Learning the Lingo of Texas Hold'em Poker: Basic Game Terms


by Joseph Ducat - Date: 2007-02-06 - Word Count: 410 Share This!

When you first get into Texas hold'em poker, you will hear a lot of terms being bandied about. Part of learning the game is learning these terms and what they mean. You do not want to show off your ignorance and lack of experience in front of your opponents. Let me give you a rundown of some of the basic game terms used in Texas hold'em poker.

Button. This is any object, but usually a white puck, that is used to designate the position of the dealer of the hand. In Texas hold'em, the players will alternate being the dealer, so the button rotates around the table as the players take their turns. A player whose turn it is to be the dealer is said to be "on the button."

Pot. The pot refers to the money that the players bet in a hand of poker. The size of the pot will often increase during the course of a hand as players make calls and raises.

Rake. The rake is the commission that the poker room (or poker website) takes from the pot of every hand. The rake can be a set dollar amount per hand, or be a percentage of it.

Blinds. In Texas hold'em, each hand will have two players start out by posting blind bets or simply "blinds," which are forced bets they have to enter in the pot before they can be dealt any cards. One player posts the small blind, which is equal to half the minimum bet, while the second player posts the big blind, which is equal to the minimum bet.

Pocket cards. These are the two cards dealt to each player at the beginning of every hand.

Board. The name given to the community cards that are dealt face-up on the table. A player who says that "The board plays" is letting the table know that the five community cards constitute the player's entire betting hand.

Flop. These are the first three community cards dealt to the board after the first round of betting in a hand.

Turn. This is the fourth community card dealt to the board after the second round of betting in a hand. It is also known as "fourth street."

River. This is the fifth and final community card dealt to the board after the third round of betting in a hand. It is also known as "fifth street." After the river has been dealt, there is a fourth and final round of betting between the players.


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