Gambling Terms For Dummies | Poker Slang Words

Last edited by TDTAT on 16.05.2012, 07:01; edited 3 times in total

Gambling Terms For Dummies | Poker Slang Words
by NoLuckNeeded.com member Holly with poker additions from TDTAT.

Have you ever wondered what a "nickle" bet was? How about a "quarter" bet? Razzle, running the shoe, chase or steaming? If you're anything like me, you're lost, especially when you are standing at a craps table and someone places a wager on a "come bet"? Come on -- what the heck is that? Ever hear the terms rabbit ears, reds, toke ( no, not that), juice, paint, press or what a "vig" is?

The gambling world not only offers its own one-of-a-kind entertainment and excitement but it also offers up some strange vernacular only known to the more seasoned of players. Here is a list of some of the more interesting and all too weird gambling and poker terms.

A "nickle" represents a five dollar chip followed by the "quarter" bet, which represents a twenty-five dollar chip. So far so good.

A "nickle" can also mean $500 dollars. A "dime" means $1000 dollars.

A "come bet" refers to a bet in craps that predicts the shooter will win the next roll.

A "prop" or "shill" refers to a casino employee that is placed in the casino to play and fill up various games.

"Rabbit ears" is a term in keno where all 20 selected numbers are picked.

An over-zealous and reckless gambler is known as a "desperado" or in poker "a fish".

"Rail Bird" is the term for some one who watches a game, such as poker or pool.

The "Nuts" means you have the very best hand in poker.

"Stake Horse" or "Backer" is someone who has given a poker or pool player money to play in a cash game or tournament. They then split the wins with the player.

"Tilt" or "Tilted" is the term used to descibe poker players who have gone crazy for whatever reason.

"Bad Beat" is an over used term in poker, which really means a very good hand, such as 4 of a kind, is beat by a huge hand, such as a royal flush.
*Please note: nobody wants to hear your bad beat stories (not even your Mom.)

"Fish" are bad or new poker players, also called "donkeys".

"Whales" are gamblers that bet big.

"Grinders" are players who play a very long time. This can also mean someone playing at a lower limit than they usally play or a player who only plays good poker hands.

"Felted" is a term for going "busted", or broke playing in a poker game or tournament. It means your chips are no more, there is only the place they once were, the felt on the table is all that is left.

"Rivered" is a texas hold'em term, that means you lost on the last community card, called the river or "5th Street".

The "rake" is what the casino takes from each poker hand that is played.

Getting "Ran Down" means you had the best poker hand and someone caught a draw with the next community card to beat you.

"Cracked" usally describes a big hand like pocket Aces in texas hold'em getting beat by a smaller hand. As in "My aces got cracked by some donkey on the river".

A "Cooler" is an unlucky person or dealer who can change your good luck to bad with a simple hand shake or shuffle.

A "toke" is a gratuity - also known as a comp.

A "paint" card is that of a Jack, Queen, King in Blackjack.

"Press" is to increase the wager after a nice win.

The "juice" or "vig" is the 5% commission that a casino will collect on craps buy and lay bets.

"Steaming" is a very desperate player trying to recoup their losses, also known as a "chase" or "going off".

The seven card stud version of Lowball Poker is known as "razzle".

"Running the shoe" is a Baccarat term used for a player who maintains control of the shoe by only dealing winning bank hands until all the cards are exhausted.

So next time you find yourself on a "junket" in Vegas, whether you are a "grinder" or a "whale", you'll know to sit at "third base" with your "blacks" and "make your point". Enjoy any Juice you can get and get out while you're "hot".

Posted:31.07.2009, 09:39 (No subject)

Thanks to rae for the awesome article! I added a few from the old poker days. Laughing

Posted:31.07.2009, 11:31 Terms for Dummies

Railbird, cooler, cracked!! They just keep getting wierder and wierder!! Thanks tawnia!! 026

Rae

Posted:01.08.2009, 21:20 (No subject)

I must be a real dummy I still don't know what you're talking about Embarassed