THE HISTORY OF POKER

Exactly where it all started is still unknown to this day. Around the middle of the 15th century, a card game named "Pochen (German)" or "Poque" (French) was mentioned for the first time. At the beginning of the 19th Centruy, French immigrants brought the "Poque" game to New Orleans where the term "Poker", from the English "to poke" (German "klopfen"/"pochen") began. Poker was played on the Mississippi Steamboats before the Civil War; it was the Gold Rush that provided for the game’s rapid spread throughout all parts of North America. At that time, peanuts were used instead of chips (jetons), since chips or enough coins were hard to come by. Rumour has it that the term “nuts“ (best possible hand) comes from this time – the player who thought he was holding the best poker hand would risk all of his nuts.
The poker boom we’re experiencing today started in 2003 when the Internet qualifier called Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas (since then, playership has grown tenfold). Television coverage has also played its part with the implementation of the "Hole Cards" Camera. Players can now view the professionals’ cards throughout the entire game and improve their own skills.
Poker, expecially the "No Limit Texas Hold’em" version, is increasingly becoming a game for all age groups and levels of society, and enjoys greater popularity from year to year.

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POKER GLOSSARY

ACTION:

A player sets an action into motion when he checks, passes, plays, raises or declares that he is all-in.

ALL-IN:

A player bets or raises all of his remaining chips. He announces all-in.

ANTE:

The chip that all players must pay in order to get their cards. (stud games)

BET:

A player’s contribution to the pot throughout the game.

BLIND:

A mandatory bet which must be placed before cards can be distributed. Depending on the structure of the game, 1, 2 or 3 blinds may be placed. In games with blinds, a dealer button is also always used.

BLUFF:

When a player bets all of his chips on a hand which is actually not a winning hand and pretends to have a better hand than his/her opponent(s).

BOARD:

Those are the open cards in the middle of the table. (Flop, Turn and River).

BURN CARD:

The very top card in the deck which is not dealt but rather pushed under the pot (burned).

BUTTON:

A small round disc with the word "Dealer" printed on it which is moved clockwise to the next position after each game. The dealer button shows which player is last to initiate any action for that game. The player to the immediate left of the dealer button begins with the first action.

BUY-IN:

The sum which every player must bring to the table in order to take part in a game. This is usually 10 times the big blind.

CALL:

Paying a bet which has just been placed by an opposing player.

CHECK:

When a player passes the right to further action on to the next player.

CHECK´N´RAISE:

A player checks and waits for a bet in order to raise later on. Player A: "check" → Player B: "bet" → Player A: "raise".

CHIP:

Round plastic disc which is used in poker games instead of money.

CHIP TRAY:

A portable piece of equipment in which a dealer keeps his chips, cards and cash.

COMMON CARD:

A card which is dealt open and which counts for all players.

DC:

The dealer coordinator responsible for the dealer rotation at the tables.

DEALER:

The game coordinator at the table.

DECK:

A packet of playing cards.

DISCARDS:

Cards passed on by the dealer and are no longer in play (dead cards).

DOOR-CARD:

In 7 Card Stud a player’s first open cards.

FAMILY POT:

A situation in which all players at the table are still in the game and see the flop following the first round of betting.

FLOP:

The first three open community cards which, as in Texas Hold’em (and other games) are placed open in the middle of the table.

FOLD:

To exit the game; to pass.

FORCED BET:

An obligatory bet which the player with the lowest door card must bring in 7 Card Stud in order to "force" the game.

HAND:

Cards which are given to the player for the duration of the game.

HEADS-UP:

When only two more players remain and play against each other.

HOLE-CARDS:

The covered cards held by each player.

KICKER:

A card which is not part of a hand but which influences the game. If, for example, two players each have the same pair, then the highest card which is not part of a pair decide the game.

LIMIT:

The limit defines the level of mandatory betting. In a game with a $10 limit, you will need a lot more chips than if playing with a $0.10 limit.

NO LIMIT:

A game in which all chips can be bet.

NUTS:

The best possible hand.

OFF SUIT:

Cards of different colors.

OPTION:

The option to engage in an action.

OVER CARD:

A card which has a higher value than another.

POTLIMIT:

A game in which players may bet a maximum of the amount in the pot.

RAISE:

To increase the betting amount.

RERAISE:

To increase the betting amount once again.

RIVER CARD:

The fifth open card on the BOARD.

SHOWDOWN:

After the last action has been initiated in the final betting round, all still active players must show their hands.

SIDE POT:

A pot which forms when two or more players wish to bet a higher amount than the remaining chip count of their opponents.

SPLIT POT:

Two or more players with equal hands split the pot.

SUIT:

The color of a card.

TELLS:

A player’s unique betting or playing habits which indicate a tactic or strategies they intend to use during a game. These visible actions may provide indications of the strength of their hand to other players.

TRIPS/SET:

Three of a kind

TURN CARD:

The fourth open card on the BOARD.

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DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS POKER HANDS

• 

  American Airlines
  Pocket Rockets

• 

  Cowboys

• 

  Siegfried und Roy
  Double Date
  Canadian Aces

• 

  Fish Hooks

• 

  German Virgin

• 

  Snowman

• 

  Sunset Strip

• 

  Route 66

• 

  Speed Limit

• 

  Magnum

• 

  Crabs

• 

  Ducks

• 

  Anna Kournikowa
  (a beautiful but losing hand)
  Big Slick

• 

  Big Chick

• 

  Black Jack
  Jack Ass

• 

  Dead Man?s Hand

• 

  Royalty
  Marriage

• 

  Kojack

• 

  Jackson Five

• 

  Doyle Brunson (The poker legend Doyle Brunson won the World Series of Poker twice in a row with this hand.)

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CHAT-GLOSSAR

This Chat Glossary should help you with the more social side of poker by describing the more commonly-used abbreviations. Remember, capital letters usually indicate that you are SHOUTING! An exception is abbreviations: Capital letters are allowed.

GG

Good Game – Usually said at the end of a tournament

GH

Good Hand

GP

Good Play

GTG

Got To Go

HeHe

Giggling

LOL

Laugh Out Loud – Used by a player as an answer to the humor of another player. Or, he is laughing at himself.

Str8

Straight

OMG

Oh My God – Used when, for example, a good hand is beaten by an unexpectedly better hand – a so-called Bad Beat

NH

Nice Hand

Tilt

Stands for a player who is playing badly at the moment

TY

Thank You – Used, for example, by a player who has just won a big pot

UW

You Wish

VNH

Very Nice Hand

WTG

Way To Go – From one player to another.

WTF

"What the fuck!"

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