English Words and Phrases You May Find in a Game of Poker

The game of poker has brought a lot of terminology to the English language. Much of it, derived from its many rules and tactics, has become common in standard conversations. Below are three easy-to-learn words and related phrases that you may come across when taking part in English discussions. 

Ante

When playing poker, the ante is a bet that all players must make. It is done before the deal, and is required for a person to take part. Used in certain rules of poker, the amount is set before the game. The ante will add value to the pot before anything else starts. For example, when you play either in a casino or at the best poker sites, you will find tables that have an ante. This can be at different levels depending on your bankroll size. While it may cut into your funds quickly, an ante game does make the pot larger, and you can hedge against this using bonuses that are offered for playing. At these online tables, you may also be able to increase the ante which brings us to the next term, which is to ‘up the ante’. This means to increase what is at stake, be it in a gambling game or any other situation. For example, someone may up the ante by taking on an increased level of risk in a business deal.

Bluff

When you bluff in poker, you carry on playing as if you have a good hand, when you do not at all. The intention is to make others think you have a strong set of cards, causing them to fold. You will make calls, bet and raise in a manner that makes others think you are on top. A common term in general conversation is to call someone’s bluff. This is when you get them to act in a way they have been threatening to do all along, mainly because you believe they won’t do it. For example, a mother may call her child’s bluff when they say they want to run away from home, by telling them to do it knowing they won’t.

Check

Making a check in poker involves passing to the next player without making a bet. This is only possible if no one has made a bet in the current round. If subsequent players do, then you have to match them or raise them. The most common phrase in English related to this, particularly in American English, is a rain check. This means to defer something to a later date, much as you defer the bet in poker. Its origin is actually from sports tickets, whereby a rain check would be given if the game was called off because of bad weather and you could come another day. An example would be someone offering you a drink, and you may reply by saying you will take a rain check. This means you will have it another time. These phrases can be found in lots of different situations, often far removed from poker. Add them to your vocabulary book or try to slip them into your next conversation.