All-In - In a no limit game, like no limit Texas holdem, to place a bet for all of the chips you have on the table. "I move all in." Also refers to a table stakes game, which means you can only play with the money you have on the table, where you have bet your last chips and there are still other players with more chips placing bets. In this case, you can only win the amount in the pot including your last bet and any calls of that bet. For example, if you place your last $10 in the pot at the beginning of the hand and there are three callers making the pot $40, no matter how much additional betting there is, you can only win $40. The remaining players are playing for both the $40 pot and the side pot, which is created from the additional betting action.

Big Blind - The larger of two forced bets that are placed before any cards are dealt in Texas holdem and Omaha, as well as a few other less popular games. The big blind is two players to the left of the button, which signifies the acting dealer for the hand. It is usually twice the size of the small blind and is equal to the smaller of the two betting limits in limit Texas holdem. In a 2 / 4 limit Texas holdem game, the big blind would be 2. The blinds in no limit ring games are pre-determined by the house rules and in a tournament; they are determined by a set schedule, usually escalating as the tournament advances.

Blind - Used in all forms of Texas holdem and Omaha, as well as a few less popular variations of poker, a blind is a forced bet that is placed before a hand is dealt. There are usually two blinds, a small blind and a big blind, which are placed by the two players to the left of the dealer, or button. There are also a few places where there are three blinds and in a few games, there aren't small and big blinds, the blinds are of equal value. A blind is not the same thing as an ante, and can be used in conjunction with an ante, usually in the later rounds of tournaments.

Blind - Used in all forms of Texas holdem and Omaha, as well as a few less popular variations of poker, a blind is a forced bet that is placed before a hand is dealt. There are usually two blinds, a small blind and a big blind, which are placed by the two players to the left of the dealer, or button. There are also a few places where there are three blinds and in a few games, there aren't small and big blinds, the blinds are of equal value. A blind is not the same thing as an ante, and can be used in conjunction with an ante, usually in the later rounds of tournaments.

Button - The token or disc that moves one space to the left after every hand to signify the player acting as the dealer for the hand. In games with an actual dealer, like at a casino, the button shows the player who has the advantage of acting last. In home games, the player with the button also often deals. This player is also often referred to as "The button" or "On the button."

Call or See - The act of matching the last bet or raise without raising the pot. For example, "I call" or "I call your bet." See is also used at times with the same meaning.

Check - When you are still involved in a hand of poker and it is your turn to act while there haven't been any prior bets, you may pass or "check" to the next player without placing a bet. By checking, you reserve the right to call or raise any future bets on the same round of betting. A check is also a slang word used when referring to a casino chip.

Check Raise - When a player checks their first option to bet on a round and then raises after an opponent has placed a bet. Though check raising is widely accepted and legal in most poker rooms, there are a few rooms where it is against the house rules. It is always a good idea to check the house rules before playing in any poker game. The check raise is also a powerful play, showing a great deal of strength at the poker table.

Community Cards - Cards placed face up in the center of the table, which are shared by all of the players remaining in the hand in order to form their best possible hand when used in conjunction with their hole cards. In Texas holdem and Omaha, the community cards consist of the flop, turn and river. Community cards are also called board cards or the board.

Flop - The first three community or board cards in a Texas holdem or Omaha game. The flop is taken from the top of the deck after the first card is burned, then all three cards are placed face up at the same time in the center of the table.

Fold - To place your cards in the muck or exit a hand. When facing a bet, if you don't call it, you fold. The dealer can also fold your hand if you are not at the table when it is your turn to act.

Kicker - The second card in your hand when you use one card to form a hand with the board. Your kicker will be compared to your opponent's kicker when you tie for a pot, with the pot going to the highest kicker, unless the players have identical five-card hands. For example, if you and your opponent both have an Ace in your hand and there is an Ace on the board, the player with the higher second card, or kicker, in their hand will be awarded the pot. However, if one player has Ace two and the other has Ace three and the board is Ace Queen, ten, eight and six, the players will split the pot as they both have identical five-card hands so neither of their kickers comes into play.

Muck - To throw your hand away or the area where the discarded hands are kept. "I mucked my hand after the second King hit" or "Once the hand touched the muck, it was dead."

Pocket - The cards in your hand, or hole cards are often called pocket cards. For example, if you have two eights, you have pocket eights.

Pocket Pair - Two cards of the same rank in your hand, such as two Aces or two Queens. "I had a pocket pair, but after that flop I had to fold."

Post - To place the small or big blind. "I posted my blind." Also the name for the forced bet you must place in some card rooms when you first join a table. Most rooms will allow you to wait until you are in the big blind to start playing in order to post.

Raise - To place a bet after an opponent or opponents have bet. The bet must be at least equal to the previous bet. For example, in a no limit Texas holdem game, your opponent bets 100, you must raise at least 100, for a total bet of 200 (100 for the call and 100 for the raise) in order to raise. You cannot raise 50 in the above example. Opening the betting on a round is not considered raising, it is just betting.

River - The last community card in Texas holdem and Omaha, also called fifth street. Often heard in the description of a hand, like "I caught my fifth spade on the river for the flush."

Short Stack - To have the smallest, or one of the smallest, stacks of chips at the table. Usually used in tournament play to describe players in danger of being eliminated by the rising blinds.

Side Pot - A pot created in which a player has no interest because he has run out of chips. Example: Al bets $6, Beth calls the $6, and Carl calls, but he has only $2 left. An $8 side pot is created that either Al or Beth can win, but not Carl. Carl, however, can still win all the money in the original or "center" pot.

Small Blind - The smallest of the forced bets that are placed in a Texas holdem or Omaha game before the cards are dealt. It is placed by the first person to the left of the dealer, or "button", and is usually equal to half of the big blind and / or half of the lower betting limit in a ring game. For example, in a 4 / 8 game, the small blind would be 2 and the big blind would be 4.

Split Pot - If two or more players tie for the best five-card hand, the pot is divided equally amongst all of the winning players.

Turn - The fourth of five community cards in Texas holdem and Omaha. Also referred to as fourth street. "The turn was the Ace of spades, completing my flush."