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Glossary of poker terms - A to K

This is not a definitive guide and more poker terms will be added in due course.

Some of these are general poker terms and others refer specifically to the most popular game of texas holdem.

• Action
  The betting in a hand or game. The player who puts in the first bet is said to start the action.

• All-in
  When a player has bet or called for all of the chips they have on the table.

• Ante
  A small compulsory bet made by each player before the cards are dealtfor each hand.

• Back door
  When there are two cards to come a player needing both cards to hit to make a flush or a straight is said to have a "back door flush draw" or a "back door straight draw".

• Bad Beat
  A strong hand that loses when an opponent has been very lucky.

• Bankroll
  Total amount of money a player has available to gamble with.

• Bet the pot
  A bet made which is the same size as the amount already in the pot.

• Big Slick
  A starting hand consisting of an Ace with a King

• Bully
  A player who raises continually trying to get others to fold.

• Call
  When a player matches the bet made before him by another player.

• Calling Station
  A player who tends to call frequently with relatively poor cards, making it difficult to bluff them out of a pot.

• Cowboys
  A starting hand of two Kings.

• Drawing Dead
  When no cards left in the deck will help a player win the hand.

• Early Position
  One of the first players to make a decision in a round of betting.

• Family Pot
  A hand in which most or all of the players seated at the table are involved.

• Fill up
  To make a full house.

• Fish
  A poor poker player.

• Flush
  Five cards of the same suit in no particular order. If they are in order, eg. 2-3-4-5-6 of the same suit it is called a straight flush and if they are 10-J-Q-K-A it is a royal flush, the best hand in poker - see ranking of poker hands.

• Heads-up
  A game contested by only two players, or the latter stages of a tournament when only two players are left.

• High-low
  A type of poker game where the pot is split between the best hand and the lowest hand.

• Hole Cards
  The hidden cards held in a player's hand, only to be used by them.

• Kicker
  The side card or the less significant card. For example if you are dealt A-5, the 5 is the kicker.

For more poker terms and terminology our glossary continues - poker glossary L-Z.

For a full glossary in easy printable format go to our complete guide to texas holdem poker.