Understanding Poker Language

If you’ve always been fascinated with the game of poker but thought it was too complicated, there’s no time like the present to start learning the language of poker so that you can get in on a good game in the near future.

There are many different types of poker games that people play and although the language may differ from game to game by virtue of the fact that some games have specific language, there is some basic poker language that you can start learning right away that will give you a solid foundation on which to build your poker knowledge.

Whether you are hoping to have your own poker night at home or spend a night on the town playing poker at a local casino or even at a friend’s poker night, you can use your knowledge of these basic terms to show that you know more than just the face cards and numbers.

One common poker term is "Action". There are many definitions for the word, of course, but when it comes to poker, the meaning is pretty straightforward and to the point. The word Action refers to what is going on at the particular table where you’ve heard it. What does it mean? The meaning depends on the context in which it is used. If you hear someone say that there’s plenty of action going on, it means the table is moving well, that bets are being placed and that you might want to try and get a seat at that table to get in the game.

"Bluff" is another common poker term. Chances are, you may already know what this word means based on its dictionary definition but you cannot assume that what you know about what the dictionary says is applicable to the game of poker. That’s like suggesting that you understand all the semantics of a bingo game when you’ve never even seen a bingo board before. To "bluff" in poker means you are attempting to scare the other players into folding their hand, which would allow you to win. Players who attempt to bluff their opponents usually pretend that they have a hand of high cards or that their hand is guaranteed to win, creating a question in the mind of their opponents as to whether they should throw in their hand and let the bluffer win.

"Conservative play" refers to a player who is known to bet only the minimum amount required. Placing a conservative play is a safe way to keep from leaving the poker table with empty pockets. By contrast, however, being a player who has a reputation for conservative lends you the reputation that when you place a higher bet, your opponents should fold because you actually have the hand to win.

Another common and important term is "tell". Tell refers to some gesture or move that you do whenever your hand is good. It may be completely unconscious or it may not. No matter the case, you should watch your opponents for tell signs that they have a good hand so that you can gauge your bet accordingly.

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