mixed‑games
Nut Low
The nut low is the best possible low hand in a high-low split game. In most games it is the wheel, A-2-3-4-5, and in deuce-to-seven lowball it is 7-5-4-3-2.
Open Poker
Open poker means poker games in which some of the cards are dealt face up, such as seven-card stud. It is the opposite of closed poker, in which all cards are hidden.
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.
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.
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.
Pineapple Hold’em
Pineapple Hold'em is a variant of Texas Hold'em in which each player gets three hole cards and must discard one, usually before the flop. After that, the game is played like Hold'em.
Point
A point is the value of a card. In some games, it is a number used to count the strength of a hand.
Qualifier
A qualifier is the minimum hand required to win a share of the pot in some games, most commonly the low half in high-low split games. It can also mean a player who has qualified for a tournament.
Scoop
To scoop is to win the entire pot. The word is used mostly for split-pot games such as Omaha hi-lo, where a player who has both the best high hand and the best low hand takes both halves.
Scramble
A scramble is a face-down mixing of the cards on the table. The dealer spreads the cards face down and moves them around.
Seven‑card Stud
Seven-card stud is a popular poker game in which each player gets three cards face down and four face up, and plays the best five-card hand from the seven.
Split
A split is a tie in which the pot is divided between players with equal hands. It also describes a pot divided between the high and low hands.
Split Pot
A split pot is a pot that is shared between players who have equal hands, or between the high and low hands in games such as Omaha hi-lo. Each player takes an equal share.
Splitting Openers
Splitting openers is a play in jacks-or-better draw poker in which you open with a pair and then throw away one card of the pair to draw to a better hand, such as a flush. You break up your opening hand.
Stand Pat
To stand pat is to keep your hand as it is in a draw game, without drawing any new cards. A player who stands pat either believes his hand is already best or wants to look as if it is.
Steel Wheel
A steel wheel is a straight flush from ace to five, A-2-3-4-5 of one suit. It is the lowest straight flush but still beats four of a kind.
Strip poker
Strip poker is a game of poker in which players take off clothes as they lose. It is usually played as five-card draw, at home, among adults who agree to play.
Two‑Way Hand
A two-way hand is a hand that has a chance to win both the high and the low halves in a split-pot game. It is a good hand in games such as Omaha hi-lo.
Video Poker
Video poker is a casino game played on a computerized machine, based on draw poker, in which you try to make certain poker hands and are paid according to a pay table. It is not played against other players.
Video Poker Machine
A video poker machine is a computerized slot machine based on draw poker, with card symbols, on which players try to make certain poker hands. It is not really a form of poker, since you play against the machine.
Whangedoodle
A whangedoodle is a round of jackpots played after a big hand, such as four of a kind. It is a special round in some home games.
Whiskey Poker
Whiskey poker is a draw poker game that uses widow cards: an extra hand that can be exchanged for the cards in a player's hand. A player may take the widow instead of his own cards.
Widow
A widow is a card or cards that are common to all hands, such as a spit card, or the money that is cut from pots, also called the kitty. The meaning depends on the game.
Wild Game
A wild game is a game that uses wild cards, or a game that is very spirited and fast-paced, with a lot of action. The meaning depends on the context.
Wild Widow
A wild widow is a card that is turned face up and used as a wild card in every player's hand. All cards of the same rank are also wild, so the game changes on each deal.
Z-Game
A Z-game is the lowest-stake game in a card room, as opposed to an A-game, which is the best or highest game. It is the smallest game available.