strategy
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.
A‑Game
Your A-Game is the best level of poker you can currently play, with your skills and attention working together.
ABC Poker
ABC Poker is a straightforward style built around basic poker decisions, with little fancy or deceptive play.
Advantage
Advantage is another word for edge: being better than opponents because of skill, a stronger hand or a better position.
Advantage Player
An advantage player is someone who looks for an edge in a game.
Advantage Tool
An advantage tool is any device or method used to cheat, such as a marked card or a holdout machine.
Advertise
To advertise is to bluff or show a hand on purpose so opponents form a false impression of how you play.
Aggression
Aggression is a tendency to bet and raise rather than check or just call.
Aggressive
Aggressive describes a style of play with a lot of betting and raising instead of checking and calling.
Any Two Cards (ATC)
Any Two Cards (ATC) is a willingness to play any starting hand, whatever its strength.
Automatic Bluff
An automatic bluff is a bet made regardless of your cards in a spot where betting usually wins.
Back-raise
A back-raise is a re-raise from a player who first called.
Backraise
A backraise is a re-raise made by a player who originally called in the same betting round.
Balance
Balance is playing different hands in the same way so opponents cannot learn much about your cards.
Balanced Style
A balanced style avoids predictable patterns by using different actions in similar situations.
Balancing
Balancing means arranging your bets, raises and folds so they do not reveal your hand.
Bankroll Management
Bankroll management is choosing stakes and games so you do not run out of money during a downswing.
Barrel
A barrel is a bet on one of several streets in a row, usually the flop, turn or river.
Battle of the Blinds
The battle of the blinds is a hand in which everyone folds to the players who posted the blinds.
Bet for Value
A bet for value is a bet made hoping a worse hand will call.
Bet Into
To bet into a player is to bet after that player bet strongly in the previous round.
Bet Sizing
Bet sizing is choosing how much to wager.
Betting Pattern
A betting pattern is the sequence, timing and size of a player's bets.
Big Blind Special
A big blind special is a hand won by the big blind with very weak cards because nobody raised before the flop.
Blind Defense
Blind defense is calling or re-raising an opponent's preflop raise from the small or big blind.
Blind Robber
A blind robber is a player who steals the blinds by raising with a weak hand.
Blind Steal
A blind steal is an opening raise, usually from late position and often with a weak hand, to win the blinds.
Block Bet
A block bet is a small bet from an out-of-position player meant to stop a bigger bet.
Blocker
A blocker is a card you hold that makes it harder for an opponent to have a certain hand.
Blocking Bet
A blocking bet is a small bet made out of position to discourage a larger bet.