Texas Hold'em

Texas Hold'em (or simply, "Hold'em") is the most popular poker game in North America and Europe, in the casinos and poker card rooms. Due to the popularity of big events like the World Series and the World Poker Tour, playing Texas Hold'em has become so big that many people have started to play online at sites like GoWild poker.

Each player is dealt two cards ("hole cards") that belong to him and him only. Five community cards are dealt on the "board" face-up. These cards are used by all the players in the game, together with their own hole cards, to make the best five-card poker hand. If you wish to take a look at the poker hand rankings, visit our poker Hand rank section on this page.

We differentiate between the three most common variations of Texas Hold'em by their betting limits:

• Limit Hold'em: There is a defined betting limit on each round of betting and in each game.
• No Limit Hold'em: At any given time, a player can bet all of his chips.
• Pot Limit Hold'em: A player may bet up to the amount of money in the pot whenever it is his turn to act.

If you would rather learn to play Texas Hold'em hands-on, our poker room offers free poker games so you can practice your poker skills. Download and install our award winning poker software for free, to play Texas Hold'em like a pro in no time.

If you prefer to learn the rules of Texas Hold'em first, these instructions should help:

The Blinds
In Texas Hold'em, a disc called "the button" indicates which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before each player receives his or her two hole cards, the player immediately clockwise the button posts a "small blind", usually half a small bet (for example, $2 in a $4/$8 game). The player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($4 in a $4/8 game). Now each player may get his cards and the game may begin.

Pre-Flop
Once seeing his or her cards, a player may play his or her hand by calling or raising the big blind. As previously explained, the big blind is the size of a full small bet. So in a $4/8 Texas Hold'em game, it would cost $4 to call in this initial round of betting (known as the "pre-flop"). In Texas Hold'em the possible actions are bet, call or raise, which are available depending on the previous player's action.
A poker player can always fold. The first player to act has the option to bet, call or raise. The following players may call or raise. To call is to bet the same amount as the previous player has bet. To raise is to match the previous bet and increase the bet. The "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is comprised of the first three community poker cards available to all active players. Betting starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises take place in small bets (increments of $4 in a $4/$8 game). To complete this betting round, the same rules as mentioned above apply.

Note: Different variations of the game may have different betting structures.

The Flop
At this time, three cards are dealt face-up on the board - this is the flop. In Texas Hold'em, the three cards on the flop are available to all players still in the hand (community cards). Betting starts with the active player immediately clockwise of the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $4 in a $4/8 game). When betting is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. In a Texas Hold'em poker game, the turn is the fourth community card. Play starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button. On this round, the same rules as above apply, except that poker betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $4/$8 game, betting on the turn is upped to $8 increments.

The Turn
When betting is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. In a Texas Hold'em poker game, the turn is the fourth community card. Play starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button. The betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet on this round. Thus, in a $4/$8 game, betting on the turn is upped to $8 bets.

The River
When betting has been completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. In a Texas Hold'em poker game, the river is the fifth and final community card. Betting starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button and the same rules as explained in the fourth card apply.

The Showdown
In Texas Hold'em, when the final betting round is complete, If there is more than one remaining poker player, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The Texas Hold'em pot is won by the player with the best five-card hand. Should identical hands occur, the poker pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. Texas Hold'em rules state that all suits are equal, so split pots are more common than in other variations of poker. A new game of Texas Hold'em can be played once the pot has been awarded. The button moves to the next player clockwise and new hands are dealt.

Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit Hold'em
In general, the same rules apply for limit, no limit and pot limit poker games. However, there are a few exceptions:

Limit Texas Hold'em
A maximum of four bets is allowed per player in Limit Texas Hold'em, this applies during any betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise). However, there is no limit to the number of raises that a player can make in No Limit Texas Hold'em and Pot Limit Texas Hold'em.

No Limit Texas Hold'em
Minimum raise: In no limit Texas Hold'em, a player must raise at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. For example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10). Maximum possible raise: The size of your stack (your chips on the table).

Pot Limit Texas Hold'em
Minimum raise: The raise amount cannot be less than the previous bet or raise in the same round.
For example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10). Maximum raise: The size of the poker pot, defined as the total of the active pot plus all bets on the table plus the amount the active player must first call before raising.

Learn How to Play Texas Hold'em for Free

If you wish to learn how to play Texas Hold'em or any other great poker games, join our free poker games by downloading the GoWild software. You can play online against other players, and since there is nothing at stake, you can learn the ropes comfortably, and feel at ease among all the rules of Texas Hold'em.
We hope to see you in our poker room and good luck at the tables!

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Omaha Poker

Omaha poker finds its roots in Texas Hold'em. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". Each player is dealt four cards ("hole cards") which belong to him or her only. All players use three of the five community cards together with two of their hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand.

Types of Omaha Poker Games

Limit Omaha Poker - There is a specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting. Pot Limit Omaha Poker - A player can bet what is in the pot (i.e. $100 into a $100 pot).
The rules for pot limit Omaha are basically the same as limit Omaha rules, with the exception that there are different betting structures between them. Below you may find an explanation the limit Omaha game.

How to Play Omaha Poker

Omaha poker utilizes a disc, also known as "the button", to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game starts, the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", usually about half a small bet (for example, $2 in a $4/$8 Omaha game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($4 in a $4/$8 Omaha game). Now, each player receives his or her four hole cards and betting action begins around the table, starting with the player immediately clockwise the big blind.

The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. At this time, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. Play starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises take place in small bets (increments of $4 in a $4/$8 game).

Once the betting is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. In an Omaha game, the turn is the fourth community card. Play starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button. Betting doubles on this round, from the small bet to the big bet. In a $4/$8 game, betting on the turn is upped in $8 increments.

Once the betting is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. In an Omaha game, the river is the fifth and final community card. Betting starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button.

In an Omaha poker game, when the final betting round is complete, If there is more than one remaining poker player, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards. The pot is won by the player with the best five-card hand. Should identical hands occur, the poker pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. In Omaha poker, players can use two and only two of their four poker cards in combination with the other cards from the board.

A new game of Omaha poker can be played once the pot has been awarded. The button moves to the next player clockwise and new hands are dealt.

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Omaha Hi Lo Poker

Omaha Hi Lo (also known as "Omaha High Low" or "Omaha 8 or Better") has turned into a hugely popular game in North America and Europe due to it's large pots. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". Each player in an Omaha Hi Lo game is dealt four cards ("hole cards") which belong only him her only. Each player uses three cards from the board together with two cards from their four hole cards in to make the best possible five-card poker hand. The pot is divided between the best hand for high and the best hand for low - hence the name, Omaha Hi Lo. In Omaha Hi Lo a hand must be at worst an 8 for low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot. This is generally called an "8 or better" qualifier. Low hands are determined in exactly the same way they're determined in 7 Card Stud Hi Lo.

Types of Omaha Hi Lo Games

Limit Omaha Hi Lo - In each game and on each round of betting, a specific betting limit is applied.
Pot Limit Omaha Hi Lo - Bets are limited to the amount of chips in the pot.
No Limit Omaha Hi Lo - A player can bet all of his or her chips.

Rules for Playing Omaha Hi Lo

Omaha poker Hi Lo utilizes a disc, also known as "the button", to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game starts, the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", usually about half a small bet (for example, $2 in a $4/$8 Omaha Hi Lo game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($4 in a $4/$8 Omaha Hi Lo game). Now, each player receives his or her four hole cards and betting action begins around the table, starting with the player immediately clockwise the big blind.

The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. At this time, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. Play starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises take place in small bets (increments of $4 in a $4/$8 game).

Once the betting is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. In an Omaha Hi Lo game, the turn is the fourth community card. Play starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button. Betting doubles on this round, from the small bet to the big bet. In a $4/$8 game, betting on the turn is upped in $8 increments.

Once the betting is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. In an Omaha Hi Lo game, the river is the fifth and final community card. Betting starts with the active player immediately clockwise the button.

In an Omaha Hi Lo poker game, when the final betting round is complete, If there is more than one remaining poker player, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The pot is divided between the player with the best five-card hand for high and the player with the best hand for low.
In Omaha Hi Lo poker, if no hand qualifies for Lo, the best hand for high wins the pot. Should identical hands occur, the high and low shares of poker pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

A new game of Omaha Hi Lo poker can be played once the pot has been awarded. The button moves to the next player clockwise and new hands are dealt.

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Five or Seven Card Stud Poker

Seven card stud poker is possibly the most well-known poker game in the world. It is a classic poker game which may take as long as a lifetime to master. In Seven Card Stud, each player is dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but to determine the winner, only the best five-card poker hand possible for each player is used. Seven card stud poker is only played with a limit betting structure, unlike Texas Hold'em and Omaha poker. In Seven Card Stud there is no pot limit and no limit type of betting.

Rules for Seven Card Stud

In order to start a game of 7 card stud, all players must "ante" a nominal amount. Each player is dealt one exposed card and two hidden hole cards. The player with the lowest exposed card begins the round and has to make a wager of either a half a small bet or a full small bet (for example, either $2 or $4 in a $4/$8 game) and is called the "bring-in". The game continues clockwise around the table until the betting action is complete for the round.

Note: For the purposes of determining the bring-in, ties in Seven Card Stud poker card rank are broken by suit, with the order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs (in descending order).

Each player now receives the "Fourth Street" - an exposed card. The player whose exposed stud cards have the highest poker value is the first player to act. This player may either check or bet. If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($8 in a $4/$8 game). If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($4 in a $4/$8 game). Each player now receives the "Fifth Street" - another exposed card. Again, the player whose exposed cards have the highest stud poker value is the first player to act.

Note: All bets are in big bet increments ($8 in a $4/$8 game), starting on Fifth Street and for the rest of the hand, each poker player now receives the "Sixth Street" - another exposed card. Again, the player whose exposed cards have the highest stud poker value is the first player to act.

Each player now receives the seventh and final card, which is known only to the player to whom the card is dealt (dealt face-down). Again, the player whose exposed cards has the highest stud poker value is the first player to act. In an 7 card stud, when the final betting round is complete, If there is more than one remaining poker player, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first. The pot is won by the player with the best five-card stud poker hand. Should identical hands occur, the poker pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. A new game of seven card stud poker can be played once the pot has been awarded.

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Heads Up poker

Selected games at GoWild Poker Room can be played as 1-on-1 or Heads Up. Heads Up Poker plays the same as its parent game, but has the following differences: Only two Players can play a game of 1-on-1 Poker. There is no limit to the number of betting rounds. The buy-in limit is set by the poker room.
Players are informed when they are seated whether their buy-in amount is sufficient. The object of the game is to finish with a stronger poker hand than your opponent, and win the pot.

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Tournaments basics

Beginner's Guide...


Taking part in an online Poker Tournament is great fun and a good way of budgeting your spendings as you know your exposure before you start. If you choose a Single Table Texas Hold'em Tournament with a $10 buy in, plus a $1 entry fee - shown as $10+$1 - then you know that's all it's going to cost if you do not manage to get in the prize money. Poker Tournaments are knockout competitions where, usually, when you lose your chips, you are out.

Each player at the table gets an equal amount of chips to begin with - say 1000 - with the winner ultimately acquiring all the chips at the table. These types of tourneys are usually contested by 10 players, with the winner taking 50% of the total buy-ins (10 x $10 = $100. 50% of which is $50). The runner-up gets 30% of the pool ($30) and the third placed player would get 20$ ($20). As you can see the pool gets distributed to the players with just the $1 being kept by the House in exchange for facilitating the competition.

Typical Single Table Prize Funding...

• 10 players buying in for $10 +$1 each
• Total prize pool of $100
• Winner gets $50
• Second gets $30
• Third gets $20

Single Table Tournaments start when every seat at the table is occupied by a player. You can take part in tournaments at GoWild Poker playing the whole range of Poker games and bet limits.

So if your favorite is No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker or Fixed Limit 5 Card Stud, there's a game starting at GoWild right now!

View our tournament schedule here.

Tournament Essential Information...

If you are new to Poker Tournament play, then you may want to get familiar with the basics. Don't forget that, as with our Ring games (or Money games), you can play with fun chips only without risking real money before becoming a tournament ace at the tables.

Sit and Go...

These are single table tournaments where the participants around the table are the only players in the contest. The prize structure is almost always 50% for the winner, 30% for finishing second and 20% for finishing third. These tournaments have no date or time as the game begins when all tournament sits are occupied, that's why it is called sit and go, when everybody sits... it goes.

Buy-In...

This is the cost of entering a poker tournament. For instance, a $20 + $2 tournament will cost $22 in total. $20 goes to the prize fund, all of which is distributed to the winner(s), while the $2 entry fee is the charge levied by the House.

Single Table Tournament...

Single Table Tournaments are the same as Sit and Go's. You can play all the different varieties of Poker in all the different betting formats at the GoWild Poker Room. Our range of single table tournament buy-ins suits all pockets.

Multi Table Tournament...

Multi Table Tournaments are more exotic than Sit and Go. With more players taking part, the prize is much harder to win. It's not unusual to see a multi table tourney have as many as 10,000 players entered. However, 200 tournament players is more common with prize money going down to 20th place. The objective of the multi table tournament player is to fight their way on to the last remaining table as opponents gets knocked out, in the same way as they do in single table games. As the number of players left at a table reduces, players are moved to other tables where the same thing happens until all that remains is one table. The winner comes from these remaining 10 players.

Freeroll...

We have daily Freerolls at GoWild Poker. Freerolls are great fun as they are multi table tournaments with no entry fee, but still usually have a Guaranteed Pot of $1000. In most cases there will be a qualification requirement of each player having played a number of hands for real money elsewhere within the GoWild Poker Room.

Satellite...

Through our network partner, Microgaming Poker, GoWild offers exciting Satellite tournaments including entry into contests such as the Grand Prix de Paris and the Monte Carlo Millions.

Heads Up...

Heads Up describes just two players competing against each other at the table. A Heads Up tournament is real knockout contest. As one player beats their opponent they move on to the next table until it's just the two last players standing who fight out one last Heads Up match to find the winner.

Freeze Out and Re-Buys...

Freeze Outs are simply tournaments where players are allowed to buy-in just the once, at the start of the game, as opposed to Re-buy tournaments, where you can buy in again on one or more occasions when your chips balance reaches 0.

Add on...

Add ons are where players get the opportunity to pay a further entry fee for a tournament in which they are playing. Unlike a re-buy-in, which can take place a number of times, but only when you have a zero balance of chips, An Add on is permitted just once and does not depend on you having no chips left.

Guaranteed Prize Pools...

Prize funds are often made up of the buy-ins paid by the participating players in any given tournament. On occasion, the GoWild Poker Room and our network partner Microgaming Poker, offer Guaranteed Prize Pools whereby the winners are assured a large prize irrespective of the level of funding from the players.

Click here to see our Guaranteed Tournaments, including the $175,000 Guaranteed Tournament.

Poker Tips

Watch the players

Pay attention to the players - who's aggressive or loose and who's playing tight. Unless you have a strong hand, you should attempt to play the loose players and avoid the tight players.

Watch the chips

Always know everyone's chip count. Be aware who has more chips than you - A mistake playing them may knock you out, so play carefully. You are better off playing pots against players with fewer chips than you.

No match

If the cards in your hand don't match any of the public cards, fold when someone else bets.

Ace in the hand

You Shouldn't play every time you have an ace in your hand. Still, you should play an ace if along with it you have a card of the same suit or a 10 or higher.

When to stay before the flop

Play with pairs (6-6, J-J), two face cards (K-Q, Q-J), or hands that can make both a straight and a flush (4-5, 9-10 of the same suit). Fold other hands, unless you're in the blind.

Good hand? Bet strong

Whenever you have a good hand, bet aggressive. In no-limit Texas Hold'em, you may bet all of your chips at any time.

Watch and wait

Play less when you act among the first players, since you'll be 'out of position' and vulnerable to raises from the other players.

Wait your turn

At the poker table, we play clockwise; do not act before your turn.

Be a 'bettor,' not a 'caller'

It's always good to bet strong

Call their bluff

If someone raises in a late position (near or on the button), re-raise them a good amount if you are on the blind. Chances are, they don't have a big hand and they're just trying to steal your blinds. (This style of play, known as going 'over the top', is probably the strongest play one can make in no-limit Texas Hold'em.)

Be patient

Take your time. Whenever you need to make an important decision, stop and consider how the betting has gone, what might your opponent have? The biggest mistake most players make is to act too quickly.

If you need more help in learning the basics of poker, for any of our poker games, feel free to contact us directly at: pokersupport@gowild.com, don't hesitate! Play poker for fun, play for real money, GoWild poker room is one of the largest sites for online poker tournaments.

Play with the best, download our poker software now!

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Poker strategies

Mastering any poker game is a fun and challenging goal. It’s been said that poker is easy to learn but difficult to master. In the poker strategy section, we offer many resources to start you on your way to become a winning poker player. On this page you will find general poker advice and strategy as well as links to poker strategy and tips for other poker games.

In order to become a consistently winning player, one has to combine many concepts from the basics of solid poker strategy. The following concepts are crucial to learning poker strategy:

• Tight play
• Aggressive play
• Random play
• Taking advantage of opponents’ mistakes

As you develop as a poker player, remember those concepts. These strategic concepts are like the colors on an artist’s palette: the basic colors are the same, but the artist’s use of them is unique and stylistic.

Decisions for the New Poker Player

Do you want to play poker to win or play to have fun? Both time and effort are required to play at a consistently winning level. In other words, it takes work. Deciding which type of poker player you want to be before you start will make your decisions and sessions easier. There is nothing wrong with playing poker for fun, but there is no reason to plan to lose, even when you are playing for fun.

Make Good Decisions – the Results Will Follow

Don't make the mistake of expecting to win every time. Even the best poker players in the world lose sometimes. Your aspire should be to play to the best of your ability every time. If you do, the cards and winnings will take care of themselves as you continue to improve.

Many players make the mistake of judging their poker playing skills based on the results of each session they play. Your goal is to be the best possible player every time. The closer you come to this, the better your results will be.

The Mathematics of Poker

Poker is a game of incomplete information. It is a mathematical game. That may sound complicated, but it really isn't. If you enter the pot with the best hand more often than your opponents do, you will win more times than your opponents. Basically, winning poker starts with the selection of which starting hands to play.

Beyond Starting Hands

Even though selecting your starting hand is fundamentally important, it’s only one piece of the poker strategy puzzle. Once you have mastered solid starting hand guidelines and understand how they change by your position at the table, the next area you should work on is your play for the rest of the hand. The area that separates professional players from amateurs is that professional players tend to play much better than their opponents during the remainder of the hand, after the starting hand decisions are made. It's always true concerning the decisions made at the very end of every hand. These skills involve being able to calculate pot odds, recognizing betting patterns, bluffing, and using position. The years of practice necessary to master the middle and end game play are well worth the effort, because even small improvements in a player’s abilities can have a tremendous effect on that player’s lifetime winnings.

Avoiding Tilt

Another meta-skill that should be part of a winning player’s poker strategy is avoiding tilt. Your opponents will use your emotions against you, but only if you let them. Emotional play results in poor decisions and lost money. Tilting and steaming can happen to anyone, and sometimes the only cure is a break from the game. That’s okay; the game will still be there ten minutes from now. In fact, it will still be there tomorrow.

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Poker Glossary

A

American Airlines
A hand with two aces (AA), also known as “Pocket Rockets” or “Rockets”.
Ace-high
A five-card hand that contains one ace (without no straight, flush or a hand with no pair in it).
Aces Full
A full house with three aces and any pair.
Ace Rag
Ace with a weak kicker.
Aces Up
A hand that contains two pairs, one of which is a pair of Aces.
Action
1. The opportunity for a player to act when it is their turn during the course of a hand. A player may be reminded that it is “their action” if they are not paying attention and it is their turn to act. An action would be the act of folding, checking, calling, or raising.
2. The term Action may also be used to describe the play during a hand, particularly if there is heavy betting and raising. A player that bets or raises frequently with many hands may also be referred to as an "action player".
3. A person that backs a player is said to have part of that player’s "action".
Active Player
A player who is still involved in a hand that is live.
Aggressive
Adjective to describe a player who raises and re-raises and rarely calls.
All-In
1. Players are considered to be “all in” when they are involved in a hand and no longer have any chips with which to call or raise.
2. A player may declare themselves all in meaning that they are betting the total amount of chips in front of them.
Angle
An action that isn't against the rules, but still incorporates unfair tactics.
Ante
A compulsory amount of chips that must be contributed to the pot by each player before a hand is dealt. This is different than a blind as a blind is considered to be a live bet whereas an ante is not. Typically antes are most commonly found in Stud games as opposed to Hold ’em games which use blinds. Antes may also be used in tournaments as the blinds grow larger and are used to ensure a timely finish to the tournament.
Away-from-table
In tournaments, you may not "sit out". Rather, you may be "away-from-table" which means you are dealt into every hand, posting blinds when it's your turn, and then folded when there is a raise before the flop, or a bet after the flop. When you are in a tournament and need to leave, time-out, or lose your connection, you are automatically marked as "away-from-table".

B

Bad Beat
To have a hand that is a large underdog beat a heavily favored hand. It is generally used to imply that the winner of the pot had no business being in the pot at all, and it was through pure luck that he managed to catch the one card in the deck that would win the pot.
Backdoor
The possibility of making a draw that requires that you catch two more cards. A backdoor draw is usually not strong enough on its own to pull for as the odds against making your hand are high. A backdoor draw is much more valuable when combined with either a made hand such as top pair or a second draw.
Bankroll
A player’s bankroll is typically the amount of money that the player has available with which to play poker. A proper bankroll should not be mixed with other funds such as living expenses or entertainment funds. A bankroll is also the barometer used to measure success or failure and should guide a player as to when to move up or down in levels. It is possible to play without a separate and designated bankroll assuming that one’s disposable income will in effect function in much the same manner.
Bet the Pot
This term is used in pot limit games. It means your bet matches the current amount in the pot. If, when your turn to bet, the pot was at $217, and you bet the pot, your bet is $217.
Betting limits
The specific amount that players may call, bet or raise with depending upon the particular game. If the game is a $2-$4 Fixed Limit game then players may act in increments of $2 for the first two rounds, and then in increments of $4 for the last two rounds. These two different amounts are referred to as the Small Bet and the Big Bet. Note that this applies only to Fixed Limit games and not Pot Limit or No Limit games.
Big Blind (limit poker)
In games using a blind to put money in play, the big blind is generally equal to the lower amount of the stakes for that game. In a $5/$10 game, the big blind is $5. The big blind follows the small blind, which is put up by the first player to the left of the dealer.
Big Slick
A nickname for AK (suited or not). Its origins are unknown.
Blank
A card that likely does not benefit any player or impact the hand in a meaningful way. An example of a blank would be a 2 dealt as the turn card on a rainbow A K J flop.
Blind
This term refers to the required bets, called the small blind and the big blind used to put money into play. The blinds are mandatory bets and rotate around the table.
Bluff
when a player bets or raises a weak or worthless hand. He is trying to keep the illusion of having a good hand. Board cards The cards that are dealt face-up in a poker game for all players to see. In flop games, five cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table. In 7 Card Stud, four cards are dealt face-up in front of each player.
Broadway
An Ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10).
Bust
1. To lose all of your money or chips is to go bust. It is often said that a player has "busted" out of a game or tournament.
2. A "busted" hand is usually one in which a player did not make their straight or flush draws.
Button
Also known as the dealer button, it is a small round disk that is moved from player to player in a clockwise direction following each hand, to theoretically indicate the dealer of each hand.
Buy
a) Buy the pot - Win the pot with a bluff
b) Buy the button - Make all other players behind you fold with a raise. So you are the last to act in the next round.
Buy-in
The amount of money that is required to sit down at a cash game table or the amount of money required to buy into a tournament. In cash game there is often a specified minimum buy in amount that a player must have to sit down.

C

Call
The action of matching a bet amount during a particular round of betting as opposed to folding or raising.
Calling station
A passive and loose player who does not raise much, but calls more than he or she should.
Cap
The last permitted raise in a betting round is called the cap. We allow three raises beyond the initial bet in limit games. The third raise is the cap.
Capped
A pot is said to be "capped" when the maximum number of raises have been made for a particular betting round.
Case
The last card of a certain rank in the deck. Example: "The flop came J83; I've got pocket jacks, he's got pocket 8's, and then the case eight falls on the river, and he beats my full house."
Cash Game
when you have a direct game about money it's called cash game. The opposite is a tournament game where you play for chips and so you are only playing indirect for cash.
Check
If there is no bet on the table and you do not wish to place a bet, that action is termed a check. You may only check when there are no prior bets.
Check raise
A player with a strong hand may decide to act weak by checking during a betting round in hopes that an opposing player will bet. This will then give the player who checked a chance to the re-raise the opposing player and thus get more money in the pot.
Chips
Small colored discs that represent real money at a cash game or theoretical tournament dollars in a tournament. Each color represents a certain denomination of money.
Chop
To return the blinds to the players who posted them and move on to the next hand if no other players call. It also means to 'split the pot'.
Clean Out
A card which would give you definitely the winning hand.
Close the betting
You close the betting when you are the last to act and after your move nobody else has the possibility to raise.
Cold call
A call in which a player calls more than one bet at the same time. This is usually the result of their having been a bet and a raise before the action reached them, necessitating calling two bets to continue in the hand.
Collusion
Collusion is a form of cheating. Players will work in a team to try to gain an advantage over the other players. They will somehow signal to each other what their cards are. They will then use this information to gain an unfair advantage. Collusion is illegal.
Community Cards
The cards which are revealed in the middle of the table and which can be used from all players.
Connector
A starting hand in which the player's hole cards are coordinated by rank such as a 6 and a 7, or a 10 and a J.
Cowboys
Reference to holding pocket kings (KK) as a starting hand in Texas Hold'em.
Crack
To beat a very strong hand, such as Q J making two pair to beat or "crack" a pair of Aces.
Cripple
As in "to cripple the deck." Meaning that you have most or all of the cards that somebody would want to have with the current board. If you have pocket kings, and the other two kings flop, you have crippled the deck. Crying Call A call that you make expecting to lose, but feel that you must make anyway because of the pot odds.
Cut
The act of breaking the deck into two or more sections after it has been shuffled to legitimize the shuffle.
Cut Off
The Position (the player) who acts before the button acts.

D

Dead Blind
In a situation where you have missed your blinds and wish to re-enter the game before your turn to post the big blind. You must post both blinds and the small blind is termed a dead blind, meaning it does not count towards calling a bet.
Dead Money
(1) Money contributed to a pot by a player no longer in the pot. (2) A player in a tournament who has no realistic chance of winning.
Dead Man's Hand
Two pair - Aces and Eights (The hand Wild Bill Hickok was holding when Jack McCall shot him in the back).
Dealer
The man or woman who handles the cards, gives out the pots, and monitors the game.
Deal-making
An agreement of players (mostly made at the Final Table of a tournament) to share the prize money.
Deep
Also called Deep Money or Deep Stack and it mean having a lot of money/chips compared to the blinds and other players.
Dog
A shortened version of the term underdog. An underdog is either a player who is not favored against the competition, or a hand that is a statistically weaker against the other hands involved in a pot.
Dominated hand
A situation in which one player's hand is a heavy statistical underdog to another player's hand. A typical example would be when one player holds a pair of Aces to another other player's Kings. The Kings are heavily dominated as they must catch one of the other Kings to win the hand.
Door card
The first card dealt face up in a Stud game after the hole cards are dealt.
Drawing Dead
This describes the situation when a player is trying to draw a card to complete a hand when there is already a hand that will beat it, even if made.
Drop
To drop your hand when you decide not to go further with your hand; to return your cards to the muck. Same as fold.

E

Early position
In a poker game, the first few positions to the left of the dealer, or to the left of the obligatory blinds. Compare with late position. Some claim early position, in a game with eight or more players, is the first three positions.
Equity
The amount of money in the pot that can be considered a player's due to the hand they are holding. If there is a $100 in a pot and they have a 50% chance of winning the hand, then their equity in the pot would be $50.
Expectation
Expectation is the amount of money a player will make in a particular game over time. To calculate your expectation, simply divide your total net win/loss figure by the number of hours played in a particular game. This figure will be your hourly expectation. For instance, if you win $1000 over the course of 100 hours then your expectation would be $10/hr.
EV
EV = expected value. The amount you expect to gain on average if you make a certain play. For instance, suppose you put $10 into a $50 pot to draw at a hand that you will make 25% of the time, and it will win every time you make it. Three out of four times, you do not make your draw, and lose $10 each time for a total of $30. The fourth time, you will make your draw, winning $50. Your total gain over those four average hands is $50-$30 = $20, an average of $5 per hand. Thus calling the $10 has a positive expectation of $5.
Extra Blind
A blind put in by a player just entering the game, returning to the game, or otherwise changing his position at the table. See also "blind" and "post."

F

Face Down
Dealt cards that are not visible to other players.
Face Up
Dealt cards that are visible to all players.
Family pot
A hand in which most of the players at the table call before the flop. Family Pots are not typically raised pots and are an excellent opportunity to play suited connectors and small pairs due to the high implied odds that you are typically getting from having so many players in the pot.
Fast Play
to play a hand aggressively, betting and raising as much as possible.
Favorite
the hand with the best chances to win the pot.
Fifth Street
Also known as the 'river' card. In flop games, this represents the fifth community card on the table and the final round of betting. In Stud games, this is the fifth card dealt to each player and represents the third round of betting.
First In
The first player who puts money into the pot. Blinds don't count as first in because they don't put the money into the pot voluntarily.
Fish
A weak player.
Fishhook
A nickname used for a pair of Jacks, often derisively.
Five-card Draw
A poker game in which each player is dealt five cards down. They have one draw to replace them and the best high hand wins the pot.
Five-card Stud
A poker game in which each player is dealt five cards, one down and four up, with betting after 2, 3, 4, & 5 cards.
Flat Call
Calling a bet without raising.
Flop
In games using community cards such as Hold'em or Omaha, the flop is three cards that are dealt together immediately after the Pre-flop betting round. The Flop is then followed by a single card on the Turn and a single card on the River.
Flop Games
Poker games (Hold'em and Omaha) that are played using community cards that are dealt face up in the center of the table.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence. The hand ranks above a straight and below a full house. A flush is often specified by its top one or two cards. For example, As Ks 9s 4s 2s is called an ace-king flush. Five cards of the same suit in sequence constitute a hand known as a straight flush.
Flush Draw
When a player has four cards in his hand, all of the same suit and is hoping to draw a fifth to make a flush.
Fold
To withdraw from the hand by laying down one's cards and relinquishing any claim to the pot.
Fold Equity
The extra value you get from a hand when you force an opponent to fold. That is, if you don't have to see a showdown, your hand has more value than if you do.
Forced Bet
A required bet that starts the action on the first round of a poker hand.
Foul
A hand which is ruled unplayable due to a breach in rules or procedure. An example of a foul would be if there were no cards burned by the dealer during the course of a hand.
Four of a Kind
Four cards of the same number or face value ('quads').
Fourth Street
In flop games, it is the fourth community card dealt (also known as the 'turn') and represents the third round of betting. In stud games, it is the fourth card dealt to each player and represents the second round of betting.
Free Card
A turn or river card on which you don't have to call a bet because of play earlier in the hand (or because of your reputation with your opponents). For instance, if you are on the button and raise when you flop a flush draw, your opponents may check to you on the turn. If you make your flush on the turn, you can bet. If you don't get it on the turn, you can check as well, seeing the river card for "free".
Freerolls
This term applies to poker tournaments where the entry fees, the stakes, or both the entry fee and stakes are waived. In some non-freeroll tournaments, the house may guarantee a minimum prize pool.
Full house
A hand consisting of three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank.

G

Gap Concept
The gap concept is a term coined by David Sklansky. It is a tournament strategy concept relating to the idea that it takes a stronger hand to call a raise preflop than to make the original raise. In essence, there is a "gap" between the hands that can make a raise and hands that can call a raise. In a tournament, stealing the blinds holds a lot of value. Thus, one can be fairly liberal with raising the pot pre-flop in order to make a steal. However, to call a bet requires a much better hand because you cannot win the hand preflop uncontested.
Gap Hand
A starting hand with cards more than one rank apart.
Grinding
Playing in a style with minimal risk and modest gains over a long period of time.
Gut shot straight
A gut shot straight is one in which a player makes their hand by catching one specific card in the middle of the straight, also known as an inside straight. An example would be holding 7 6 with a flop of 3 4 9 and needing to catch a 5 to fill the straight.

H

Hand
A complete round or game beginning with the posting of any blinds or antes and all players receiving cards. The hand ends with the pot being awarded to the winner or winners.
Hand-for-Hand
At the end of a tournament hands are played simultaneous at every remaining table. This is to avoid that a player slow plays every hand just to get "into the money". Most of the time Hand-for-Hand starts at the Bubble.
Hand Protection
To protect a made Hand with aggressive play. You try to bet or raise so the other players have to pay to see the next card. So they won't be able to get a free card.
Heads up
A pot that is being contested by only two players, or a game where only two players play.
High-card
To decide the first dealer in the flop tournaments each user is dealt a single card and the player with the highest card (based on the card and the suit order - of spades, hearts, diamonds & clubs) becomes the theoretical dealer.
Hit
To catch the card needed to make a hand such as a card that completes a straight draw or turns a full house. One can also say that the flop "hit me" meaning that the flop strongly complemented a player's hand.
Hole Cards
These are the ‘down cards’ in front of the players.
House
The casino or poker room hosting the poker game.

I

Ignorant End
The bottom end of a straight that can be costly if another player holds the higher end of the straight. For instance, a player that holds 6 7 on a flop of 8 9 10 has the bottom or ignorant end of the straight, which leaves them drawing dead to any player holding Q J.
Implied odds
The pot odds that a player is not currently getting in relation to the amount of money in the pot during a hand, but may expect to get from future bets assuming that they make their hand.
In
A term for being an active player; one who has not folded.
Inside Straight
A situation where a player has four cards to a straight and needs one of the middle cards to complete it, such as holding 10 J on a 2 Q 8 board. Often players do not have the correct pot odds to draw to an inside straight, so it is usually best to play them only when there is a large amount of money in the pot.

J

Jackpot
A prize pool that is awarded when a player has a very strong hand beaten by an even stronger hand, such as four Aces being beaten by a Straight Flush. There is usually an established minimum qualifying hand requirement, often four of a kind beaten or better, and it is usually required that both players use both of their hole cards
Jacks-or-better
A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair of jacks to open the betting.
Jam
To jam a hand or a pot is for a player to play very fast and aggressive. Games can often be referred to as "Ram and Jam", meaning that the betting is heavy and the action is fast.

K

Key Hand
In a session or tournament, the one hand that ends up being a turning point for the player, either for better or worse.
Kicker
An unpaired card used to determine the better of two near-equivalent hands. For instance, suppose you have AK and your opponent has AQ. If the flop has an ace in it, you both have a pair of aces, but you have a king kicker. Kickers can be vitally important in Hold'em.
Kill Pot
A method to stimulate action. It is a forced bet by someone who has just won a pot(s).
Kojak
Hold'em starting hand nickname: K-J. Named because it sounds like the old television show.

L

Late position
In a poker game, positions to the right of the dealer, that is, those that make their decisions after the first few players have acted. Late position is advantageous, because players get to see what the other players have done before they have to act, that is, they have more information than those who act before they do. Some claim late position, in a game with eight or more players, is the last three positions. Compare with early position.
Lead
The first player to bet into a pot.
Leak
A weakness in your game that causes you to win less money than you would otherwise.
Limit Poker
A game that has fixed minimum and maximum betting intervals, along with a prescribed number of raises.
Limp
1. (v) Open for the lower limit in a structured limit game, as opposed to coming in for a raise. If someone in a $20/$40 game says, "I'll limp", it means he opens for $20.
2. Similarly, in a big-bet game, open for the minimum.
3. (n) The act of limping. "There were three limps to me."
Live
Cards that are not duplicated in an opponent's stronger hand. For example, if you have A9 and your opponent has AJ, then your ace is not "live" because making a pair of aces won't do you any good. The nine, however, is live; making a pair of nines gives you the better hand.
Live blind
A live blind is a forced bet, which in games like Hold'em or Omaha, is posted just ahead of the button before a hand begins. The blind is considered to be live as the player who has posted the blind must still act by checking, calling, or raising depending on the action which has taken place during the pre-flop betting round.
Long Shot
Making a hand despite having few outs and/or poor odds.
Loose
A term used to describe either a player or game and refers to the tendency of too many hands being played. This term is used in opposition to the term Tight which would describe a player or game in which very few hands are being played. Loose players tend to play almost any starting hands and often stay too long in the hand without a reasonable chance of winning.
Lowball
Is a form of draw poker in which the lowest hand wins the pot.
Low Limit
A game where the amounts wagered are small.

M

Main Pot
The center pot. Any other bets are placed in a side pot(s) and are contested among the remaining players. This occurs when a player(s) goes all-in.
Make
To make a hand means that a player has caught the necessary cards to get a hand of some value. Another player may ask, "did you make your hand?"
Maniac
A player that will continually raise and re-raise without regard to the hand they are holding. Maniacs are feared for their volatility and unpredictability but are not generally strong players.
Micro-Limit
Games so small that they couldn't be profitably dealt in a real cardroom. They exist only at online poker sites. You might arbitrarily call games $0.25-0.50 and smaller "micro-limit."
Middle Pair
A pair in combination with the second highest card of the Board. You have K9 and the Board is Q95 gives you middle pair.
Muck the pile of folded and burned cards in front of the dealer.
Multi-Table Tournament (MTT)
A tournament where players at more than one table compete, starting with equal numbers of chips, until one player has won all the chips. Prize payouts are a function of the number of entrants, and are posted on the tournaments page. Multi-table tournaments have a posted start time, and require registration in advance.

N

No-limit
A type of poker in which a player may bet all their chips whenever it is their turn to act, as opposed to Limit poker in which bets may be only placed in multiples of the game's limits or stakes. No Limit is typically played in a Texas Hold'em format.
Nuts
The best possible hand at any point of the game. A hand that cannot be beaten.

O

Odds
The probability of making a hand vs. the probability of not making a hand.
Offsuit
Any starting hand in poker in which the cards are not of the same suit, as opposed to be suited.
Omaha
A game in which each player is dealt four down cards with five community cards. To make your hand, you must play two cards from your hand and three from the board.
Omaha High/Low
This game allows players to compete for a pot split between the highest and the lowest hands using 2 down cards and 3 community cards. A player may use different sets of cards to make up the best high and the best low hands.
On the button
This term means you are in the dealer position in Texas Hold'em and Omaha games. A "button" marks the dealer position with a "D" in the center.
Open-ended Straight (draw)/OESD
Four consecutive connected cards where you need a card at one of these both ends to complete your straight. Example: You are holding JT and the board is KQ2. So every 9 or A will make your straight.
Open Card
A card that is dealt face-up.
Open Pair
A pair that has been dealt face-up.
Option
An option is a live blind made before the cards are dealt. If no one raises, the 'option' player may raise the pot.
Out
A card that can further improve a player's hand. For instance, if a player has a flush draw then any of the remaining cards of the same suit would be considered "outs" or cards that would make a flush.
Outdraw
A player is outdrawn when they are initially ahead in a hand but lose to another player who catches the cards they needed to make a better hand.
Overcall
To call a bet after one or more other players have already called.
Overcard
1. A pocket card or cards higher than any card on the board. For instance a player holds A K on a board of 7 2 5.
2. Conversely, community cards higher than a player’s hole cards. For instance a player holds 5 6 and the flop is 10 Q A.
Overpair
A pocket pair higher than any card on the flop. If you have QQ and the flop comes J-8-3, you have an overpair.

P

Paint
Any of the face cards such as a King, Queen or Jack. Pair This is a hand where the player's best hand is made up of 2 cards of the same rank.
Pass
Can be used in place of either check or fold depending on the context.
Passive
someone who doesn't raise and bet much.
Pay off
When a player calls a bet believing that they are behind in a hand, but are calling to see the other player's cards anyway.
Play Money
Every beginner should start at Play Money tables to get used to the software.
Play the board
To use all of the community cards in a flop game such as Hold'em or Omaha to make the best five card hand. If no one has a better hand utilizing any of their hole cards then the pot will be split evenly between all the players in the hand.
Pocket
The 2 hole cards you get dealt at the beginning of the round.
Pocket Cards
The two cards dealt to you at the beginning of a Hold'em hand that no one else is entitled to see.
Position
Where a player is seated in relation to the dealer, therefore establishing that player's place in the betting order.
Post
To put in a blind bet, generally required when you first sit down in a cardroom game. You may also be required to post a blind if you change seats at the table in a way that moves you away from the blinds. Example: a player leaves one seat at a table and takes another in such a way that he moves farther from the blinds. He is required to post an extra blind to receive a hand. See also "extra blind."
Pot
The total amount of chips that have been put into play during a hand and are eligible to be won. The pot continues to grow until the last cards are dealt and all the betting is finished at which time the pot is awarded to the winner or winners.
Pot-Committed
A state where you are essentially forced to call the rest of your stack because of the size of the pot and your remaining chips.
Post-flop
the phase from flop to river. The opposite is preflop which only includes the betting sequence before the flop is dealt.
Pot Limit
A variation on betting where each player may bet up to the current amount in the pot (PL).
Pot odds
The odds offered by the amount of money in the pot compared to the amount you must call to continue. Pot odds are extremely important for measuring whether it is profitable or not to continue playing a hand.
Profile
A term describing the information a player may enter about himself/herself that may be available, at the player's option, to other players in the poker room. Your profile may include your favorite hobby, favorite web site, favorite quote, and more.
Protection
(a) To keep your hand or a chip on your cards. This prevents them from being fouled by a discarded hand, or accidentally mucked by the dealer.
b) To invest more money in a pot so blind money that you've already put in isn't "wasted." Example: "He'll always protect his blinds, no matter how bad his cards are."
Push
When the dealer pushes the chips to the winning player at the end of a hand. It's also when dealers rotate to other tables.

Q

Quads
Four of a kind.
Qualifier
In Hi/Lo games, it is a requirement the Low hand must meet to win the pot.

R

Rag
A rag is typically a low card that doesn't appear to affect anyone's hand in a meaningful way. A player might say "the board was all rags" meaning that the community cards were uncoordinated and low.
Ragged
A board which in general won't help a player because it is unconnected and consists mainly out of low cards/ragged cards.
Rainbow
A flop with all cards being of different suits, or a final board that does not contain any more than two cards of the same suit which means that there is no possibility for a flush.
Raise
The act of increasing the amount bet by a prior bettor.
Rake
An amount of money taken out of every pot by the dealer. This is the Poker room's income.
Raked Hand
A Raked Hand is where any player is dealt cards in ring game play, in a hand which generates rake. This constitutes one Raked Hand even where the player folds before the flop.
Rank
The denomination of each card which represents the value of the card and determines its worth for various games. For example in a High game such as Hold'em, a 9 is of a higher rank than an 8 and is therefore stronger. In a Low game however, typical ranking hierarchies are reversed and as such a 9 would be a weaker holding than an 8. For further information on hand strengths please visit our Hand Rankings section.
Re-buy
To get more chips during a game but not during a hand that you are in. This applies to real money and tournament play.
Reducing
The act of removing chips from a table and returning immediately with fewer chips. Reducing is considered poor etiquette.
Reload Bonus
A reload bonus is a bonus that a poker room gives to its existing players. Like a signup bonus, a reload bonus is typically a percentage of a player's deposit.
Represent
To play as if you hold a certain hand. For instance, if you raised before the flop, and then raised again when the flop came ace high, you would be representing at least an ace with a good kicker.
Re-raise
A re-raise is the action of raising a raise. For instance if player A bet, and Player B raised that bet, Player C would be said to re-raise if he raised Player B's raise.
Ring game
A ring game is an ongoing poker game with fixed blinds that runs as long as there are players willing to take a seat. This is as opposed to a tournament which has a specific start time, increasing blinds as it progresses, and ends when one player has accumulated all the chips. Ring games are also often referred to as Cash games as the chips in play represent real money as opposed to Tournament chips which represent an artificial amount.
River
The fifth and final community card. This card is also known as Fifth Street.
Round
This refers to the dealing of a set of cards and associated betting. For example, the dealing of the river and the bets that follow are a round.
Rock
A very conservative player who takes very few chances and does not play many hands. A game full of tight conservative players is sometimes referred to as a "rock garden".
Rounder
A rounder is synonymous with a grinder. These are players who make their living or a significant amount of their income from playing poker. They tend to play mid or low stakes games and win money bit by bit. Rounding is often considered to be a difficult way to make money because rounders tends to not make much money per hour.
Royal Flush
The best possible high hand. This is a straight flush from 10 through to Ace of the same suit.
Runner
A card that comes on the Turn to give a player a draw that was not present on the flop, such as a player holding 9 10 with a flop of 4 Q 5, and the turn card is a Jack which then gives the player an open ended straight draw. The term Runner-Runner is then used when the fifth and final card then successfully completes the draw.
Running Pair
When Turn and River card are the same card.
Rush
A winning streak.

S

Satellite
A preliminary poker tournament awarding seat(s) to a larger, more important tournament.
Scare card
A card that appears to help the opposition or a card that is higher than any of a player's hole cards. For instance, if there is a raise pre-flop and an Ace comes on the flop, this would be considered a Scare Card to anyone holding a weaker hand then a pair of Aces as it is easy to imagine a pre-flop raiser holding a strong hand with an Ace.
Second Pair
A pair in combination with the second highest card of the Board. You have K9 and the Board is Q95 gives you second pair.
Sell
To "Sell" a hand is to play it in such a way that induces a call or a raise from you opponents as your hand is very strong. This may be done by making a small to medium size bet that is meant to convey to your opponents that your hand is weak or mediocre. The idea is to bet enough so that you get paid off properly, but not too much as your opponents may be scared off.
Semi-Bluff
A powerful concept first discussed by David Sklansky. It is a bet or raise that you hope will not be called, but you have some outs if it is. A semi-bluff may be correct when betting for value is not correct, a pure bluff is not correct, but the combination of the two may be a positive expectation play. Example: you have Ks-Qs, and the flop is Th-5s-Jc. If you bet now, it's a semi-bluff. You probably don't have the best hand, and you'd like to see your opponents fold immediately. Nevertheless, if you do get callers, you could still improve to the best hand.
Set
A set is the same as three of a kind but specifically means that you have a pocket pair along with another card of the same rank on the board. A Set is different than Trips, in which a player uses one of their hole cards to make three of a kind with two cards of matching rank on the board.
Short stack
A player with a limited number of chips compared to other players at the table, whether in a cash game or a tournament. A short stack is considered in danger of being busted out, particularly in a tournament where the blinds increase over time.
Showdown
The point at which all players remaining in the hand turn their cards over and determine who has the best hand -- i.e., after the fourth round of betting is completed. Of course, if a final bet or raise is not called, there is no showdown.
Side Pot
This is a pot created when a player goes all-in. The side pot is the pot available to those players not all-in at that point. There can, on occasion, be more than one side pot.
Sit and Go
Also called SNG. Most of the time it is a one table tournament. It starts when every seat has a player. For beginners SNG's are very very dangerous because it takes a lot of practice to beat them.
Slow play
A strong hand that is not raised or aggressively bet early in a hand so as to keep as many other players in the pot as possible in hopes of making the most amount of money as possible. Also known as "Sand Bagging".
Small blind
The smaller of two blind bets typically used in a Hold'em game. Normally, the small blind is one-third to two-thirds of a first round bet. See also "big blind" and "blind."
Split pot
If two or more players have the same hand then the pot they are competing for is split evenly between them. This may occur if all the players involved start off with similar holdings and end up holding equal hands in combination with the community cards, or if the best possible hand is made up of the five board cards and as such is used by all the players involved in the hand.
Stakes
In Limit games, Stakes are the fixed amount for bets and raises.
Straddle
An extra blind voluntarily posted by the player to the immediate left of the big blind to stimulate the action. A straddle is typically twice the size of the big blind and is considered to be live, meaning that the player who posted the straddle may re-raise.
Straight
Five connected cards. The Ace can also be used as a "1". So A2345 is possible. But it is not working like a wheel so QKA23 is NOT possible.
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Structured Limit
A Structured Limit is one in which the betting stakes are pre-determined along with which betting round they may be used in. This is typical of Limit Hold'em games in which players may only bet and raise in fixed amounts. In a $2/$4 Limit game for instance, players may only bet in increments of $2 for the first two rounds and $4 for the last two rounds.
Suited
A Hold'em starting hand in which the two cards are the same suit. Example: "I had to play J-3 -- it was suited."

T

Table stakes
A rule in a poker game meaning that a player may not go into his pocket for money during a hand. He may only invest the amount of money in front of him into the current pot.
Tell
A clue or hint that a player unknowingly gives about the strength of his hand, his next action, etc. May originally be from "telegraph" or the obvious use that he "tells" you what he's going to do before he does it.
Texas Hold'em
The poker game where each player gets two down cards followed by five community cards face-up.
Tilt
A player is said to be on Tilt if they are playing very poorly due to being emotionally upset or angry. This is often due to having suffered from a bad beat in which their strong hand was beaten by a much weaker hand.
Time
a) A request by a player to suspend play while he decides what he's going to do. Simply, "Time, please!" If a player doesn't request time and there is a substantial amount of action behind him, the dealer may rule that the player has folded.
b) An amount of money collected either on the button or every half hour by the cardroom. This is another way for the house to make its money (see "rake").
Toke
A tip that is given to the dealer by the winner of a pot. It is not mandatory to toke the dealer but it is considered good etiquette to do so.
Top Pair
A pair with the highest card on the flop. If you have As-Qs, and the flop comes Qd-Th-6c, you have flopped top pair. See "second pair."
Trips
Trips is another term for three of a kind along with "Set". Trips differs from a "Set" as a player is using only one hole card along with two cards of the same rank on the board.
Turn
The fourth or second to last card in a community board game such as Hold'em or Omaha. It is also the betting round in Limit games in which the betting limit doubles.

U

Underpair
A pocket pair of lower value than the lowest card on the board.
Under the Gun (UTG)
The position of the player who acts first on a betting round. For instance, if you are one to the left of the big blind, you are under the gun before the flop.
Unconnected
A board like Q72 is the best example. Not even a gutshot straight draw is possible here.
Underdog
An underdog is either a player who is not favored against the competition, or a hand that is a statistically weaker against the other hands involved in the pot.
Under-raise
This occurs when a player raises a prior bet but has to go all-in to do so with an amount less than the full raise. Upswing A long term lucky streak.

V

Value
Often used in the phrase "Bet for Value" which means to bet a hand as you are confident that you are ahead and want to ensure that you get paid off by an opponent calling with a worse hand.
Variance
A measure of the up and down swings your bankroll goes through. Variance is not necessarily a measure of how well you play. However, the higher your variance, the wider swings you'll see in your bankroll.

W

Walking Sticks
A pair of sevens.
Wheel
A nickname for the best low hand 5, 4, 3, 2, A.
WSOP
World Series of Poker.

Hand Rank

Listed in order from highest poker hand to the lowest:

Royal flush:


Straight flush:


Four of a kind:


Full house:


Flush:



Straight:



Three of a kind:


Two pairs:




A Pair:



High card:

Poker is a term defining a set of card games in which players place bets based on the strength of the cards they hold. The winner in Poker, is the player who holds the highest ranking hand or makes a wager which is unanswered by his/her opponents. The winner in Poker is awarded the "pot".

At GoWild, we play our Seven Card Stud and Omaha poker games in "high-only" as well as in "high-low split". This means that, for these games, the best five-card poker hand for high wins half the pot, and the best qualifying five-card hand for low wins the other half. We play Texas Hold'em poker "high-only", and there are No Limit, Pot Limit and Limit options. If you would like to see the hand ranking, visit our poker hand ranks section.

In each and every poker game, we start off with some forced wager that the players contest for. In Seven Card Stud, there are two forced wagers, an ante and a bring-in. In Texas Hold'em and Omaha, the forced wagers are a small blind and a big blind.
In any basic poker game, a player will wager strategically, by using his set pre flop pre-defined actions, which are:

1. CHECK - A player may check if no wager has been placed during the current betting round by using this act, the player passes the action to the next poker player immediately clockwise from him/her. By Checking, the player does not give up the interest in the pot. rather he forfeits the current right to bet. If all players check during a round of betting, the round is considered complete.

2. BET - A player may bet if there is no wager on the current betting round. If a player bets, the poker player immediately clockwise from him or her (and any subsequent poker players) may fold, raise, or call.

3. FOLD - By folding, a player gives up all interest in the pot. A player who folds is not required or allowed to wager any additional money for the current poker game.

4. CALL - a player may call if there has been a wager on the current round of poker. Calling requires the player to match the current bet made by his or her opponent(s).

5. RAISE - a player may raise, if there has been a wager on the current betting round. Raising requires the poker player to match the current bet, and make a greater one. All subsequent players have to call the raise or raise again ("re-raise") to maintain interest in the pot. For each & every round, betting will go on until the person immediately counterclockwise from the last bettor or raiser acts. Once he/she acts, the next round starts, or the hand is complete.

A "showdown" takes place when the last bet or raise on the final betting round is called. At this time, the players reveal their hands one-by-one, and the winner is determined. It is also possible that a showdown will not take place. This will occur when a player bets or raises, and all players fold (no active players call his/her bet). When this happens, the player who bet or raised wins the pot, in full.

Basic Poker Play: Table Stakes and All-In Basic poker play is typically played "table stakes", meaning only the chips in play at the beginning of each hand may be used throughout the hand. The table stakes rule has an application called the "All-In" rule, which states that a player cannot be forced to forfeit a poker hand because the player does not have enough chips to call a bet. A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the point of his final wager. All further action involving other players takes place in a "side pot", which is ineligible to the All-In player.

Go back up

1. With the exception of specially designated "national tournaments", all chat must be in English. Trivial exceptions (e.g. "Salut!", "gracias") are acceptable.

2. Players are not allowed to create, use, or deposit to more than one account. Violators of this rule are subject to an account review which may lead to account suspension and forfeiture of accumulated Wild Points.

3. "Begging" for money (real or play) at tables is forbidden and may result in the suspension or termination of the offender's account.

4. Soft playing or chip dumping is not allowed. Any unethical play may result in the suspension or termination of the offender's account.

5. Players are expected to chat in a way that would be appropriate in a face-to-face meeting. Abusive, foul, or inappropriate chat will not be tolerated. Players doing so are subject to penalties, including removal of chat for a period of time or permanently. In severe cases, such players may lose their playing privileges.

6. Players may not use the chat feature to advertise websites or other commercial service. Such behavior will have your winnings confiscated, your membership cancelled and you will be permanently banned from accessing GoWild in the future.

7. Note that all chats transmits are being monitored 24/7, any inappropriate behavior such as exposing, hassling, promoting any kind of website or product will not be tolerated and cause lose of all playing privileges, winnings removal, forfeiture of accumulated Wild Points, membership cancel and permanent banned from accessing GoWild in the future.

8. Players may not type words, characters or phrases into chat that make it difficult for others to use the chat feature. We consider such activity disruptive to our games and do not permit it. Players doing this may lose their chat privileges.

9. Players may not "spam" tables with announcements of private tournaments or sit-and-go events. Such spamming may result in loss of chat, private tournament deployment, and/or playing privileges.

10. In both cash games and tournaments, players who have folded during a hand may not discuss the cards that they folded. This provides unfair information to players still in the hand.

11. In cash games only, players still in a hand may chat about what cards they claim to hold. This is "coffee-housing", which is common in poker. However, players (in the hand or not) may not coach or otherwise suggest how another player should play his hand. For example, it is okay to say "You should call; I'm bluffing." It is not okay to say, "You should call; he's bluffing."

12. In both cash games and tournaments, if there are more than two players left in a pot, players (in the hand or not) may not chat anything that might reasonably be interpreted as affecting the play of the hand. For instance, suppose players A, B, and C are in a hand. A bets, and B is next to act. C may not chat, "I'm going to fold" (whether he intends to fold or not).

13. Be it at a Practice or Money Play Table, or in one of our Poker Tournaments or Events, fair and ethical poker play is expected and required of our Members. Members found to be conducting play in an unethical manner, or not adhering to stated or unstated rules of play, will have their winnings confiscated, their membership cancelled and will be permanently banned from accessing GoWild in the future.

14. Intimidation or harassment of other Members at the table will not be tolerated.

15. As host, GoWild applies a Commission Charge ("Rake") to each Poker hand's Pot. To view GoWild rake structure, please see the Poker Rake section.

16. GoWild reserves the right to modify or revise the rules at any time, without notice to Players. Such amendments will become effective immediately upon being listed on the website. It is the Players' sole responsibility to review them, and remain abreast of any changes.

17. In case of disputes, GoWild management decision will be final.

The "Rake" is the percentage of the pot that goes to the house from a game of Poker. GoWild Poker Room uses a fixed schedule for its rake, based on the table limit and the number of players.

All tables, with blinds $0.05/$0.10 and up

Number of Players	Rake per Pot	Max Rake
2 players	$0.01 per $0.20	$1
3-10	$0.01 per $0.20	$3

All tables, with blinds under $0.05/$0.10

Number of Players	Rake per Pot	Max Rake
Up to 2	$0.01 per $0.10	$0.10

The Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT)

The Asia Pacific Poker Tour started in 2007 and is the first major poker tour in this region. The first season runs from August to December 2007 and is held across four locations; Manila (Philippines), Seoul (South Korea), Macau (China) and Sydney (Australia). The APPT is responsible for bringing the first major government-sanctioned real-money Texas Hold'em poker tournaments to Korea and China. The tour was created by Sarne Lightman and Jeffrey Haas. Danny McDonagh is the Tournament Director.

The European Poker Tour (EPT)

The European Poker Tour (EPT) began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Texas Hold'em popularity. It is a series of televised poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour (WPT). In seasons 1-3, the most significant difference between the competing poker tours was the buy-in and its effect on the prize pool, with the EPT featuring buy-ins about half the size of the WPT. This changed in season 4 when the buy-in for most EPT events was increased to €8,000(Due to the increasing popularity and lack of space in participating casinos). At 2007 exchange rates, this is approxima