To become a master at the poker table, you need to know the lingo! We’ve compiled a list of the most useful poker terms to help new players learn the ropes and old players refresh their memories.

All-in
When you do not have enough money to cover the required bet, you will be forced to contribute the remainder of your money to the pot. You will then play for an amount proportional to your contribution. This action is known as an all-in. Please note that if you are disconnected from the game during the play of a hand, you will be considered all-in. This prevents you from being penalized during the period of disconnection.

Ante
Each player must contribute an ante, or minimum bet, to the pot before betting begins. This is completed before the cards are dealt.

Big Blind
The big blind is a mandatory bet that is placed by the player to the left of the player who places the small blind. The big blind is equivalent to the lower bet of the game. e.g., the big blind for a $3/$6 game is $3.

Big Pair
A big pair is a pair that is worth 10 or more.

Blind Bet
A blind bet refers to the first bet that is placed by each player. This is a mandatory bet that is placed before the cards are dealt. The blind bet is considered to be a live bet for the first round. This bet is only applicable to the following games: Texas Hold’em, Omaha and 1-on-1.

Bring-in
A bring-in is a forced bet that is placed by the player who holds the lowest card in the first round of betting (also known as the Third Street).

Buy-in Amount
The buy-in amount is the amount of money that each player must bring to a game.

Buy-in Limit
The buy-in limit is the minimum amount required to buy into a 1-on-1 game. This limit also applies to Seven Card Stud.

Call
This takes place when a player places a bet equivalent to the previous bet.

Cap
Betting will be capped after it has been raised three times in one round. After this, players have two options call or fold.

Check
By choosing to check, you are permitted to stay in a game without placing any bets. You may only do this if no other bets have been placed in that betting round.

Coffeehousing
Coffeehousing refers to chat that has the purpose of misleading or manipulating other players. Coffeehousing is expressly forbidden.

Community Cards
These cards are dealt to the table and are used by players to complete their five-card hands.

Dealer Button
The dealer button indicates the dealer’s position at the table.

Equalized
Once the players have given the same amount of money to the pot, the game is considered equalized.

Fifth Street
The Fifth Street is the name for the third round of betting in a game of Seven Card Stud. Each player has five cards at this time. In this round, bets are set to the highest limit. The card room sets all betting limits. In the Fifth Street, the highest-ranking player begins the next round of betting.

Flop
The flop refers to the first three community cards that are dealt at the table. This is applicable to Texas Hold’em, and Omaha.

Fold
A player is said to fold when he throws in his cards. Once a player folds, he/she is not eligible to win the pot. He/she also is not responsible for contributing past that point.

Fourth Street
The Fourth Street refers to the second round of betting. In this round, each player has four cards. This is especially the case in Seven Card Stud Poker. In the Fourth Street, players can fold, call, raise or check. The player with the highest-ranking hand starts the next betting round. Please note that if the highest-ranking hand is a pair, that player can either bet the low or high betting limit. Whichever the player chooses then becomes the raise amount for the remainder of the game.

Live Blinds
Live blinds are blind bets that are in play. For example, if one player posts a small blind and a second player joins and posts a big blind, the first player has to balance out the betting since the big blind is live.

Lowest Card
This is the card with the lowest value, given that aces are high. Should players have the same card, the lowest is determined by suit. Clubs are the lowest suit followed by Diamonds, Hearts and Spades, respectively.

Muck
To muck means to fold a hand without showing it to the rest of the table.

Pocket Cards
Pocket cards are the face down cards dealt to players.

Post Now
When new players join the game, they are given the choice to post immediately or wait for the big blind. Players who choose to post immediately are required to post the equivalent of a big blind bet. They receive their cards at once.

Pot
The pot is the money that builds up during the course of a game. The pot grows from player antes, bets and raises. The pot’s value depends on the stakes of the game and the amount that players bet. The pot is awarded to the winner of the hands in each round. If two players have equivalent winning hands, they will split the pot. The house also takes a small percentage.

Raise
A raise increases the betting stakes for the participating players at the table. A bet must be matched first before it is increased.

Rake
Wild Jack Poker takes a certain amount of money for acting as a mediator for players. This amount is called the rake. See Rake Structure for more details.

River Card
The river card is the last community card to be dealt.

Runs
Each betting cycle is known as a run. One cycle is defined a round of bets from the first player to the last player.

Seventh Street
The Seventh Street is the fifth and last round of betting in a game of Seven Card Stud. In this round, each player has seven cards.

The following rules apply to the Seventh Street:

• The first player from the Sixth Street also makes the first play in the Seventh Street.
• The river card is dealt face down.
• If there are multiple players remaining after another betting round, the game is decided by a showdown.
• Each player must reveal his/her best possible five-card hand.
• The winner gets the pot.

Showdown
If multiple players remain in the game after the last betting round, they all show their hands to decide upon a winner. The player who has the highest-value hand wins the pot.

Sitting Out
When a player leaves the table for a short amount of time, it is referred to as sitting out. Players who sit out for long periods of time (more than 15 minutes) or miss two rounds of blinds are removed from the table.

Sixth Street
This is the name for the fourth round of betting in a game of Seven Card Stud. In this round, each player has six cards.

The following guidelines apply to the Sixth Street:

• The next round is initiated by the player with the highest ranking hand.

Small Blind
The player sitting to the left of the dealer posts the first bet, which is known as a small blind. The small blind is a mandatory bet that equals half of the lower bet. e.g., in a $3/$6 game, the small blind would be $1.50.

Street
The street is the term used to refer to different betting stages in a game of Seven Card Stud. Betting commences on the Third Street and concludes on the Seven Street. There are five rounds of betting in total.

Third Street
This refers to the first round of betting when each player has three cards. The player who holds the lowest card brings-in the betting.

Turn
The turn refers to the fourth community card dealt and applies to Texas Hold’em and Omaha.

Visible Cards
Visible cards are any cards that are dealt face up to players. Players use them to complete five card combinations.