By
Gary Steele
Poker has its own set of unique terms and jargon, and more are being added every week as its popularity continues to expand. There are names for particular starting hands, such as pocket rockets and big slick. There are terms describing poker scenarios, such as a bad beat. It would take a week to write them all, but I think the following list will give you a good idea of the terms you will hear used on a regular basis as you play.
- Mechanic
- A dealer or player that uses deceit to switch cards, deal from the bottom of the deck, or otherwise cheat the other players through slight of hand.
- Monster
- A powerful hand which can be counted on to consistently win pots, such as a full house.
- Motown
- Two pair, Jacks and Fives (Jackson Five).
- Muck
- To fold a hand.
- Multiway pot / action
- A pot in which more than two players are participating.
- No-Limit
- A game where any bet up to the total amount of a player’s stake is allowed.
- Nuts
- The best possible hand when using the community cards on the board in games such as Hold'em and Omaha.
