Talk Like a Pro at the Tables: Key Poker Slang and Their Meanings You Should Probably Know

ABC Poker
ABC Poker refers to playing a basic and predictable strategy, sticking to strong hands and folding everything else. This approach is often called “playing by the book.” While it’s a straightforward method, experienced players can spot and take advantage of such predictability. For instance, a player using ABC poker might always fold marginal hands like Q7o pre-flop without considering more nuanced plays.

Airball
Airball is a term used when a player bluffs with absolutely nothing, or “air,” in their hand. This kind of bluff can be risky but can also pay off if done correctly. An example would be betting heavily on the river with a hand like 8-3 off-suit when all indications point to a missed draw.

American Airlines
American Airlines, one of the most commonly used nicknames for pocket aces, comes from the abbreviation “AA.” Known as the strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em, pocket aces are highly coveted. Players might say, “I caught American Airlines,” to hint that they’re holding the best hand pre-flop.

Ammo
Ammo, short for ammunition, refers to a player’s chip stack. Without sufficient ammo, a player has limited options at the table. You might hear someone say, “I need to conserve my ammo,” meaning they’re playing more conservatively to stretch their chip stack.

Angle Shooting
Angle Shooting describes a strategy where a player tries to exploit loopholes or use questionable tactics that, while not technically illegal, are considered unethical. This could be as simple as hiding high-denomination chips to mislead opponents about their stack size. While angle shooting can provide a temporary advantage, it’s frowned upon by most poker players.

Arsenal
Arsenal refers to the range of skills and plays a player has at their disposal. A player with a well-developed arsenal can switch between strategies and adjust their game based on the situation. This versatility helps them keep their opponents guessing and off-balance. For example, a player who can bluff confidently one moment and play tightly the next is said to have a vast arsenal.

Belly Buster
Belly Buster, also known as an inside straight draw, describes a situation where only one specific rank of card will complete a straight. For example, if you’re holding 9-8 and the board shows A-6-5, you have a belly buster because only a 7 will make your straight.

Big Blind Special
Big Blind Special occurs when the player in the big blind wins a pot after seeing the flop for free and hitting an unexpected strong hand. For example, if you hold 7-2 in the big blind and the flop comes 7-7-3, it’s a big blind special.

Big Slick
Big Slick is a popular nickname for the hand Ace-King, regardless of suit. It’s a strong starting hand that can lead to big wins but also big losses if the board doesn’t help. Some players might refer to this hand as “Anna Kournikova,” indicating that while it looks good, it doesn’t always win.

Bloodbath
Bloodbath describes a situation where multiple players are involved in a large pot, each with a strong hand. The term suggests that all chips will likely end up in the middle, resulting in significant losses for most of the players involved. A common example is when two players each hold a set and a third has a flush draw.

Brick
Brick refers to a card that is irrelevant to the current board and does not improve anyone’s hand. For instance, if the board is A-K-J-5, a river card of 2 would be considered a brick because it likely doesn’t change the outcome for anyone involved.

Busted
Busted means losing all of your chips or money, effectively being out of the game. A player might say, “I busted out on the bubble,” meaning they lost their entire stack just before reaching the money in a tournament.

Cambodia
Cambodia refers to the starting hand 7-4 offsuit, with the suited version being called Cambodian Slick. This nickname comes from New York City cardrooms, although its exact origin remains unclear.

Cardrack
Cardrack describes a player who continuously receives good hands and consistently hits their draws. Players might say, “He’s a cardrack today,” referring to someone who is seemingly unstoppable due to an excellent run of cards.

Chip Dumping
Chip Dumping is an illegal practice in poker tournaments where one player intentionally loses chips to another. This tactic is often used when players are colluding. For example, one player might “chip dump” to help their partner gain a larger stack and increase their chances of winning.

Clicking Buttons
Clicking Buttons refers to making random plays without a clear strategy, often seen in inexperienced players. A player who is “clicking buttons” might make illogical raises or calls simply to stay active in the game, without understanding why they’re doing so.

Computer Hand
Computer Hand is a nickname for Q7 offsuit. This hand was determined to be the worst profitable starting hand with slightly positive equity, earning its name from mathematical analyses in modern poker.

Cooler
Cooler describes an unfortunate situation where both players have strong hands, but one is destined to lose a significant amount. For instance, if one player holds a full house and the other has four of a kind, the player with the full house has run into a cooler.

Cowboys
Cowboys is a common nickname for pocket kings (KK). It’s used frequently among players and commentators, who might say, “I got cowboys,” to indicate they have one of the strongest starting hands.

Crabs
Crabs is a nickname for pocket threes, likely because the number 3 resembles a crab’s shape when turned sideways. A player might say, “I’ve been catching crabs all night,” when repeatedly dealt pocket threes.

Credit Card Roulette
Credit Card Roulette is a fun side game some poker players play to determine who will pay the check for dinner or drinks. All players put their credit cards into a hat, and one is randomly chosen to pay the bill. It’s a popular way to add suspense outside of the poker table.

Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton refers to the starting hand of 9-5, a nod to the famous song “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. While not as commonly used today, it’s still recognized among seasoned players.

Donkey
Donkey is a derogatory term for a player who consistently makes poor decisions. A player might mutter, “What a donkey,” after witnessing a particularly bad play.

Doomswitch
Doomswitch is a tongue-in-cheek term describing a perceived conspiracy in online poker where a site “turns on” a switch that makes a specific player lose frequently. Although this is largely a joke, some players genuinely believe they’re targeted after a hot streak.

Ducks
Ducks is a nickname for pocket deuces (2-2), which look somewhat like a pair of ducks from a distance. Players might comment, “I flopped a set with ducks,” if they hit a three-of-a-kind on the flop.

Dirty Stack
Dirty Stack refers to a disorganized chip stack containing mixed denominations, making it difficult for others to know how many chips are in play. Keeping a dirty stack is considered poor etiquette at the table.

Fist Pump
Fist Pump is a celebratory gesture when a player wins a pot or achieves a positive outcome. You might hear someone say, “That’s a fist-pump call,” when a player makes an all-in move with confidence.

Gappers
Gappers refer to hole cards that have the potential to form a straight but with gaps between them. For example, a hand like 5-7 is called a one-gapper because the 6 is missing, while 7-10 is a two-gapper.

Gears
Gears describe a player’s ability to adapt their strategy as needed. A player who can shift gears smoothly is more versatile and harder to predict, making them a formidable opponent.

GG
GG, short for “good game,” is commonly used online to acknowledge a game’s end. It’s often said in genuine appreciation but can also be used sarcastically when an opponent makes a questionable play.

Going South
Going South refers to the unethical act of removing chips from the table to protect profits. This practice is against the rules, as all chips must stay in play until the player leaves the game.

Hero
Hero is a term used in hand reviews and discussions to refer to the player whose perspective is being analyzed. You might hear, “Hero holds ace-king on the button,” when recounting a poker hand scenario.

High Society
High Society is a nickname for the highest denomination of chips available at a table. This term was popularized in the movie Rounders and often refers to large stakes in poker.

Hit And Run
Hit And Run describes leaving the game shortly after winning a large pot. Although not against the rules, it’s often viewed as poor etiquette.

Horse
Horse refers to a player backed by someone else to enter a game or tournament. Profits are split according to an agreement between the player (the horse) and their backer.

Idiot End
Idiot End refers to drawing to the lowest possible straight, which may still lose to a higher straight. If you have 4-5 and the board shows 3-6-7, you have the idiot end of the straight.

Jam
Jam is poker slang for going all-in. A player might say, “He jammed pre-flop with pocket queens,” to describe an all-in bet before the flop.

Live One
Live One describes a weak player who is often targeted for their inexperience. This player is usually easy to spot as they play many hands and make unorthodox moves.

Lodden Thinks
Lodden Thinks is a side game where players bet on what another person thinks about a particular topic. Popularized by poker pros Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak, it’s more about psychology than poker itself.

Muck
Muck refers to folding your cards without showing them, often after your opponent shows a better hand at the showdown.

Nitfest
Nitfest describes a table where all players are playing conservatively. Such games are usually slow-paced and less exciting.