Poker
Open‑Handed
Open-handed describes games in which a part of each player's hand is exposed, such as stud. It is the opposite of closed games.
Open‑Shove
An open-shove is a first raise before the flop that is an all-in. The player pushes all his chips when nobody has raised yet.
Opener Button
An opener button is a button used to show who opened the pot in a draw game. It marks the player who made the first bet.
Openers
Openers are the cards that a player holds to qualify to open the pot in a game such as jacks or better. For example, if you have a pair of kings to open, the kings are your openers.
Option
The option is the right of the big blind, or a straddler, to check or raise when nobody has raised before the action returns to him. It is the last chance to act before the flop.
Orbit
An orbit is one full rotation of the dealer button around the table. In a nine-handed game, an orbit is nine hands.
OTB
OTB is short for 'on the button'. It is used in hand histories and discussions to describe the player in the button seat.
Out
An out is a card that will improve your hand to one that is likely to win. For example, with four cards to a flush, there are nine outs: the nine remaining cards of that suit.
Out Button
An out button is a disc placed in front of a player who wants to sit out a hand or several hands but keep his seat in the game. It shows that he is away.
Out of Line
Out of line describes a play or action that is different from what is normal or expected, often an aggressive or risky move that is not typically made in that situation.
Out of Position (OOP)
Out of position, OOP, means acting before your opponent on each street after the flop. It is a disadvantage, since he sees your action before he acts.
Outdraw
To outdraw is to beat an opponent by drawing a better hand. The player who was behind catches a card and wins.
Outs
Outs are the unseen cards that will improve a player's hand to one that is likely to win. For example, with four hearts, there are nine outs for a flush.
Over the top
Over the top means to raise after a bet and one or more raises have already been made. It is a re-raise that puts pressure on the opponents and often shows a very strong hand.
Over‑flush
An over-flush is a flush that loses to a higher flush in the same hand. The player with the higher flush has over-flushed his opponent.
Overbet
An overbet is a bet that is larger than the current pot. For example, a bet of 24 into a pot of 12 is an overbet.
Overblind
An overblind is a blind that is larger than the normal big blind, usually posted by a player in a special situation, such as after winning a pot in a kill game. It raises the stakes of the hand.
Overcall
An overcall is a call after another player has bet and at least one other player has already called in the same round. You are calling behind a caller.
Overcard
An overcard is a card that is higher than any card on the board or in the other hand. In Hold'em, your hole cards are overcards when they are both higher than the board.
Overlay
An overlay is the shortfall in a tournament with a guaranteed prize pool when the entries do not bring in enough money. The casino or card room has to add the missing money, and so it takes a loss.
Overpair
An overpair is a pocket pair that is higher than any card on the board. For example, a pair of kings on a flop of 9-5-2 is an overpair.
Paint Cards
Paint cards are the king, queen and jack, also called face cards, court cards or picture cards. They have pictures of faces.
Pair
A pair is two cards of the same rank. In Hold'em, a pair in your hand is a pocket pair, and a pair of one hole card with a board card is also a pair. It is the lowest-ranked made hand, above high card.
Pass
To pass is to fold. In some games, it means to decline to bet, or to check.
Passive
A passive player mostly checks and calls and rarely bets or raises. The style is the opposite of aggressive.
Pat
A pat hand is a hand that is already complete and needs no more cards. In draw poker, a player who stands pat keeps all five cards.
Pay Station
A pay station is a player who rarely folds, so that he often calls with worse hands and loses money. The same type of player is a calling station.
Payoff
A payoff is a call of a bet, usually on the last round, with a hand that is not expected to be the best. The caller pays off the bettor.
Pedigree
Pedigree is a nickname for king-nine, K-9, of any suits. It is a weak, speculative hand.
Peel
To peel is to call a bet with a drawing hand, to see the next card in the hope of improving. It is a small call that keeps the draw alive.
Peg
To peg cards is to mark the fronts of cards with a pin, tack or ring so that the cheater can later tell their rank by touch. It is a cheating technique.
Pegging
Pegging is a cheater's technique of marking cards with a fingernail or a device, so that the marks can be found later. It is the same as pricking.