Texas Holdem Lingo

Here, you will find a complete listing of the most commonly used terms for the game of Texas Holdem poker. While this wildly popular online casino games uses many terms associated with regular poker and its sister game stud poker, you will also find many more terms and/or phrases on this page that will help you better understand the lingo used at online casinos and land casinos alike.

All-in: This ids when you put all of your remaining chips into the pot with the hopes of winning.

Backdoor: This is a hand in Texas Holdem that makes use of both of the final two community cards.

Bad beat: This is when you lose a strong poker hand that, based on probability, you should have won.

Blind: This is a bet that is required before any cards are dealt.

Board: In Holdem, these are the community cards (flop, turn and river).

Button: A disk or marker placed near the person who is considered to be the dealer for purposes of order of play.

Call: To see or match a bet played by another player at the table.

Check: Choosing not to bet, with the option to call or raise later in the betting round.

Check-raise: To check and then raise on the same round of betting. AKA - sandbagging.

Community cards: These are the cards placed in the middle of the table (face-up) that can be used by all players. The same as the board.

Fifth street: The round of betting after the fifth card has been dealt. See River.

Fixed limit: This is a betting structure where a maximum amount is allowed during each round of betting. While this is sometimes used playing Texas Holdem, it is not common.

Flop: This is the first 3 board or community cards dealt.

Fourth street: The round of betting after the forth card is dealt. See Turn.

Heads up: This is a term used when there are only two players left in the game.

No-limit: Where fixed limit is uncommon, no-limit and Holdem go hand in hand. This means that players can bet up to all their chips on the table.

Play the board: To only use the community cards in order to make a hand.

Reraise: To raise again in the same round of betting.

River: This is the fifth and final board or community card. Also called fifth street.

Turn: This is the fourth board or community card dealt. Some call this fourth street.