Poker Glossary — 100+ Terms Explained

Search or browse the complete poker dictionary with definitions and examples.

Action

行动

A player's turn to act during a hand. It can also refer to the overall betting activity at the table.

"The action is on you — are you going to call or raise?"

All-In

全下

Betting all of your remaining chips on a single hand. Once all-in, you cannot make further bets but remain eligible for the pot up to your contribution.

"He went all-in with pocket aces on the flop."

Ante

前注

A forced bet that every player at the table must post before the hand begins. Antes create a starting pot and encourage action.

"The tournament structure uses a 100-chip ante starting at level 5."

Backdoor

后门

A draw that requires both the turn and river cards to complete. For example, needing two more hearts to make a flush after the flop.

"I hit a backdoor flush on the river to win the pot."

Bad Beat

爆冷

Losing a hand despite being a significant statistical favorite. Bad beats are memorable because the underdog hits an unlikely card to win.

"Getting my aces cracked by 7-2 offsuit was the worst bad beat of my career."

Bankroll

资金

The total amount of money a player has set aside specifically for playing poker. Good bankroll management is essential for long-term success.

"With a $5,000 bankroll, I only play $1/$2 cash games."

Bet

下注

Placing chips into the pot as the first player to wager in a betting round. A bet forces other players to call, raise, or fold.

"She bet half the pot on the flop with top pair."

Blank

空牌

A community card that appears unlikely to help any player's hand. A blank usually doesn't change the board texture significantly.

"The river was a blank — a deuce of clubs that changed nothing."

Blinds

盲注

Forced bets posted by the two players to the left of the dealer before cards are dealt. The small blind and big blind create the initial pot.

"The blinds go up every 15 minutes in this tournament."

Bluff

诈唬

Betting or raising with a weak hand to make opponents believe you have a strong hand, hoping they will fold. Bluffing is a core skill in poker.

"His river bluff with ace-high forced everyone to fold."

Board

公共牌面

The community cards dealt face-up in the center of the table. In Hold'em, the board consists of up to five cards (flop, turn, and river).

"The board showed A-K-Q-J-T, making a straight for everyone."

Bubble

泡沫期

The stage in a tournament when one more elimination will bring the remaining players into the money. The bubble is a critical strategic phase.

"We're on the bubble with 37 players left and 36 getting paid."

Button (BTN)

按钮位

The dealer position, marked by a round disc. The button is the most advantageous position because you act last on every post-flop street.

"I love playing from the button — I get to see everyone's action first."

Buy-In

买入

The amount of money required to enter a poker game or tournament. In cash games, buy-ins usually have a minimum and maximum range.

"The tournament has a $500 buy-in with unlimited re-entries."

Call

跟注

Matching the current bet to stay in the hand. Calling does not increase the bet — it simply matches what the previous player has wagered.

"I called his $50 bet on the turn with my flush draw."

Check

过牌

Passing the action to the next player without betting, only available when no bet has been made in the current round. Checking keeps you in the hand for free.

"Everyone checked on the flop, so we saw the turn for free."

Check-Raise

过牌加注

A deceptive play where you check to induce an opponent's bet, then raise when the action returns to you. It shows strength or can be used as a bluff.

"She check-raised the flop to represent a set."

Community Cards

公共牌

Cards dealt face-up in the center of the table that all players share to make their best hand. In Hold'em, there are five community cards.

"The community cards completed my straight on the river."

Continuation Bet (C-Bet)

持续下注

A bet made on the flop by the player who was the pre-flop aggressor, regardless of whether the flop improved their hand. C-bets maintain the initiative.

"I made a half-pot c-bet on a dry flop to take it down."

Cutoff (CO)

关煞位

The seat directly to the right of the button. The cutoff is a strong late position with good stealing opportunities, as only the button acts after you.

"From the cutoff, I raised with suited connectors to steal the blinds."

Dealer

荷官/庄家

The person who deals the cards. In casino games, a professional dealer handles the cards; the 'dealer button' rotates among players to determine betting order.

"The dealer burned a card and dealt the river."

Donk Bet

驴注

A bet made out of position by a player who was not the pre-flop aggressor. Traditionally considered a weak play, but modern players use it strategically.

"His donk bet on the flop confused everyone at the table."

Draw

听牌

A hand that is not yet complete but has the potential to become a strong hand with the right community cards. Common draws include flush draws and straight draws.

"I had a flush draw on the flop with two hearts in my hand."

Early Position

前位

The seats that must act first in a betting round, typically Under the Gun and the next one or two seats. Playing from early position requires stronger hands.

"I only play premium hands from early position."

Equity

胜率

Your mathematical share of the pot based on the probability of winning the hand at a given point. Equity changes as community cards are revealed.

"With a flush draw on the flop, I had about 35% equity."

Expected Value (EV)

期望值

The average amount you expect to win or lose on a play over the long run. Positive EV (+EV) plays are profitable; negative EV (-EV) plays lose money over time.

"Calling that bet was +EV because the pot odds exceeded my drawing odds."

Fish

鱼

A weak or inexperienced player who makes frequent mistakes and is expected to lose money. The term is common in poker slang but considered impolite.

"The table had two fish who were calling every bet."

Float

浮动跟注

Calling a bet on one street (usually the flop) with a weak hand, intending to bluff on a later street when the original bettor shows weakness.

"I floated his c-bet on the flop and took it down on the turn."

Flop

翻牌

The first three community cards dealt face-up simultaneously after the first round of betting. The flop dramatically changes hand equities and strategy.

"The flop came ace-king-queen, giving me the nut straight."

Flush

同花

A hand consisting of five cards of the same suit, not in sequential order. A flush beats a straight but loses to a full house in standard poker.

"I made a heart flush on the river to beat his straight."

Fold

弃牌

Surrendering your hand and forfeiting any chips already in the pot. Folding is the correct play when your hand is too weak relative to the bet.

"I had to fold my middle pair when facing a huge river bet."

Four of a Kind

四条

A hand containing four cards of the same rank plus one kicker. Four of a Kind is the third-strongest hand, beaten only by straight flushes.

"I flopped four jacks — the best hand I've ever been dealt."

Freeroll

免费锦标赛

A tournament with no entry fee that awards real prizes. Freerolls are popular among beginners as a way to build a bankroll without risk.

"I won my first $50 in a freeroll tournament."

Full House

葫芦

A hand composed of three of a kind plus a pair. A full house beats a flush but loses to four of a kind. Also called a 'boat'.

"My full house, kings full of nines, beat his flush."

Grinding

磨

Playing poker for extended periods with a steady, disciplined strategy focused on small, consistent profits rather than big gambles.

"I've been grinding $1/$2 cash games for the past month."

Gutshot

卡顺

A straight draw that needs one specific card in the middle to complete. A gutshot has only 4 outs, compared to 8 for an open-ended straight draw.

"I needed a seven to complete my gutshot straight draw."

GTO (Game Theory Optimal)

GTO（博弈论最优策略）

A mathematically balanced strategy that cannot be exploited by opponents. GTO play aims for unexploitable decisions rather than maximum profit against specific players.

"Studying GTO helped me understand balanced ranges for each position."

Heads-Up

单挑

A game or situation where only two players are competing against each other. Heads-up play requires different strategy than multi-way pots.

"We played heads-up for three hours in the tournament final."

High Card

高牌

The weakest poker hand ranking, where no cards match or form a sequence. The hand's value is determined by its highest card.

"I won with ace-high when both of us missed the board completely."

Hole Cards

底牌

The private cards dealt face-down to each player. In Texas Hold'em, each player receives two hole cards that only they can see.

"My hole cards were ace-king suited — a premium starting hand."

ICM (Independent Chip Model)

ICM（独立筹码模型）

A mathematical model that converts tournament chip stacks into real monetary value based on the payout structure. ICM is crucial for final table decisions.

"According to ICM, I should fold AK here because of the pay jump."

Implied Odds

隐含赔率

The potential future winnings you can expect if you hit your draw, beyond what is currently in the pot. Implied odds justify calling bets with drawing hands.

"The implied odds are great because he'll pay me off if I hit my flush."

In Position

有位置

Acting after your opponent in a betting round. Being in position provides a significant information advantage and is one of the most important concepts in poker.

"Playing in position allows me to control the pot size more easily."

Jam

全推

To go all-in, especially aggressively. 'Jamming' often refers to shoving all your chips in pre-flop or as a bluff.

"With only 10 big blinds left, I jammed with any ace."

Kicker

踢脚牌

The highest unpaired side card that breaks ties between hands of the same rank. Kickers often determine the winner when two players have the same pair.

"We both had a pair of aces, but my king kicker beat his queen."

Late Position

后位

Seats that act last in a betting round, including the cutoff and button. Late position provides the most information and the widest range of playable hands.

"From late position, I can profitably play suited connectors."

Limp

跛入

Entering the pot by just calling the big blind instead of raising. Limping is generally considered a passive and weak play in modern poker.

"Three players limped in, so I raised from the button to isolate."

Main Event

主赛事

The featured tournament at a poker series, typically with the largest buy-in and prize pool. The WSOP Main Event is the most prestigious poker tournament.

"He satellite'd into the Main Event and finished 3rd."

Muck

盖牌

To discard your hand without showing it. Players can muck when folding or when they lose at showdown and choose not to reveal their cards.

"He mucked his hand after seeing my full house at showdown."

Nit

石头

An extremely tight player who only plays the very best hands and avoids risky situations. Nits are predictable and rarely bluff.

"That nit hasn't played a hand in the last 45 minutes."

Nuts

坚果牌

The best possible hand given the current board. Having the nuts means no other hand can beat you at that moment.

"With ace-high flush on a non-paired board, I had the nuts."

Offsuit

杂色/不同花

Hole cards of different suits. Offsuit hands are weaker than their suited counterparts because they cannot make a flush.

"Ace-king offsuit is still a strong hand, just not as good as ace-king suited."

Open (Open-Raise)

开池加注

Making the first raise in a betting round when no one has entered the pot. Opening sets the tone for the rest of the hand.

"I opened to 3 big blinds from middle position with pocket tens."

Outs

补牌

The number of remaining cards in the deck that will improve your hand to a likely winner. Counting outs is essential for calculating pot odds.

"With an open-ended straight draw, I have 8 outs."

Overbet

超额下注

Betting more than the current size of the pot. Overbets are used to maximize pressure on opponents or to extract maximum value with a very strong hand.

"He overbet the pot on the river, putting me in a tough spot."

Overpair

超对

A pocket pair higher than any card on the board. For example, holding pocket kings on a board of Q-7-3.

"My overpair of aces held up against his top pair."

Pocket Pair

口袋对子

Two hole cards of the same rank. Pocket pairs range from pocket twos (the weakest) to pocket aces (the strongest starting hand).

"Pocket jacks is a tricky hand to play post-flop."

Position

位置

Your seat relative to the dealer button, determining when you act in each betting round. Position is one of the most important strategic factors in poker.

"Position is everything — I'd rather have position than better cards."

Pot

底池

The total amount of chips or money wagered in the current hand. All bets go into the pot, which is awarded to the winner at showdown.

"The pot grew to $500 after the turn bet."

Pot Odds

底池赔率

The ratio of the current pot size to the cost of a call. Pot odds help determine whether calling a bet is mathematically profitable.

"I was getting 4-to-1 pot odds, which justified calling with my draw."

Pre-Flop

翻牌前

The first betting round that occurs after players receive their hole cards but before the flop is dealt. Pre-flop decisions set the foundation for the rest of the hand.

"I 3-bet pre-flop with ace-queen to narrow the field."

Raise

加注

Increasing the current bet in a betting round. A raise forces other players to either call the new amount, re-raise, or fold.

"He raised to $25 on the flop, and I re-raised to $75."

Range

范围

The complete set of hands a player might hold in a given situation. Thinking in terms of ranges rather than specific hands is a hallmark of advanced play.

"His raising range from UTG is probably limited to premium hands."

River

河牌

The fifth and final community card dealt after the turn. The river is the last chance to improve your hand before the showdown.

"The river card was an ace, completing my nut flush."

Rock

石头

A very tight, conservative player who rarely enters pots and almost never bluffs. Rocks wait for premium hands and play them straightforwardly.

"When that rock raises, I know he has at least kings or aces."

Royal Flush

皇家同花顺

The highest possible hand in poker: A-K-Q-J-10 all of the same suit. A royal flush is unbeatable and occurs approximately once every 650,000 hands.

"I hit a royal flush once in my life — it was a surreal moment."

Satellite

卫星赛

A smaller, cheaper tournament where the prize is a seat (entry) into a larger, more expensive tournament.

"I won a $50 satellite to enter the $1,000 main event."

Semi-Bluff

半诈唬

Betting or raising with a hand that is likely behind but has significant draw potential. A semi-bluff can win by making opponents fold or by hitting the draw.

"I semi-bluffed with my flush draw, and he folded top pair."

Set

暗三条

Three of a kind made with a pocket pair plus one matching community card. A set is stronger and more disguised than 'trips' (three of a kind with one hole card).

"I flopped a set of nines and slow-played it to the river."

Short Stack

短筹码

Having relatively few chips compared to the blinds or other players. Short-stacked players have limited strategic options, often resorting to push-or-fold decisions.

"With only 8 big blinds, I was short-stacked and looking to shove."

Showdown

摊牌

The final phase of a hand where remaining players reveal their cards to determine the winner. A showdown occurs when all betting is complete.

"At showdown, his two pair beat my top pair."

Sit & Go (SNG)

坐满即玩

A tournament that starts as soon as enough players register, typically 6, 9, or 10 players. SNGs are faster and more convenient than scheduled tournaments.

"I play 9-player sit-and-gos to practice tournament strategy."

Slow-Play

慢打

Playing a very strong hand passively (checking or calling instead of betting) to disguise its strength and trap opponents into betting more.

"I slow-played my pocket aces by just calling pre-flop."

Squeeze Play

挤压打法

A large re-raise made after an initial raise and one or more callers. The squeeze exploits the fact that callers usually have medium-strength hands.

"I squeezed to $35 from the button after two limpers called a raise."

Straight

顺子

Five cards in sequential order but not all of the same suit. A straight beats three of a kind but loses to a flush.

"I made a straight with 5-6-7-8-9 on the river."

Straight Flush

同花顺

Five consecutive cards all of the same suit. A straight flush is the second-strongest hand, beaten only by a royal flush.

"A 5-6-7-8-9 of diamonds is a straight flush."

Suited

同花

Hole cards of the same suit. Suited hands have additional value because they can make flushes, adding roughly 2-3% equity over their offsuit counterparts.

"Ace-king suited is one of the best starting hands in poker."

Tell

破绽

A physical behavior or betting pattern that reveals information about a player's hand. Tells can be conscious or unconscious and are key to reading opponents.

"His hands shook when he bet, which is a classic tell of a strong hand."

Three-Bet (3-Bet)

3-Bet（三次下注）

The third bet in a sequence: the blinds are the first bet, an open-raise is the second, and a re-raise is the third (the 3-bet). It indicates strength or is used as a bluff.

"I 3-bet his open with ace-queen from the button."

Three of a Kind

三条

Three cards of the same rank plus two unrelated cards. Three of a Kind beats Two Pair but loses to a Straight.

"I made three of a kind with my pocket sevens on a 7-J-Q board."

Tilt

上头

A state of emotional frustration that causes a player to make irrational, suboptimal decisions. Tilt often follows a bad beat or series of losses.

"After losing with aces twice, I went on tilt and lost my whole stack."

Turn

转牌

The fourth community card dealt face-up after the flop betting round. The turn narrows down hand possibilities and often features larger bets.

"The turn card was the king of spades, completing my flush draw."

Two Pair

两对

A hand containing two different pairs plus one kicker. Two Pair beats One Pair but loses to Three of a Kind.

"I had two pair, aces and nines, and it held up at showdown."

Under the Gun (UTG)

枪口位

The player sitting directly to the left of the big blind, who must act first pre-flop. UTG is the most disadvantageous position for starting hand selection.

"From UTG, I only raise with top 10% of hands."

Value Bet

价值下注

A bet made with a hand you believe is the best, aiming to be called by a worse hand. Value betting is how winning players extract the most profit.

"I made a thin value bet on the river with top pair, good kicker."

Variance

波动

The statistical measure of how much actual results deviate from expected results over time. High variance means bigger swings between winning and losing streaks.

"Tournament poker has much higher variance than cash games."

VPIP (Voluntarily Put In Pot)

VPIP（自愿投入底池率）

A statistic showing what percentage of hands a player voluntarily enters the pot. A high VPIP indicates a loose player; low VPIP means tight.

"His VPIP of 45% tells me he's playing way too many hands."

Wet Board

湿润牌面

A community card texture with many draw possibilities (straights, flushes). Wet boards require more cautious play as many hands can improve.

"On a wet board of 8-9-T with two hearts, many draws are possible."

Wheel

自行车

The lowest possible straight: A-2-3-4-5. The ace plays as low in this combination. Also called a 'bicycle'.

"I made the wheel with A-2 when the board came 3-4-5."

X-Factor

X因素

An unpredictable element that can influence the outcome of a poker hand or session, such as a player's mood, table dynamics, or unexpected card run-outs.

"The x-factor at this table is the aggressive player in seat 3."

Zero-Sum Game

零和博弈

A situation where one player's gain equals another's loss. Cash game poker is a zero-sum game (minus the rake taken by the house).

"Poker is a zero-sum game — every chip I win comes from someone else."

How to Use This Poker Glossary

This searchable poker dictionary contains over 100 essential terms covering every aspect of Texas Hold'em and other popular poker variants. Here's how to make the most of it:

Search by keyword: Type any English or Chinese poker term in the search box above. Results filter instantly as you type — no need to press Enter.
Browse by letter: Click any letter in the A–Z navigation bar to jump directly to that section. Gray letters indicate no terms starting with that letter.
Share a specific term: Each term has a unique anchor URL. Click any term's heading to update the URL in your browser's address bar (e.g., #all-in), then share that link.
Learn in context: Every term includes a practical usage example showing how it's used in a real poker scenario.

Why Understanding Poker Terminology Matters

Poker has its own rich vocabulary that has evolved over more than a century of play. Understanding these terms is essential for several reasons:

Communication at the table: Misunderstanding a term like "check-raise" or "three-bet" can lead to costly mistakes. Knowing the language ensures you follow the action correctly.
Strategy comprehension: Poker books, training videos, and forum discussions all use specialized terminology. Terms like "equity," "implied odds," and "GTO" are foundational to advanced strategy discussion.
Confidence building: Walking into a poker room or joining an online table without knowing the vocabulary is like visiting a foreign country without speaking the language. This glossary is your phrasebook.

Whether you're a complete beginner hearing "UTG" for the first time, or an experienced player wanting a quick refresher on "reverse implied odds," this glossary has you covered.

How Terms Are Organized

Each entry follows a consistent format: the English term name, its Chinese equivalent, a clear definition (50–100 words), and a practical example sentence. Terms are sorted alphabetically by their English name, making it easy to find exactly what you're looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many poker terms are in this glossary?

Over 100 essential terms covering basic actions (bet, call, fold), positions (UTG, button, cutoff), hand rankings (flush, straight, full house), strategic concepts (GTO, ICM, equity), and common poker slang (fish, nit, tilt).

What does 'GTO' mean in poker?

GTO stands for Game Theory Optimal — a mathematically balanced strategy designed to be unexploitable. GTO play aims for theoretically perfect decisions rather than maximum profit against specific opponents.

What is the difference between a 'set' and 'trips'?

A set is three of a kind made using a pocket pair plus one community card (e.g., you hold 7-7 and the board has a 7). Trips uses one hole card and two board cards. Sets are stronger because opponents are less likely to suspect you have three of a kind.

What does 'tilt' mean in poker?

Tilt is a state of emotional frustration — often triggered by a bad beat or losing streak — that causes a player to abandon their usual strategy and make irrational decisions. Recognizing and managing tilt is one of the most important mental skills in poker.

Is this glossary free to use?

Yes. This glossary is entirely free, requires no registration, and works offline after loading. Every term has a shareable anchor link so you can point friends directly to specific definitions.