psychology
Snap Call
A snap call is a call made immediately, without thinking. It usually shows that the caller has a very strong hand, or that he has already decided what to do.
Snapped Off
To get snapped off is to have a good hand beaten. A player whose strong hand loses to a better one has been snapped off.
Snow Job
A snow job is a successful bluff. The player has made opponents believe that he has a strong hand and wins the pot.
Soft Seat
A soft seat is a seat or game that is favorable because of the lack of skill at the table. The other players are weak, so it is easy to make money.
Solid
A solid player is a player who makes good decisions based on logic and probability. He does not take unnecessary risks, plays conservatively when needed and follows a disciplined strategy.
Spew
To spew is to give away chips by playing too many hands and betting or calling too much, usually while angry. A player who spews makes many bad plays in a row.
Splash Around
To splash around is to gamble more aggressively and recklessly than is wise. A player who splashes around plays too many hands and bets too much.
Spot
A spot is a specific decision point in a hand, such as 'a spot where you face a river bet in position'. Players say 'spot' to name a situation that they want to study or discuss.
Steam
Steam is another word for tilt: a state of anger or frustration after a loss in which a player makes poor decisions. A player in this state is said to be steaming.
Steamrolling
Steamrolling means re-raising so that other players must call two bets instead of one. It is an aggressive way to put pressure on the opponents.
Streak
A streak is a run of winning or losing hands. A winning streak is also called a heater, and a losing one is a cold streak.
Stuck
Stuck means that a player is losing in a game. 'I'm stuck $300' means that he has lost $300 in the session.
Suck Out
A suck out is when a player who is behind wins by catching a lucky card. The player who gets the card has 'sucked out' on the other.
Sucker
A sucker is a player at the table who is weak and inexperienced, so that others expect to win his money. It is another word for a mark or a fish.
Tank
To tank is to think for a long time about a decision. A player who tanks takes minutes to decide, often when facing a big bet.
Tapped Out
Tapped out means out of money. A player who is tapped out has no more chips or cash to play.
Tell
A tell is a change in a player's behavior that gives information about his hand. It may be a movement, a word or the speed of a decision. Players watch for tells to guess what an opponent holds.
Throwing a Party
Throwing a party means that several loose or amateur players are putting a lot of money in the pot. The game is full of weak players who pay out.
Tied On
Tied on means that your hand is good enough to play to the end. If you are tied on, you are committed to continuing.
Tight
A tight player plays few hands, and mostly strong ones. He folds many hands before the flop, and he is often very selective after it. The opposite is a loose player.
Tight Aggressive (TAG)
Tight-aggressive, or TAG, is a style of play in which a player enters few pots but plays them aggressively with bets and raises. It is regarded as a very solid and profitable approach.
Tight‑Aggressive
Tight-aggressive, or TAG, is a style in which a player plays a small number of hands, but plays them with bets and raises, not with calls. It is regarded as a solid and profitable style.
Tilt
Tilt is a state of frustration or anger in which a player stops playing his normal game and makes poor decisions. It often follows a bad beat or a long losing run.
Tilt Monkey
A tilt monkey is a player who goes on tilt easily, usually after a small setback. It is slang, related to 'monkey tilt', a reckless style of play in which an angry player pushes chips in too freely.
Timid Player
A timid player is a player who often fails to call or raise when he should, and so loses money. He is too careful and misses chances.
Tough Player
A tough player is a superior poker player who is hard to beat. He plays well and makes few mistakes.
Trap
A trap is a play with a strong hand that looks weak, such as checking or calling, so that opponents will bet or bluff into you. It is another name for slow playing.
Trapper
A trapper is a player who underbets a strong hand to create a larger pot. He uses checks and small bets to lure others in.
Undercut
Undercut has two meanings: the final down card being the lowest hole card in low-hole stud, and a shuffling technique used to prepare a stacked deck.
Underplay
To underplay a hand is to make a small bet with a strong hand, in the hope of drawing other players into the pot. You bet less than the hand deserves.
Up the Creek
Up the creek is an old home-game variant in which the kings with split whiskers are wild. It is one of many games named in the slang of old players.
Uphill
To go uphill is to chase a better hand, trying to outdraw it. A player who is uphill is behind and needs a card to win.