Poker Glossary

3-Bet (Three-Bet)

The third bet in sequence in a betting round. Pre-flop, this means the first re-raise over an initial raise.

4-Bet (Four-Bet)

The fourth bet in sequence. Pre-flop, this is a re-raise of a 3-bet.

Action

A player's turn to act (bet, check, raise, fold). Also refers to the general level of betting activity in a game ("lots of action").

Add-on

An option in some tournaments to purchase additional chips at a specific point, regardless of your current stack size.

All-In

Betting all of your remaining chips.

Angle Shooting

Using unethical, intentionally misleading tactics or motions to gain an advantage or illicit information, technically within the rules but against the spirit of the game.

Ante

A small forced bet required from all players before the hand begins, common in later stages of tournaments and some cash games.

Backdoor

Making a hand (like a flush or straight) by hitting needed cards on both the turn *and* the river. E.g., having two hearts and getting hearts on both turn and river is a backdoor flush. Also called Runner-Runner.

Bad Beat

Losing a hand when you were a significant statistical favorite, especially when the opponent hits a lucky card on a later street.

Balanced

Playing different types of hands in the same way to make it difficult for opponents to read your hand strength (e.g., sometimes bluffing and sometimes value betting in the same situation).

Bankroll

The total amount of money a player has set aside specifically for playing poker. Bankroll Management is crucial for long-term success.

Barrel

To bet on consecutive streets post-flop, typically initiated by the pre-flop aggressor. Betting the flop is the first barrel, the turn is the second barrel (double barrel), and the river is the third barrel (triple barrel).

Bet

To put money into the pot on your turn when no prior bet has been made in the current round.

Bet Sizing

The amount chosen for a bet, often relative to the pot size or stack sizes. Strategic bet sizing is a key skill.

Big Blind (BB)

The larger of the two forced bets in games like Hold'em and Omaha, posted by the player two seats to the left of the dealer button. Also used as a unit of measure for stack sizes (e.g., "100 BB deep").

Blank

A community card (flop, turn, or river) that doesn't appear to change the likely hand strengths or complete obvious draws.

Block Bet / Blocker Bet

A small bet made out of position, primarily intended to discourage a larger bet from an opponent, thereby 'blocking' them and seeing the next card (or showdown) relatively cheaply.

Bluff

Betting or raising with a weak hand with the intention of making stronger hands fold.

Bluff Catcher

A hand that is not strong enough to beat an opponent's value bets, but strong enough to beat their bluffs. Calling with such a hand is "bluff catching".

Board

The community cards dealt face-up in the center of the table (flop, turn, and river).

Boat

Slang term for a Full House.

Bottom Pair

Pairing the lowest ranked card on the flop with one of your hole cards.

Bounty

A cash prize awarded in some tournaments for eliminating a specific player or any player (in knockout/bounty tournaments).

Brick

Synonym for Blank. A card that does not help your hand or complete draws.

Broadway

Refers to the highest straight (Ace-King-Queen-Jack-Ten). Also refers to any card ranked Ten through Ace.

Bubble

The point in a tournament directly before players start getting paid (making the money). The player eliminated last before the paid places is said to have "bubbled".

Burn Card

A card discarded face-down by the dealer before dealing the flop, turn, or river, intended to prevent cheating.

Button (Dealer Button / BTN)

A marker (usually a plastic disc) indicating the nominal dealer position. The player on the button acts last in post-flop betting rounds (flop, turn, river), which is the most advantageous position.

Buy-In

The amount of money required to enter a tournament or sit down at a cash game table. In tournaments, this often includes an entry fee (rake).

Call

To match the current highest bet made by another player.

Calling Station

A passive and loose player who calls bets frequently but rarely raises or folds, regardless of hand strength.

Cap / Capped

In Limit poker, the maximum number of raises allowed per betting round. In No-Limit, a "capped range" means a player's likely holdings are limited and don't include the strongest possible hands based on their actions.

Cash Game

A poker game where chips represent real money value, and players can buy-in or leave at any time (unlike a tournament). Also known as a Ring Game.

Check

To pass the action to the next player without betting, only possible if no bets have been made in the current round.

Check-Raise

Checking initially with the intention of raising if an opponent bets after you in the same round. Often used as a deceptive tactic with strong hands or as a bluff.

Chip Leader

The player with the most chips in a tournament.

Chop

To split the pot due to a tie. Can also refer to an agreement between remaining players in a tournament to divide the remaining prize money based on chip counts or another agreed-upon formula, ending the tournament early. Also, "chopping the blinds" is when all players fold to the blinds pre-flop, who agree to take their blinds back.

Coin Flip

A situation, typically pre-flop all-in, where two hands have roughly equal (around 50/50) equity against each other, like a pocket pair versus two overcards (e.g., QQ vs AK).

Cold Call

Calling more than one bet in a single action. E.g., if Player A bets, Player B raises, and Player C calls, Player C has cold-called the raise (calling both the initial bet and the raise).

Community Cards

Cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table that all players can use to make their best five-card hand (flop, turn, river in Hold'em/Omaha).

Connectors

Starting hands with cards of consecutive rank, like 7-8 or J-Q. Suited connectors (same suit) are generally stronger as they can make straights and flushes. Gapped connectors have ranks in between (e.g., 7-9).

Continuation Bet (C-Bet)

A bet made on the flop by the player who was the pre-flop aggressor (the last player to bet or raise before the flop), regardless of whether the flop helped their hand.

Cooler

A situation where a player has a very strong hand but loses to an even stronger hand, often resulting in losing a large pot with little way to avoid it (e.g., set over set, or King-high flush losing to an Ace-high flush).

Counterfeit

When a community card duplicates one of your hole cards or makes a pair on the board that diminishes the value of your two pair or potentially gives opponents a better hand (e.g., you hold 87 on a T96 board for a straight, and the turn is another T, potentially giving someone with a T a full house).

Cutoff (CO)

The position immediately to the right of the dealer button. A strong, late position.

Dead Man's Hand

Two pair, Aces and Eights. According to legend, this was the hand held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was shot dead.

Dealer

The person actually dealing the cards. In home games or casinos without a dedicated dealer, players may take turns dealing. The position is marked by the Button.

Deep Stack

Having a large number of chips relative to the blinds and antes, often considered 150 big blinds or more. Deep stack play allows for more complex post-flop maneuvering.

Dominated Hand

A hand that is likely to lose against another specific hand, usually because it shares a card but has a lower kicker (e.g., AJo is dominated by AKo).

Donk Bet

A bet made into the pre-flop aggressor, typically out of position on the flop, before the aggressor has had a chance to make a continuation bet. Often considered a weak or amateurish play ('donkey' bet), though it can sometimes be used strategically.

Double Barrel

Betting on both the flop and the turn, usually by the pre-flop aggressor. See Barrel.

Draw / Drawing Hand

A hand that is currently incomplete but has the potential to improve significantly (usually to a straight or flush) if the right community cards come on future streets.

Drawing Dead

Having a drawing hand that, even if completed, will still lose to an opponent's hand.

Dry Board

A board texture with community cards that don't offer many obvious flush or straight draw possibilities (e.g., K♠ 7♦ 2♣ rainbow).

Early Position (EP)

The seats that act first in a betting round, typically the first few seats to the left of the blinds (e.g., UTG, UTG+1). Generally requires playing stronger hands due to the disadvantage of acting early.

Equity

Your statistical share of the pot based on the probability of your hand winning if it went to showdown against your opponent's likely range of hands.

Expectation / Expected Value (EV)

The average outcome (profit or loss) you can expect from a particular play if it were repeated many times under the same conditions. Profitable plays have positive expected value (+EV), unprofitable plays have negative expected value (-EV).

Family Pot

A pot where most or all of the players at the table saw the flop, usually after minimal pre-flop betting (e.g., several limpers).

Fast Play

Playing a strong hand aggressively by betting and raising, rather than slow playing.

Favorite

A hand that has more than 50% equity to win the pot against another hand or range of hands.

Fish

Slang term for a weak, inexperienced, or unskilled player who tends to lose money. Often targeted by stronger players ('sharks').

Flat Call

Synonym for Call, especially used when a raise might have been expected but the player chose only to call.

Float

Calling a bet (especially a continuation bet on the flop) while out of position with a relatively weak hand, intending to bluff or take the pot away on a later street if the opponent shows weakness (e.g., checks the turn).

Flop

The first three community cards dealt face-up after the first (pre-flop) round of betting. Followed by the second betting round.

Flush

A five-card hand consisting of all cards of the same suit.

Flush Draw

Holding four cards of the same suit, needing one more card of that suit on the turn or river to complete the flush.

Fold

To discard your hand and forfeit any chance of winning the current pot.

Fold Equity

The additional equity gained from the chance that your opponent(s) will fold to your bet or raise. This is why bluffing and semi-bluffing can be profitable.

Four of a Kind (Quads)

A hand containing four cards of the same rank (e.g., four Jacks).

Free Card

Seeing the next community card (turn or river) without having to call a bet in the preceding round, often achieved by being the pre-flop aggressor and checking behind in position, or when all players check.

Freeroll

A poker tournament that requires no cash buy-in to enter. Also refers to a situation where a player is guaranteed to at least split the pot but has a chance to win it outright (e.g., both players have AK on an AQJT board, but one player also has a flush draw).

Full House (Full Boat)

A hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank (e.g., three Kings and two 7s).

Grinder

A player who plays poker professionally or semi-professionally, often playing long hours at relatively modest stakes to earn a consistent, gradual profit ('grinding' out a living).

Gutshot Straight Draw

A straight draw where only one specific rank card will complete the straight (e.g., holding 8-9 on a K-6-10 board needs a 7). Offers 4 outs. Also called an inside straight draw.

Hand

The cards a player holds. Can refer to just the hole cards or the best five-card combination made with the community cards. Also refers to a single deal/round of poker.

Heads-Up (HU)

A pot or game involving only two players.

Hero Call

Calling a large bet on the river with a relatively marginal hand because you suspect your opponent is bluffing.

High Card

The lowest ranking poker hand, where the hand's value is determined by the highest card when no pair or better is made.

Hijack (HJ)

The position immediately to the right of the Cutoff (two seats right of the Button). A middle-to-late position.

Hole Cards

The private cards dealt face-down to each player at the start of a hand (two in Hold'em, four in Omaha).

Implied Odds

Potential future winnings you expect to gain on later betting rounds if you hit your draw, beyond what's currently in the pot. These are considered when deciding whether to call a bet with a drawing hand when pot odds alone aren't sufficient.

In Position (IP)

Acting after your opponent(s) in a post-flop betting round. This is a significant advantage as you have more information when making decisions. The Button is always in position post-flop against all other players.

Independent Chip Model (ICM)

A mathematical model used primarily in tournaments to calculate a player's real-money equity based on their chip stack relative to the total chips in play and the tournament payout structure. Crucial for making correct decisions near and on the bubble, and at final tables.

Isolate / Isolation Raise

Raising pre-flop specifically to encourage players who act after you to fold, thereby playing the hand 'isolated' (ideally heads-up) against an earlier, weaker player (often a limper).

Jam

Slang for going All-In.

Kicker

An unpaired card in your hand used to determine the winner between hands of the same rank (e.g., A-K beats A-Q on a board of A-7-5-2-T because the King kicker beats the Queen kicker). Crucial in Hold'em.

LAG (Loose-Aggressive)

A playing style characterized by playing a wide range of starting hands (loose) and playing them aggressively (betting and raising frequently).

Late Position (LP)

The last seats to act in a betting round, typically the Cutoff (CO) and the Button (BTN). These are the most profitable positions.

Laydown

Folding a strong hand because you are convinced your opponent has an even stronger one. A "good laydown" saves chips.

Level (Tournament)

Designated periods in a tournament during which the blinds and antes remain at a fixed amount. Levels increase periodically, forcing more action.

Limit Poker

A poker format where bet and raise amounts are fixed at predetermined levels for each betting round (e.g., $2/$4 Limit Hold'em).

Limp / Limp In

Entering the pot pre-flop by just calling the big blind amount, rather than raising or folding. Open-limping (being the first player to limp) is generally considered a weak play in most games.

Live Cards

Hole cards that are not duplicated by community cards or (presumably) opponent's hole cards, meaning they still have the potential to make a pair or better. Often used when comparing unpaired hands pre-flop (e.g., KQ vs A7, the K and Q are 'live').

Live One

Slang for an inexperienced or reckless player (similar to Fish) who gives a lot of action.

Loose

A playing style characterized by playing a wider range of starting hands than average. See LAG, Calling Station.

Made Hand

A hand that is already strong (typically at least one pair) and doesn't need to improve to have showdown value, as opposed to a drawing hand.

Main Pot

The central pot containing chips contested by all active players, including those who are all-in for less than the current bet amount. Contrasted with side pots.

Middle Position (MP)

The seats between early position and late position (e.g., Hijack and seats to its right, depending on table size).

Misclick

In online poker, accidentally clicking the wrong betting action button (e.g., raising instead of folding).

Monster

An extremely strong hand, typically the nuts or very close to it.

Muck

To discard your hand face-down without showing it, usually when folding or when losing at showdown without needing to show. Also refers to the pile of discarded cards and burn cards.

Multi-Way Pot

A pot involving three or more players seeing the flop.

Nit

An extremely tight player who only plays premium starting hands and rarely bluffs. Easy to read but hard to extract value from unless you have a monster hand.

No-Limit Poker (NL / NLHE for Hold'em)

A poker format where players can bet any amount up to their entire stack at any point when it's their turn to act. The most popular form of Hold'em.

Nut Flush Draw

Holding four cards to a flush where the Ace is one of your hole cards, meaning if you hit the flush, it will be the highest possible (the nut) flush.

Nuts

The best possible hand given the current board cards and game type.

Offsuit

A starting hand where the two hole cards are of different suits (e.g., King of hearts and Queen of spades). Often denoted with an 'o' (e.g., KQo).

Omaha

A poker variant where players receive four hole cards and must use exactly two of them combined with exactly three of the five community cards to make their best hand. Usually played Pot-Limit (PLO).

One-Gap Connector

Connectors with one rank between them, e.g., 7-9 or T-Q.

Open / Open Raise

To be the first player to voluntarily enter the pot pre-flop by making a raise (an open raise).

Open-Ended Straight Draw (OESD)

A straight draw where cards of two different ranks will complete the straight (e.g., holding 8-9 on a K-7-6 board needs a 5 or a 10). Offers 8 outs.

Open Limp

Being the first player to enter the pot pre-flop by just calling the big blind.

Orbit

A full rotation of the blinds around the table.

Out of Position (OOP)

Acting before your opponent(s) in a post-flop betting round. This is a disadvantage as you have less information. The blinds are always OOP post-flop unless playing against each other.

Outs

The cards remaining in the deck that will improve your hand to a likely winning state (e.g., completing your flush or straight draw). Calculating outs is key to determining pot odds.

Overbet

A bet larger than the size of the current pot. Can be used to polarize your range (represent either the nuts or a bluff) or extract maximum value.

Overcall

Calling a bet after one or more players have already called it.

Overcard(s)

Hole card(s) that are higher in rank than any card on the board. If you hold AK and the flop is Q-7-2, you have two overcards.

Overpair

A pocket pair higher than any card on the flop (e.g., holding QQ on a T-5-2 board).

Pair

Two cards of the same rank.

Passive

A playing style characterized by checking and calling frequently, rather than betting or raising.

Play the Board

Using all five community cards as your best five-card hand at showdown (meaning your hole cards don't improve your hand). This results in a split pot if another player also plays the board.

Pocket Pair (PP)

A starting hand where both hole cards are of the same rank (e.g., 7-7, K-K).

Polarized Range / Polar

A range of hands that consists primarily of very strong hands (value) and weak hands (bluffs), with few medium-strength hands. Often associated with large bet sizes like overbets.

Position

Your seat at the table relative to the dealer button, determining the order of action in betting rounds. Late position is generally advantageous.

Post-Flop

The betting rounds that occur after the flop has been dealt (flop, turn, river).

Pot

The total amount of money wagered by all players in a single hand, which the winner collects.

Pot Committed

A situation where the size of the pot relative to your remaining stack makes folding mathematically incorrect, even if you suspect you might be beaten. You've invested too much to fold now based on pot odds.

Pot Control

Playing your hand in a way that limits the size of the pot, typically by checking or calling instead of betting or raising, often done with medium-strength hands or when out of position.

Pot Odds

The ratio of the current size of the pot to the cost of a contemplated call. This ratio is compared against the odds of making your hand (based on your outs) to determine if calling is mathematically profitable (+EV).

Pot-Limit Poker (PL / PLO for Omaha)

A poker format where the maximum allowed bet or raise amount at any time is equal to the current size of the total pot (including the amount required to call the previous bet).

Pre-Flop

The action (dealing hole cards and the first betting round) that takes place before any community cards (the flop) are dealt.

Probe Bet

A bet made on the turn or river by a player who is out of position and did not take the betting lead on the previous street (e.g., checked the flop), often used to gain information or take a stab at the pot when the previous aggressor checked behind.

Prop Bet (Proposition Bet)

A side wager made between players on outcomes not directly related to the hand itself (e.g., betting on what the flop color will be, or long-term challenges).

Protecting Your Hand

Betting with a made hand to discourage opponents with drawing hands from seeing the next card cheaply, or betting to prevent being bluffed off the best hand.

Quads

Slang for Four of a Kind.

Rabbit Hunt

Asking to see the community cards that would have been dealt if the hand hadn't ended early (e.g., seeing the turn and river after folding on the flop). Generally discouraged or disallowed in formal games.

Rag / Ragged

A low, seemingly insignificant card. A "ragged" flop offers few draw possibilities (e.g., 9-4-2 rainbow).

Rainbow

A flop (or board) where all the cards are of different suits, making immediate flushes impossible and flush draws less likely.

Raise

To increase the amount of the current highest bet in a betting round.

Rake

A commission fee taken by the cardroom or casino from each cash game pot or as part of a tournament buy-in. This is how the house makes money.

Range

The spectrum of possible hands a player might hold in a particular situation, based on their actions, position, tendencies, and the board texture. Thinking in terms of ranges instead of specific hands is key to advanced poker strategy.

Rebuy

An option in some tournaments allowing players who lose all their chips (or fall below a certain threshold) to purchase another stack during a designated rebuy period.

Represent (Rep)

To play your hand in a way that suggests you hold a specific type of hand (often a strong one), whether you actually have it or not (bluffing). "He's repping the flush."

Reverse Implied Odds

The potential amount you could lose on later streets if you make your hand but it's second-best (e.g., making a low flush when your opponent might make a higher one). This reduces the attractiveness of drawing to non-nut hands.

Ring Game

Synonym for Cash Game.

River

The fifth and final community card dealt face-up. Followed by the final round of betting.

Rock

Synonym for Nit. A very tight player.

Royal Flush

The highest possible hand in poker: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, all of the same suit.

Runner-Runner

Making a hand by hitting necessary cards on both the turn *and* the river. Synonym for Backdoor.

Satellite

A smaller tournament where the prize is not cash, but a buy-in (entry) to a larger, more expensive tournament.

Scare Card

A community card that could potentially complete strong draws (like flushes or straights) or make a strong hand for an opponent, potentially making players with previously strong hands hesitant.

Semi-Bluff

Betting or raising with a hand that is currently weak but has good potential to improve to a strong hand (a drawing hand). This combines fold equity with the equity of potentially making the best hand.

Set

Three of a kind made using a pocket pair and one matching community card (e.g., holding 7-7 on a board of K-7-2). Generally considered stronger and more hidden than trips.

Shark

A skilled, winning poker player who preys on weaker players ('fish').

Short Stack

Having a small number of chips relative to the blinds and antes, limiting post-flop options and often forcing all-in or fold decisions, especially in tournaments.

Showdown

If betting action is complete on the final round (river) and more than one player remains active, the remaining players reveal their hole cards to determine the winner of the pot.

Side Pot

A separate pot created when one player is all-in for fewer chips than other active players who continue betting. The all-in player is only eligible to win the main pot (and any side pots they contributed to equally). Players with more chips contest subsequent side pots amongst themselves.

Sit and Go (SnG / SNG)

A type of poker tournament that starts as soon as a predetermined number of players have registered (e.g., 9 players), rather than at a scheduled time.

Slow Play / Trap

Playing a very strong hand passively (checking or just calling) in early betting rounds to disguise its strength, hoping to induce bets or bluffs from opponents on later streets or lure them into the pot.

Slow Roll

Unnecessarily delaying the reveal of a winning hand at showdown, often considered bad etiquette.

Small Blind (SB)

The smaller of the two forced bets, posted by the player immediately to the left of the dealer button.

Smooth Call

Synonym for Flat Call. Just calling when a raise might be expected.

Split Pot

A pot that is divided equally among two or more players who have the same winning hand rank at showdown.

Spread Limit

A betting structure where bets or raises must be within a specified range (e.g., $1-$5 on any street).

Squeeze Play

Making a large re-raise pre-flop after one player has already raised and one or more other players have just called the initial raise. The goal is often to 'squeeze' out the callers and either take down the pot immediately or isolate the original raiser.

Stack

The total number of chips a player has in front of them at the table.

Stakes

The amount of money being wagered, usually defined by the size of the blinds in cash games (e.g., $1/$2 No-Limit) or the buy-in level in tournaments.

Steal

Attempting to win the blinds and antes pre-flop by making a raise from a late position (Cutoff or Button) when all players before have folded.

Steam

Being on tilt, playing emotionally.

Straddle

An optional extra blind bet, typically twice the size of the big blind, made pre-flop by the player 'under the gun' (left of the big blind) *before* looking at their cards. Creates more action by effectively raising the stakes for that hand. Some games allow button straddles or other variations.

Straight

A five-card hand consisting of cards of consecutive rank, but not all of the same suit (e.g., 7-8-9-T-J).

Straight Flush

A five-card hand consisting of cards of consecutive rank, all of the same suit. The second highest ranking hand after a Royal Flush.

Street

A round of dealing or betting in poker (Pre-flop, Flop, Turn, River).

String Bet

An illegal betting motion where a player puts some chips out to call and then reaches back for more chips to raise, or puts chips into the pot in multiple motions without declaring the raise verbally first. A single forward motion or verbal declaration is required.

Structured (Betting)

Refers to Limit or Pot-Limit betting structures, as opposed to No-Limit.

Suck Out

Hitting a lucky card on the turn or river to win a pot where you were previously a significant underdog. The player who wins performed the 'suck out'. See Bad Beat.

Suited

A starting hand where both hole cards are of the same suit (e.g., Ace-King of spades). Often denoted with an 's' (e.g., AKs).

Suited Connectors

Starting hands with cards of consecutive rank and the same suit (e.g., 7♦8♦). Valued for their potential to make straights and flushes.

TAG (Tight-Aggressive)

A playing style characterized by playing a relatively narrow range of strong starting hands (tight) but playing them aggressively (betting and raising). Often considered a solid, winning style.

Tank / Tanking

Taking a long time to make a decision during your turn to act.

Tell

An observable, often unconscious, change in a player's behavior, posture, betting patterns, or demeanor that potentially gives clues about the strength or weakness of their hand.

Texture (Board Texture)

The characteristics of the community cards, such as whether they are high or low, connected, suited, or paired. Texture dictates likely hand strengths and draw possibilities. (e.g., "wet texture" means lots of draws possible, "dry texture" means few draws).

Thin Value / Value Bet Thin

Making a relatively small bet with a medium-strength hand that you believe is likely best, hoping to get called by slightly worse hands. It's 'thin' because the margin for error is small – you might be betting into a better hand.

Tight

A playing style characterized by playing a narrower range of starting hands than average, usually focusing on strong hands. See TAG, Nit.

Tilt / On Tilt

Playing emotionally (usually frustrated or angry) rather than logically and strategically, often leading to poor decisions. Typically triggered by bad beats, coolers, or losing streaks.

Time Bank

In online poker, a reserve of extra time allotted to players for making difficult decisions beyond the standard time limit per action.

Toke

A tip given to the dealer by the winner of a pot, customary in live poker games.

Top Pair

Pairing the highest ranked card on the flop with one of your hole cards. Top Pair Top Kicker (TPTK) is having top pair with an Ace kicker (or the best possible kicker for that pair).

Tournament

A poker competition where players buy in for a set amount and receive tournament chips. Play continues until one player has all the chips, with prizes awarded to a predetermined number of top finishers based on the payout structure. Blinds increase over time.

Trap / Trapping

Synonym for Slow Play. Playing a very strong hand weakly to induce action from opponents.

Trips

Three of a kind made using one hole card and two matching community cards (e.g., holding A-K on a board of A-A-7). Considered less hidden and potentially weaker than a set.

Turn

The fourth community card dealt face-up, following the flop betting round. Followed by the third round of betting.

Two Pair

A hand containing two cards of one rank, two cards of another rank, and one kicker (e.g., two Jacks and two 8s).

Under the Gun (UTG)

The position immediately to the left of the big blind. This player acts first in the pre-flop betting round, considered the worst position. UTG+1 is the next seat, etc.

Underdog (Dog)

A hand or player that is statistically less likely to win the pot than their opponent(s).

Value Bet

Betting with what you believe is the best hand with the primary intention of getting called by worse hands, thereby extracting value. Contrasted with a bluff.

Variance

The natural upswings and downswings in results due to short-term luck, even when playing a winning strategy. Higher variance means more extreme swings.

Villain

Slang term used in hand analysis to refer to any opponent in the hand (as opposed to 'Hero', which refers to the player analyzing the hand).

VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money In Pot)

A statistic, common in online poker tracking software, representing the percentage of hands in which a player voluntarily puts money into the pot pre-flop (by calling or raising, not posting blinds). A key indicator of how loose or tight a player is.

Walk

When all players fold to the big blind pre-flop, allowing the big blind to win the blinds and antes without any action.

Wash

Mixing the deck by spreading the cards face down on the table and swirling them around before shuffling.

Weak Ace

An Ace with a low kicker (e.g., A2 through A9). Can be easily dominated.

Wet Board

A board texture with community cards that offer many strong draw possibilities (straights and flushes) or are coordinated (e.g., K♠ Q♠ T♦ or 8♥ 7♥ 6♣). Leads to more action and complex play.

Whale

A very wealthy, often very weak (fish) player who plays at high stakes and loses significant amounts of money. Highly sought after by professional players.

Wheel

A straight from Ace to Five (A-2-3-4-5), where the Ace plays low. Also refers to cards Ace through Five.