12 Colors - A Clean Sweep hand that consists of exactly 12 cards of one color and a 13th of the other in Chinese Poker.

13 Colors - A Clean Sweep hand that consists entirely of either hearts and diamonds; OR clubs and spades.

Aces Up - A pair of aces with another pair. This term can be used with any 2-pair hand, For example: 7's up - a pair of 7's with another pair below 7.

Action – Any act of betting, raising , checking , or folding . “Your action” means your turn to act.

Acey-Deucy - When pocket cards are Ace (A), Two (2).

Ainsworth - When pocket cards are Six (6), Two (2).

Ajax - Ace (A), Jack (J), also called foamy cleanser

Alaska Hand : See King Crab

All-in - A player who runs out of table stakes in the middle of a hand is “all in”. Subsequent betting by other players thus results in a side pot. Players can never be bet out of a hand simply for running out of money this way. Those who are all in are only eligible for the money in the pot into which they contributed.

American Airlines – Age old poker nickname for two pocket aces.

Ante - Money placed in the pot by all players before receiving cards. Most often only stud games require antes.

Assistant – The Player who plays immediately before the winner's final discard in Big 2. If the assistant is not able to play the best possible hand before the winner's final hand, the assistant must cover the other Players' losses.

Back Door Flush/(Straight) - When both the last 2 cards make a player's flush/straight.

Back Hand - The backhand is defined as the highest hand of the bottom set in the series of three in Chinese Poker. It is also referred to as the "Big Behind".

Bad Beat - Most often this means a strong hand that loses to an even stronger hand.

Barbara Hutton - Ten (10), five (5). This comes from the name of the dime store Five And Dime heiress.

Baskin Robbins – Three (3), Ace (A), from the ice cream chain's "31 Flavors".

Beer Hand - Seven (7), Two (2)

Bicycle (or Wheel) - A straight to the 5. Example: A 2 3 4 5 .

Big Bet – The aount of money wagered in later betting rounds. In $10/$20 Hold ‘Em, the big bet is $20.

Big Blind - The amount that the 2nd player to the left of the button must post before receiving cards. Big blind is the same amount as the small bet.

Big Slick - Ace (A), King (K); known as Santa Barbara as well.

Blank - A card on either 4th or 5th Street that has no value for anyone's hand.

Blinds - Money used to initiate the action in place of an ante in a flop type game such as Hold ‘Em.

Blocky - Six (6), Three(3).

Bluff - Betting or raising with the intention of getting someone else to fold a strong hand.

Board - In flop games like Hold 'Em Poker these are the community cards. In stud games, these are the cards that are dealt face up to each player.

Bully Johnson - Three (3), five (5).

Bring In – The Initial bet. In stud games the player with the lowest card showing on the first round must bring in. The player closest to the dealer's left brings in, in the event of a tie.

Button – Moving clockwise every hand, the button is used in Texas Hold ‘Em poker and other similar games to show which player acts first in a hand.

Call - Wagering the same amount after the original bet has been made. For example: if player A bets $10, player B calls $10.

Canine - King (K), nine (9). Also known as a Pedigree or Mongrel

Cap - When the last allowable raise has been taken the pot is capped. During heads up or in tournaments there is usually no cap.

Card Set – This is a a group of cards that during a round of Big 2 a player may discard from his hand at once.

Check (or Pass) - Neither betting nor folding when play comes to you. Checking may only be done when you are first to act or placing a bet.

Check/Raise - Checking, then raising, after a player bets.

Clean Sweep - A special hand that automatically wins in Chinese Poker. Clean Sweep hands include Dragon, 13 Colors, 12 Colors, 6 Pair, 3 Straights, and 3 Flushes.

Community Cards – These are cards that all players may use to make their hands. Board cards in flop games such as Hold 'Em Poker are community cards. In 7-Card stud a community card is used when there aren't enough cards left for all players to receive a 7th card.

Crabs - Pocket threes.

Darth Vader - Two black fours ("the dark side of the force")

Dead Card - A card that has already been seen in stud Poker.

Dead Man's Hand - Ace (A), eight (8), according to legend "Wild Bill" Hickok was holding aces and eights when he was shot in the back by Jack McCall in 1876.

Deuce - A 2 card of any suit.

Dog – This is a hand which is unlikely to win the pot.

Door Card -The 1st exposed card in a player's hand in 7-Card Stud.

Dolly Parton - Nine (9), five (5). Taken from the movie Nine to five in which she starred.

Down Cards (or Hole Cards) - A player's individual cards that are face down.

Dragon –Containing one card of every rank this is the highest possible hand in Chinese Poker.

Draw - Receive a card.

Drawing Dead - Drawing to a hand that cannot win. For example: to a straight when someone has a flush.

Draw Out – Making the winning hand on the last card or draw.

Eubie - Eight (8), Six (6); supposedly comes from the saying "if you play these you'll be broke".

Eyes / Eyes of Texas - Pocket Aces.

Family Pot - A pot where everyone plays and no one folds.

Flop - In Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, the 1st 3 board cards. They are turned up simultaneously and initiate the 2nd round of betting.

Flush - A hand consisting exclusively of suited cards. For example: 2 4 5 8 J .

Fold (or Muck) – The act of throwing away your cards and dropping out of a hand.

Forced Bring-In – This is a mandatory bet. The player facing a forced bring-in can neither check nor fold. Usually used in stud poker by the player with the lowest card showing to initiate the action on the 1st round of betting.

Freeze Out - A stakes structure where players must buy in for a set amount and may not purchase chips thereafter.

Front Hand - In Chinese Poker, this is a 3-card hand created from the 13 cards a Player is dealt. The front hand must be outranked by the middle hand.

Full House - A hand made up of 3 cards of one rank and 2 of another For example: 3 3 3 6 6 .

Goolsby - Queen (Q), Ten (10).

Gorillas - King (K), King (K) this comes from the movie King Kong .

Gut Shot (or Inside Straight Draw) - Drawing to a straight that needs one of the middle cards to complete it. For examaple: 5 6 8 9 , any 7 completes a straight inside.

Heads Up – When only 2 players remain in a hand.

Heinz - Five (5), Seven (7); referring to the Heinz slogan "57 varieties". Also known as pickle man.

Hockey Sticks - Seven (7), Seven (7).

Implied Odds - The value you expect to win if you make your hand, divided by the cost you pay to keep playing.

Jack Benny - Three (3), nine (9). The old television and vaudeville comedian had a running gag that that was his age.

Jackson Five - Jack(J), five (5); referring to the Motown singing group.

Jesse James - Four (4), five (5). According to legend, the famous outlaw was shot with a .45.

Joe Bernstein - Six (6), nine (9). Named after a famous gambler from the 20's and 30's.

Kicker (or Side Card) - The next card in a hand following a pair or 3-of-a-Kind. 9 9 K 2 5 is a pair of 9's with a king kicker.

Katy - King (K), ten (10).

King Crab - King (K), three (3). So called this because the 3 resembles a crab.

Kojak - King (WK), jack (J) Called this because together the cards sound like the old TV show of the same name.

Kokomo - King (K), eight (8).

Limits - The amount of money you can bet in any game round. For example: $3/$6, $5/$10, $10/$20.

Little Pete - Two (2), three (3)

Little Slick - Ace (A) Queen (Q) or Ace (A), Two (2), compare with big slick.

Live Card – This is a card not yet seen and therefore possibly still in play, in stud poker games.

Loose - A game where a lot of players are in most pots.

Lumberman's Hand - Two (2), four (4) comes from the "two-by-four" cut of lumber.

Main Pot - The1st pot that all players are eligible for.

Marriage - King (K), Queen (Q).

Middle Hand - In Chinese Poker, this is one of two 5-card hands created from the 13 cards a Player is dealt. The middle hand be outranked by the Player's back hand, and must outrank a Player's front hand.

Minimum Buy-In - The minimum price a player pays ton buy into a game. For example: in $10/$20 limit, the minimum buy-in is $100.

Missed Blind - When a player sits out and misses a blind in order to receive a hand. They must post both blinds or wait a turn to take the big blind.

Montana Banana - Nine (9), two (2). According to some, 92 is the number of the proposition that legalized gambling in Montana. Others believe that its origins come from the idea that bananas will grow in Montana before that hand makes money.

Motown - Jack (J), five (5) - See Jackson Five

Nuts - The best hand possible in a Hold ‘Em Poker game. Where 3 5 7 9 are visible, the nuts would be three 9's.

On the Come - Drawing to any straight or flush.

Open End/Outside Straight Draw - Drawing to a straight that requires either outside card to complete it. For example: if you hold 5 6 7 8 , any 4 or 9 completes the straight outside.

Open Game - A game where anyone can play.

Open Pair - An exposed pair in stud poker.

Open Poker - A game in where some cards are dealt face up.

Open Seat - An empty seat at a game that anyone can sit in and play.

Overcard - A card higher than any visible card.

Pot Odds - Money in the pot and divided by what it will cost you to continue the hand.

Raise - Increasing the amount of the original bet, usually by doubling. For example: player A bets $10, player B raises bet to $20.

Rake – The money that gets taken out of the pot by the house; usually on a percentage with a maximum.

Raquel Welch - Three (3), eight (8); has to do with measurements.

Redraw – This is a draw to an even better hand when you currently hold the nuts.

River - The 5th board card in Texas Hold ‘Em Poker or the last card in Stud Poker.

Rolled Up - When a player's first 3 cards in 7-Card stud Poker are of the same kind.

Round of Betting - The action sequence in which each player can check, bet, raise or fold.

Scare Card – A card that looks like it might make a strong hand.

Set (or Trips) - 3-of-a-Kind

Showdown - The showing of cards at the end of a hand.

Side Pot – A Pot that is created after a player goes all in. It is possible to have multiple side pots.

Siegfried & Roy - Two Queens.

Small Bet - 1st betting round. For example: in $10/$20 Hold 'Em Poker, small bet is $10.

Small Blind – Money that the 1st player to the left of the button must post before they receive cards. A Small blind is usually ½ the big blind.

Split Pot - A pot split evenly among players with equal hands.

Straight - A hand consisting of cards of consecutive rank. For example: 7 8 9 10 J .

Straight Flush - A hand consisting of suited cards of consecutive rank. For example: 5 6 7 8 9 .

Street - Refers to a certain period in the game. In 7-Card Stud Poker, 3rd Street is the 1st betting round on the 1st three cards. 4th Street is the 4th card dealt to each player, etc. In Texas Hold ‘Em Poker and similar games, 4th Street is the 4th board card in the 3rd round of betting.

Surrender - In Chinese Poker, the act of discarding one's hand from play and removing oneself from the current betting round. A Player who surrenders must pay each opponent 3 units, but eliminates the risk of greater losses.

Table Stakes - Money that players have at the start of a hand and available for that hand. Players may not add money to their stacks, or bring more to the table while involved in a hand. Also players may not be bet out of a hand, or be forced to fold because they run out of money in the middle of a hand. (See all in.)

Turn - 4th board card.

Twiggy - Two (2), nine (9); measurements of Twiggy.

Under the Gun - The position of the player who is first to act.

Union Oil - Seven (7), six (6); From the symbol of the oil company.

Up Cards – a player's individual cards that are face up in stud poker games.

Weinberg - Ten (10), three (3)

Woolworth - Ten (10), five (5); this comes from the F.W Woolworth retail chain.

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