Poker Glossary
Complete dictionary of poker terms. From basic concepts to advanced strategies, everything you need to know to understand the language of poker.
3-Bet
A re-raise before or after the flop. If someone opens and another player raises, a 3-bet is a third bet. Used for value with strong hands or as a bluff.
4-Bet
A re-raise against a 3-bet. The fourth bet in a hand. Usually represents a very strong hand or a polar bluff.
Action
When it is a player's turn to act (bet, raise, call, or fold). Also describes a table with lots of betting and raising ("an action game" or "action player").
Add-on
An additional chip purchase at the end of the rebuy period in tournaments. Generally the last opportunity to buy more chips.
Aggressive
A playing style characterized by frequently betting and raising rather than just calling. Opposite of passive.
All-in
Betting all the chips you have on the table. Once you go all-in, you cannot bet more in that hand, but you can win up to the amount you bet from each opponent.
Angle Shooting
Using unethical but technically legal tactics to deceive opponents. For example, faking a fold to observe the opponent's reaction. Highly frowned upon in poker.
Ante
A mandatory bet made by all players before receiving cards. Common in advanced stages of tournaments to speed up action.
Backdoor
A draw that needs two more cards to complete (turn and river). For example, having two cards of the same suit with only one on the board is a backdoor flush draw. It has fewer outs but adds hidden value to the hand.
Bad Beat
When a strong hand is defeated by a weaker hand that improves improbably. A natural part of poker that can cause tilt.
Balanced Range
A range built with the right ratio of value hands and bluffs to be difficult to exploit. A balanced range prevents opponents from profitably always folding or always calling against you.
Bankroll
The total amount of money a player dedicates exclusively to poker. Fundamental for long-term survival.
Barrel
A continuation bet on successive streets. A double barrel is betting the flop and turn; a triple barrel is betting flop, turn, and river. Describes sustained aggression throughout the hand.
Bet
Putting chips into the pot when no one has bet before in that round. The first aggressive action on a street.
Big Blind (BB)
The larger of the two mandatory bets in flop games. Placed two positions to the left of the dealer.
Big Blind Ante
A format where only the big blind player posts the ante for the entire table. Now the standard in most live and online tournaments. Speeds up the pace of play.
Blank (Brick)
A community card that does not change anything relevant. For example, a 2 on an A-K-Q board when nobody has a low straight draw. Also called a brick.
Block Bet
A small bet (typically 20-33% of pot) made out of position to control pot size and prevent the opponent from making a larger bet.
Blocker
A card in your hand that reduces the probability that the opponent holds a specific hand. For example, holding the Ace blocks the opponent from having the nut flush or nut straight on many boards.
Bluff
Betting or raising with a weak hand to make opponents with better hands fold. A fundamental poker technique that adds the psychological element to the game.