Poker Terms

Real Poker Rooms  would like to help you to find the answers to some of the most common of poker terms! It's important to us that you have the best experience possible playing poker online. Now anybody can play poker online, from beginners to experts!

All-in
An all-in occurs when you do not have enough money to cover the full bet amount, and so place your remaining money into the pot. You then contend for the pot in an amount proportional to what you have contributed.
Note:
You are considered all-in when you are disconnected from the The Poker Room during the play of a hand. This is to ensure that you are not penalized during disconnection.

Ante
An ante is the minimum bet that each Player must place into the pot before betting begins. The ante is placed before any cards are dealt.

Big Blind
The first bet posted by the Player to the left of the Player who posts the small blind. It is a forced bet, and its amount is equal to the lower bet. For example, in a $10 - $20 game, the big blind is $10.

Big Pair
A pair with a value of 10 or greater.

Blind Bet
Note:
This is only applicable to the following games:
-Texas Hold'em
-Omaha
-Omaha Hi-lo
-1-on-1
A blind bet is the first bet placed by each Player. It is a forced bet and is placed before any cards are dealt. It is considered a live bet for the first round of betting. Both big blind and small blind bets occur in the first round of betting.

Bring-in
A mandatory bet made by the Player with the lowest card in the Third Street (the first round of betting).

Buy-in Amount
The amount you must bring into a game.

Buy-in Limit
The term used to describe the minimum amount required to buy into a 1-on-1 game.
Note:
This is also applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.

Call
A call occurs when a bet equal to the previous bet is placed.

Cap
Once the betting has been raised three times in one round, it is then capped, or limited. From this point Players may only call (place a bet equal to the previous bet) or fold.

Check
Clicking the check button allows you to stay in a game without placing any bets. Note that you can only check if no other bets have been placed in the betting round.

Coffeehousing
Any chat between Players that goes towards misleading or manipulating other Players is termed 'coffeehousing', and is strictly prohibited.

Community Cards
These are the cards dealt to the table - the cards that each Player uses to complete their five-card hand.

Dealer button
Marked with a D, the dealer button is the disk used to signify the Dealer's position on the table.

Equalized
A game is equalized once all the Players have contributed the same amount of credits to the pot.

Fifth Street
The third round of betting is termed the 'Fifth Street' as the Players each have five cards.
The following applies to the Fifth Street:
-Bet amounts are set at the highest limit.
Note: Betting limits are set by the card room.
- The Player with the highest ranking hand begins the next round of betting.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven-Card Stud Poker.

Flop
These are the first three community cards dealt to the table.
Note:
This term is applicable to the following games:
-Texas Hold'em
-Omaha
-Omaha Hi-Lo

Fold
Players fold when they throw in their cards. Once a Player has folded they automatically relinquish their claim on the pot in exchange for not making any further contributions towards it.

Fourth Street
The second round of betting is the 'Fourth Street' as each Player has four cards. This is particularly applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
The following applies to the Fourth Street:
-The Player with the highest ranking hand begins the next round of betting.
-Players can Fold, Call, Raise or Check.
Note:
If the highest ranking hand is a Pair, the first Player to bet has the option to bet either the low or high betting limit. This becomes the raise amount for the rest of the game. The other Players must follow this amount when they raise their bets.

Live Blinds
These are blind bets that are in play.
Example:
Player A posts a small blind bet. Player B joins the game and posts a big blind bet. Player A must now equalize the betting as the big blind bet is in play and is live.

Lowest Card
The card that has the lowest value (keep in mind that aces are high). If two Players have the same lowest card, the value is determined by suit. Suits are arranged in alphabetical order from lowest to highest value - Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades.

Muck
If a Player does not wish to show his losing hand to the table, he can choose to muck. The hand will then be discarded without being displayed to the table.

Pocket Cards
The cards that are dealt face down to each Player are known as pocket cards.

Post Now
'Post now' is a choice given to new Players when they join a game. They can choose to either post now, or wait for the big blind bet. If they decide to post now, they bet the equivalent of a big blind bet and receive cards immediately.

Pot
The pot is the pile of chips that accumulate as each Player antes, bets and raises. All winnings are paid from the pot. The value of the pot varies - it is dependant on the stakes involved and the amount that the Players bet. The pot goes to the winner of the hands in each round.
Note:
-The House takes a small percentage of the pot.
-If two or more Players have the same winning hand, they split the pot equally.

Quartered
When Players tie with either a high or a low hand, their winnings equal a quarter of the pot.
Note:
This is Applicable to Omaha Hi/Lo Poker.

Raise
The purpose of a raise is to increase the stakes for the remaining Players at the table. To raise a bet, it must first be matched, then increased.

River Card
The final community card dealt is known as the River Card.

Runs
A run is a betting cycle around the table. A cycle from the first Player to the last Player is considered one run.

Seventh Street
The fifth and final round of betting is the 'Seventh Street' as each Player has seven cards.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
The following applies to the Seventh Street:
-The River Card is dealt face down.
-The Player that played first on the Sixth Street plays first on the Seventh Street.
-If there is more than one Player left in the game after another round of betting, the game is resolved by means of a showdown.
-Each Player exposes the best five-card hand possible.
-The winner is awarded the pot.

Showdown
This occurs after the last betting round when the remaining Players compare hands to determine the winner. The Player with the highest-value hand wins the pot.

Sitting Out
A Player 'sits out' when he chooses to leave the table for a short period of time.
Note:
If a Player sits out for more than fifteen minutes, or has missed two rounds of blinds, they are removed from the table.

Sixth Street
The fourth round of betting is the 'Sixth Street' as each Player has six cards.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.
The following applies to the Sixth Street:
-Bet amounts are set at the highest limit.
-The Player with the highest ranking hand begins the next round of betting.
Note:
Betting limits are set by the card room.

Small Blind
A small blind is the first bet posted by the Player to the Dealer's left. It is a forced bet, and its amount is equal to half of the lower bet. For example, in a $10 - $20 game, the small blind is $5.

Street
This is the term assigned to the various stages of betting. Betting begins on the Third Street, and continues to the Seventh Street, making five rounds of betting in total.
Note:
This is applicable to Seven Card Stud Poker.

Third Street
Note:
This is applicable to Seven-Card Stud Poker.
The first round of betting is the 'Third Street' as each Player has three cards. The Player with the lowest card displayed brings-in the betting in this round.

Turn
A turn is the fourth community card dealt.
Note:
This is applicable to the following games:
-Texas Hold'em
-Omaha
-Omaha Hi-Lo

Visible Cards
These are the cards that are dealt face up to each Player. Players use these cards to complete their five-card combinations.