List of Poker Terms & Definitions

Poker is a card game with a rich history and a large number of variations. To become a skilled poker player, you must not only understand the rules of the game but also its terminology.

The focus of this article will be on providing an extended list of poker terms and definitions to help both beginner and experienced players improve their understanding of the game. Whether you're playing an online game or a high-stakes tournament, knowing the terms and definitions of poker can help Rwandan players a lot.

Common Poker Terms Glossary for Rwandan Players

• Ante - A small forced bet that all players must put in before a hand is dealt.
• All-In - When a player bets all of their remaining chips.
• Action - Refers to the betting and raising that takes place during a hand.
• Bluff - To make a bet or raise a weak hand in the hopes of making your opponents fold.
• Bad beat - When a player with a strong hand loses to a player with a weaker hand due to luck.
• Bankroll - The amount of money a player has set aside specifically for playing poker.
• Bet - An amount of money wagered on a hand.
• Big blind - A mandatory bet made by the player to the left of the small blind in certain types of poker games.
• Blind - A forced bet made by one or two players at the beginning of each hand.
• Button - A small disc or marker that indicates the position of the dealer in a game of poker.
• Call - To match a bet made by another player.
• Check - To pass on betting during a round.
• Community cards - cards that are shared among all players in a game.
• Check-raise - To check initially, then raise after another player bets.
• Draw - A hand in which a player tries to improve their hand by discarding and replacing cards.
• Drop - To fold or give up a hand.
• Early position - The position of the player who acts first in a betting round.
• Exposed card - A card that is accidentally revealed during the dealing process or during play.
• Edge - A small advantage that a player has over their opponents.
• Flop - The first three community cards that are dealt face-up in games like Texas Hold'em.
• Fold - To give up your hand and drop out of a round.
• Full House - A hand consisting of three of a kind and a pair.
• Flush - A poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit.
• Gutshot - A straight draw where a player needs one specific card in the middle of the sequence to complete the hand, such as holding 7-8 and needing a 9.
• Heads Up - A game where only two players compete against each other.
• Hole Cards - The cards dealt face down to each player at the start of a round.
• Jackpot - A special bonus payout for achieving a rare hand, like a royal flush.
• Jam - To go all-in on a hand.
• Kicker - A card used to break a tie between two players with the same hand ranking.
• Knockout tournament - A poker tournament format where each player has a bounty, and the eliminator receives it.
• Laydown - To fold a hand, especially a strong one, after facing a significant bet or raise.
• Limit - A poker betting structure with a fixed maximum bet size and limited raises per round.
• Lowball - A poker game where the lowest hand wins, such as in 2-7 Triple Draw.
• Main pot - The primary pot in a hand, formed when players go all-in and cannot match subsequent bets.
• Monster - A very strong hand, like a full house or better.
• No-Limit - A poker betting structure with no maximum bet size, allowing players to bet all their chips anytime.
• Nuts - The best possible hand at any given point in the game.
• Nut low - In high-low split games, the best possible low hand.
• Nine-handed - A poker game or table with nine players.
• Offsuit - Cards that are of different suits, such as a king of hearts and a queen of spades.
• Open-ended straight draw - A hand needing one of two possible cards to make a straight, like holding a 7-8 and needing a 6 or a 9.
• Out - A card that can improve a player's hand and potentially win the pot.
• Overlay poker tournament where the total prize pool exceeds the combined buy-ins of all players.
• Overpair - A pocket pair higher than any community cards.
• Pot - The total amount of chips or money in play.
• Pocket cards - The two cards dealt face down to a player in Texas Hold'em.
• Position - A player's place at the table relative to the dealer, affecting betting order and information.
• Pot-limit - A type of poker betting structure where the maximum bet is the current pot size.
• Preflop - The betting period before the flop is dealt, when players only have their hole cards and must decide to bet, call, or fold.
• Pair - Two cards of the same rank, like two jacks or two sixes.
• Raise - Increasing the current bet to stay in the game.
• River - The fifth and final community card dealt in Texas Hold'em and Omaha.
• Rebuy - In a tournament, the option to buy back into the game after being eliminated.
• Round of betting - One complete cycle of betting, usually starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
• Royal flush - The highest-ranking hand in poker, consisting of the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of a single suit.
• Showdown - The final phase of a hand where players reveal their cards to determine the winner.
• Small blind - The forced bet placed by the player to the left of the dealer in Texas Hold'em and Omaha.
• Split pot - A pot divided equally between two or more players due to equivalent hands.
• Straddle - A voluntary bet made by the player to the left of the big blind before cards are dealt, usually double the big blind.
• Straight - A poker hand consisting of five cards in sequence, such as 4-5-6-7-8.
• Trips - Three of a kind made with one hole card and two on the board in Texas Hold'em.
• Turn - The fourth community card in Texas Hold'em, dealt face up on the board after the flop.
• Table stakes - A betting rule where players can only bet the chips they have on the table at the start of the hand, and cannot add more during play.
• Under the gun - The position of the player who must act first in the betting round, located to the left of the big blind in Texas Hold'em.
• Underdog - A hand or player not favored to win the pot.
• Upcard - A card dealt face-up in a game of stud poker.
• Value bet - A bet made with a strong hand to extract value from opponents with weaker hands.
• Wheel - The lowest possible straight, consisting of A-2-3-4-5.

Conclusion for Rwandan Players

As a poker beginner in Rwanda, there are many terms and definitions to learn. Without knowing them, you won't succeed at the poker table. Some of the most critical terms to be familiar with include "ante," "bet," "check," "raise," "fold," and "pot." Also, there are terms associated with particular types of poker, such as "flop" in Texas Hold'em and "lowball" in 2-7 Triple Draw.

"Position" is one of the most important terms in poker, meaning a player's spot at the table relative to the dealer. Understanding position is essential for betting and bluffing effectively, especially for Rwandan players.