A-B : C-C : D-E : F-H : I-N : O-P : Q-S : S-T : T-W
OffsuitA hold’em starting hand in which the two cards are of different suits.
One-Gap
A hold’em starting hand in which the two cards are two apart in rank. Examples: J9s, 64.
Opener
The player who made the first voluntary bet.
Opener Button
A button used to indicate who opened a particular pot in a draw game.
Openers
In jacks-or-better draw, the cards held by the player who opens the pot that show the hand qualifies to be opened. Example: You are first to bet and have a pair of kings; the kings are called your openers.
Option
The choice to raise a bet given to a player with a blind.
Overblind
Also called oversize blind. A blind used in some pots that is bigger than the regular big blind, and usually increases the stakes proportionally.
Overcard
A card higher than any card on the board. For instance, if you have AQ and the flop comes J-7-3, you don’t have a pair, but you have two overcards.
Overpair
A pocket pair higher than any card on the flop. If you have QQ and the flop comes J-8-3, you have an overpair.
Pass
(1) Decline to bet. In a pass-and-out game, this differs from a check, because a player who passes must fold. (2) Decline to call a wager, at which point you must discard your hand.
Pat
Not drawing any cards in a draw game.
Pay Off
To call a bet where the bettor is representing a hand that you can’t beat, but the pot is sufficiently large to justify a call anyway. Example: "He played it exactly like he made the flush, but I had top set so I paid him off."
Play Behind
Having chips in play that are not in front of you (allowed only when waiting for chips that are already purchased). This differs from table stakes.
Play the Board
Using all five community cards for your hand in holdem.
Play Over
To play in a seat when the occupant is absent.
Play Over Box
A clear plastic box used to cover and protect the chips of an absent player when someone plays over that seat.
Play the Board
To show down a hand in hold’em when your cards don’t make a hand any better than is shown on the board. For instance, if you have 22, and the board is 4-4-9-9-A (no flush possible), then you must "play the board" – the best possible hand you can make doesn’t use any of your cards. Note that if you play the board, the best you can do is to split the pot with all remaining players.
Your unique cards that only you can see. For instance, "He had pocket sixes" (a pair of sixes), or "I had ace-king in the pocket."
Position
(1) The relation of a player’s seat to the blinds or the button. (2) The order of acting on a betting round or deal.
Pot-Limit
The betting structure of a game in which you are allowed to bet up to the amount in the pot.
Potting Out
Agreeing with another player to take money out of a pot.
Proposition Bets
Side bets between players that are not related to the outcome of the hand.
Protected Hand
A hand of cards that the player is physically holding, or has topped with a chip or some other object to prevent a fouled hand.
Push
When a new dealer replaces an existing dealer.
Pushing Bets
When two or more players make an agreement to return bets to each other when one of them wins a pot in which the other or others play. Also called saving bets.