Poker terms can seem like an extensive language of its own, but poker is a fun game that anyone can play, and just because you don’t know the meaning of a certain word or phrase doesn’t mean you can’t learn the game and excel at it.
However, it can be helpful to have an understanding of some key terms, which is why our poker terms cheat sheet is ideal for those starting out. Once you’re familiar, check out our detailed poker glossary to learn the meaning of any other poker terms you come across!
Ante: In some poker games every player has to put chips in the pot before the hand is dealt, which is called the ante. This is much more common in poker tournaments.
Backdoor draw: A drawing hand is one that needs a certain card, or cards, to come to be completed. A backdoor draw is a drawing hand where, after the flop, you need specific cards on both the turn and the river to make your hand.
Bad beat: When you are an overwhelming favorite to win a hand but your opponent hits an improbable draw to win instead, you have suffered a bad beat.
Blind: A forced bet which a player has to put in before cards are dealt. Texas hold’em usually uses two blinds: a small blind, which is paid by the player to the immediate left of the dealer, and a big blind which is paid by the player to their left.
Button: Another name for the dealer position at the table, even if you’re not dealing the game yourself.
Continuation-bet: An opening bet made on the flop by a player who bet or raised preflop.
Drawing: When you need a certain card or cards to complete your hand - if you have four cards to a flush, for example - you have a drawing hand. If there are no cards that will give you the best hand, you are said to be ‘drawing dead’.
Gutshot straight draw/Inside straight draw: A drawing hand where only one specific rank will complete your straight, for example if you have 
.
Heads-up: Any poker game, hand or phase of a tournament, with only two players.
Kicker: The ‘next highest’ card in a hand with which you break a tie. If two players have the same pair, for example, the next highest card in their hands - the kicker - decides the winner.
Limp: To call the blinds preflop in an unraised pot.
Muck: To fold your hand. Also refers to the pile of discarded cards on the poker table.
Nuts: The best hand possible at any given time.
Open-ended straight draw: A drawing hand where one of two ranks will complete your straight, for example if you have 
.Over card: A card higher than the highest card showing on the board.
Runner-runner: Two consecutive cards on the turn and river which complete your hand.
Satellite: A poker tournament that awards entry into another, more expensive poker tournament.
Side pot: A pot, separate to the main pot in a poker hand, which is created when a player does not have enough chips to call a bet that another player has called. Such a player would be eligible to win the main pot, but not the side pot.
Split pot: When two or more players have exactly the same hand, the pot is split between them equally. Also used in some forms of poker which award half the pot to the highest hand, and half to the lowest.
Straddle: A voluntary third blind, usually put in by the player to the left of the big blind and double the big blind amount. If no one raises this bet, the player who put in the straddle may raise when action gets to them.
Three-bet: The first re-raise. If someone bets, another player raises and you re-raise that, you have put in the third bet, so it is known as a three-bet. If you are then raised, it would be a four-bet.
Value bet: A bet made with a strong hand, with the hope that it will be called.
Looking for more? Visit our extensive glossary of poker terminology for more detailed information.
