Texas Holdem Strategy - Poker Terminology

Micheal Thorn

For all you new players out there that are just getting in to poker, here’s a list of common poker terms that you will need to know. These terms are good both online and in a normal card game with your buddies.

Limit Poker: This is poker with set limits. For example, a 1 dollar/2 dollar limit Holdem game only allows a raise a maximum of 2 dollars at a time before the flop until the river. This is the opposite of no limit Holdem where a player can raise any amount at any time.

Blind (Small blind/big blind): These are the ante for Texas Holdem Poker. The two players the left of the dealer must place the pre-determined amount before they have a chance to see the cards. If there is a raise and either of these players fail to call, their blind is forfeited.

Flop: this is the first three cards that are turned over after all bets have been made and or called.

Turn: This is the 4th card to be revealed in a game of Texas Holdem.

River: This is the last card to be revealed in a game of Texas Holdem.

Board Cards: These are the cards on the table that all players share and use to make their hands.

Position (early and late): This is where you are seated in comparison to the dealer button. Early position is the spot right after the big blind and strategically has the worst position on the board because this position must call before he knows what the other players will do. Late position is on or near the dealer button and is considered the best position because you get to see how the other players will act before you make a decision whether to play your hand or not.

Pre-flop: This is when all you have is the 2 cards in your hand and the cards on there have not been any community cards revealed.

Draw: A player is said to be on a draw if a player calls a bet in hopes that the next card will give him the winning hand. For example if a player has QK in his hand and the flop is 10 Jack 2, and the player calls a bet in hopes of a 9 or an Ace.

Outs: This is the number of cards that a player could draw in order to produce the winning hand. If the flop is QJ2 and a player has 10 9, he needs either a King or an 8 in order to complete a straight. There are 4 Kings and 4 eights in the deck leaving a total of 8 outs to make a straight.

Pot Odds: This is the ratio of how large of a bet you must call to the size of the pot. If you are clearly behind in a hand but your opponent bets 1 dollar at a 100 dollar pot. It is worth risking one more dollar to see the next card that might win you a 100. But say your opponent bet 120 dollars at a hundred dollar pot, and you don’t have a hand, it is not worth calling 120 dollars to see the next card.

Shorthand: This is a game of poker that has less than 6 players.

Longhand: This is a game that has at least seven players involved.

If you are new to online poker, don't just jump in to high-stakes games. Start out at the free or small blind tables and progress up to higher stakes as you become more comfortable with the game. Some good sites for not only playing normal cash games, but also small nickle blind and free tables is UltimateBet.com and PartyPoker.com. Good Luck!