Poker is a game of strategy, deception and luck. In order to master the game you must be able to read your opponents and pick the right spots to make your moves. You must also know the language of poker so that you can converse with your opponents without giving away information about your hand.
In this article we will explore some of the most important poker vocabulary words that you should know. From basic terminology to more advanced concepts, we will cover everything you need to know to take your poker game to the next level.
Ante
A small bet that all players have to contribute before a hand is dealt. The ante is used to raise the value of a pot and force weaker hands into the action.
Bluffing
The ability to bluff is an essential part of any poker player’s arsenal. A good bluff can make a bad hand much better and even win the whole pot. To improve your bluffing skills, practice a variety of bluffing strategies in different games and stakes.
Putting your opponent on a range
One of the best ways to understand how an opponent plays is by working out their ranges. This is a difficult and advanced concept but it can give you a huge advantage over your opponents. To work out an opponent’s range you must consider the full selection of hands that they could have and how likely it is that they would play each of these. Factors like their position, the flop and turn cards, the time it takes them to make a decision and the sizing of their bets can all suggest what their range is.
Tight before the flop
Trying to play a tight pre-flop game is the first step to improving your poker game. Tight play makes your post-flop decisions much easier as you eliminate many marginal hands. This is especially true in heads up pots where a lot of players will check back when they have a weak hand. Oftentimes, these players are just trying to be cautious and will fold if they face multiple bets. If you can recognize this and then bet hard to price these players out of the pot you will find yourself in a much stronger position.
Don’t be too predictable
A common mistake among new poker players is being too predictable in their play. If you constantly play the same type of hand, your opponents will be able to tell what you have and can easily spot your bluffs. If you can mix up your game and keep your opponents guessing, you will be able to get paid off on your strong hands more frequently and increase the value of your bluffs.
As you begin to learn the game of poker, it’s important that you spend as much time as possible studying previous hands and how they were played. Not only will this help you to develop your own style, but it will also allow you to see how other players play and what types of mistakes they tend to make.