Like many casino games, Poker has accumulated a lot of specific slang and terminology over the years. From player actions to specific game elements and terms, there’s a lot to learn if you aren’t already up on your Poker slang.
Understanding the terminology is important for players who want to fully appreciate the game and what other players may mean when they use specific phrases or words. It doesn’t matter whether you play in an online casino or a land-based one, read up on our essential guide to Poker slang that every player should know.
- All-in
One of the most pivotal moments in a Poker game is the moment that a player decides to go all-in. This phrase means that they are choosing to wager all their remaining chips on their current cards, signalling their confidence to other players.
It’s a high-risk move that can go either way for a player, depending on the cards that everyone else at the table has. In some cases, it’s even used as a bluff, when the player’s hand isn’t as strong as they want the rest of the table to believe.
In online Poker games, the term is often shortened to just Al.
- Bluff
We mentioned it already but bluffs and bluffing are an integral part of Poker games. Unlike other card games like Blackjack, a player can win even when they don’t have a strong hand. This relies on them being able to successfully convince the rest of the table that their hand is stronger than it really is.
A bluff generally involves a player making a bet or raising in spite of their weak hand, convincing other players with stronger hands to fold. But, like any move, there’s no guarantee that a bluff will be successful.
- Check
This is a common action that you’ll see in a lot. Checking means that a player is passing action to the next player at the table without making a bet. This is only an option when no one else has bet in the current round, but it’s a way for players to stay in without having to commit additional chips.
In online Poker games, you’ll generally see players type ‘ch’ to indicate a check.
- Flop, turn and river
There are a few different varieties of Poker available, and these terms are specific to the Texas Hold’em and Omaha formats. The flop, turn and river are names given to the community cards that are revealed throughout the course of a round.
The first three community cards, dealt face up together, are the flop. The turn is the fourth card, dealt after the third round of play, while the river is the final community card, dealt ahead of the final round of the game.
Depending on the cards that appear in the flop, turn and river, the relative strength of a player’s hand could change dramatically. Understanding the role of community cards in these games of Poker is essential for players.
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Those are a few of the most important slang terms in Poker, but there are plenty of others that players may want to read up on ahead of an online game.
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