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H
(n) Hearts (the suit), in written text. Jh, for example, is the jack of hearts (J). (n phrase) A bet equal to half the limit. Such a bet has significance only when a player has no more chips left than those with which to raise or call, in which case some establishments recognize it as a legitimate bet that can be reraised (on the side). For example, in some clubs, in, say, a $4-limit game, if I open the pot, and a few players call, and one player has $6 left, he can raise the pot. I can reraise, but to do so I need to put in two more full bets, that is, not a further $6, but a further $8. Some establishments do not even permit a player to call if he has less than a full bet. (He can play the hand through, but gets no action on his few remaining chips). Also see full bet, legal raise. (n) 1. $50. 2. A $50 bill. (adv phrase) See cow. "Will you go half and half with me, so I can get into the $20 game?" (n phrase) A game in which two forms of poker are played, usually for half an hour each. For example, a half-stud, half-hold 'em game would alternate half hours with seven-card stud and hold 'em. Such a game is likely be played at relatively high stakes. Also see C.H.O.R.S.E, C.H.O.R.S.E.L, H.O.E, H.O.R.S.E, H.O.R.S.E.L, H.O.S.E, R.O.E. (n phrase) A tournament format in which two forms of poker are played, usually for half an hour each. For example, a half-stud, half-hold 'em tournament would alternate half hours with seven-card stud and hold 'em, generally with the limits increasing hourly or half-hourly. (n phrase) 1. $50. 2. A $50 bill. (n) 1. $50. 2. A $50 bill. (n phrase) A game in which the winner of two pots in a row (or the winner of the whole pot over a certain size in a high-low game) must kill (definition 1) the next pot at one-and-a-half times the nominal limit of the game. For example, in 6-12 Omaha/8 with a half-kill, if a player scoops, the next hand is played at 9-18 limit; the winner puts a $9 blind in the next pot. See scoop (definition 5). (n phrase) A form of poker (particularly common in England) in which the current betting maximum is equal to half the money in the pot at the moment the bet is made. When calculating a raise, it can include the amount required to call the previous bet. For example, the pot contains $100. You bet the maximum permitted, $50. If I call, the pot contains $200. I am now permitted to raise your bet by $100. If I do, your call brings the pot to $400, and you could raise my bet by another $200, and so on. (adv) Partially aware of the workings of thievery, but not among the inner circle. (n) Last position to bet in a particular hand; sometimes the person to put the last bet in; usually preceded by the. "You got the hammer" probably means "I'll check to you" (implying, "Since you made a large bet before the draw you will probably make one after so I will check and let you hang yourself"). (n) 1. Five cards in the possession of a player. 2. One deal. "Who won the last hand?" (Also see pot, definition 3.) 3. A good hand. "I didn't put him on a hand." 4. The holder of a particular hand. "That hand never had to put in a raise because all of the other players kept raising for him." (adv phrase) The situation that arises near the end of a tournament in which, usually, two tables remain and a few players must bust out before the tables are combined for the final table, all of the players at which will finish in the money. Because some players might hope to guarantee a place in the money by playing slowly, hoping to outlast someone else who might go broke, the tournament director sometimes stipulates that whichever table finishes a hand first must wait for the other table before starting the next deal, and the tables play hand for hand. (n phrase) A thief who palms (see palm) cards, which he holds out (see hold out) for later introduction into the game. This usage comes from a pan (panguingue) dealer, who, in the course of dealing the game, constantly shuffles cards that have been played (taking these cards from the discard pile, or the muck) and reinserts cards of similar rank and suit into various separated places of the remainder of the deck. (n phrase) See showdown (definition 2). (n) Pertaining to chips in a change transaction. For example, when requesting change in currency (as opposed to chips), a request made by a dealer to a floorman for "$20 hard, $80 soft" indicates a player has a $100 bill and wants only $20 of it in chips. See soft (definition 4). (v) Show no mercy in one's play against another player, that is, do one's best to beat the opponent; opposed to soft-play. (n) rock. (adj) A pair of somethings, usually used in lowball. A hard-way 8 is a pair of 4s. One player says, "I've got an eight," and some other player is likely to say, "I've got a hard-way eight" (that is, he paired 4s). Hart, Schaffner, and Marx (n phrase) Three jacks. have a sign on one's back (v phrase) Be known to be a cheat. See sign, sign off. (v phrase) See worst of it. (n) h/e. (n) Shorthand, particularly in e-mail and Internet postings, for hold 'em. Also HE. (adv) Pertaining to (only) two players in a pot. (adv phrase) 1. Pertaining to two players playing a game by themselves. "They're playing head up for a big one." (Two players are playing freeze-out for $1000.) Also, two-handed, heads-up, heads up, heads-up. 2. head-to-head. When a house dealer says "Head up," he means that there are exactly two players in the current pot. (adj) Pertaining to playing head up. "They're in a head-up game." (adv phrase) 1. head up. 2. head-to-head. (adj) head-up. (n) 1. Guts; courage; the ability to flow with the tides of fortune in a poker game. "He doesn't play well, but he's sure got a lot of heart." 2. Any card in the hearts suit. (n) 1. One of the four suits in a deck of cards, whose symbol is shaped like a valentine (). Originally, hearts may have represented the upper class, love being an abstract concept appreciated only by the rich and educated. In both the traditional and four-color deck, hearts are red. 2. A heart flush, that is, five cards of the same suit, all hearts. "I've got a straight; whadda you got?" "Hearts." (n) Attention being drawn to thievery or thieves by (usually) the management or (sometimes) other players; often preceded by draw. "I've been drawing too much heat at the Pasatiempo lately; I better stay away." (adv) In lowball, pertaining to a bad card. "I caught heavy" means I missed my hand by a mile. (n) The jack of diamonds. Probably a classical reference. (n phrase; imitative) 50 cents. (n phrase) back peek. (n) 1. A wild card game, seven-card stud (usually) with 5s and 7s wild; so-called because of the Heinz slogan, "57 varieties." 2. In hold 'em, 5-7 as one's first two cards. (v) improve. (n) Queen (the card). Old, rare usage. (n) See from here to there. (n phrase) concealed hand. (n phrase) concealed pair. (n phrase) Downcards containing three of a kind, or, less commonly, a concealed pair matching one of the upcards. 1. (n) high draw poker. "Got a seat in the high?" 2. The high hand, either in terms of the winner of the high half, as described in definition 3, or the highest board, as described in definition 5. "Who's got the high?" might be heard with respect to either situation. 3. (adv) In a high-low split game, pertaining to the hand that wins the high half, or is in contention for it. "I'm going high." 4. (adj) Describing any game in which the highest hand wins the pot, that is, in a game without wild cards (see wild card), in which the best hand is a royal flush, and the worst is no pair, and in a game with wild cards, in which the best hand is five of a kind. "This is high draw." 5. In a stud game, describing the player whose board currently has the highest card combination, or the hand itself. "Jim is high." "Pair of aces is high." (adv, adj, n) 1. In high poker, pertaining to the high card in a no-pair hand. As A-J-9-8-5 is ace-high, an ace-high hand, or an ace-high. 2. Less commonly, in lowball, pertaining to the top card in a no-pair hand. 8-7-5-2-A is an 8-high. (n) high draw poker. This term is rarely used. (n phrase) A deck marked by shaving the long edges of some cards (making the ends narrower than the middles) so that a thief can tell by feel the values of certain cards, usually specific high or low cards, such as the aces. Also see low belly strippers, end strippers, glazed card, humps, side strippers, strippers. (n phrase) A tight player, from the expression, "so tight he hums in a high breeze." (n phrase) 1. In a stud game, the exposed card with the highest rank, the holder of which in a home game is usually the one who must initiate the first round of betting. 2. At the showdown, a hand that wins when two no-pair hands or two flushes are in contention by virtue of containing a card of higher rank than any in the other hand. For example, between K 5 4 3 2 and Q J 10 9 7, the first hand wins because it has the high card (K). Between two flushes, A 7 5 3 2 and K Q J 10 8, again the first hand wins because it has the high card (A). (v) To win a pot by virtue of holding the high card. For example, if your opponent holds K 5 4 3 2 and you hold Q J 10 9 7, he has high-carded you. (n phrase) 1. Any form of draw poker played for high. 2. California draw. (n phrase) In high-low split, a hand that wins the high half, or is in contention for it. (n phrase) big limit. (adj) big-limit. (n) 1. high-low split. 2. A low straight, so called because it would probably win both ways in a high-low game. In lowball, someone who wins with 7-6-5-4-3 might say "high-low" as he shows his cards. (n) high-low split. (n phrase) A form of poker in which the pot is split between the highest and lowest active qualifying hands (if there are qualifiers, that is certain minimum holdings for high and for low) or between the highest and lowest hands (if there are no qualifiers). If there are qualifiers, sometimes only the highest or lowest hand wins the whole pot. Sometimes both the highest and lowest hand are held by the same player, in which case that player wins the whole pot. (See scoop, definition 4.) This is further complicated in games in which there is a declaration, that is, the use of chips or voice to indicate whether players are going for high, low, or both. Declaration is not common in public cardrooms, where high-low split games are usually played with what is called cards speak. In games with a declaration, the pot is split between the holder of the highest hand who declares high and the holder of the lowest hand who declares low. This makes it theoretically possible for the highest hand to win low and the lowest hand to win high. More common is a hand that would normally be in contention for only one direction (that is, high or low) to declare and win the other direction. High-low split is often called simply high-low. (n phrase) See high-low split. (n phrase) See Mambo stud. (n phrase) 1. In a stud game, the player whose board currently has the highest card combination. See high (definition 5). 2. In high-low split, the holder of the hand that wins high. (v) Try to increase the stakes in a game, or try to run over the game by constantly betting more than the other players feel comfortable with. "We were happy playing $2-to-go until you came along jacking up every pot; quit trying to high-roll the game." (n phrase) Someone who likes to play for large stakes, or in the biggest games. (n phrase) high society chips. "Gimme a stack of high society." (n phrase) Chips of the largest denomination in a particular establishment. In a small game, in which dollar chips are used for most bets, and $5 chips are termed society chips, $20 or $100 chips would be considered high society chips; in a $20 game, with most bets made with $5 chips, high society chips would probably be $100 chips. 1. (n phrase) A side bet in which two or more players (usually in a draw or lowball game) agree that whoever has the highest card in the spade suit on the next hand (or, if no one has a spade that hand, on the subsequent hand or hands) wins something, usually a prearranged bet, or a free drink bought by the loser or losers. 2. (v phrase) To play for the high spade. "I'll high spade you for the drinks" means that if, for example, I get the 7 on the next hand and you get no spades or a spade lower than the 7, you're supposed to buy me a drink, if you agree to the proposition. Sometimes called just spade. For both meanings, compare with low spade. (n phrase) A poker game played only in private or home games, a form of seven-card stud in which the pot is split between the holder of the highest hand and the holder of the highest spade in the hole. Also known as Black Maria, Chicago. (n phrase) 1. high-stakes game. 2. The play in such a game or for such stakes. (adj) Pertaining to a game played for larger amounts than the other games in a particular establishment, or one in which big bets are permitted and common. (n phrase) Any game played for larger amounts than the other games in a particular establishment, or one in which big bets are permitted and common. Also called a big bet game. (n phrase) See discussion at variance. (n phrase) See discussion at variance. (adv) Obstacle to overcome. "You're stuck $100? That's no hill to climb for a stepper." (n) 1. high-low split. 2. high-low (definition 2). 1. (v) Make a hand, usually implying having caught a needed card. "I have a pat eight. Did you make yours?" "Yeah, I hit." 2. Arrive. "The ace of hearts hit on the river." 3. (n) The needed card that makes a particular hand. (v phrase) Sit down briefly, win a few hands, and jump up. One who plays this way is called a hit-and-run artist. (n phrase) One who plays briefly in each of several games, usually with the intention of having a short winning session in each. This kind of a player is usually disliked, because he takes money out of the game, leaving the remaining players trying to win from a reduced pool of chips. Also, chopper. See chop. (n phrase) 1. An unexpected participant in your pot; usually preceded by pick up a. "I was trying to win all Jim's chips, but I picked up a hitchhiker, and she drew out on both of us." 2. An expected participant, generally someone you're trying to trap. "Looks like I got a hitchhiker" could be heard from someone who raised a large amount in a big bet game and probably will win the pot, including many chips from the fool (that is, the hitchhiker) who elected to trail along. 3. Someone who comes in cold to a pot, that is, someone who has not yet had the opportunity to call any bets and, when a pot has already been raised, calls the initial bet plus the raise. For example, you open the pot in a limit game. I make it two bets, that is, I raise. Now the action comes around to the player to the right of the dealer, who calls the two bets. (See come in cold.) That player is called a hitchhiker. Also called fence hopper. (v phrase) 1. "Let's go." That might be, depending on the situation, "I'll call your large bet," "I'll draw cards," "I'll play in this pot." 2. "I raise." (v phrase) Perform a cheating maneuver in which the deck is cut at a prearranged spot, often managed by shuffling in a brief. Also, force the cut. (v phrase). Cash out. See cage. (v phrase) 1. Draw one or more cards. "When he stood pat, I knew I had to hit the deck." In lowball, usually implies a one-card draw. 2. Make a hand. "Things have been running so bad for me the only time I can hit the deck is when I'm drawing dead." (v phrase) 1. In draw poker, draw two to a pair, or one to three of a kind, with a kicker, instead of drawing three to the pair alone or two to the trips, and catch another card of the same rank as the kicker. If you draw to a pair of kings with an ace and make two pair, aces and kings, you hit the kicker. 2. In hold 'em, catch a card of the same rank as your unpaired card. 3. In seven-card stud, catch a card of the same rank as one of your side cards, when you already have a pair. (v phrase) stand pat. So called because a player often hits the table with his hand when it is his turn to announce his draw if he has a pat hand. Also, knuckle, rap. (v phrase) See get hit with the deck. (n phrase) In hold 'em, two 7s as one's first two cards. (That's what they look like. Sort of.) (n) A game or tournament format in which three forms of poker are played in rotation, usually either half an hour of each or one round of each. The games are limit hold 'em, Omaha/8, and seven-card stud high-low (the e standing for 8-or-better). Also see half-and-half game, H.O.R.S.E, H.O.R.S.E.L, H.O.S.E, R.O.E. (v) go hog. Also, hog it. (n) scooper. (n) The jack of spades. May have been a cousin of Charlemagne. (See Charles.) (v phrase) go hog. (v phrase) 1. In lowball, cause another player to stand pat on a hand that is a loser, and not draw a card to a hand that might otherwise win. "John acted like he was going to draw two cards, and that held Henry dead on his 9-5, but in actuality John had an 8-7." Also, hold someone dead. 2. In lowball, decline to draw cards based on another player's actions on his hand. "Sarah drew two cards, which held me dead on my 10-nothing." (n) Alternative spelling of hold 'em. (n phrase) A form of poker that originated in the Southwest, moved to Nevada casinos, and then expanded almost universally, with two cards dealt face down to each player, and five community cards dealt face up in the center of the table. The game has four betting rounds, one after the first two down cards, one after the first three of the community cards (called the flop) are simultaneously dealt, one after the next upcard (called the turn or fourth street), and one after the fifth (called the river or fifth street). The "official" name of the game is Texas hold 'em, but just hold 'em is the more common name. (n phrase) high-low split hold 'em, with an 8-or-better qualifier for low. (n phrase) Someone who plays hold 'em poker (usually exclusively, or in preference to other forms of poker). (v, n) Your cards. "What are you holding?" or "What is your holding?" means "What is your hand?" (n) holding. (n phrase) An obsolete name for hold 'em. (n) 1. A card or cards being held out. See hold out. 2. holdout machine. (v phrase) Perform a cheating maneuver in which a player removes one or more cards from play for later introduction. A held-out card can be concealed in a sleeve, in a vest, in a shoe, under the table, etc. (n phrase) A thief who holds out. See hold out. (n phrase) holdout machine. (n phrase) A mechanical device enabling thieves to surreptitiously hold out. Holdout machines used to be more popular many years ago, but are not often seen now, probably because thieves are becoming more sophisticated, and also because being caught with one is dangerous. Also called a string. (n phrase) A thief who holds out. See hold out. (v phrase) Consistently have better cards (than another player). "I can't beat him; he always holds over me." (v phrase) Play a lowball hand in such a way as to keep another player pat on a worse hand, with the effect of keeping the player from drawing to a better hand, thus preventing the other player from winning the pot. For example, in a no-limit game, you open for the minimum, $4, with 8 7 3 2 A. No one plays except the big blind, who raises $12. Both you and he have another $50 left. A lot of players would now go all in. If the other player has a pat 9, he now very likely will break (definition 3) the hand and draw one card. In most instances, if he makes what he's drawing to, you lose. The reason to reraise is to make more money if you win and to not have to worry about any bluffing after the draw--if you're both all in before the draw, he can't bet after. The reason not to reraise is to have the player stay pat with a worse hand than yours, that is, to hold him dead. If you don't reraise, and he has a hand like 9 8 3 2 joker, he'll stand pat. When you then stand pat behind him, in most instances he will check after the draw, and you can't possibly lose. Of course, if he had you beat all along, you can reason that it would have made no difference if you had put all the chips in the pot before the draw anyway. And if he bets all his chips after the draw even when you stand pat behind him, you still have a chance to fold. (n) 1. In stud and hold 'em-type games, the position for the card or cards dealt face down. From this comes the term in the hole. 2. hole card. 3. Losing; usually preceded by in the. (n phrase) 1. Any one of the downcards (see downcard) in a stud or hold 'em-type game. 2. In a draw game, a draw card. "I need a hole card" means "I need to draw a card." 3. The nuts, when part of the expression he'll show you his hole card. 4. Playing aggressively, when part of the expression he'll make you look at his hole card. (n phrase) A form of five-card stud with an extra betting round, immediately after the first card, the hole card, is dealt. Usually played only in home games. Also called pistol stud or pistol Pete. 1. (n) Acting. "Quit the Hollywood; we know you've got the Holy City." 2. (adj) In a showoff manner. When a player has only a few chips left, and someone bets him $1000, knowing that he can't call even 1% of that bet, that's a Hollywood move. 3. (v) Act; ham it up. "Don't Hollywood me. If you're gonna bet, do it; otherwise just show down your hand." (n) The nuts; usually preceded by the. "Get in a pot with him and he'll show you the Holy City." (n) The deal, or where the deal is. "A round from home" means one round in which each dealer overblinds. (n phrase) See Chowaha (n phrase) A private game played at someone's home, often one regularly scheduled, perhaps weekly. Players might refer to such a game as "the Friday-night game." (adj) Not bluffing, with respect to calling a bet, and usually part of the phrase keep someone honest. "Well, I know you're not bluffing, but I've got trips, so I'll keep you honest." Related to pay off. (n phrase) A deck that has not been trimmed, or otherwise deliberately marked, but that, nonetheless, contains irregularities or factory defects (see factory defect), which permit observant players to identify some (or, rarely, all) of the cards from the back. Also called imperfect deck. (n phrase) Any card 10 or higher. This usage comes from bridge (the game). (n) fishhook. Three hooks usually means three jacks. (n) Queen (the card). (n) 1. A worthless ring. This has cardroom relevance, because you will often encounter a broker trying to sell you a hoop or a block. 2. Someplace to do something unspeakable to yourself, as an insult, and part of the expression, "Ah, stick it in yer hoop." 1. (n) In draw poker and lowball, a remarkable draw; usually part of the phrase, two-card hop or three-card hop. "I thought I had a lock on the pot with a pat 7, but he made a three-card hop on me" means another pat hand just got beat by a three-card draw. Also called cathop. Also see freak draw, Gardena miracle. 2. (v) Part of the phrase hop the cut. (v phrase) Replace the cards in the same order as they were prior to the cut. This is a sleight-of-hand maneuver by a card mechanic to negate the effect of the cut. Also called elevator the cut, jump the cut, make a pass, shift the cut. (v phrase) come in cold; often followed by for. "He hopped the fence for three bets, drew two cards, and beat my pat 7," is often heard in a lowball game. Also jump the fence. (n) A drink. "How about a horn?" is a suggestion to join someone in a libation. (n) Someone playing for you, with your money, or with money owed you. "I'm losing, but I've got a horse in the 20 who's way ahead" means that I have a part (or all) of someone's action (definition 4) in the 20-limit game. (n) A game or tournament format in which five forms of poker are played in rotation, usually either half an hour of each or one round of each. The games are limit hold 'em, Omaha/8, razz, seven-card stud (high), and seven-card stud high-low (the e standing for 8-or-better). Also see half-and-half game, H.O.E, H.O.R.S.E.L, H.O.S.E, R.O.E. (n) A game or tournament format in which six forms of poker are played in rotation, usually either half an hour of each or one round of each. The games are limit hold 'em, Omaha/8, razz, seven-card stud (high), seven-card stud high-low, and lowball (the e standing for 8-or-better). Also see half-and-half game, H.O.E, H.O.R.S.E, H.O.S.E, R.O.E. (n) A game or tournament format in which four forms of poker are played in rotation, usually either half an hour of each or one round of each. The games are limit hold 'em, Omaha/8, seven-card stud (high), and seven-card stud high-low (the e standing for 8-or-better). Sometimes rendered S.HO.E. Also see half-and-half game, H.O.E, H.O.R.S.E, H.O.R.S.E.L, R.O.E. (adv, adj) 1. Doing well; catching good cards. "Don't get in his way; he's hot tonight" means "Stay out of his pots; you can't beat him because he's making every hand he draws to." 2. Angry. "I'm hot enough to eat fried ice cream." 3. With reference to a deck, one that has recently produced a series of good hands. (n phrase) A deck that has recently produced a series of good hands. (n phrase) burn (definition 2). When the person dealing the cards (usually in a player-dealt game) takes the burn card off the deck prior to dealing the draw cards, he might say, "There's the hot one." (n phrase) A seat or position at the table that has recently had a run of good hands. (n phrase) winning streak. (n) 1. A cardroom or casino. Also called store or joint. 2. The management of a cardroom or casino; often preceded by the. 3. A full house. "I can beat your flush; I've got a house." (n phrase) Chips being played for the establishment, that, is those belonging to a dealer while he is working, to a shill, or stake, as opposed to live chips. (n phrase) A portion of each pot taken by the house (definition 2), for the purpose of paying expenses and making a profit. Also, rake. (n phrase) A house employee who deals the cards, sells chips, settles arguments, makes minor rulings in case of irregularities, and generally runs the game. Compare with deal-yourself game. (n) 1. A cardroom employee, often working on the floor; floorman. 2. house dealer. Players often address the dealer as houseman. "What's it cost me, houseman?" (n phrase) A stake player or a shill; sometimes a proposition player. (n phrase) A rule specific to a particular gaming establishment. (n phrase) The rules by which a house runs its games, usually including establishing of betting limits, number of raises, what causes a hand to become dead, how to handle violations of playing conventions, and so on. Edmond. (1672-1769). English barrister and codifier of rules of games, author, in 1742, of A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist, which set down the rules of the game. Subsequent editions of the book contained treatments of quadrille, piquet, and backgammon. Hoyle wrote other books about games, and earned a reputation as an expert on rules. Over the years, the phrase "according to Hoyle" came to be synonymous with "by the highest authority." Although Hoyle never wrote a word about poker--in fact, the game was probably not played in his time--his name has nonetheless come to be associated with the rules of poker. Since Hoyle's death, several rules books on card games in general have had his name in their titles; those books have dealt with poker. (n phrase) Three deuces. See Dewey Duck, duck. (n phrase) card rack. (n) A deck marked by shaving the long edges of some cards such that they are wider towards their middles, so that a thief can tell by feel the values of certain cards, usually certain high or low cards, such as the aces. Also see belly strippers, end strippers, high belly strippers. (adv) Awaiting someone's action. "Where's it hung?" is asked when it seems the player whose action is next is either dreaming and aware it's her turn or the player is taking her time making a decision. (n) two-card poker. (v) What a hustler does. (n) 1. Someone who makes his living playing cards. Also see gambler. 2. A player who takes unfair advantage of others, particularly of newcomers. 3. thief; this usage is rare. (n) What a hustler does.
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Copyright (©) 2004, Michael Wiesenberg.
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