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Poker Glossary

All-in
When the player bets all the chips he or she has in the stack. In case other players call or raise this amount the All-in player is not obliged to match their bets. But the player who has chosen the All-in option can win only the pot up to the pot when he or she contributed has bet last and all the players called that bet. Other players in the hand compete for the side pot (the rest part of the pot).

Ante
The type of forced bet made by all the players before the cards are dealt. Ante bets are usually used in poker tournaments.

Bet
To wager chips into the pot. Just like when you play slots or play roulette or blackjack.

Bet the Pot
To make bet which is equal to the pot amount.

Betting Round
The complete set of bets made by all the players at the table. The betting round is considered to be completed as soon as all the players contributed the equal amount to the pot (after raises and re-raises).

Blinds
The bets made by two players next to the dealer. The first player makes places the Small blind (which the half of the minimal betting amount) and the second – the Big blind (the whole amount). The aim of the blinds is to create the initial pot and open betting.

Bluff
To force other players to give up their hands by deceiving them that you have very strong hand. However, the player who really has good hand may bluff and make them believe the hand is not very strong. It is made to force other players to stay longer in the game and add more to the pot.

Board
The middle of the poker table where the pot is collected and the Community cards are placed.

Burn a Card
It means that the dealer after shuffling discards the top card of the entire deck and start to deal the cards from the next card.

Button
Special disc which indicates the position of the dealer.

Buy-in
The amount you are to pay in order to sit at the poker table. It is usually used in poker tournaments.

Call
To match the bet or raise made by the previous palyer.

Check
Not to bet or raise, just pass the bet to the next player. Check option is available only if you are the player who opens the betting round or all the previous players also checked.

Community Cards
The cards placed face up on the board. They can be used by all the players to complete their hands.

Feeder
The poker (or any online slots at online casinos) tournament which is held as the mean to enter the main poker event. Such tournaments are also called the Satellites.

Flop
The first three community cards which are followed by the first betting round.

Fold
To give up your cards and stop competing for the pot.

Limit Poker
Poker game with the limited betting amount.

Muck
Choose not to reveal the cards at the showdown. The player can muck if there is the player with better hand of in case he or she is the only player left in the hand and is awarded the pot automatically.

No Limit Poker
Poker game with no limits imposed upon the betting amount. This amount can vary from the minimum bet to the whole stack of chips.

Pocket Cards
The cards which are dealt face down to every player. Pocket cards are also called the hole or down cards.

Pot
The amount of chips wagered by all the players in the hand and which will be finally awarded to the winner.

Pot Limit Poker
Poker game where the betting amount is limited to the range from the minimum bet the pot size.

Prize Pool
The cumulative amount of funds contributed by all the players in the poker online tournaments.

Raise
To match the previous bet and increase the betting amount.

Rake
The commission taken by the House from the pot.

Re-buy
The option which allows the players who are low or run out of chips to buy more chips and continue the game. Re-buys are common for poker tournaments.

River
The fifth community card which is followed by the last betting round.

Satellite
See Feeder.

Side Pot
The part of the pot for which the players compete after one of them chose to All-in.

Split Pot
The pot which is split in case two or more players have similar hands of the same rank.

Stack
The whole amount of chips the player has for betting in the certain hand.