| Pat hand |
In draw poker games, a complete hand before the draw. A pat flush would be a five-card flush before the draw. Pay off- To call a bet or raise when you don't think you have the best hand.
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| Pay station |
A player who calls bets and raises much more than is correct. He's also referred to as a calling station. This type is great when you have a legitimate hand, but he's just about impossible to bluff out of a pot.
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| Pocket |
Another term for hole. Thus, two aces in the pocket means two aces in the hole.
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| Position |
The spot in the sequence of betting in which a player is located. A player in first position would be the first person to act; a player in last position would be the last person to act.
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| Positive expectation |
The amount a wager may be expected to win on average. A play with positive expectation is a play that will win money over the long run.
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| Pot |
The total amount of money wagered at any point in a hand. A hand itself is also referred to as a pot. Thus, three people in the pot means there are three active players still playing the hand.
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| Pot odds |
The ratio of the amount of money in the pot to the bet you must call to continue in the hand.
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| Pot-limit poker |
Poker in which players may bet or raise any amount up to the current size of the pot.
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| Pure nuts |
The best possible hand. In lowball, A, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the pure nuts. If in hold 'em the board is A 7 8 K 4 a player holding a 5,6 has the pure nuts. Put someone on a hand: To determine as best you can the hand (or hands) an opponent is most likely to have.
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| Rag |
See Blank
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| Raise |
To bet an additional amount after some one else has bet.
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| Raiser |
A player who raises.
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| Rake |
An amount retained by a casino from each pot, usually no more than $2 or $3
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| Razz |
Seven-card stud lowball. The original name of the games was razzle dazzle. See Appendix A.
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| Re-raise |
To raise after an opponent has raised
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| Represent |
To make your opponents believe you have a bigger hand than you are showing on board. Thus, if in seven-card stud you raise with an ace showing, you are representing a pair of aces. You may or may not in fact have a pair of aces.
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| Reverse implied odds |
The ratio of the amount of money now in the pot to the amount of money you will have to call to continue from the present round to the end of the hand.
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| River |
The seventh and last card, dealt face down, in seven-card stud and razz.
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| Rolled up |
In seven-card stud, three-of-a-kind on the first three cards.
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| Rough |
A lowball hand that is not perfect. Thus, an 8, 4, 3, 2, A is a perfect eight. An 8, 7, 4, 2, A is a rough eight.
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| Round of betting |
A sequence of betting after one or more cards has been dealt. A round of betting continues until each active player has either folded or called.
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| Royal flush |
An ace-high straight flush. A
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| Sandbag |
To play weakly with a strong hand. To check-raise or slow play with the probable best hand.
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| Score |
A big win.
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| Seat charge |
In public card rooms, primarily those of California, an hourly fee for playing poker.
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| Semi-bluff |
To bet with a hand which you do not think is the best hand but which has a reasonable chance of improving to the best hand.
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| Set |
Three-of-a-kind. The term is used particularly in hold 'em.
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| Seventh street |
In seven-stud games, the seventh card dealt to each player.
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| Short odds |
The odds for an event that has a good chance of occurring.
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| Short-stacked |
Playing in a game with a relatively small number of chips remaining.
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| Showdown |
The turning up of all active players' cards at the end of the final round of betting to see who has the best hand.
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| Side pot |
A second pot for the other active players when one player is all-in.
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| Sixth street |
In seven-stud games, the sixth card dealt to each player. Slow play- To check or just call an opponent's bet with a big hand in order to win more money on later rounds of betting.
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| Start the action |
To make the first bet in a particular hand.
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| Starting requirement |
The minimum initial hand a player considers he needs to continue in a pot.
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| Steal |
To cause your opponents to fold when you probably do not have the best hand. The term is used especially in reference to stealing the antes - that is, raising on the first round of betting so that everyone remaining in the pot folds.
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| Steam |
To play badly because you are emotionally upset - especially to play considerably more pots than you normally would when your hands do not justify it.
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| Straight |
Five cards of mixed suits in sequence. 6
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| Straight flush |
Five cards of the same suit in sequence. 6
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| Structure |
The limits set upon the ante, forced bets and subsequent bets and raises in any given games.
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| Stuck |
Losing money, especially a substantial amount of money, in a given session or over a period of time. We might say, "Sammy is stuck $1,500 in the games." That is, Sammy has lost $1,500.
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| Stud |
Poker games in which some of each player's cards are exposed.
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| Sucker |
A player who can be expected to lose money, especially one who is not as good as he thinks
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| Suited |
Two or more cards of the same suit.
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| Take the odds |
To wager less money on a proposition than you hope to win.
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| Texas hold 'em |
Another name for hold 'em.
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| Third street |
In stud games, the third card dealt to each player.
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| Three-flush |
Three cards of the same suit.
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| Three-of-a-kind |
Three cards of the same rank. 7
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| Tight |
Playing fewer hands than the norm.
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