preflop
3-bet
A 3-bet is a raise after another raise. It is the first re-raise in a betting round.
4-bet
A 4-bet is a raise over a 3-bet: the second re-raise in the same betting round.
5‑bet
A 5-bet is a raise over a 4-bet: the third re-raise in the same betting round.
Big Pair
A big pair is a pair of high cards, such as aces, kings, queens or jacks.
Connector
A connector is a starting hand whose two cards are consecutive in rank, such as J-10 or 8-7.
Connectors
Connectors are hold'em starting hands containing two cards that are consecutive in rank.
Limp
To limp is to enter the pot before the flop by only calling the big blind instead of raising. A player who does this is a limper. It is usually seen as a passive and weak play.
Limper
A limper is a player who enters the pot by calling rather than raising. Before the flop in Hold'em, a player who just calls the big blind is limping in.
Open
To open is to be the first player to bet in a betting round. Before the flop it means to be the first to raise. An open raise is the first raise in the pot.
Open Limp
An open limp is entering the pot before the flop by only calling the big blind when nobody else has entered. You are the first player in, and you do not raise.
Pocket Pair
A pocket pair is a pair of hole cards, such as two sevens. It is also called a wired pair. It is a strong start, since you already have a pair.
Preflop
Preflop is the stage of a poker hand after the hole cards are dealt and before the flop. It is also the betting round that takes place before any community cards appear.
Premium Hands
Premium hands are the best starting hands in poker, such as pairs of aces, kings and queens, and ace-king. They have the highest potential to win the pot and are strong enough to play from any position.
Squeeze
Squeeze has two meanings. It can be to look at your cards by slowly bending them back, or to re-raise before the flop after one raise and one or more calls. The second is also called a squeeze play.
Squeeze Play
A squeeze play is a re-raise bluff, usually a three-bet, made after one player has raised and one or more players have called. It tries to make all of them fold, because they have shown less strength by calling.
Starting Hand
A starting hand is the first cards you are dealt before any voluntary betting. In Hold'em, it is two hole cards, in Omaha four, in five-card draw five, and in seven-card stud two down and one up.
Suited Connectors
Suited connectors are two cards of consecutive rank in the same suit, such as queen-jack of hearts or seven-six of clubs. They can make straights and flushes, so they play well in big multiway pots.
Suited Gappers
Suited gappers are two cards of the same suit that are not consecutive, but close enough to make a straight on the flop. For example, J-9 of one suit.
Three‑Bet
A three-bet is the third bet in a betting round, which means a re-raise of the opening raise. Before the flop, the blind is the first bet, the opening raise is the second, and the re-raise is the third.