Bet
Call, raise. We have the option to raise when we either start the betting round or we are passed before we do. Preflop, the English word for raise is not bet, but raise. The word bet is also used preflop to call the big blind. Postflop, if someone has raised before you, the English word for raising to them is also raise.
Big Blind
the larger of the two blinds and the amount typically used in a hold'em game. The big blind is usually the amount of a full first round call. See also 'blind' and 'small blind'
BB
The abbreviation BB in various poker forums usually stands for Big Bet! One Big Bet = 2 Big Blinds! Most commonly used for the BB/100 indicator, which shows how many Big Bets a player makes in 100 hands!
BB/100
The BB abbreviation used in this indicator stands for Big Bet, where one Big Bet = 2 Big Blinds! BB/100 shows how many Big Bets a player makes in 100 hands!
Backdoor
A draw that needs at least two more cards to complete. For example, if you have a three-card flush or straight draw on the flop and one card arrives on the turn and one at river.
Back in
To get into a pot by first checking and then calling another player's bet on the first call.
Bad beat
Losing with 80%+ preflop equity. Classic example: AA vs KK when opponent hits a two-outer king on river.
Balance, balancing
this term refers to playing very different hands in a very similar way, in order to make it as difficult as possible for your opponent to get information about your hand (although the expected value is that the hand should be played differently).
Bankroll
The amount of money that a player has available to play.
Behind
If (at that moment) we do not have the best hand.
Big Bet Game
A game with a no limit or pot limit structure.
Big Stack
A stack size that is relatively large compared to the blinds. Compare: 'short stack'.
Blank
A card, often a community card, that has no particular value or significance. Ex: "I thought Margaret had a good draw, but the river was blank, so I called again."
Blind
obligatory call, the unit of measure of the basic call
Blind Off, Blinded
See 'ante off' 2. When one runs out of stack by having to continually call blinds during a tournament.
Blocker
To 'hold' one of another player's outs, typically when there is a threat of a flush or straight draw on the board.
Blocking Bet
A disproportionately small call from an out-of-position player in order to prevent a larger call from a player who is next in line.
Bluff
A call or raise by a player who does not have the best hand (or no good hand at all). It is intended to make an opponent with better cards fold.
Board
"The Table" - The common cards in poker that are down on the table and everyone uses them.
Bottom Pair, Bottom Set
The pair (or set) that connects to the lowest card on the board.
Bounty
In certain poker tournaments, the organizers may put a bounty on the heads of certain players; whoever eliminates these players will receive a special cash prize. In some tournaments, there may be a bounty for every player eliminated.
Break
during poker tournaments, the organisers will provide breaks at certain intervals, when players can leave the table, go to the bathroom and rest.
Brick
Similar to blank, but brick has a more negative connotation than merely worthless. It can be a high card that can be dangerous to your hand, or a pair of low-handed games.
Brush
A brush is a casino employee who greets incoming players, directs them to their table, informs them of available seats, among many other duties. His main job is to prepare the poker tables to receive new players. The term is also used as a verb in the sense of "recruiting", the brush's job is to recruit new players to a table. Also called as Floorman.
Bubble
In a poker tournament, the bubble is the last position not yet paid. It is also used in other senses, for example, if a TV final table has 6 players, the seventh place finisher is eliminated in the "TV bubble". It is also used to indicate proximity to a paying position only.
Bully
A frequent raiser, his main strategy is to push a more cautious player, who is largely sitting on a big stack, out of his comfort zone with a series of raises.
Burn Card, Burn
Burning The top card of the deck is always set aside, it does not participate in the deal. Similarly, the next card is "burned" before each community card is dealt.
Busted
Busted 1. Non-completed, 4-card draws are called busted draws. 2.
Button
Button, Dealer The last position at the table, post-flop the dealer always speaks last. This position is indicated by the dealer button to the left of the hand.
Buy-in
Tournament entry fee. Pros typically risk ≤5% of bankroll per buy-in.
Buy Short -
A buy-in to a table with fewer chips than the usual buy-in. This is allowed in certain situations, usually after someone has lost a full buy-in or if all players agree.
Buy the Button
The tactic of players in late position, calling more than usual in order to get the players behind us to fold so that we can be in last position post-flop.
Buy the Pot
Buy the pot If no one has raised before us, we can put in a bet to get the other players to fold and then immediately take the pot. A variation of this is 'buying the blinds', where we make a big raise to fold with the blinds.
Back raise
A preflop play where a limper does not call a raise, but instead raises back.
Backer
A person or group that provides money and education to a player in exchange for a predetermined share of the player's profits.
Backing team
A group that provides money and education to several players in exchange for giving up a portion of their winnings to the backing team.
Backed
A player who is provided with money and education in exchange for giving up a portion of his winnings to the backer or backing team.
Bad Beat Story
A story in which a player recounts/describes a bad beat in hopes of sympathy from fellow players.
Badacey
A split game where half the pot is won by the best A-5 Triple Draw Lowball hand and the other half by the best Badugi hand. This player may be a single person, in which case he wins the entire pot.
Badeucey
A similar format to Badacey, where half the pot is won by the best 2-7 draw hand and the other half by the best Badugi hand. These two players can be the same person, in which case the pot goes to him.
Badugi
A four-card game format in which the goal is for players to form the lowest triple draw hand, using cards of different suits. The best card here is considered to be A-2-3-4 in different suits. Although its origin is unknown, some sources claim that it originated in Korea.
Baller
A high-stakes, winning player who leads a lifestyle typical of the wealthy.
Bankroll management
Risking 1-5% of roll per game. Requires 20+ buy-ins for cash games.
Barrel
A continuous call over several streets. If a player bets on the flop and continues on the turn, it is called a first barrel, if he bets on the river it is called a second barrel.
Belly buster
Inside straight draw (16.5% odds). Example: Holding 6-8-9-T needing a seven.
Bet sizing
Strategic wagering amounts. Standard c-bets = 33-75% pot depending on board texture.
Betting pattern
A pattern derived from a player's betting habits, consisting of the player's typical bet sizing and frequency.
Big Blind Special
A preflop worthless hand where the player in the big blind position makes a strong hand until the river and wins the pot. Typically, most players would have folded preflop, but because the hand was played "for free" from the big blind, it was played.
Big lick
The slang name for a 6-9 card combination.
Big Slick
The slang name for the combination of A-K.
Busto
A player who has lost his entire bankroll. (from the English word busted)
Backdoor Draw
Drawing hand requiring both turn and river cards (4% success rate). Example: Flopping one heart, needing runner-runner hearts for a flush.
Balance
Maintaining 2:1 value-to-bluff ratio to remain unexploitable. Crucial for GTO (Game Theory Optimal) play.
Best Hand
Current strongest possible hand. Changes dynamically with each new community card.
Block Bet
Small defensive bet (25-33% pot) to cap opponent's betting size.
Boat
Full house. Example: Q-Q-Q-7-7 ("queens full of sevens").
Burn Card
Top card discarded before dealing flop/turn/river. Prevents card marking.
Backraise
Check-raising after initially calling. Often used as semi-bluff with draws.
Bet the Pot
Wagering amount equal to current pot size. Common in pot-limit games.
Bingo
Derogatory term for luck-dependent players who chase longshot draws.
Blind Defense
Playing back against steal attempts. Optimal defense = 3-bet or call with playable hands.
Blind Steal
Raising from late position to win blinds. Successful 60%+ steal rate is profitable.
Board Texture
How community cards interact. "Static" boards (e.g., K-7-2 rainbow) favor preflop aggressor.
Bottom Pair
Pairing lowest board card. Example: Holding K-5 on A-J-5 board.
Bracelet
WSOP tournament prize. Only 15% of winners claim multiple bracelets.
Bubble Boy/Girl
Last player eliminated before payouts. Avoid by tightening range when short-stacked.
Bullet
Single tournament entry. High rollers often fire 5+ bullets in major events.
Burn and Turn
Standard dealer procedure: burn one card before dealing turn/river.
Busted Draw
Failed straight/flush attempt. Often becomes bluff candidate on safe runouts.
Button Blinds
Forced bets where button posts ante. Common in modern tournament structures.
Bad Table
Game with few recreational players. Identified by low average pot size.
Balance Range
Including both bluffs and value in betting ranges. Example: 3-betting with both AA and A5s.
Bankroll Requirement
Minimum funds needed for stake. $5,000 bankroll suggested for $1/$2 games.
Betting Lead
Initiative in controlling pot size. Continuation betters win 15% more hands.
Big Bet
Large wager (75-150% pot) designed to deny equity or maximize value.
Blind Level
Current forced bet amounts. Tournaments increase blinds every 15-60 minutes.
Bluff Catcher
Marginal hand that only beats bluffs. Example: Calling with A-high on K-Q-7-4-2 board.
Board Paired
Two+ identical rank community cards. Reduces straight possibilities.
Bovada
Popular offshore poker site. Known for anonymous tables and soft competition.
Break Even
Player with 0 long-term profit. Most break-even players leak 5-10bb/100 hands.
Bring-In
Forced bet in stud games (usually 25% of small blind) by lowest upcard.
Bubble Factor
ICM pressure near payouts. With 11 left/10 paid, fold equity increases 35%.
Burn Card Muck
Procedure when burn card is accidentally exposed. Hand continues with replacement card.
Bustout
Tournament elimination. Pros average 85% bustout rate across events.
Button Ante
Ante paid by button position. Standard in modern tournament structures.
Buyout
Settlement for tournament equity. Example: Selling 50% of winnings before final table.
Backraise Bluff
Check-raise bluff with draws. Example: Flopping flush draw, check-raising opponent's c-bet.
Bad Beat Jackpot
Casino bonus payout for extreme beats (e.g., quads losing to straight flush).
Bankroll Swing
Short-term variance. Even winning players experience 5-buy-in downswings monthly.
Bet Spread
Range of bet sizes used. Pros vary between 25%-150% pot depending on situation.
Big O
5-card Omaha Hi-Lo variant. More action due to increased hand combinations.
Blind vs Blind
Heads-up play between small and big blind. Requires 60%+ VPIP (Voluntarily Put $ In Pot) to be profitable.
Blocker Bet
Small bet (20-30% pot) to prevent larger opponent bets. Common with medium-strength hands.
Board Lock
Unbeatable hand given board. Example: Holding AA on A-A-2-3-4 board.
Bounty Hunter
Player targeting elimination prizes. Adjust by tightening range when they're in the pot.
Bracelet Winner
WSOP champion. Only 3% of winners claim bracelets in multiple decades.
Bring It In
First bettor in stud games. Player with lowest door card must open action.
Bubble Protection
Deal guaranteeing min-cash. Common in home games to reduce tension.
Burn Card Error
Dealer mistake exposing burn card. Standard protocol: replace card and continue.
Bustout Hand
Final hand before elimination. Review these to identify strategic leaks.
Button Blinds Format
Structure where button posts ante. Creates more action than traditional antes.
Buy-In Percentage
Stake percentage in backing deals. Standard markup is 1.1x-1.5x for proven winners.
Backdoor Flush
Flush completed via turn+river. Requires precise pot odds calculation (4.2% success rate).
Bad Beat Tax
Rake deduction for jackpots. Typically 1-2% of each pot in eligible games.
Bankroll Builder
Low-risk strategy focusing on 2-5bb/100 win rate. Ideal for beginners.
Betting Line
Physical boundary determining committed chips. Crossing line = binding action.
Blind All-In
Short stack's forced all-in from blind. Call wider against these (55%+ range).
Bluff Frequency
Percentage of bluffs in range. Optimal river bluff frequency = 33% in GTO.
Board Coverage
Holding cards matching multiple board textures. Example: 7♥8♥ on K♥9♥3♦ has flush and straight potential.
Bounty KO
Tournament with instant elimination prizes. Adjust by targeting short stacks.
Bracelet Race
Competition for most WSOP wins. Phil Hellmuth leads with 16 bracelets (as of 2023).
Break Even Player
Player with 0bb/100 long-term win rate. Most leak in 3 key areas: preflop, bet sizing, and river play.
Bring-In Bet
Stud's mandatory opening bet (typically 25% of small blind) by lowest upcard.
Bubble Play
Strategy adjustments near payouts. Tighten against medium stacks, pressure short stacks.
Burn Card Rule
Standard procedure: discard top card before dealing community cards to prevent cheating.
Bustout Rate
Frequency of tournament eliminations. Pros average 85% bustout rate across fields.
Button Play
Strategic advantages of dealer position. Button wins 2.5x more than under-the-gun.
Buy-In Multiplier
Max allowed rebuy amount. Common structures: 3x initial buy-in for re-entry events.