A card game played between two or more players. The objective is to make the highest-ranked hand with the cards you are dealt. Poker is a popular pastime and has become an internationally recognized game. There are many variations of the game, including Texas hold ’em and Omaha. The rules and strategies for each variation differ slightly, but all are based on the same principles.
In a game of poker, the action is divided into betting rounds. Each round has a designated amount that the player can raise. Players can also choose to check or fold, depending on their current hand and the position of their opponents. After the last betting round, the remaining players reveal their hands and the winner takes the pot.
Tournament – A poker tournament is a competition where a fixed number of players play a series of hands in order to win the prize money. It’s possible to find tournaments with different entry fees and structures, but the most common format is an open event where each player pays a fixed buyin for a chance to win the top prize.
An employee of a poker room who is responsible for greeting players, maintaining the list of people waiting to play, announcing available seats, and various other duties. They may also be known as “broomcorn” due to their traditional job of brushing off tables in preparation for a new game.
A poker term used to describe a player who calls every bet in the pot with a drawing hand, hoping for a big bluff. It is generally considered a weak play.
Flopping – To make a pair with the flop in community card games such as Hold’em and Omaha. The higher your pair, the better.
Hole cards – A poker term for the face down cards that each player receives. A camera that displays a poker player’s hole cards for television viewers.
OOT – Out of turn – When a player fails to act in their proper time and is skipped by other players’ actions. The floor will determine how to treat the skipped hand given the circumstances, which could include re-raising the action behind them.
Rake – The small percentage of the total pot that is taken by the house as payment for running the game. The rake is often given back to players as an incentive.
Range advantage – When one player has a better range of possible holdings than their opponent. This concept is very important to understand in order to maximize your winning potential.
A player who plays a loose style of poker and calls most of the time, but is occasionally correct with a large draw or as a semi-bluff. This is sometimes referred to as playing in the zone.
The ability to recognize and exploit other players’ weaknesses. Often, this is achieved through observing their actions and comparing them to the standard range of possible holdings for that hand.