Ante
A small  bet added to the pot by each player at the beginning of a poker hand. Hold-Em games use one or two forced antes called Blinds.

All-In
When a player (Example: Player A) runs out of chips to add to the pot, he may go All In. The remaining players in the pot will contribute to a side pot in which Player A will have no interest. If Player A has the best cards at showdown, the side pot would go the second best hand.

Bad Beat
Having a great hand (say aces full) beaten by an even better hand, usually by being outdrawn. Some casinos offer promotional jackpots for participants in a bad beat hand.

Bet
To put money into the pot.

Betting Round
After a card is dealt, players in order may Check, Call, Fold or Raise.

Blind
A forced Ante that one or more players to the dealer's left must make before any cards are dealt to start action. Some games use two blinds, the small blind is one player to the left of dealer, the large blind is two players to the left.

Blind Raise
When a player Raises the pot without looking at their cards.

Board
Also known as Community Cards.

Bump
Another name for Raise.

Button
A disk moved clockwise around the table used  to denote Blind positions.

Call
Matching, rather than Raising the previous bet.

Calling Station
Slang for a player that often Calls, even with poor cards.

Cap
If there is a limit of three raises in a betting round (for example), the third raiser is said to Cap the action.

Chase
To stay in the pot, hoping for an unlikely improvement in a hand.

Check
Assuming no previous betting action in a round, a player may Check, reserving the right to call or raise later.

Check-Raise
To Check and Raise in the same betting round

Community Cards
In Flop games, these are the cards dealt face up on the table. They are available for use to each player in the hand.

Dead Hand
A hand that is no longer playable, due to some irregularity.

Dealers Choice
A game in which the dealer may choose the poker game to be played.

Draw Out
To come from behind to beat a player which earlier had the best hand.

Draw Poker
A form of poker in which each player receives five cards and then has the option of discarding one or more of them and receiving replacement cards.

Drawing Dead
To stay in a hand you cannot possibly win.

Drawing Hand
A potentially strong hand that needs some help.

Drawing Hand
A potentially strong hand that needs some help.

Early Position
A position in which the player must act before most of the other players.

Fish
A poor player.

Flop
In Flop Games, the first three Community cards, which are turned face up simultaneously and start the second Betting Round.

Flop Games
Games using Community cards, such as Hold-Um and Omaha.

Flush
Five cards of the same suit.

Fourth Street
The fourth Community card dealt.  Also known as the Turn.

Free-roll
A situation in which two players have the same hand, but one of the players has a chance to better his.

High-Low
A poker game in which the pot may be split between the high and low hand. See also Qualifier.

Hold-Em
A poker game in which each player receives 2 hole cards which are combined with 5 Community Cards to form the best hand.

House
The establishment running the game.

Implied Odds
The chances of winning a pot vs. the amount required to call and the expected eventual pot size.

Kicker
An unpaired card used to determine the better of two near-equivalent hands. For example AA22Q beats AA22J.

Muck
The folded and out of play cards in front of the dealer. Also, to fold your hand.

No-Limit
A poker game  in which a player may bet any amount of chips (up to the number in front of him) in turn.

Nuts
The best possible hand given the board cards available.

Offsuit
Two cards of different suits.

Omaha
A Flop game in which players are dealt 4 cards. Players must use 2 cards of their own in addition to 3 of the Community Cards.

Out
A card that will improve the players hand to become a winner.

Overcard
A card that is higher than any card on the board.

Play the Board
Also "Board Plays". For example, if the Board shows A-K-Q-J-10, of  four different suits, the winning hand cannot be improved by any players Pocket Cards.

Pocket Cards
The two cards dealt to each hold-em player at the beginning of each hand.

Pot Limit
A version of poker in which a player may bet up to the amount of money in the pot in turn.

Pot Odds
The amount of money in the pot compared to the amount you must put in the pot to continue playing.

Prop/Proposition Player
A player employed by the gaming establishment to help keep enough players at the table. Props are usually payed by the hour and play with their own money.  See also Shill.

Qualifier
Usually applied to split-pot games. Ex.-A Qualifier for high-low Omaha might be 8. (Five different cards 8 or lower to qualify for low).

Quartered
In High-Low games, to receive one quarter of the pot due to the low/or high being split.

Raise
To wager more than the minimum required to call, and forcing other players to put in more money as well.

Re-Raise
To Raise after another who has raised.

River
The final Community Card dealt in Hold-Em.

Shill
A player employed by the gaming establishment to help keep enough players at the table. Shills usually play with house money. See also Prop.

Showdown
When players reveal their hands, and the winner takes the pot.

Stud
A poker game in which one or more of the players hole cards is revealed.