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.
- Tell
- A tick, gesture, or clue that gives away the strength of a players hand.
- Third Street
- In Stud, the third card dealt to each player is called “Third Street.”
- Tight
- A person who plays very few hands, only participating when he or she has the very best hands, is known as a “tight” player.
- Tilt
- When a person plays wildly or does not play their normal style due to an emotional event such as a Bad Beat.
- Top Pair
- The highest pair possible with the community cards on the board. Ex. If the highest card on the board is a Queen, a pair of Queens is top pair.
- Trips
- Three of a kind when there is a pair on the board an a matching card in your hand.
- Turn
- The fourth community card dealt face up in games such as Hold'em and Omaha.
