Poker Glossary — Essential Terms
Understanding the vocabulary used at the table is key to following the action and communicating your intentions clearly. Below are the most important Texas Hold'em terms every player should know, listed alphabetically for quick reference.
- All-In
- Wagering every remaining chip on a single round. If opponents have more chips, a side pot is created.
- Blinds
- Mandatory bets posted before cards are dealt. The Small Blind is typically half the Big Blind.
- Board
- The five shared community cards: Flop (three), Turn (one), and River (one).
- Equity
- Your percentage share of the pot based on the likelihood of winning at showdown. See how equity is calculated.
- Flop
- The first three community cards revealed after the preflop betting stage.
- Fold
- Discarding your hole cards and forfeiting any chips already wagered.
- Outs
- Unseen cards that would improve your holding to the likely best combination. Learn more about counting outs.
- Pot
- The total chips wagered by all participants in the current round.
- Position
- Your seat relative to the dealer button, which determines when you act. See why table positioning matters.
- River
- The fifth and final community card.
- Showdown
- When remaining participants reveal their holdings to determine who wins the pot.
- Turn
- The fourth community card, dealt after the Flop betting stage.
For a complete overview of the game, read How to Play Texas Hold'em or start the beginner course.
Additional Terms
- Check-Raise
- Checking initially and then raising after an opponent bets. A deceptive line that represents strength.
- Continuation Bet (C-Bet)
- A bet made on the flop by the preflop raiser, regardless of whether the flop improved their holding.
- Implied Odds
- The ratio of expected future winnings to the current cost of a call. Accounts for chips you may win on later streets.
- Kicker
- The highest unpaired card used to break ties when two players share the same pair or combination rank.
- Value Bet
- A bet made with a strong holding, sized to extract maximum chips from an opponent who is likely behind.