How To Understand Poker Terms. Part Two

Step 1: Kicker

The high hole card that goes with a pair or two pair.

Step 2: Loose

Apparently reckless style of play.

Step 3: Maniac

A player who bets, raises and re-raises without regard to the quality of their hand.

Step 4: Muck

The act of throwing your cards away because you cannot or did not win the pot. Disposing of your cards in this way means that other players cannot see what you had.

Step 5: No Limit

A version of poker, where there is no limit to the maximum bet you can make in any betting round.

Step 6: Nuts

The best possible hand given the cards available.

Step 7: Open

To make the first bet in a hand.

Step 8: Out

A card that will improve your hand.

Step 9: Pocket Pair

A starting hand with two cards of the same rank.

Step 10: Pot

The total of all the chips in the centre of the table.

Step 11: Pot-Limit

A game where the maximum bet is defined by the size of the pot at the time.

Step 12: Raise

A bet that will increase the level of the current bet.

Step 13: Re-buy

A variation of tournament play which allows players to buy back in after being eliminated or under certain conditions to top-up their chips.

Step 14: Shark

A particularly talented, dangerous, player.

Step 15: Showdown

The showing of the hands to establish the highest hand.

Step 16: Slow Play

Playing a strong hand weakly so more players will stay in the pot.

Step 17: Split Pot

A pot which is split among players.

Step 18: Starting Hand

The two Pocket Cards in Texas Hold'em or the first three cards in 7-Card Stud or the first four in Omaha. These cards can only be used by the player holding them.

Step 19: Tight

A conservative style of play, minimising risk - opting to wait (so often folding) only for prime Hole Cards.

Step 20: Turn

Also known as Fourth Street - the fourth board card or community card in a community game.