Caro Poker Dictionary

Online Poker Strategy and Psychology
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T

T

(n) Abbreviation for a 10, usually found only in written text about cards. Tclub, for example, is the 10 of clubs.

tab

(n) tab card.

tab card

(n phrase) A credit account available in some clubs to favored customers (generally those on whom a credit check has been run), to which a player can charge chips to play on. This is a convenient means for a player to get around the difficulty of carrying large amounts of cash on his person. The tab card is usually kept track of on a ledger card with transactions initialled by the player or a house official or both. The cashier is usually responsible for keeping the records straight. In most clubs, a player is supposed to leave a check for the amount charged at the end of a playing session if he does not cash in as much as he charged. Frequently a player with charging privileges does so against a blank, signed check. If he loses, he fills out the check for the proper amount; if he wins, the blank check remains attached to his tab card, to be used the next time. When such a player calls for chips at the table, he usually fills out a charge slip, called a ticket (definition 2), for the amount requested. Also see player's bank.

table

1. (n) A poker table. 2. Any surface on which players play poker (such as a kitchen table). 3. A complete poker game, players and all. "Seat open on table four." 4. Figuratively, the players in a particular game. "The table took a break." "Half the table was in every pot." 5. The board, that is, the upcards of all players. 6. (v) See table cards (definition 2).

table captain

(n phrase) A humorous name for the player who takes it upon himself to arbitrate in all matters requiring decisions, settle all disputes, and interpret all rules. Such a role is generally only required in a private game, because most cardroom games are dealt by house dealers; even where they are not, usually a floor person is available to make decisions. Nonetheless, someone often takes it upon himself to arbitrate every decision even in a cardroom, and the other players call him the table captain.

table cards

1. (n phrase) community cards. 2. (v phrase) Spread one's cards on the table (as opposed to discarding them or holding them in one's hand off the table) at showdown time for all to see; usually rendered table one's [your, my, etc.] cards. Some clubs require the winning hand to be tabled. Some sometimes rule that if a hand is tabled and then thrown away and the pot inadvertently awarded to a lesser hand, and it is discovered later that the best hand was actually tabled (as confirmed by the dealer or other players having seen that the discarded hand was the best, or by pulling the tape; see pull the tape), that the pot should be awarded to that hand even if it is no longer technically live (definition 7).

table change

(n phrase) 1. A request by a player to move to another table. "Table change, floorman, please." 2. The act of so moving. "Floorman, may I have a table change?"

table charge

(n phrase) 1. A portion of each pot taken by the house (definition 2), for the purpose of paying expenses and making a profit. Also, rake. 2. time.

table cop

(n phrase) 1. calling station. 2. table captain.

table fee

(n phrase) time.

table holdout

(n phrase) A holdout machine, a spring or clip attached to the underside of a table to hold one or more cards until the thief who put them there can retrieve them for reintroduction into the game for cheating purposes. See spring table.

table stake

(n phrase) table stakes.

table stakes

(n phrase) The requirement that players can wager only the money in front of them at the start of a hand, and can put more money on the table or buy more chips only between hands and cannot remove money or chips from the table unless leaving the game. This is the usual situation in all public cardrooms, and many private and home games. Sometimes called stakes play. Compare with pot-limit dig. Originally called table stakes limit.

table stakes limit

(n phrase) The original term for what is now usually called table stakes.

table talk

(n phrase) Patter accompanying the play of a hand, usually for the purpose of getting a call, sometimes to get others to fold. Compare with coffeehousing, Hollywood, and moves.

Tahoe

(n) seven/8.

Tahoe high-low

(n phrase) Tahoe pineapple, played high-low split.

Tahoe pineapple

(n phrase) A variant of pineapple in which players do not discard any of their three downcards. At the showdown, players can use none, one, or two of their downcards (but not three) to form their best five-card hand in combination with the five community cards. When played high-low split, a different set of cards can be used for each direction, but no more than two for either direction. Also called lazy pineapple.

Tahoe split

(n phrase) seven/8.

take

(n) rake (definition 3).

take a bath

(v phrase) Lose heavily.

take a little edge

(v phrase) See edge (definition 2).

take a shot

(v phrase) 1. shoot an angle. Also see angle, angle shot. 2. Look for a chance to play. "I'd sure like to take a shot in that game." 3. Make a cheating move. "He has to get a little booze in him before he takes a shot."

take care of

(v phrase) Toke, that is, tip the dealer, often implying with a good tip. If you win a big pot, you can take care of the dealer.

take it in the middle

(v phrase) take the middle blind.

take it or leave it

(n phrase) keep it or shove it.

takeoff

(n) rake (definition 3).

takeout

(n) The minimum buy-in required for a particular game.

take the lead

(v phrase) 1. Bet or raise, generally when passed to, or sometimes in an aggressive fashion. 2. Make the first voluntary bet in any round.

take [someone] off

(v phrase) Take a player's money by cheating. This usually involves thieves.

take the middle blind

(v phrase) Sit down at the precise moment it is your turn to put in the middle blind. Some clubs do not let a new player (new to the particular game) be dealt in until it is his turn to put in a blind, supposedly to prevent his getting any "free" hands. (Also, if a seated player has missed the blind in a particular round, he can receive his next hand only in the blind position, by posting, or by killing the pot, that is, overblinding.) Some clubs, however, permit a player to receive his first hand, if he is too late to get the big blind, in the middle position. (That is, normally the first hand he could take would be when sitting down two positions to the left of the deal position. Here we speak of first sitting down immediately to the left of the deal.) In such case, the player must in the next three hands still put in an amount equal to how much he would put in if he sat through all three blinds. This requires putting in the dealer's blind when the deal is one position to his left, so that the dealer does not end up having to put too much in. Also, when the player takes it in the middle, the player to his left puts in an amount equal to that of what the middle blind ordinarily is (since that player put in the big blind the previous hand and would ordinarily be putting in the middle blind this hand). To take the middle blind is also called come in in the middle. An example makes this clear. In a $30-limit game, blinds are normally $5-$10-$15. John sits in the open seat to Fred's left on Fred's deal, and asks to take it in the middle. The blind structures for the next three hands follow. On the first hand, Fred, in deal position, blinds $5; he had the middle blind last hand. John, taking it in the middle, blinds $15. Gary, who had the big blind last hand, before John sat down, now puts up $10. (When the betting gets to the blinds, they act in order of size; that is, first Fred, then Gary, then John.) For the second hand, John has the deal and puts $10 in on the button. Gary, now in the middle position, puts in $5, because he put in $15 and $10 on the preceding two hands, and Paul, who has not yet had a blind, puts in his regular $15. (When the betting gets to the blinds, they act in order of size; that is, first Gary, then John, then Paul.) On the third hand, John, now sitting one position to the right of the deal, puts in $5; he has put in a total of $30 over the last three hands. Gary, now on the button, puts in nothing; he has already put in $30 for this round. Paul puts in $10, as normal, for the middle blind, and Susie, to Paul's left, puts in $15 for the big blind. (When the betting gets to the blinds, Gary acts before John.) See come in on the blind, kill, overblind, and post.

take the worst of it

(v phrase) See worst of it.

talking chips

(n phrase) Winnings. That is, winners can afford to waste time gabbing, while the losers want to concentrate on playing. "He's got talking chips" means he's winning. Also called lobbying chips, walking chips.

tall pot

(n phrase) A large pot waiting to be won by someone; a large stack of chips in the center of the table, caused by excessive betting, that will look nice added to the stack of whoever wins it.

talon

(n) stub.

tap

(v) 1. Go all in, that is, bet all one's chips. Usually called tap off. 2. Same as rap (definition 3).

tap city

(adv phrase) Broke. "He had to quit when he went tap city."

"Tapioca."

1. (v, imitative) "I'm tapping off," that is, betting all my chips. 2. (adv) Broke.

tapoff

(n) A bet of all your chips, or all the other guy's.

tap off

(v phrase) Bet all your chips, or all the other guy's.

tap-off

(adj) A bet of all your chips, or all the other guy's; usually followed by bet.

tap on the aquarium

(n phrase) See Don't tap on the aquarium.

tap out

(v phrase) Lose all your money in a poker game, or in a hand; go broke.

tapped

(adv) Broke.

tapped out

(adv phrase) Broke.

tap [someone]

(v phrase) In a no-limit game, bet all the other guy's chips. "I'll tap you" means I'm betting all you've got on the table, and you must either fold or put all your chips in the pot.

"Tap you."

(v phrase) In a no-limit game, this means, "I bet all your chips." See tap [someone].

TC

(n) tournament chips, usually found only in written text about cards. "We started with 1000TC."

TD

(n) tournament director, usually found only in written text.

TDA

(n) Tournament Directors' Association.

TEARS

A tournament format, invented by Tex Morgan (hence the official name of the system, Tex's TEARS), in which blinds and antes increase in smaller increments, and sometimes also with increased level durations, than had been at use in most tournaments prior to the introduction of this format. Rather than the 100% increase that was common, the increase might be only 50%. So instead of 20-minute rounds proceeding at, for example, 100-200, 200-400, 400-800, and so on, there might be 30-minute rounds proceeding at 100-200, 150-300, 200-400, and so on. The system was introduced to provide more emphasis on skill for players and to give tournament directors more ability to determine the actual duration of a tournament. The actual time and level increments can be tweaked to cause any tournament to last as long as the organizers wish. The acronym stands for Tournament Evaluation And Rating System.

telegraph

1. (n) A wire or string used by thieves to signal each other. For example, one thief may see the holdings of the player next to him, and signal his partner across the table, who is in the hand, by pulling on a wire underneath the table that runs from him to his partner, using some sort of prearranged code. 2. (v) Cheat by sending prearranged signals, say by finger positions similar to the "signing" used by the hearing impaired, or by certain code words and phrases embedded within seemingly ordinary conversation. Sometimes called working the telegraph. 3. Give away one's holdings, by an obvious tell, such as, for example, a betting pattern or the inability to keep from grinning when holding good cards.

telephone

(n) A form of poker found only in home games, a widow game in which each player receives five cards face down, as does a central area of the table, followed by a round of betting, and then the dealer turns up each central card, one at a time, each followed by another round of betting. At the showdown, each player uses the best five cards among his five and those of the widow, and the lowest card in the player's hand is wild. The game is similar to Cincinnati, the difference being that in the latter the lowest card in the widow is wild, as well as any card of equal rank in a player's hand.

tell

(n) A mannerism that gives away your holdings. Smiling when you have a big (very good) hand is an obvious tell. More subtle tells include iris dilation, a throbbing pulse, or acting in a certain manner in a given situation.

10

(n) 10 high.

10 and 20

(n phrase) 10-20.

10 cents

(n phrase) 1. A $10 bill. 2. $10 in cash. 3. $10 in chips.

tender hand

(n phrase) A hand a player is wary or afraid of betting, one that is a favorite on the pot, but vulnerable to a raise, such as, after the draw, a rough 8 in lowball or two medium pairs in high draw.

10 high

1. (n phrase) In high poker, a no pair hand whose highest card is a 10. "I have a 10 high; can you beat that?" "Yeah, I got jack high." 2. In low poker, a hand topped by a 10.

10-high

(adj) Pertaining to a straight or flush topped by a 10. "I was drawing to a 10-high flush but all I made was 10 high."

Tennessee

1. (n, imitative) 10 high (definition 2). 2. (n) A form of poker found only in home games, a widow game in which each player receives five cards face down, and then the dealer turns up a card from the deck, one at a time, each followed by another round of betting, until five are in the center. At the showdown, each player uses the best five cards among his five and those of the widow. The game is often played high-low split. The game is nearly identical to Cincinnati, except in the latter the five widow cards are dealt face down at once, and then turned up one at a time.

Tennessee Toddy

(n phrase, imitative) 10 high (definition 2).

10s full

(n phrase) A full house consisting of three 10s and another pair.

10s-high

(n phrase) A form of draw poker found only in home games, in which the highest hand wins, with any hand higher than a pair of 10s eliminated. This game is sometimes played as the "back" in jacks back (instead of lowball).

tension

(n, imitative) 1. 10 high (definition 2). Should probably be spelled "'ten-SHUN," because it imitates the military command "Attention!" 2. Two or more 10s.

10s over

(n phrase) 1. 10s up. 2. 10s full.

10s up

(n phrase) two pair, the higher of which are 10s.

10-20

(n phrase) A double-limit or structured limit poker game, in which the initial bets are in multiples of $10 and the last-round bets in multiples of $20. In hold 'em, this would be the first two rounds of betting at the lower limit, and the last two at the higher. In draw games (lowball and high draw), the bets before the draw would be at the lower limit, and those after at the higher.

10-way hand

(n phrase) In the 53-card deck, four cards to a flush.

terce

(n) tierce.

terce major

(n phrase) tierce major.

Texas hold 'em

(n phrase) The "official" name for hold 'em.

Texas Tech

(n phrase) double-barreled shotgun.

Tex's TEARS

(n phrase) See TEARS.

the book

(n phrase) See book (definition 2).

the chips are down

(n phrase) See chips are down.

there

(adv) 1. Having made a hand; used among thieves, in particular players who cheat by signaling each other the contents of the hands of opponents. "He's there," a seemingly innocent remark, might be an announcement by one such scammer (see scam) to his partner that the person they're trying to beat (and whose hand the former caught a glimpse of) has made his hand or has a hand better than the one of the second scammer. 2. Making the hand, starting with a good hand in a big pot, or catching the required card. "How come it's never there?" is an oft-heard remark by a self-pitying player who thinks he never makes or has a hand when it counts.

"There is work down."

(n phrase) The remark by one thief to another that the game in which they are has crooked cards, in the form of, for example, a marked deck. See work.

thief

(n) A cheat, usually a mechanic (card manipulator) or scammer (see scam).

third base

(n phrase) The position to the right of the house dealer in a poker game or at a blackjack table.

third hand

(n phrase) The player three positions to the left of the dealer, usually the first to bet in a blind and straddle game and many three-blind games (see three-blind traveling blind game). Also see charlie.

third man walking rule

(n phrase) third person walking rule.

third nuts

(n phrase) In hold 'em, having the third-best possible hand for the situation, or, the actual third-best hand in such a situation. For example, if four spades (not including the ace, king, or queen) and no pairs are on the board, the nuts would be an ace-high flush (that is, the ace of spades in the possession of any player), second nuts a king-high flush, while the third nuts would be a queen-high flush.

third pair

(n phrase) In hold 'em, forming a pair that consists of one of your hole cards matching the third-highest card on the board.

third person walking rule

(n phrase) In a public cardroom, once two people have gotten up from a game (and left their chips, so that they remain part of the game) for whatever reason, the next person to get up is given a button by the house dealer and informed that he must return before his next blind or he will be picked up. (See pick someone up.) This rule helps to keep games full, keeps them from breaking up, and yet still allows the third player time enough to make a quick restroom trip or take a smoke break.

13-card

(n phrase) A California game that combines elements of pai gow poker and poker. The game is played with four players, each one taking turns at dealing or being in dealer position. Each player is dealt 13 cards, which the player arranges into three separate poker hands: one three-card hand in front and two-five card hands; each hand must rank higher than the hand before it. (In one variation, the middle hand is ranked according to deuce-to-seven lowball.) The goal of the game is for all three of the player's hands to rank higher than the opponent's hands. Each player's set of hands competes separately and one at a time against each other player's set of hands. Each winning hand receives one or more chips, at whatever is the preestablished rate for the game, from the other player. In addition, certain rare hands (three of a kind or better, depending on in which hand) rate bonuses from each player. The game is sometimes one of the events at major tournaments. Often called Chinese poker.

13-card pai gow

(n phrase) Another name for 13-card.

30

(n) 30 miles.

30 days

(n phrase) 30 miles.

30 days in the county jail

(n phrase) 30 miles.

30 dirty miles

(n phrase) 30 miles.

30 miles

(n phrase) Three 10s; sometimes part of the phrase 30 miles of rough road. Also see San Jose to Gilroy.

30 miles of bad road

(n phrase) 30 miles.

30 miles of railroad track

(n phrase) 30 miles.

30 miles of rough road

(n phrase) 30 miles.

three

(n) three-card draw; usually preceded by the. "Check to the three."

three-bet

(v) raise a raise, that is put in the third bet; often followed by the name of a person. "He opened, I raised, and he three-bet me." "I opened, Sue raised, and Willie three-bet the pot."

three-blind traveling blind game

(n phrase) A traveling blind game with three mandatory blinds: dealer blind, put in by the dealer, middle blind, put in by the player to the left of the dealer, and big blind, put in by the player two positions to the left of the dealer. For example, in a 5-5-10 no-limit lowball game, the dealer puts a $5 chip in the pot before receiving his cards, the next player puts in a $5 chip, and the big blind puts in two $5 chips. This makes the minimum bet $20; this also starts the pot off with $20 for anyone who opens to shoot at. Compare with straddle game.

three-card draw

(n phrase) 1. A hand that needs three cards. 2. The person so drawing. 3. The action of so drawing. "Check to the three-card draw" could be used in senses 2 and 3.

three-card hop

(n phrase) See hop (definition 1).

three-card monte

(n phrase) 1. Any card game played with three cards, particularly poker. 2. A con game involving three cards and sleight-of-hand, a "game" that has nothing to do with poker.

three-card poker

(n phrase) Any poker game played with three cards. Sometimes called three-toed Pete.

three deuces

(n phrase) Apart from the hand you would expect, three 2s plus two other unrelated cards, draw players sometimes refer to the specific two-pair hand A-A-K-K-Q as three deuces, probably because the hand is very close to that.

three fates

(n phrase) Three queens.

three-flush

(n phrase) Three cards to a flush, that is, three cards of the same suit.

three-for-two

(n phrase) In lowball, a proposition that one player will call the bet or raise and draw three cards if the raiser agrees to draw two. Compare with two-for-one.

three of a kind

(n phrase) 1. A poker hand, three cards of the same rank, plus two other unrelated cards. Ranks above two pair and below a straight. Often called trips, and sometimes triplets, tricon, or trio. 2. Specifically, just the three cards, with out referring to other cards, as, for example, when you start a seven-card stud hand with three of a kind.

three pluck one

(n phrase) A cheating scheme with three thieves working together against one victim.

threes

(n) In high, three of a kind.

3s full

(n phrase) A full house consisting of three 3s and another pair.

3s over

(n phrase) 1. 3s up. 2. 3s full.

3s up

(n phrase) two pair, 3s and deuces.

three-thirty-three

(n phrase) A stud game (sort of), played only in home games, in which each player is dealt a downcard, followed by a round of betting, and then one or more cards face up. Aces have a value of 1 or 11, face cards a value of , and all other cards have face value. This is a split-pot game, with the object being to end up with a total closest to 3 or 33. On each round, players can either receive a further upcard, or refuse further cards. After any round in which no player takes a card, the players declare which "way" they are going (3 or 33, sometimes called high or low), and there is a showdown. (Sometimes there is one more round of betting before the showdown.) In some versions, once a player refuses upcards a certain number of times (say, three), that player can no longer request further cards. The purpose of this rule is that when a player is in a "lock" (cannot lose) situation, that is, when he is the only one going low, and there are more than one player going high and who have quit asking for upcards, the player with the lock can prolong the betting by drawing cards to a point at which he cannot hit without destroying his lock. In some games, being on one side or the other of 3 or 33 (when no one has exactly that total) wins over the other side. For example, in some games, 2 loses to 3, while in others, the reverse is true. The best hand is three aces, so that the hand simultaneously adds up to 3 and 33. This is a virtual lock scoop hand, but one that can be beat, so a player must be somewhat careful at declare time in a game in which the rules dictate that a player who declares for both ways must clearly win both ways (that is, cannot tie for either). While this is not really a poker game, it is very popular in some home games (because it has many of the elements of poker, including bluffing), though less common than seven-twenty-seven.

three-toed Pete

(n phrase) three-card poker.

threshold of pain

(n phrase) A point of losing beyond which it no longer hurts to lose any more. For example, for one player it might feel very bad to lose $900, and even worse $1000, but no worse to lose $3000 than $1000. Consequently, it is very dangerous for that player to get stuck $1000, because he has crossed his threshold of pain and it will not be very hard for him to end up losing $3000. Unfortunately, the $2000 difference will hurt very much the next day.

throw

1. (v) Discard. "What card did you throw?" 2. Put chips in a pot; usually followed by chips. 3. (n) Discard. "What was your throw?"

throw a party

(v phrase) Lose heavily, generally caused by playing much too liberally. The implication is that the party is being thrown for the other players.

throw off

(v phrase) 1. Gamble away; sometimes followed by something. If someone asks you to throw off something, he wants you to gamble it up, that is, play looser. 2. discard (definition 1).

ticket

(n) 1. A card. In a draw game, a player might say to the dealer, "Give me a ticket." 2. Charge slip, which a player fills out and gets chips, which are charged against a tab card. In a cardroom in which such are used, a player might yell, after going broke, "Bring me a hundred on a ticket."

tickets

(n) Cards. In a draw game, when the dealer asks, "Tickets?," he wants to know how many cards you are drawing. If you say to the winner of the pot, "Nice tickets," you are complimenting him on the quality of his hand. (This is sometimes said facetiously about a very poor hand.) Compare with paper (definition 1).

tickle

1. (n) raise. "I'll give it a tickle." 2. (v) Raise; often followed by it. "I'll tickle it."

tied on

(adv phrase) locked on. "Too much money in the pot; you got me tied on."

"Tiempo."

(n) 1. The verbal request by a house employee for the players to pay their time. 2. A request by a player for more time to consider his cards.

tierce

(n) Three cards to a straight flush. Also called terce.

tierce major

(n phrase) The three top cards to an ace-high straight flush, that is, A-K-Q in the same suit. Also called terce major.

tiger

(n) little cat. Sometimes the term refers to any of the hands big cat, big tiger, little cat, or little tiger.

tight

(adj, adv) Playing very conservatively; showing little gamble; not likely to take a chance; having stringent playing requirements. Compare with close to the chest, conservative, drummer, hardrock, milker. nutted up, rocked up, rock, rocky, screwed down. 2. Pertaining to a full house, generally when part of the phrase tight on followed by the name of the three of a kind of the hand. "I'm tight on aces" means "I have aces full."

tightass

(n) tight player.

tighten up

(v phrase) Play tighter or more conservatively. See tight.

tight hold 'em

(n phrase) Another name for Omaha.

tight play

(n phrase) Pertaining to the play of a tight player.

tight player

(n phrase) One who plays tight, that is, bets only when holding a strong hand.

tilt

(n) See on tilt.

timber

(n) deadwood.

time

(n) A fee levied by the house on each player for letting the player use the premises, supplying the license, furnishing cards, providing other players, and so on, and assessed at regular time intervals (and thus the name). The amount collected per player depends on the size of the game, and the larger the game, the larger the time collection, although the smaller percentage of the game's limit. For example, a $4-limit lowball game might charge $8 per player per hour (usually collected half-hourly), while a $20-limit game might collect $12 per player per hour. Sometimes (less commonly) called seat charge. Compare with rake.

"Time!"

(n) 1. A request by a player for more time to contemplate his action. In some clubs, unless a player calls time, others may act behind him, and if they do, his hand may become dead. 2. The verbal request by a house employee for the players to pay their time.

time buy-in

(n phrase) time game.

time collection

(n phrase) time.

time collector

(n phrase) A cardroom employee who circulates throughout the club either picking up time from each player or getting it from the house dealer (who has previously collected from each player).

time cut

(n phrase) The fee charged in a time game.

time game

(n phrase) A game in which the house makes its money by charging time (as opposed to a rake game).

tip

(n, v) toke.

tip the duke

(v phrase) tip the hand.

tip the hand

(v phrase) 1. Give away one's holdings, by one's actions or some other tell. 2. Cheat by signalling to an accomplice the value of a downcard or of the holdings of another player. Also see send, sign off, telegraph.

tip the mitt

(v phrase) tip the hand.

toad in the hole

(v phrase) wild widow.

TOC

(n, initialism) Tournament of Champions, (formerly) one of the two main tournaments recognizable only by their initials. (The other is the WSOP, although the WPT may soon be a contender.)

to go

(adj phrase) 1. Referring to the size of a game, usually with respect to the minimum bet or the betting limit. "This game is four to go." 2. Referring to the current level of the betting. For example, if the pot was opened for $4 and raised $16, when the next player asks, "How much to me?," someone might reply, "It's $20 to go."

to-go

(adj) Referring to the size of a game, usually with respect to the minimum bet or the betting limit. "This is a four-to-go game."

toilet flush

(n phrase) Missed flush draw, that is, in a draw game having drawn one card to a flush and ended up with the same thing, four cards to a flush and nothing else. "I've got a flush." "Oh yeah? Well I've got a toilet flush."

toke

1. (n) Tip, often given by a player in exchange for having been dealt a winning hand. "Did you get a toke for dealing him that big winner?" No one knows the derivation of this word, but it may come from token (that is, of appreciation). 2. (v) Tip. "Don't forget to toke the dealer when you win a big pot."

token

(n) chip (definition 1).

tom

(n) A poor tipper.

Tom

(adj) Poor, bad, unfavorable. "Don't get in there; it's a Tom game." Opposite of George.

tommer

(n) A bad situation. "Lost your last hundred, huh? That's a real tommer!"

Tommer

(n) Bad person or situation.

tonk

(n) In lowball, 50 points (sometimes 49) (see point, definition 2); from the game of that name. This is an unplayable hand, and "criers" (see crier) like to demonstrate their saltiness by showing all the poor hands, so they don't miss the opportunity of saying, "Tonk," and showing their 50-point hands.

tool

(n) Any mechanical cheating device. Also called work.

"Too rich for my blood."

(n phrase) See rich (definition 2).

top

(n) See come over the top.

top and bottoms

(n phrase) tops and bottoms.

top card

(n phrase) 1. In lowball, the highest card in a hand; in high, the highest card in a flush or straight. 2. The first card off the deck.

top-card draw

(n phrase) A method of determining, at the start of a new game, who deals the first hand. Each player draws a card from the deck, which is often fanned face down on the table, and the holder of the highest card deals; often suits are used to break ties (in bridge order); sometimes ties are broken by the winner being the first person to draw that tying card. To participate in this is to draw for deal.

top hand

(n phrase) Winning hand.

top kicker

(n phrase) When two or more players have identical hands at the showdown, the situation in which the pot is won by the player with the highest side card.

top pair

(n phrase) The situation in hold 'em in which a player pairs one of his hole cards with the highest card on the board. For example, if you have Qheart 8heart, and the flop is Qclub Tdiamond 7club, you have flopped top pair. (If you have Qheart Aheart, you have flopped top pair, top kicker.)

topped out

(adv phrase) shaved.

tops

(n) rake (definition 3). This usage comes from the game of pan (panguingue), in which each player antes one or two chips, and the antes are placed on top of the block (a wedge-shaped block of wood or lucite against which lean the eight decks of cards from which the game is dealt), where they are called the tops; sometimes part, or all, of the tops are kept as the house cut, from which comes the association with the rake.

tops and bottoms

(n phrase) Two pair, aces and deuces.

top stock

(n phrase) A small packet of prearranged cards placed on top of the deck prior to dealing (sometimes arranged by a sleight-of-hand maneuver such as a false shuffle), such that specific hands go to predetermined players, usually a good hand to the "sucker" and a better hand to the thief or his confederate. Also see stacked deck.

top the deck

(v phrase) Palm cards from or to the top of the deck.

touching cards

(n phrase) Cards in sequence, as part of a straight.

tough

(adj) Solid, that is, conservative, not likely to get out of line; difficult to beat; good; said of someone's play or a player.

tough money

(n phrase) Money for living expenses, and not to be used for gambling. Compare with nut (definition 1).

tough player

(n phrase) A very good or successful poker player, often a professional.

tough spot

(n phrase) 1. A difficult game to beat, particularly one in which it is hard to tell when others are bluffing. 2. A game in which it is difficult to bluff, as a limit game with small stakes. 3. A situation in which it is hard to tell what other active players are holding because not enough information has been revealed, either because of being first to bet, because other players may have checked good hands, or some other strategic reason. 4. A tough player, or the position occupied by same. "Watch out for seat four; that's a tough spot."

toughy

(n) A tough player.

tournament

(n) Competition among players, sometimes with one buy-in, in which case it is often called a freeze-out tournament, and then played down till there are a preset number of players remaining, at which point all win the chips they have at that time, or till one is left, at which point prizes are awarded that are percentages of the total bought in, with the most for the first-place winner, next for second, and so on, sometimes with a guaranteed amount for first place, or a guaranteed total for the entire prize pool; and sometimes with multiple buy-ins, in which case it is usually called a rebuy tournament, and often with the same prize structure. In such a tournament, first place might be worth 40 or 50% of the prize pool, second place 20 or 25%, third 15%, and so on, down to the last qualifying place, which might just pay the cost of the buy-in. The larger the tournament, the more places paid, from as few as one in a one-table satellite, to three in a small tournament, eight in a medium-sized tournament, and as many as 36 in, for example, the $10,000 buy-in main event of the World Poker Tour.

tournament chips

(n phrase) Chips with no actual cash value, used just in a tournament, and that cannot be cashed in when the tournament is over. At the end of the tournament, such chips are used merely as counters to determine the winners. Sometimes rendered TC in print.

tournament circuit

(n phrase) tournament trail.

Tournament of Champions

(n phrase) A prestigious tournament on the tournament trail, first held in August, 1999, at the Orleans in Las Vegas, in which only winners of major tournaments are eligible to compete. The tournament is now defunct, but may be revived in the future. Sometimes rendered as the initialism TOC.

tournament director

(n phrase) The cardroom or casino official in charge of organizing and running tournaments (see tournament). Sometimes rendered TD in print.

Tournament Directors' Association

A group of tournament directors who have formed an association primarily for the purpose of standardizing tournament rules.

tournament leader

(n phrase) In a tournament, the player who, at any particular point, has the most chips.

tournament trail

(n phrase) The yearly cycle of major poker tournaments, including, of course, the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, but also including others such as the National Championship of Poker at Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California, and the Festival of Poker in London's Victoria Casino. Also called tournament circuit.

tourney

(n) tournament.

tourist

(n) Someone who does not live in Las Vegas (and is presumed to be at a disadvantage in the poker games), as contrasted to a local (who "lives" in the poker games, and who supposes that the only purpose in life for tourists is to supply him with a living).

trade

(v) Receive a twist.

trail

(v) Come in light, that is, call a bet when several others have already called, usually to get money odds on a straight or flush draw (in high), or to try a longshot cheaply, as a cathop or short pair draw in high draw, a multiple-card draw in lowball, or an inside straight draw in hold 'em or seven stud, or substandard starting cards in either of the latter games.

trap

1. (n) The state of being stuck; usually preceded by the. "I was stuck a hunnert, but I got out of the trap." 2. The setting up of a situation in which one player can catch or trap another, as described under set up (definition 1). 3. check-raise (definition 2). 4. (v) set up (definition 1). 5. Catch one or more players when you have a good hand by playing in such a way as to conceal your holdings: checking or underbetting a good hand, or playing a hand in such a way as not to let opponents know you have a strong hand, thus inducing them either to try a bluff, or bet a weak hand they might otherwise just show down without betting. 6. check-raise (definition 1).

trapper

(n) One who plays a hand in the way described under trap (definition 5). After this happens (and sometimes happens unsuccessfully, as all the players just show down their hands without betting, and the first player reveals that he passed a "monster"), someone is sure to say, "Not all trappers wear fur hats."

trash

(n) 1. Poor or worthless cards. 2. muck (definition 1). "Pass the trash; it's my deal" means "Give me the discards and let me shuffle."

traveling blind

(n phrase) A mandatory blind, dependent on position, as described under traveling blind game. Examples are under-the-gun blind, open blind, and so on.

traveling blind game

(n phrase) A game with mandatory blinds (see blind, definition 1), dependent on position, rather than on who won the last pot or how many times a particular player has or has not blinded. See three-blind traveling blind game. Sometimes called straddle game.

tray

(n) chip rack (definition 1).

treble-header

(n phrase) The third pot of three in which the first two have not been played, either because of no player having had openers in a game with opening requirements, or because of two successive misdeals (see misdeal). Also see triple ante.

"Treedlededee."

(n) "Three cards, please." This is heard at the time of the draw in a draw poker game.

trey

1. (n) 3 (the card). 2. (v) Divide a deck into thirds prior to shuffling. (This is an old, obsolete term.)

treys full

(n phrase) A full house consisting of three 3s and another pair.

treys over

(n phrase) 1. 3s up. 2. 3s full.

treys up

(n phrase) two pair, 3s and deuces.

trick

(n) Poor player; from pimp slang.

tricon

(n) three of a kind.

trim

(v) shave.

trimming shears

(n phrase) Special heavy scissors for cutting the edges of cards in any of several ways for cheating. These produce various kinds of strippers, such as belly strippers, end strippers, low belly strippers, and high belly strippers.

trims

(n, always used in the plural) A deck marked by shaving the edges of some cards such that a thief can tell by feel the values of certain cards.

trio

(n) three of a kind.

trip

(vi) Make three of a kind; often followed by up. "I started with two aces, but tripped." "I drew three and tripped up."

triple ante

(n, adj, adv phrase) In double-limit draw (high, with an ante), pertaining to the situation following two passed pots (that is, unopened pots; see passed pot), at which point the pot contains three antes from each player, and the limits double (once only) until a pot is played.

triple-draw lowball

(n phrase) A form of ace-to-five or deuce-to-seven with three draws, instead of the usual one in ordinary lowball, and thus having four betting rounds, often played pot limit.

triple jackpot

(n phrase) A period of time in a cardroom that has progressive jackpots (see jackpot) for getting certain hands beat (for example, aces full in a hold 'em game) during which the posted payouts are tripled. Usually triple jackpot times are at times that otherwise have lower attendance than others, with such promotions being to increase patronage. Compare with double jackpot.

triple-threat player

(n phrase) Someone who plays all games (all variations of poker) well.

triple through

(v phrase) Triple a small stack by beating two others, generally those with larger stacks; sometimes part of the phrase triple a stack through. "Big John and Bubbles each had about $10,000 in chips, and they were both hot and stuck. Sally came in with $100, tripled it through them twice, and took the $900 to the window." Also see double through, run through.

triple tough

(adj phrase) Extremely tough.

triplets

(n) three of a kind. Usually called trips.

trips

(n) three of a kind; shortened from triplets.

trips eight

(n phrase) 1. A form of draw poker found only in home games, a split-pot (high-low) game with qualifiers of three of a kind for high and an 8 for low (see 8-or-better). 2. A form of stud poker found only in home games, with the same qualifiers, often played with one or more twists (see twist) at the end.

trip up

(v phrase) trip.

trombones

(n phrase) 1. In lowball, a 7-6 hand; comes from the song "76 Trombones." 2. In high, two pair, 7s and 6s. 3. In hold 'em, a 7 and 6 as one's first two cards.

Tulsa

(n) A variant of hold 'em, usually played only in private games, in which the community cards are turned face up one at a time, thus adding two more rounds of betting.

tuna

(n) sucker.

tupper

(n, imitative) Two pair.

Tupperware

(n, imitative) Two pair.

turkey

(n) sucker.

turn

(n) 1. turn card. "I spiked an ace on the turn." 2. With respect to a particular player, the point at which the action is on him, that is, the time when he is faced with the choice of folding, calling, or raising. "Whose turn is it?" 3. Sometimes (rarely, these days) the term is used by Texans and others from the Southwest with the same meaning as flop.

turn a draw

(v phrase) In hold 'em, catch a draw to a straight or flush, on the turn card. You might, for example, start with pocket 9s. The flop is 6, 8, K of three different suits. If the turn is a 7, you have turned a draw, specifically to a straight.

turn a pair

(v phrase) In hold 'em, pair one of one's hole cards on the turn card.

turn card

(n phrase) 1. In hold 'em-type games, the second card of the flop (that is, the fourth card dealt to the center). Following this card is the third round of betting. This card is sometimes (rarely) called fourth street. 2. In seven-card stud, the fourth card dealt to each player. Following this card is the second round of betting.

turn down

(v phrase) Fold (a hand).

"Turn one."

(v phrase) When everyone passes in a hold 'em game, the last player may say this to the dealer indicating that he, too, does not wish to bet.

turn out

(v phrase) Teach someone how to cheat. "He should be good; he was turned out by One-Eyed Charlie." Probably comes from the world of prostitution, where the process of starting a beginner on the tortuous road of sin, usually by a pimp, is called the same thing.

12-way hand

(n phrase) 12-way straight.

12-way straight

(n phrase) 1. In draw poker played with the 53-card deck, the four-card combination consisting of the joker plus three to a straight with one "hole," so that any of 12 cards makes it a straight. For example, 3-4-6-joker of mixed suits can be made into a straight by drawing any 2, 5, or 7, of which 12 remain in the rest of the deck. 2. In the 52-card deck, the four-card combination consisting of four to a straight flush with one "hole," so that any of 12 cards makes it a straight or better. For example, 3spade 4spade 5spade 7spade can be made into a straight by drawing any 6, a flush by drawing any spade, or a straight flush by the 6spade, of which there are 12 altogether.

20 and 40

(n phrase) 20-40.

20-40

(n phrase) A double-limit poker game, in which the initial bets are in multiples of $20 and the last-round bets in multiples of $40. In hold 'em, this would be the first two rounds of betting at the lower limit, and the last two at the higher. In draw games (lowball and high draw), the bets before the draw would be at the lower limit, and those after at the higher.

21

(n) 21 miles.

21 days

(n phrase) 21 miles.

21 days in the county jail

(n phrase) 21 miles.

21 miles

(n phrase) Three 7s; sometimes part of the phrase 21 miles of rough road.

21 miles of railroad track

(n phrase) 21 miles.

21 miles of rough road

(n phrase) 21 miles.

22-way hand

(n phrase) In draw poker played with the 53-card deck, the four-card combination consisting of three to a straight flush plus the joker, so that any of 22 cards makes it a straight or better. For example, 3diamond 4diamond 5diamond plus the joker can be made into a straight by drawing any ace, 2, 6, 7, a flush by drawing any diamond, or a straight flush by the ace, 2, 6, or 7 of diamonds, of which there are 22 altogether.

Twiggy

(n) In hold 'em, 2-9 as one's first two cards. Probably comes from this erstwhile ultraskinny model's measurements.

twin beds

(n phrase) A form of poker found only in home games, a widow game in which each player receives five cards face down, and 10 cards are arranged face down in the center of the table, in two rows of five each, at which point there is a betting round, and then the dealer turns up each central card, one at a time, usually alternating one from each row, each followed by another round of betting. At the showdown, each player uses the best five cards among his five and five from one row (only) of the widow. The game is often played high-low split.

twist

(n) In stud, played in a home game, an extra card that a player can "buy" after all the cards that constitute a hand have been dealt. This card is generally a replacement for one of the player's existing cards, usually with an upcard being replaced by an upcard, and a downcard being replaced by a downcard, and often with the player having to pay for the card, that is, put extra chips in the pot, such chips not constituting a bet, because that "bet" does not have to be matched by other players. "We're playing five-card stud, high-low, with a twist." Also called discard, optional card, pitch, replacement, substitution.

two

(n) two-card draw; usually preceded by the. "Check to the two."

"Two bets."

(n phrase, usually construed as a verb) Usually means, "I raise," in the sense that when a player says this, it's his turn to call one bet, but by putting in two, he is indicating a raise. The phrase is most common in limit games, but is also heard in no-limit and pot-limit games to indicate a raise exactly equal in size to the preceding bet.

two-bet

(v) raise, that is put in two bets; usually followed by the name of a person. "I opened and he two-bet me."

two-bit

(adj) 1. Pertaining to $25, as a two-bit chip. 2. Pertaining to a small-limit game or player.

two-bit game

(n phrase) A small game.

two-bit player

(n phrase) A small-limit player; someone who plays only in the smallest games.

two bits

(n phrase) $25 or a $25 chip. More commonly called quarter.

two-blind traveling blind game

(n phrase) A traveling blind game having two blinds, one to the left of the dealer (often called the little blind) and one to the left of that player (often called the big blind). Also called under-the-gun blind. Also see three-blind traveling blind game, and compare with straddle game.

two-card

(n phrase) A form of poker, found exclusively in home games, in which each player receives one card face down, followed by a round of betting, another face up, with another round of betting, and then each active player has an optional replacement (as described under twist, but generally without having to pay for the card). The game is played high-low, with both the highest and lowest hand being two aces. Pairs win for high, followed by high-card combinations; that is, A-K ranks just below a pair of deuces. For low, the point total is used, with 2 being best, then 3; 4, next, can be formed in two ways, A-3 or a pair of deuces; and so on.

two-card draw

(n phrase) 1. A hand that needs two cards. 2. The person so drawing. 3. The action of so drawing. "Check to the two-card draw" could be used in senses 1 and 2.

two-card hop

(n phrase) See hop (definition 1).

two-card party

(n phrase) In lowball, all players (usually implies at least three) draw two cards.

two-card poker

(n phrase) Poker played with two cards, in particular two-card. Sometimes called Hurricane.

two-flush

(n phrase) Two cards to a flush, that is, two cards of the same suit.

two-for-one

(n phrase) See proposition (definition 1).

two-gap

(n) Describing hold 'em starting cards in which the two cards are three apart in rank, as, Kheart Theart or 7club 4heart.

two-handed

(adj) head up (definition 1).

two-minute rule

(n phrase) A house rule that a player must act on his hand within two minutes, or else give up the hand and have no claim on the pot. This rule is found mainly in no-limit games, and is usually invoked on players who frequently abuse the time limits, that is, when confronted with a large bet, often study the situation for long periods of time. The five-minute rule is similar, though not as common.

"Two in pan."

(n phrase) In draw (or lowball), an announcement that you have A-2-3 or J-Q-K of spades or three 3s, 5s, or 7s (which are worth a collection of two chips in panguingue). Usually the announcer shows the cards in question and then throws the hand away. Also see pan (definition 2).

two pair

(n phrase) Two of one rank, plus two of another rank, plus an unrelated card; in high poker this ranks between one pair and three of a kind. For example, A-A-K-K-Q is two pair, known variously as two pair, aces and kings; aces up; aces over; aces over kings; aces and kings; aces and.

two pairs

(n phrase) two pair. According to the official list of preferred terms promulgated by Card Player, the term two pairs is nonstandard.

2s full

(n phrase) A full house consisting of three 2s and another pair.

2s over

(n phrase) 2s full.

2-spot

(n phrase) A card with two pips (see pip), commonly known as a deuce.

two-three

(n phrase) In lowball, an agreement between two players that when the two of them are the only ones to remain in an otherwise unopened pot (which might happen when one has the middle blind and the other the big blind), one will open blind for two bets, and the other will raise to three bets. At this point, the action will be on the first, the one who made the two bets, who can, of course, fold, call, or raise. Compare with two-two-three.

2-3-5

(n phrase) A three-blind traveling blind game, in which the dealer puts up $2, the player to his left (called the middle blind) $3, and the next player (called the big blind) $5, with the minimum bet (or bring-in) usually being $10.

two-twenty-two

(n phrase) A stud game (sort of), played only in home games, in which each player is dealt a downcard, followed by a round of betting, and then one or more cards face up. Aces have a value of 1 or 11, face cards a value of , and all other cards have face value. This is a split-pot game, with the object being to end up with a total closest to 2 or 22. On each round, players can either receive a further upcard, or refuse further cards. After any round in which no player takes a card, the players declare which "way" they are going (2 or 22, sometimes called high or low), and there is a showdown. (Sometimes there is one more round of betting before the showdown.) In some versions, once a player refuses upcards a certain number of times (say, three), that player can no longer request further cards. The purpose of this rule is that when a player is in a "lock" (cannot lose) situation, that is, when he is the only one going low, and there are more than one player going high, and who have quit asking for upcards, the player with the lock can prolong the betting by drawing cards to a point at which he cannot hit without destroying his lock. In some games, being on one side or the other of 2 or 22 (when no one has exactly that total) wins over the other side. For example, in some games, 1 loses to 2, while in others, the reverse is true. The best hand is two aces, so that the hand simultaneously adds up to 2 and 22. This is a virtual lock scoop hand, but one that can be beat, so a player must be somewhat careful at declare time in a game in which the rules dictate that a player who declares for both ways must clearly win both ways (that is, cannot tie for either). While this is not really a poker game, it is popular in some home games (because it has many of the elements of poker, including bluffing), though less common than seven-twenty-seven and three-thirty-three.

2-2-4

(n phrase) A three-blind traveling blind game, in which the dealer puts up $2, the player to his left (called the middle blind) $2, and the next player (called the big blind) $4, with the minimum bet (or bring-in) usually being $8.

two-two-three

(n phrase) In lowball, an agreement between three players that when they are in the last three positions and that if no one else opens the pot, the first will open for two bets, the second will call, and the third will raise, that is, make it three bets. At this point, the action will be on the first, the one who made the original two bets, who can, of course, fold, call, or raise. These last three positions are normally the three blinds in a three-blind traveling blind game, and this agreement stipulates the dealer put in the three bets, so as not to give him any added positional advantage. Compare with two-three.

two-way call

(n phrase) sweeper (definition 1).

two-way hand

(n phrase) 1. In draw poker played with the 52-card deck, an open-ended straight; so called because it can be made by two ranks. 2. In draw poker, a hand with two possible ways of drawing, such as four cards to a straight or four to a flush (but not the same for both draws); for example, 7heart 8heart 9spade Kheart joker, from which the 9spade can be discarded to draw for an ace-high flush, or the Kheart can be discarded to go for the 16-way straight. 3. breaking hand. 4. In high-low split-pot games with a declare, a hand that can declare (but not necessarily win) both ways. 5. In high-low split-pot games without a declare (that is, those in which cards speak), a hand that wins both ways.

two-way joint

(n phrase) A crooked gaming establishment. Also called flat joint, flat shop, flat store.

two-way straight

(n phrase) two-way hand (definition 1).

tx

(n) Shorthand for "thanks." Used in the chat facility while playing poker in an online cardroom. Usually typed in response to nh.

ty

(n) Shorthand for "thank you." Used in the chat facility while playing poker in an online cardroom. Usually typed in response to nh.

tyvm

(n) Shorthand for "thank you very much." Used in the chat facility while playing poker in an online cardroom.


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