Back Door - After the flop, you need two particular cards to complete your hand and you get them. These two are also referred to as “runner runner.”
Bad Beat - When your very good hand is beaten by a weaker hand that should not have been played.
Bet for Value - You believe your hand has a chance of winning even though it seems risky. Such as when the pot is large and your hand is adequate to make the bet a good choice.
Blind - Money which is required to be put into the pot by the two players to the left of the dealer.
Bottom Pair - When you pair the lowest card on the board.
Button - The designated dealer who receives his cards last and bets last.
Calling Station - Someone who seldom bets but seems to always call.
Cap - Usually betting is limited to four bets (i.e. capped at four bets.)
Chasing - When one of the blinds stays in the betting, simply trying to protect the blind money regardless of hand quality.
Check Raise - A player who checks and then re-raises on the same betting round after someone on his left has raised.
Dead Money - Money put into the pot by players who have since dropped out.
Drawing Dead - Drawing to a hand that cannot win.
Drawing Hand - A hand that needs help to become a decent hand.
Free Card - When you raise in late position in the hope that next round everyone will check and you get a card without putting more money in the pot.
Gut Shot - Also called an “inside straight”. To fill a straight by drawing one of the middle cards.
Implied Odds - The odds you are getting from the ratio of the money in the pot plus any expected bets to your betting amount.
Kicker - Your side card which accompanies your main card. If you have a K9, the 9 is a kicker to your King.
Limper - Someone who calls the blind on the pre-flop betting.
Nuts - The best possible hand.
On Tilt - Someone who is off his game due to a bad beat or because he has had an unusual string of luck.
Out - A card needed to better your hand. For instance, there are eight outs to an open ended straight.
Over Card - A card higher than your card of interest.
Over Pair - A pair higher than your pair of interest.
Position - Your seating position in relation to the betting. The last two or three bettors are often referred to as in “late position.”
Pot Odds - See “Implied Odds”
Rag - A card that helps no one.
Rake - The percentage of the pot taken by the casino.
River - The last (fifth) board card, also called fifth street.
Semi Bluff - A bet with a hand that is not likely to win but could. The bet is intended to scare players away.
Set - Three of a kind, also called “trips.”
Slow Play - To check or under bet a very good hand in order to deceive players in the game.
Straddle - A voluntary raise prior to the dealing of the pocket cards, which amounts to a bet and is like an extra blind amount.
Tell - A gesture or mannerism which may give away a players hand strength.
Turn - The fourth board card, also called “fourth street.”
Under the Gun (UTG) - The first player to bet.