POKER TERMINOLOGY
ANTE The ante is a small amount, usually a quarter, that each player puts into the pot before the cards are dealt.
 

BLIND In games where no cards are dealt face-up (Hold-em or Draw type games) the blind is a bet made by at least one player before the cards are dealt. As opposed to an ante, the blind bet is part of the player's bet and counts towards some or all of a call if other players bet.
 

CHECK/PASS When a player wants to continue in the hand, but does not feel like betting, the player can check or pass to the next player. A check may only be made if no other player bets or there is no forced bet to make or call. If all players check, everyone receives a "free" card.
 

FORCED BET The first betting round in any poker game may not be started with a check. In Flop and Draw games there is a blind. In Stud games there is a forced bet. Usually, the hand with the lowest valued "up" card is forced to bet the minimum or one half of the minimum.
 

BUY-IN There is no charge to sit at a poker table. The minimum "buy-in" is set so every player must start with enough chips to play several hands. In our poker room, most games require each player to start with at least $20 in chips.
 

TABLE STAKES Table stakes mean that only the chips on the table at the beginning of a hand may be bet during that hand. It also means that once chips are in play, none may be removed from the table unless the player is leaving the game.
 

SHORT BUY-IN As long as a player has chips remaining, more chips may be bought and added to the player's "stack". If a player completely runs out of chips, generally a full $20 buy-in is required. Sometimes, with a supervisor's approval, players are allowed to make a $10 "Short" Buy-In.
 

BURN CARD Professional dealers work with both hands. In case the top card is inadvertently exposed while reaching across the table, after every betting round the top card is always "burned" or dealt face down on the table and not used during the hand.
 

CHECK & RAISE In virtually all poker games "Check & Raise" is allowed. If the player checks his hand and a later player bets, even if no one raises the bet, the player that earlier checked his hand may raise the bet. This is not "dirty pool"! Check & Raise is a rule of the game, just like table stakes. Players should use it when they feel it is to their advantage. Do not be upset with a player who utilizes all of the tools available in the game.
 

ALL-INS/SIDE POTS A player may not "bet" out of the pot! With the table stakes rule, sometimes a situation occurs where one or more players run out of chips and other players want to continue betting. The player who runs out of chips has gone "all-in" to what is called the main pot. Players who still want to bet will start a "side pot". The "all-in" player may not win any of the money in the side pot even though the "all-in" player may have the best hand on the table.
 

BET/CALL/RAISE/STRING BETS When money is placed into the pot it is called a bet. When another player bets first and a player wants to stay in the hand, he must match the amount of the bet that has been made.....that is when you "Call" the other player's bet. If a player decides to increase the size of the bet that someone else has made.....then it is a "Raise" over the other person's bet. The amount of a "raise" bet must always be equal to or more than the previous bet.

Raises must be announced or made all in one motion. Making two motions, physically or verbally is what is known as a "string" bet i.e. "I call your bet....(pause)...and I'll raise you....." In this example, there was a hesitation between the call and the raise. THIS IS NOT ALLOWED. Players must either state their intention to raise before placing the chips into the pot, or place all the chips for the "call" and "raise" into the pot at one time. The dealer will call very obvious string bets....(only the dealer calls the "string bet").

Along with the terminology, there are a few "Do's & Don'ts" that are accepted as proper procedure at the poker table......

    Patience and understanding!  Remember, each of us were beginners once.  Friendliness is paramount at Dania Jai-Alai's Poker Room.  Give the new player a break!  Help teach proper procedures instead of criticizing a novice player every "faux pas" that you may have also made when you were a rookie.

    Always play in turn.  Always act, i.e. bet, fold, raise or call, ONLY after the first active player directly to your right has acted.  Turning cards face down or reaching for chips before your turn may give free information and possibly an advantage to another player.

    Pay attention to the game.  If you follow the action, the game will move more quickly an you will probably play better poker because you will know what's going on in the game.  Waiting for a player who is dilly-dallying is very frustrating, especially when you have four aces!

    Discussing the hand with another player is very inconsiderate.  What cards you hold or held MUST remain a secret until the hand is over.....even if you've already folded.  So, if you announce that you are throwing away a pair of nines, the player who needs a nine for a straight will be getting "Free" information.  Giving out free information in a poker game should always be avoided.

    Speaking foreign languages at a poker table is very disconcerting.  Other players don't know if you are talking about the weather, the cards.....or them!  While the hand is in progress, English is the only language to be spoken.  (If you have a group of five or more players that would like to reserve a table where a language other than English is to be spoken, this will gladly be arranged for you through the shift supervisor.)

    Protect your hand!  If a hand gets fouled for any reason, folded by the dealer or misread by the player and unnoticed by the dealer, you have no one to blame but yourself.  The dealer will assist you in reading and protecting all hands, but the ultimate responsibility falls on the individual player.