Know Your Poker Vocabulary and Enhance your Poker Game
February 5th, 2010 | Published in Inrodution
Poker players use a vocabulary all their own. You will need to know the meaning of these words to keep from being completely lost at a poker table during a game, or from looking like a beginner (even if you are one.) Some of the most common vocabulary is used at every poker table across a wide variety of games and knowing them can mean the difference between winning and loosing.
Common Lingo Heard Around the Poker Table
Limit Poker- Limit Poker refers to a poker game with set betting limits. For example, if you are playing a two to four dollar limit game, the first round of betting is two dollars and the second round of betting is four dollars.
Shorthand- A shorthand refers to a poker game being played with up to six players at the table.
Longhand- A longhand refers to a poker game being played with seven or more players at the table
Position- A position refers to where you are sitting at the poker table. Your position can greatly influence your odds. For example, the dealer has the best position because he or she is the last to bet after seeing what everyone else has in his or her hand.
Small Blind- A small blind refers to the first position at the poker table. This person has the worst position at the poker table because he or she has to bet first, before seeing any cards the other players are dealt.
Board Cards- Board Cards refer to the cards dealt to the middle of the poker table. These cards are shared by every player at the table to use in their hand.
Blinds- A blind refers to a bet that takes place instead of an Ante. In a blind, the player seated to the left of the dealer must pay the smaller blind, while the person seated after that player must pay the larger blind.
Outs- Outs refer to cards that help a player’s hand. If you need two different cards to make your hand, then you have eight outs in the deck because there is four of each card.
Knowing your poker vocabulary is as important as knowing the game of poker itself. The dealer and the other player’s at the table will speak in “poker lingo” and it is important that you know it to understand what is going on in the game.