Poker has its own language. If you’re new to the game, this glossary makes everything simple. Use this page anytime you read Hoosier Poker strategy articles or want to refresh a term.
Table of Contents
- Basic Poker Terms
- Betting Terms
- Hand & Board Terms
- Position & Stack Terms
- Strategy & Math Terms
- Player Types & Slang
- Streets of a Hand
- Tournament & Online Terms
- Poker Terms FAQ
Basic Poker Terms
Action
The opportunity to act (bet, call, check, raise, or fold) on your hand.
All-In
When a player pushes all their remaining chips into the pot.
Ante
A small forced bet that all players post before the hand begins.
Bankroll
The money you set aside exclusively for playing poker.
Board
The shared community cards in the center of the table.
Dealer
The person dealing the cards, or the rotating dealer position marked by the dealer button.
Hole Cards
Your private, face-down cards.
Community Cards
The shared cards on the board used by everyone.
Betting Terms
Bet
The first wager placed in a betting round.
Call
Matching the current bet to continue.
Check
Declining to bet when no bet is required.
Check-Raise
Checking first, then raising after someone bets.
Fold
Giving up your hand and exiting the pot.
Raise
Increasing the size of a bet that has already been made.
Re-Raise (3-Bet, 4-Bet, etc.)
Raising someone’s raise.
Blinds
Forced bets that begin each hand: the small blind and big blind.
Big Blind (BB)
The larger forced bet posted before cards are dealt.
Small Blind (SB)
The smaller forced bet.
Pot
All chips wagered in the hand.
Pot Odds
A ratio comparing the size of the pot to the call you must make.
Value Bet
A bet made to get called by worse hands.
Hand & Board Terms
Set
Three of a kind formed by having a pocket pair and hitting one card on the flop.
Overpair
A pocket pair higher than every card on the board.
Gutshot
An inside straight draw needing one specific rank.
Outs
Cards that improve your hand to the likely winner.
Backdoor
A draw requiring both the turn and river to hit.
Position & Stack Terms
Position
Your seat relative to the dealer button—acting later is a huge advantage.
Under the Gun (UTG)
The first player to act preflop.
Button
The dealer position, acting last on most streets.
Stack
The chips a player has in front of them.
Short Stack
A player with few chips, often forced to play aggressively.
Deep Stack
A player with many big blinds who can play more complex, postflop strategies.
Strategy & Math Terms
Equity
Your share of the pot based on your chance of winning.
Expected Value (EV)
A long-term measure of whether a decision is profitable or not.
Implied Odds
Considering future expected winnings when deciding whether to call.
Range
All the possible hands a player could reasonably have.
GTO (Game Theory Optimal)
A balanced strategy that cannot be exploited.
Player Types & Slang
Bluff
Betting with a weak hand to force folds from stronger ones.
Semi-Bluff
Bluffing with a draw that may improve if you’re called.
Tilt
Playing emotionally or recklessly after frustration.
Nit
A very tight player who rarely plays hands.
Loose Player
A player who enters many pots with wide ranges.
Tight Player
A player who enters fewer pots with stronger ranges.
Aggressive Player
One who regularly bets and raises.
Passive Player
One who calls and checks more than they bet.
Bad Beat
Losing with a strong hand to a much weaker one that gets lucky.
Coin Flip
Two hands that are roughly 50/50 in equity (like A-K vs 99).
Dead Money
Chips contributed by players who aren’t likely to win, or chips left after folds.
Streets of a Hand
Preflop
Before the community cards are dealt.
Flop
The first three community cards.
Turn (Fourth Street)
The fourth community card.
River (Fifth Street)
The final community card.
Tournament & Online Terms
Tournament Life
Once your chips are gone, you’re eliminated—so survival matters.
Bubble
The point right before the remaining players all receive a payout.
MTT (Multi-Table Tournament)
A tournament across multiple tables that consolidates to a final table.
Sit & Go (SNG)
A tournament that begins as soon as the required number of players register.
Poker Terms FAQ
Do I need to memorize all these terms?
No. Start with the basics and return to this glossary as you learn.
What are the most important beginner terms?
Position, blinds, bet, fold, raise, flop, turn, river.
Why is position such a big advantage?
You get to act after others, giving you more information to make better decisions.
How do I learn poker math like EV and equity?
Start with pot odds and simple draw math. Your intuition grows quickly with practice.
Are these terms used in both live and online poker?
Yes—almost all poker terminology is universal.
