Poker

Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. The game combines luck with skill. Players compete to win bets depending on the strength of their cards or their ability to effectively bluff other players. The game offers different variations, but the basic principle involves bets and gradual exposure of cards, creating an exciting and strategic atmosphere. The ability to read your opponent and make decisions based on available information are key elements of success in poker.

The basic rules of the game are relatively easy and understandable. However, there are many specific terms and expressions in the poker world that can be confusing for beginners, especially if they come from the English language.

The most well-known and most played variant is the Texas holdem, and all the concepts below will be related to it.

Cards and card combinations

Cards

Hole Cards - cards that are dealt to individual players
Flop - the first three cards on the table
Turn - the fourth card on the table
River - the fifth (last) card on the table
Suit - suit of cards
- Suited - both cards dealt have the same suit
Hearts - ♥
Spades - ♠
Diamonds - ♦
Clubs - ♣
Ace - A card
King - K card
Queen - Q card
Jack - J card

Card combination

Poker / Four of a kind - four same cards
Full house - threes and a pair of cards
Flush - hand that contains five cards all of the same suit
Straight - hand that contains five cards of sequential rank
Kicker - an unpaired card that decides the win in case of 2 or more identical combinations
- Player 1 has 9-A, player 2 has 3-A and the board is A-K-4-7-5, in this case they have the same pair, but player 1 wins because **9* * > **3**
Draw - a situation where the player has an incomplete card combination
- Straight draw - the player is missing 1 card for the procedure
- Flush draw - the player lacks 1 card in suit
Gutshot - similar to draw, only the player lacks 1 "inner" card for the procedure

Bets

Stack - all chips that the player has
Pot - the bank in which the bets are of the current game
Button - a white token that marks the dealer, each game the token moves clockwise
- In home conditions, the player with the button also deals cards
Blind - mandatory bet into the game before the cards are dealt, placed by 2 players to the left of the button
- Big blind - bigger blind
- Small blind - smaller blind
Ante - a fee paid by all players before the cards are dealt (does not affect the amount of bets, but is part of the pot)
Check - bet delay, the player does not have to bet if no one has bet before him
Call - calling the opponent's bet
Raise - increase of the previous bet
All-in - player bets all his chips
Fold - discarding the cards
Bluff - bluff, feign good cards