Poker glossary

Line

A line is the whole plan of a hand: the series of actions that a player takes on each street. For example, a bet on the flop, a bet on the turn and a check on the river is a line.

The simple explanation

Poker players think in lines. You should not only decide what to do now, but how the hand will go. For example, if you bet the flop and the turn, you must think about what you will do if called on the river.

A closer look

A line tells a story to the opponent. A good line is consistent: the actions fit a strong hand, so that a bluff is believable. When a bluff takes a line that makes sense for strong hands, it gets more folds. When you discuss a hand, you talk about the line the player took, such as 'check-call, check-call, lead'. Choosing a line means thinking ahead about bet sizes and the cards that will come.

A practical example

You raise before the flop, bet the flop, bet the turn and bet the river. That is a bet-bet-bet line, also called a triple barrel.

Full explanation

A line is the whole plan of a hand: the series of actions that a player takes on each street. For example, a bet on the flop, a bet on the turn and a check on the river is a line.

A line is the sequence of actions a player takes during a hand.

Examples: bet-bet-check, or check-call-check-call.

Good players plan their lines in advance.

A believable line makes a bluff more convincing.

Follow the streets and betting rounds

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the example transcript

Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls 4 more. Each player has contributed 6; the pot is 12.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The flop is dealt after both preflop contributions match.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks behind.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Both players checked the flop, closing that betting round. The turn is the next street.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)2 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)2 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks behind.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)2 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 12 chips
Both checked the turn. The river is the last community-card street.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)2 of spades (2s)9 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)2 of spades (2s)9 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks. The river betting round is closed; both hands reach showdown. There is no further street.
Board: King of hearts (Kh)8 of diamonds (8d)3 of clubs (3c)2 of spades (2s)9 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of clubs (Ac)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB Queen of hearts (Qh)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

Explore this topic