We are not discovering anything if we tell you that in poker it is very common to use English expressions, but there is terminology that is already part of the game in any language and, therefore, there are a lot of poker expressions that you should know to master the game and become a professional.
In this post we are going to gather the 20 most used poker expressions that you have heard or that you should hear if you intend to make poker your lifestyle.
The poker expressions you must have heard at some point in your life
- Open. When a player opens, he opens the game, that is, he is the first to place the bet for the round. After his bet, the following bets of the rest of the players follow.
- Having a bad beat. It is an expression used when a weak hand is able to beat a strong hand because of a card that turns the whole scenario upside down. A bad beat is the culprit many times that a player with a good hand ends up losing because of that last card that has appeared.
- Go all-in. Going all-in means going all-in. It is a move that forces the opponent to go all-in if he wants to stay in the game. This hastens the showing of cards in the final showdown.
- To make a blind bet. It is an expression used to call the player who opens the game. It rotates to avoid that it is always the same player who opens the game, since the one who opens the game is clearly at a disadvantage.
- Bankroll. This term refers to the amount of money available to place your bets. The ability and proper discipline to properly manage your bankroll is known by the acronym BRM (Bankroll Management). The acronym BRM is especially used by commentators to refer to how a player manages his bankroll. It is a crucial concept that can make the difference between a professional and a recreational player.
- BB turn. Or big blind turn. It is used to refer to the person located two places to the left of the dealer. It can be used in multiple contexts.
- BRM. Acronym for bankroll management. It is not usually used out loud, although on broadcasts commentators often use it to refer to how a player is managing his bankroll.
- Bluffing. To bluff is to play in a deceptive way to make the opponent believe that you have a stronger hand than you actually have. This expression is not used during the game, but it is used during broadcasts and thanks to the commentators.
- To call. It is to call the bet. When a player “calls”, it means that he “sees” the bet and wants to stay in the game. To stay in the game, he calls and calls the previous bet.
- Raise. Is to increase the bet. When a player does this, it is because he is very sure that he is in a good position to win the hand. It is also used to give the impression of strength if, for example, you intend to bluff.
- Offsuit. It is a term used to talk about the cards that appear in a different suit and end up being completely useless for the project. An offsuit player is someone who has not been able to take advantage of any of the cards that have come up to bind his hand.
- Dominated hand. A play that is compromised by a higher value card.
- Check. The option to pass. It is used to stay in the game, giving up betting.
- Blinds or Bitches. When this expression is used it is usually in a Hold’em context. It refers to a minimum and maximum bet.
- Heads up. An expression used at a table where only two players remain, and which results in a head-to-head to determine the winner.
- Scare card. A scare card is a hated card because it can compromise the project. They have the power to turn a potentially good project into a combination of useless cards. It is somewhat related to bad beats.
- Kicker. It is the unpaired card of a hand that can be used in case of a tie to determine the hierarchy of the hand and determine the winner.
- Jackpot. Synonym for jackpot. Expression used to refer to the jackpot or prize pool.
- Hole. Word used to designate the first two cards the player receives in a Hold’em game.
- Fish: Term widely used in poker to define a player with very little experience or level. It literally means “fish” and is the target of every shark, that is a highly experienced player, capable of dominating the game.
- Foul. Adjective used when a player has been unable to use the cards to create a single combination.
What happens if you don’t master the expressions in poker?
Nothing will happen, but it can affect your performance in the game if you don’t know what is being referred to. That is why theoretical training is important, especially when you have little experience. With time and hours of play you will see that poker expressions are not so difficult, and little by little you will become fluent in handling so many anglicisms and concepts.
In any case, it can help to expand your glossary of words and phrases by watching broadcast games, since many words are used during the broadcasts with commentary. In a game, players are usually silent, it is a game where minds are active, but words appear very occasionally.
