final street and players reveal their cards to determine the winner.

Short Stack

Having few chips relative to the blind amounts.

Scare Card

A card that could complete a winning hand for any player other than yourself.

Stack

The chips you currently hold.

Starting Hand

The cards dealt on the first street (pre-flop).

Stakes

The minimum bet amount.

Suited

A state where both hole cards are of the same suit.

Suited Connector 

A starting hand where both cards are the same suit and consecutive numbers.

Split Pot 

When hands are equal in strength and the result is a draw, the pot is split equally among the tied players.

Small Blind (SB)

The smaller of the two blind bet amounts.

※ A blind is a position where a fixed amount must be bet to play the game.

Second Pair

Having the second-strongest pair at the pre-flop stage.

For example, if community cards are A-K-Q and your hand is K-4, you have Second Pair.

Set

When the first three community cards are revealed, you hold a pocket pair and one matching card appears in the community cards.

For example, if you hold A-A and community cards are 3-7-A, you have a Set.

Semi Bluff 

A bet or raise made with the premise of making the opponent fold, but where you also have a drawing hand with potential to improve.

3-Bet 

A 3-bet refers to re-raising after an opponent’s open raise at the pre-flop stage.

Basically a term used only pre-flop, though a raise in response to a bet post-flop also tends to be called a 3-bet.

However, in tournaments, 3-betting post-flop often leads to near-all-in situations, so it’s rarely used that way.

If the opponent calls a 3-bet, the pot becomes at least BB × 3 × 2 players, so bet sizes post-flop also become larger.

3-Bet Pot

The pot after a 3-bet has been made is called a 3-bet pot.

If a 3-bet is made pre-flop and a player calls, the minimum pot is BB × 3 × 2 players. Since most opens are typically raised to 3–4x in response to a 2.5BB open, this creates a very large pot by the flop.

Generally considered likely to result in an all-in confrontation on the turn or river.

[Tap Consonant] Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There are 9 terms in the tap sound consonant row.

Turn 

The 4th community card.

Check 

One of the actions — passing without betting, handing the action to the next player.

※ Similar to Call, but the difference is whether your previous opponent has placed chips (= Call) or not (= Check).

Check Raise

Checking on your own turn, then raising when another player bets.

※ Some casinos prohibit this, so check the rules in advance!

Chop

A draw. When a chop occurs, the stakes in the pot are split equally.

Dealer 

The person who deals the cards.

Dealer Button

The reference position for the game. It rotates each hand, and this position determines who is SB (Small Blind) and BB (Big Blind).

Dominate 

A hand with a very high probability of beating a specific opponent’s hand.

For example, a hand of A-Q is said to ‘dominate’ a hand of Q-4.

Trips

Another name for Three of a Kind.

Drawing Hand

A hand that is relatively weak at the moment but has the potential to develop into a strong hand.

Often refers to hands with potential for a straight or flush.

Double Belly 

Double Belly refers to a situation where your hand is 3-7 and the flop comes A-4-5.

Rather than an open-ended straight draw, either a 2 or a 6 falling completes the straight — an irregular draw.

Since opponents find it hard to predict the straight draw, completing it allows for an effective exploit.

Donk Bet 

‘Donk bet’ is a corruption of ‘donkey bet,’ meaning a foolish bet.

For example, in a situation where you called an open raise, and the action on the flop starts with you and you lead out with a bet — this is called a donk bet.

In early position vs. big blind situations, reading hand ranges and donk betting to unsettle opponents is possible, but it is an advanced play.

Twice 

Twice refers to running the board twice in a live casino or online poker ring game all-in situation.

For example, if all-in occurs on the flop and both players agree to ‘twice,’ the turn and river are each dealt two separate times.

Playing this way to reduce variance makes it possible to continue winning long-term.

[Row NA] Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There is 1 term in the NA row.

Nuts

Nuts means having the currently strongest possible hand.

For example, pre-flop AA is the nuts, and post-flop a straight or full house often becomes the nuts.

When you have the absolute nuts, switching to slow play to exploit the opponent is an effective strategy.

However, note that having the ‘current nuts’ means the nuts can shift with subsequent cards.

[Row HA] Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There are 19 terms in the HA row.

Bad Beat

Losing with an overwhelmingly strong hand to a weaker hand.

Take the example where the opponent holds 3-4 and you hold A-Q. Normally you’d win, right?

However, if the community cards come Q-5-6-2-A, the player holding 3-4 wins. This is a bad beat.

Passive

A reactive, cautious play style that carefully selects actions. The opposite is Aggressive.

Hand

Your hole cards / the cards you hold.

Big Blind (BB)

The position that posts the larger of the two mandatory blind bets.

Fold 

Surrendering — dropping out of the hand.

Blind 

The bets paid by both the SB and BB positions before cards are dealt.

Flop 

The first three community cards placed face up.

Pre-Flop 

The stage after 2 hole cards have been dealt to each player, before the flop is dealt.

Favorite 

A hand with a high probability of winning.

Family Pot

A pot where every player at the table has called pre-flop.

Bet 

The action of placing chips. Betting grows the pot.

Betting Round 

A round of betting.

Pocket 

The 2 hole cards you hold.

Pocket Pair

When the two hole cards dealt initially form a pair.

Position

Your seat at the table. Each position has its own name.

Pot 

The prize pool for that hand, accumulated through betting.

Button

The position that bets last in a full orbit. Considered the most advantageous position.

Board 

Another name for the community cards.

Hole Card 

The 2 face-down cards dealt to each player at the start.

Bottom Pair 

A pair formed using the lowest-numbered card among the first 3 community cards.

For example, if community cards are A-8-4 and your hand is 7-4, you are said to have a ‘Bottom Pair.’

[Row MA] Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There are 4 terms in the MA row.

Muck 

When no hand is made from the community cards and your hole cards.

Mid Position

The position that acts in the middle of the order.

Minimum Bet

The amount of the forced blind bet. The lowest bet amount at the table.

Minimum Raise

The minimum amount required to raise.

[Row RA] Texas Hold’em Terms and Meanings

There are 6 terms in the RA row.

Rank

The numerical strength of a card.

Runner

When the 4th and 5th community cards complete an opponent’s hand, causing you to lose.

River

The 5th community card. Also called Fifth Street.

Reraise

Raising again in response to an opponent’s raise.

Raise 

Increasing the current bet amount.

Late Position

The position that acts later in the order.

History and Origins of Texas Hold’em Poker

The prototype of poker is said to be ‘Pochspiel’ (meaning ‘to knock’), played in Germany around the 1800s.

Pochspiel then spread to France and became a game called ‘Poque,’ which is generally considered to have evolved into the poker played today.

However, there are various theories about poker’s origins — some say it derives from a game called ‘As-Nas,’ beloved in medieval Persia.

In the 1970s, the WSOP (World Series of Poker) world championship began and poker’s popularity spread globally.

Then in the 1990s, Texas Hold’em became popular worldwide, to the point where today ‘poker = Texas Hold’em’ has become the mainstream.

In Japan, poker was slow to become popular for a long time.

However, in recent years the situation has changed dramatically. With Japanese professionals winning world championships and the birth of online poker, poker’s popularity has been growing. If you’re interested in poker, try starting online.

＼Limited Bonuses!／

Texas Hold’em Poker Terms and Meanings: Full List

Finally, let’s organize the particularly important terms introduced above by category.

There are basically 5 actions:

Knowing just these, you can play poker.

About Positions

Next, positions. Let’s get a quick visual understanding!

Game Board Summary

Finally, the game board.

It’s not strictly necessary just to play, but it’s necessary in order to truly understand the game.

Be sure to learn these and enjoy Texas Hold’em!

KK Poker lets even beginners casually play Texas Hold’em, so please give it a try.