Jack Benny: A playing style characterized by always having a hand total of 39, named after the comedian who often claimed to be 39 years old.
Jacks or Better: A poker variant where a player needs at least a pair of jacks or higher to win. Commonly used in video poker, it sets the minimum hand that qualifies for a payout.
Jagging is a slang term in poker that refers to the act of cheating or using dishonest methods to gain an advantage in the game. It often involves marked cards, sleight of hand, or other deceptive practices to manipulate the outcome in one’s favor.
Joker Poker: A variation of traditional poker that includes the use of one or more jokers as wild cards. These jokers can substitute for any card to create stronger hands, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement to the game. Common in home games and casinos, Joker Poker requires strategic adjustments due to the additional wild cards.
Juice, often referred to as ‘vigorish’ or ‘vig,’ is the fee charged by a bookmaker or house for taking a bet. In poker, it can also refer to the commission taken by the casino from each pot in a cash game, commonly known as the rake.
LAG (Loose Aggressive) refers to a poker player who frequently plays a wide range of hands and adopts an aggressive style of betting and raising. This strategy aims to apply pressure on opponents by making them uncomfortable and forcing them to make difficult decisions, often leading to higher variance in outcomes.
Late Position: Refers to the positions near the dealer button, usually the cutoff and button seats. Players in these positions act towards the end of a betting round, providing them with the advantage of observing other players’ actions before making their own decisions.
Let Slide: A poker strategy where a player chooses not to bet aggressively with a strong hand, allowing opponents to potentially bet and build the pot.
In poker, ‘Level’ refers to the depth of strategic thinking a player employs. It involves anticipating an opponent’s thoughts and actions, often expressed as levels like ‘level one’ thinking (considering one’s own cards) to ‘level two’ (considering what the opponent thinks you have), and so on, each level adding a layer of complexity to the strategic considerations.
Leverage: In poker, leverage refers to the use of a player’s stack size as a strategic advantage to apply pressure on opponents, often by threatening their tournament life or significant portion of their stack, thereby forcing them to make difficult decisions.
Limit Holdem: A poker variant where players can only bet or raise by fixed amounts. Popular in cash games and tournaments, it emphasizes strategic play and pot control.
Limit: A betting structure in poker where players can only bet or raise by a predetermined amount. Typically used in games like Fixed Limit Hold’em, where the bet size is fixed in each round.
Limp: In poker, limping refers to the action of just calling the minimum bet in the first round of betting, instead of raising or folding. It is often considered a passive play and can be a sign of a weak hand or a strategy to see the flop cheaply.
Limp-In: Entering a poker hand by calling the minimum bet rather than raising, typically done from an early position or with a marginal hand.
Liquidity refers to the ease and speed with which poker chips or cash can be exchanged or used within a game or between players, without causing significant price changes or losses.
Live Poker refers to playing poker in-person, typically at a casino or a home game, where players physically interact and handle real cards and chips, as opposed to online poker which is played over the internet.
Lodden Thinks is a betting game originating in poker circles, where two players wager on what a third person (often referred to as the ‘judge’) thinks about a particular question. The judge provides their opinion or estimate, and the players bet against each other on what that opinion or estimate might be.
Long-term staking: A financial arrangement where a backer provides funding for a player’s buy-ins over an extended period. The player agrees to share a percentage of their winnings with the backer. This setup allows players to manage variance while providing backers potential returns on their investment in the player’s success.
Longball: A poker strategy that involves playing aggressively with large bets or raises, often to intimidate opponents and force them to fold, thus winning the pot without having to show the best hand.
Loose Aggressive: A playing style characterized by frequent betting and raising with a wide range of hands, aiming to apply pressure on opponents.
Loose Passive: A player style characterized by frequently calling bets and rarely raising. Such players often enter many hands but do not play aggressively, making them susceptible to stronger, more aggressive opponents.
Low Ball: A variant of poker where the lowest hand wins, often played in draw poker formats. Commonly uses ace-to-five or deuce-to-seven hand rankings.
Low Limit: A poker game with small betting amounts, often featuring a fixed limit on the maximum bet allowed per round. Commonly used for beginners or casual players as it reduces the risk of large losses.
Lowball: A poker variant where the lowest hand wins the pot. Popular forms include Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw, and Ace-to-Five.
LP (Late Position) in poker refers to the seating positions at the table that act last during a betting round, typically including the cutoff, button, and sometimes the hijack seats. Players in late position have the advantage of seeing how others act before making their own decisions, allowing for better-informed strategic moves.
Luck refers to the unpredictable and uncontrollable elements that can influence the outcome of a poker game. It encompasses random factors such as card distribution and unforeseen events that can either positively or negatively affect a player’s performance, regardless of their skill level or strategy.
M-ratio: A metric in poker that represents the number of rounds you can survive without posting additional blinds or antes. Calculated by dividing your chip stack by the sum of blinds and antes in a round, it helps determine your level of urgency in tournament play.
Make-up: In the context of poker staking, make-up refers to the amount of money a player needs to win before they can start receiving a share of their winnings again. This typically occurs in a staking arrangement where a backer covers the player’s buy-ins, and any losses accumulate as make-up. The player must clear this debt before profits are split.
Mark-up in poker refers to the additional percentage a player charges investors on top of their tournament buy-in. It compensates the player for their skill and potential profit. For example, if the buy-in is $1,000 and the mark-up is 20%, investors pay $1,200.
Massaging the Pot: A strategy where a player bets small amounts to gradually increase the pot size, often used to entice opponents to call or raise, leading to a bigger final pot.
Match the Stack: A rule in poker where a player must match the largest stack at the table if they wish to buy in or rebuy, ensuring they have the same maximum amount of chips as the leading player.
MDF, or Minimum Defense Frequency, is a poker concept used to determine the percentage of hands a player should continue with to prevent an opponent from profitably exploiting them with frequent bluffs. It ensures the player is not folding too much when facing a bet. The formula is MDF = 1 – (bet size / (pot size + bet size)).
Mechanic’s grip: A method of holding a deck of cards designed to facilitate sleight of hand techniques. Typically, the deck is held with the fingers on one side and the thumb on the opposite side, allowing for discreet manipulation and control of the cards.
Metagame: The broader strategy and decision-making process in poker, considering opponents’ tendencies, game dynamics, and psychological factors beyond the current hand.
Middle Position: A player sitting in the middle few seats at a poker table, typically with 6-9 players. Positioned between early and late positions, this player acts after the early positions but before the late positions during a betting round. Strategic play is crucial, balancing aggression and caution based on other players’ actions.
Minimum Defense Frequency: The percentage of hands a player must defend against a bet to prevent opponents from exploiting them with bluffs.
Minimum Sit Down: The smallest amount of money or chips a player must bring to the table to participate in a poker game. This amount is typically set by the casino or the house rules and varies depending on the stakes of the game.
Monte Carlo simulation is a mathematical technique used to understand the impact of risk and uncertainty in prediction and forecasting models. In poker, it’s used to simulate many hands and analyze outcomes to estimate probabilities of various scenarios, helping players make informed decisions.
Morton’s Theorem describes a situation in poker where a player is disadvantaged by the presence of additional opponents in a pot. It suggests that sometimes a player can lose more money when an opponent folds than when they stay in, due to the collective odds of opponents’ hands.
MP (Middle Position): In poker, MP refers to the seating position at the poker table that is located between early and late positions. Typically, it is advantageous as it provides a balanced opportunity to observe the actions of players in early positions while still having the chance to act before those in later positions.
MTT (Multi-table tournament): A poker tournament format where players compete on multiple tables simultaneously. As players are eliminated, tables consolidate until one final table remains, culminating in a single winner or split prizes for the top finishers.
Multi-table playing: Refers to the practice of participating in multiple poker games simultaneously. This strategy allows players to increase potential winnings and experience but requires significant focus and skill to manage different games at once.
Multi-way: A poker situation where three or more players are involved in a single hand or pot, often resulting in more complex dynamics and strategies compared to heads-up play.
Must Move: A policy in poker rooms where players are required to move from one table to another to accommodate new players. Typically used to keep main games full while allowing overflow games to operate.
Mystery Bounty: A poker tournament format where players earn a bounty for eliminating opponents, but the exact value of each bounty is unknown until it’s claimed. Prize amounts vary, adding an element of surprise and excitement.
Nash Equilibrium: A concept in game theory where players reach a situation where no participant can gain by changing their strategy while the others keep theirs unchanged. In poker, it refers to a strategy where players make optimal decisions based on the assumption that their opponents are also playing optimally.
New Guinea Stud: A poker variant where players are dealt five cards, and they must discard two, keeping the other three to form the best possible hand.
New York Stud: A variation of poker where players receive five cards, two face down and three face up, with a round of betting after each face-up card is dealt. Often played with a high-low split pot.
NFD (Nut Flush Draw): A poker hand draw where a player has four cards of the same suit and is one card away from achieving the best possible flush.
NL stands for No-Limit, a type of poker where there is no maximum bet on each hand, allowing players to wager all their chips at once. This format is common in Texas Hold’em and Omaha games.
NLHE (No-limit Hold em) is a popular poker variant where players can bet any amount, up to all their chips, at any time. It is played with two hole cards per player and five community cards, with the goal to make the best five-card poker hand.
No Limit: A type of poker game where there is no maximum limit on the amount a player can bet or raise in any betting round, allowing players to wager their entire stack at any time.
Nut Advantage refers to a situation in poker where a player is more likely to have the strongest possible hand, or ‘nuts,’ based on the community cards. It often arises from the player’s position, betting patterns, or the range of hands they are perceived to hold.
Nut Low: The best possible low hand in a split-pot game, typically in games like Omaha Hi-Lo, where both the high and low hands share the pot. The nut low is unbeatable by any other low hand.
OESFD: An acronym for ‘Open Ended Straight Flush Draw,’ which refers to a poker hand where a player needs one card to complete both a straight and a flush, enhancing the chances of winning by forming a strong hand.
Omaha is a popular variant of poker, similar to Texas Hold’em. In Omaha, each player is dealt four private cards and must use exactly two of them, along with three of the five community cards, to make the best five-card hand. The game is typically played in a pot-limit format, known as Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), and is renowned for its strategic depth and complexity.
Online poker refers to playing poker games over the Internet. It offers a variety of poker formats and stakes, accessible via computers and mobile devices. Players can compete against others from around the world in real-time, participate in tournaments, and enjoy the convenience of playing from home. Online poker platforms provide a wide range of game types including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and more, with options for both cash games and tournaments.
OOP (Out Of Position) refers to a situation in poker where a player must act before one or more other players during a betting round. Being out of position is generally considered a disadvantage, as it gives opponents more information based on the player’s actions before they decide how to act.
Open at Both Ends: A straight draw where a player needs one of two different ranks to complete the straight. For example, holding 5-6-7-8, needing either a 4 or 9 to complete the straight.
Open Limp: The act of being the first player to enter the pot pre-flop by just calling the big blind, instead of raising, in poker.
Open Poker: A type of poker game where some cards are dealt face-up, visible to all players, allowing for more strategic decisions based on partial information.
Open Shove: An aggressive poker move where a player bets all of their chips at the start of a hand, before any community cards are revealed. This is typically done in Texas Hold’em or Omaha during the pre-flop betting round, often used to put maximum pressure on opponents or to exploit a short stack position.
OPP (Opponent): Refers to the player or players at the poker table against whom you are competing in a hand or game.
Overlay refers to the extra money added by the host to a poker tournament prize pool when the total buy-ins fall short of the guaranteed prize amount.
Overlimp: When a player calls the big blind after one or more players have already limped into the pot in the same round.
Overplay: Risky action of betting or raising excessively with a hand that is likely not the best, often leading to losses.
Overset is a poker term used to describe a situation where a player has a higher set than their opponent. For example, if one player holds a set of kings and another player has a set of queens, the player with the kings has the overset.
Partial staking: A financial arrangement in poker where a player sells a portion of their tournament or cash game action to investors. This allows the player to share the risk and cost of entry fees while giving investors a percentage of potential winnings. Partial staking is common among players looking to manage bankrolls or participate in higher stakes games.
Pasadena: In poker terminology, ‘Pasadena’ refers to a specific situation or strategy. It is often used to describe a situation where a player decides to pass on making a bet or raise, opting not to invest further in the hand at the current stage. This term highlights a cautious or strategic approach, often employed to avoid unnecessary risk or loss.
Perceived Range refers to the range of hands that an opponent might have based on their actions and betting patterns. Players use this to make strategic decisions during a game.
Percentage payout: The portion of the total pot paid out to winning players, expressed as a percentage. It determines the prize distribution in a poker game or tournament.
Perfect Play: The optimal strategy in poker where every decision made maximizes a player’s expected value. It involves making the best possible move in each situation, considering all available information, such as the cards held, the community cards, and the actions of the opponents.
PF (Pre-flop): The first betting round in a poker hand, occurring after players receive their hole cards and before the flop is revealed.
PFR (Pre-flop Raise): The act of raising the bet before the flop is dealt. It indicates an aggressive strategy and is used to build the pot, reduce the number of opponents, and gain control over the hand.
PFR% (Pre-flop Raise Percentage) is a poker statistic that measures the frequency at which a player raises before the flop, expressed as a percentage of the total hands played. It is used to gauge a player’s aggression and pre-flop strategy.
Pineapple: A poker variant similar to Texas Hold’em where players are dealt three hole cards instead of two, and must discard one card after the flop.
Pitch refers to the action of dealing cards to players in a poker game, typically by the dealer distributing cards face down from the deck.
Play Over: A situation in poker where a player takes the seat and chips of an absent player, usually agreeing to give back the chips when the absent player returns.
Play Twice: A method used in poker where players agree to run the remaining board cards twice to reduce variance. Often used in high-stakes games, this approach requires all players involved in the hand to consent. If agreed, the pot is split into two, and two separate outcomes are played out, potentially allowing different players to win each half of the pot.
Playability refers to the ease and effectiveness with which a poker hand can be played post-flop. It considers factors such as the potential to hit strong hands, the ability to draw to better hands, and how well the hand can adapt to different board textures. Hands with high playability often have a good balance of strength and flexibility, making them easier to manage in various situations.
PLHE (Pot-limit Hold ’em) is a variation of poker where players can bet any amount up to the total size of the pot. This format combines elements of both no-limit and fixed-limit games, offering strategic betting opportunities and requiring careful consideration of pot odds and player stack sizes.
Poker School: An educational platform or resource designed to teach players about the game of poker, including strategies, rules, and techniques, often through lessons, articles, tutorials, or videos.
Poker SPR (Stack-to-Pot Ratio) is a metric used to evaluate the relationship between a player’s stack size and the current size of the pot. It’s calculated by dividing the player’s stack by the pot size on the flop. SPR helps determine the level of commitment a player should have to a hand; a low SPR suggests a higher willingness to commit, while a high SPR indicates more cautious play.
Poker Strategy refers to the tactics and approaches players use to increase their chances of winning in poker games. It involves understanding the game’s rules, analyzing opponents, managing bankroll, and making decisions based on probability, psychology, and game theory.
In poker, “structure” refers to the rules governing the betting limits and blinds throughout the game. It defines how the stakes increase and dictates the progression of betting rounds. Common structures include No-Limit, Pot-Limit, Fixed-Limit, and Spread-Limit, each impacting the strategic approach players must take.
PokerTracker 4: A popular poker tracking software used by players to analyze their own and opponents’ gameplay. It offers features like HUD (Heads-Up Display), statistical analysis, and database management to improve decision-making and performance in online poker games.
In poker, ‘position’ refers to a player’s seat at the table in relation to the dealer button. It determines the order of betting, with players in later positions having the advantage of acting after others. Key positions include early position (EP), middle position (MP), and late position (LP), with the dealer or ‘button’ being the most advantageous.
Positional Advantage: In poker, having a positional advantage means being in a later position relative to other players in a hand, allowing you to act after your opponents. This gives you more information to make better decisions based on their actions, such as betting, checking, or folding.
Post flop: Refers to the stage in a poker game that occurs after the first three community cards (the flop) are dealt on the table. This phase includes the turn and river, and involves players making decisions based on the community cards and their own hole cards.
Pot Control: A strategy used in poker to keep the size of the pot manageable, often by checking or calling instead of betting or raising, to minimize potential losses and maintain control over the hand.
PL (Pot-limit): A betting structure in poker where a player may bet or raise any amount up to the size of the pot at that point in the hand. This limits the maximum bet or raise to ensure bets remain proportional to the pot size, balancing risk and reward.
Pre-flop: Refers to the phase in a poker hand before the community cards are dealt. During this phase, players receive their hole cards and make initial betting decisions based on these cards.
Price refers to the amount a player must call to stay in a hand or the cost of a bet or raise in a given round of betting.
PT4: Poker Tracker 4 is a software tool for tracking and analyzing poker hands, player statistics, and game performance, commonly used by online poker players to improve their gameplay.
Public Poker refers to poker games that are played in a public setting, such as casinos, poker rooms, or online platforms, where the games are open to the general public rather than private home games.
Features: Regulated environment, standard rules, and often involves buy-ins and potential winnings.
Examples: Texas Hold’em tournaments, cash games at a casino, online poker rooms.
Push/Fold: A strategy used in poker, particularly in short-stack situations, where a player decides to either go all-in (push) or fold their hand based on their cards and position, minimizing complex decision-making.
Queen-High: A poker hand where the highest card is a Queen, with no better combination possible.
Quick Fold: A poker action where a player immediately folds their hand without hesitation, often used in online games to speed up play.
Quitting Time: The point in a poker session when a player decides to stop playing. This decision can be based on various factors such as reaching a pre-set win/loss limit, experiencing fatigue, or achieving a specific time milestone.
Rake is a small percentage of each pot taken by the house in poker games as a fee for hosting the game.
Most Common
