A |
|
Aces
Full |
A
full house
with three aces and
any
pair. |
Ace-High |
A
five card
hand that
contains one Ace,
with no
straight or
flush or a
hand with no pair in
it. |
Aces
Up |
A
hand that
contains two
pairs, one of
which is Aces. |
Act |
An
intentional tell
intended to give
false information
about a hand. |
Action |
Checking/Betting/Raising.
A game in which
players are playing
a lot of pots is
considered an "action"
game. |
Active Player |
Any
player who is still
in the
hand. |
Aggressive |
Adjective to
describe a player
who raises and
re-raises and rarely
calls. |
Ajax |
The
name of an Ace and
Jack in the pocket,
suited or otherwise. |
All-In |
When
a player
bets all his/her
chips. |
American Airlines |
Two
Aces. |
Angle |
An
action that isn't
against the rules,
but still
incorporates unfair
tactics. |
Angle-Shooting |
Using
unfair tactics. |
Ante |
Money
placed in the
pot before
the
hand is begun. |
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B |
|
Bad
Beat |
When
a
hand is
beaten by a lucky
draw. |
Backdoor |
Making a hand other
than the one
intended. Example:
Having J/10 of Clubs
with a flop of A of
Clubs, 5 of Clubs. 6
of Spades. The turn
and river are K & Q
of Hearts. You made
a straight instead
of the intended (and
more likely) flush. |
Backraise |
A
re-raise from a
player who
originally called. |
Bankroll |
The
amount of money you
have. |
Bet |
To
place chips into the
pot. |
Belly
Buster |
A
draw and/or catch to
an Inside Straight. |
Bet
Odds |
The
odds you get as a
result of evaluating
the number of
callers to a raise. |
Belly
Buster |
A
draw and/or catch to
an
Inside Straight. |
Bet
the Pot |
When
a player bets the
amount of the
pot. |
Bicycle or Bike |
A
straight that
is A-2-3-4-5. |
Big
Blind |
A
designated amount
that is placed by
the player sitting
in the second
position, clockwise
from the dealer,
before any cards are
dealt. (Players
joining a game in
progress must post a
Big Blind, but may
do so from any
position.) |
Big
Slick |
A
hand that contains
an A-K. |
Blank |
A
useless card. |
Blind |
The
bet(s) that must be
made by the two
players sitting
directly to the
dealer's left which
will start the
action on the first
round of betting.
The blinds are
posted before any
cards are dealt. (A
"Blind" bet is one
that is made in the
dark without looking
at your cards.) |
Blind
Raise |
When
a player
raises
without looking at
his hand. |
Bluff |
To
make other players
believe that one has
a better
hand than he/she
might otherwise have
by
betting or
raisingwhen
they do not have the
best hand. |
Boardcards |
The
cards that are dealt
face-up in a poker
game for all players
to see. In
flop games,
five cards are dealt
face-up in the
center of the table.
In
Seven Card Stud,
four cards are dealt
face-up in front of
each player. |
Boat |
A
full house. |
Bottom Pair |
When
a player uses the
lowest card on the
flop to make
a
pair with one
of his own cards. |
Broadway |
An
Ace high
straight
(A-K-Q-J-10). |
Bring-In |
The
forced bet made on
the first round of
betting by the
player who is dealt
the lowest card
showing in
Seven Card Stud
and Stud 8 or Better.
In
Razz (Lowball)
it is the highest
card showing |
Bring
It In |
To
start the betting on
the first round. |
Broomcorn's Uncle |
A
player who antes
himself broke. |
Bullets |
A
pair of Aces. |
Bump |
To
raise. |
Button |
Also
known as the dealer
button, it is a
small round disk
that is moved from
player to player in
a clockwise
direction following
each hand, to
theoretically
indicate the dealer
of each hand. |
Buy-In |
The
minimum amount of
money required by a
player to sit down
in a particular
poker game. |
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|
C |
|
Call |
Matching a bet
amount. |
Call
Cold |
To
call both a bet and
raise(s). |
Calling Station |
A
passive and loose
player who does not
raise much, but
calls more than he
or she should. |
Cap |
To
take the last of the
maximum amount of
raises
allowed per round of
betting. |
Cardroom |
The
room or space in a
casino where poker
is played. |
Cards
Speak |
Your
hand is the most
favorable possible
combination of cards,
no matter how you
call it. |
Case
Chips |
A
player's last chips. |
Cash
Out |
To
leave a game and
convert your chips
to cash. |
Check |
When
it's a player's turn
to act and there has
been no action in
front of them and he
opts not to bet, he
"checks." |
Check-Raise |
When
a player first
checks and then
raises in a betting
round. |
Chop |
To
return the blinds to
the players who
posted them and move
on to the next hand
if no other players
call. It also means
to "split the pot". |
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|
D |
|
Dead
Man's Hand |
Two
pair - Aces and
Eights (The hand
Wild Bill Hickock
was holding when
Jack McCall shot him
in the back). |
Dealer |
The
man or woman who
handles the cards,
gives out the pots,
and monitors the
game. |
Dealer's Position |
Being
the last to act in a
betting round. On
the button. |
Diamonds |
One
of the four playing
card suits. Formerly
representing
merchants. |
Disconnect
Protection |
A
tool to protect
players in the event
that their internet
connection is lost
while involved in a
pot. |
Dominated Hands |
Hands
those are okay to
play, but tend to
lose against similar
non-straight/flush
hands. Example: A2
is dominated because
against other hands
with an Ace, it
loses or draws
without improvement. |
Dominating Hands |
Primo
hands that are not
only good, solid
hands but have lots
of room for
improvement. |
Door
Card |
This
is the first exposed
card, or "up" card,
in a player's hand
in Stud games. |
Down
Card |
Hole
cards. Cards that
are dealt face down. |
Doyle
Brunson |
It's
a Holdem hand
consisting of a 10-2
(Brunson won the
world championship
two years in a row
on the final hand
with these cards). |
Draw
Lowball |
Form
of poker where each
player is dealt five
cards with the
option of discarding
one or more and
replacing them with
new ones and the low
hand wins. |
Draw
Poker |
Form
of poker where each
player is dealt five
cards down with the
option of discarding
one or more and
replacing them with
new ones to attempt
to make a better
hand. |
Drawing |
Playing a hand to
improve. |
Drawing Dead |
A
drawing hand that
will lose even if it
improves. |
Drawing Hand |
A
hand that needs
improvement to win.
Usually to a
straight or flush. |
Drop |
Fold. |
Ducks |
A
pair of Twos. |
Deuces |
A
pair of Twos. |
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E |
|
Early
Position |
Position on a round
of betting where the
player must act
before most of the
other players at the
table. (It's
considered the two
positions located to
the left of the
Blinds. ) |
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F |
|
Fifth
Street |
Also
known as the
"river" card.
In
flop games,
this represents the
fifth
community
card on the table
and the final round
of betting. In
Stud games,
this is the fifth
card dealt to each
player and
represents the third
round of betting. |
Five-card Draw |
A
poker game in which
the player is dealt
five cards down.
They have one draw
to replace them and
the best high hand
wins the pot. |
Five-card Stud |
A
poker game in which
each player is dealt
five cards, one down
and four up, with
betting after 2, 3,
4, & 5 cards. |
Flat
Call |
Calling
a bet without
raising. |
Flop |
In
Hold'em and
Omaha, the
first three
community
cards that are dealt
face-up in the
center of the table
all at one time. The
"flop" also
indicates the second
round of betting. |
Flop
Games |
Poker
games (Hold
'em and
Omaha) that
are played using
community
cards that are dealt
face up in the
center of the table. |
Floorman |
An
employee of the
cardroom who makes
rulings and
decisions. |
Flush |
Any
five cards of the
same suit. |
Flush
Draw |
When
a player has four
cards in his hand of
the same suit and is
hoping to draw a
fifth to make a
flush. |
Fold |
To
throw your hand away
when it's your turn
to act. |
Forced Bet |
A
required bet that
starts the action on
the first round of a
poker hand. |
Four
of a Kind |
Four
cards of the same
number or face value
("quads"). |
Fourth Street |
In
flop games,
it is the fourth
community
card dealt (also
known as
"the turn")
and represents the
third round of
betting. In
Stud games,
it is the fourth
card dealt to each
player and
represents the
second round of
betting. |
Free
Card |
The
card you get as
result of
semi-bluffing from
late or last
position so that all
the players check to
you. |
Full
House |
Any
three cards of the
same number or face
value, plus any
other two cards of
the same number or
face value. |
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G |
|
Grinding |
Playing in a style
with minimal risk
and modest gains
over a long period
of time. |
Gut
Shot |
To
draw to and/or hit
an inside straight. |
H |
|
Hand |
A
player's best five
cards. |
Heads-Up |
When
only two players are
involved with a hand. |
Hearts |
One
of the four playing
card suits. |
High-Card |
To
decide the first
dealer in the flop
tournaments each
user is dealt a
single card and the
player with the
highest card (based
on the card and the
suit order - of
spades, hearts,
diamonds & clubs)
becomes the
theoretical dealer. |
High
Limit |
A
game where the
amounts wagered are
high. |
High-Low |
Split
pot games. |
Hold
'em |
Also
known as Texas Hold
'em, where the
players get two
down cards
and five
community
cards. See our
complete
Hold 'em
rules in our
Game Rules
section. |
Hole
Cards |
These
are the
Down Cards in
front of the players. |
House |
The
casino or cardroom
that is hosting the
poker game. |
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I |
|
Image |
What
kind of player
others currently
perceive you as. |
Implied Odds |
The
odds you are getting
after the assumed
result of betting
for the remainder of
the hand. |
Inside Straight |
Four
cards which require
another between the
top and the bottom
card to complete a
straight.\
Players who catch
this card make an
Inside Straight. |
Back
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J |
|
Jackpot |
A
prize fund awarded
to a player who
meets a set of
predetermined
requirements. For
example, some
casinos will give a
jackpot to someone
who gets
four-of-a-kind or
higher and loses. |
Jackpot Poker |
A
form of poker in
which the cardroom
or casino offers a
jackpot to a player
who has lost with a
really big hand (usually
Aces full or better). |
Jacks-or- Better |
A
form of poker in
which a player needs
to have at least a
pair of jacks to
open the betting. |
K |
|
Kansas City Lowball |
Form
of
lowball poker
in which the worst
poker hand (2, 3, 4,
5, 7 of different
suits) is the best
hand. It's also
known as Deuce to
Seven. |
Keep
Them Honest |
To
call at the end of a
hand to prevent
someone from
bluffing. |
Key
Card |
A
card that gives you
a big draw or makes
your
hand. |
Key
Hand |
In a
session or
tournament, the one
hand that ends up
being a turning
point for the
player, either for
better or worse. |
Kicker |
The
highest unpaired
side card in a
players' hand. |
Kick
It |
Raise. |
Kill
Pot |
A
method to stimulate
action. It is a
forced bet by
someone who has just
won a pot(s). |
Knock
|
Check. |
Kojak
|
A
hand that contains a
K-J. |
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L |
|
Ladies
|
Two
Queens. |
Late
Position |
Position on a round
of betting where the
player must act
after most of the
other players have
acted (usually
considered to be the
two positions next
to the
button). |
Lay
Down Your Hand |
When
a player
folds. |
Lead |
The
first player to bet
into a
pot. |
Limit
Poker |
A
game that has fixed
minimum and maximum
betting intervals
along with a
prescribed number of
raises. |
Limper |
The
first player who
calls a bet. |
Limp
In |
To
enter the
pot by
calling rather than
raising. (The
usual concept of "Limp
In" is when the
first person to
speak just calls the
Big Blind.) |
Live
Blind |
An
instance where the
player puts in a
dark bet and is
allowed to
raise, even
if no other player
raises. It's also
known as an
"option". |
Live
Card(s) |
In
Stud Games,
cards that have not
yet been seen and
are presumed to
still be in play. |
Live
Hand |
A
hand that
could still win the
pot. |
Live
One |
A not
so knowledgeable
player who plays a
lot of hands. |
Long
Shot |
Making a hand
despite having few
outs and/or poor
odds. |
Look |
When
a player calls the
final bet before the
showdown. |
Loose |
Is a
player who plays a
lot hands. |
Lowball |
Is a
form of draw poker
in which the lowest
hand wins the pot. |
Low
Limit |
A
game where the
amounts wagered are
small. |
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M |
|
Main
Pot |
The
center pot. Any
other bets are
placed in a
side pot(s)
and are contested
among the remaining
players. This occurs
when a player(s)
goes
all-in. |
Make |
To
make the deck is to
shuffle the deck. |
Maniac |
A
very aggressive
player who plays a
lot of hands. |
Maverick |
The
name of a Queen and
Jack in the pocket.
Suited or otherwise. |
Meet |
To
meet is to call. |
Middle Pair |
In
flop games,
when a player makes
a pair with one of
his/her
down cards
and the middle card
on the
flop. |
Middle Position |
Somewhere between
the early and late
positions on a round
of betting (the
fifth, sixth and
seventh seats to the
left of the
button). |
Mneumonics |
Mental devices used
to remember things.
In Hold 'Em, often
players have names
for what pocket
cards they have,
like Big Slick or
Maverick. |
Muck |
To
discard or throw
away your
hand. It's
also a pile of cards
that are no longer
in play. |
Minimum Buy-In |
The
least amount you can
start a game with. |
Monster |
A
very big
hand. In a
tournament, a player
who begins to
accumulate chips
after having a small
stack is considered
to be a monster. |
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|
N |
|
No
Limit |
A
game where players
can bet as much as
they like (as long
as they have it in
front of them) on
any round of betting. |
Nuts |
The
best possible
hand at any
point of the game. A
hand that cannot be
beat. |
Back
to top |
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O |
|
Odds |
The
probability of
making a
hand vs. the
probability of not
making a hand. |
Offsuit |
Cards
of a different suit. |
Omaha |
A
game in which each
player is dealt four
down cards
with five community
cards. To make your
hand, you must play
two cards from your
hand and three from
the board. |
On
the Button |
Being
the last player to
act in a betting
round. Dealer's
Position. |
Open |
To
make the first bet. |
Open-ended Straight |
Four
consecutive cards
whereby one
additional
(consecutive) card
is needed at either
end to make a
straight. |
Open
Card |
A
card that is dealt
face-up. |
Open
Pair |
A
pair that has
been dealt face-up. |
Option |
An
option is a
Live Blind
made in the dark
before the cards are
dealt. If no one
raises, the "option"
player may raise the
pot. |
Out
Button |
A
disc placed in front
of a player who
wishes to sit out a
hand(s) but remain
in the game. |
Outs |
The
number of cards left
in the deck that
will improve your
hand. |
Overpair |
A
pocket pair higher
than any of the
cards on the board. |
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P |
|
Paints |
Face
or picture cards
(Jack, Queen and
King). |
Pair |
Two
cards of the same
face or number value. |
Pass |
To
fold. |
Pay
Off |
To
call on the
final round of
betting when you may
or may not think you
have the best hand. |
Picture Cards |
Face
cards (Jack, Queen
and King). |
Play
Back |
To
raise or
re-raise another
player's bet. |
Playing the Board |
In
flop games
when your best five
card hand is all
five of the
community
cards. |
Pocket |
The
down cards or
hole cards. |
PocketCards |
The
two cards dealt to
you at the beginning
of a Hold 'Em hand
that no one else is
entitled to see. |
Pocket Rockets |
A
pair of Aces in the
pocket or
hole. |
Position |
Where
a player is seated
in relation to the
dealer, therefore
establishing that
player's place in
the betting order. |
Post |
When
you post a bet, you
place your chips in
the
pot. (You
must post the
Blinds.) |
Pot |
The
money or chips in
the center of a
table that players
try to win. |
Pot
Limit |
This
is a game where the
maximum bet can
equal the
pot. |
Prop |
A
person hired by the
cardroom to work as
a
shill. |
Push |
When
the dealer pushes
the chips to the
winning player at
the end of a hand.
It's also when
dealers rotate to
other tables. |
Put
Down |
To
fold a hand. |
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Q |
|
Quads |
Four
of a kind. |
Qualifier |
In
High-Low
games, it is a
requirement the Low
hand must meet to
win the pot. |
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R |
|
Rack |
A
tray that holds 100
poker chips in five
stacks of twenty
chips each. |
Rail |
The
rim of a poker table
or a barrier outside
a poker area. |
Railbird |
Someone who hangs
around a poker room
who watches the
games and/or is
looking to get into
action. |
Raise |
To
increase the
previous bet. |
Rake |
Chips
taken from the
pot by the
cardroom for
compensation for
hosting the game. |
Rank |
The
value of each card
and hand. |
Rap |
When
a player knocks on
the table indicating
that he/she has
checked. |
Ratholing |
The
illegal action of
taking money off the
table and putting it
somewhere else. |
Razz |
Seven
Card Stud where the
lowest five cards
win the pot. |
Reading |
Analysis of a player
based on how they
play, mannerisms,
and tells. |
Re-buy |
The
amount of money a
player pays to add a
fixed number of
chips to his/her
stack in a
tournament. |
Re-raise |
To
raise a
raise. |
Ring
Game |
A
"live" game that is
not a tournament. |
River |
This
is the last card
given in all games.
In
Hold'em and
Omaha, it is
also known as 5th
street. In
Stud games,
it is also known as
7th street. |
Rock |
A
passive, tight
player. |
Round
of Betting |
This
is when players have
the opportunity to
bet,
check or
raise. Each
round of betting
ends when the last
bet or raise has
been called. |
Rounders |
Guys
who hustle for a
living. This is also
the name of a
popular poker movie
starring Matt Damon
and Ed Norton. |
Royal
Flush |
This
is an Ace high
straight
(A-K-Q-J-10) of the
same suit. It is the
best possible hand
in poker. |
Run |
The
act of playing with
more money than is
typical or
reasonable for you
to play. |
Rush |
A
winning streak. |
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S |
|
Sandbagging |
Holding back and
calling despite the
fact that you have a
very good hand,
usually to disguise
strength, provoke
bluffs, and to
check-raise. |
Satellite |
It is
a mini-tournament to
gain an entry into a
larger tournament. |
Scoop |
To
win the entire
pot. |
Seating List |
A
waiting list. A
player would put his
or her name on this
list if there were
no seats at the
table at which they
wish to play. |
Second Pair |
In
flop games,
when you pair the
second highest card
on the board. |
See |
To
call. |
Semi-Bluff |
Betting with a
mediocre or drawing
hand. |
Set |
Having a pocket pair
that matches one of
the cards on the
board. |
Seven-card Stud |
A
well-known poker
game in which
players get three
down cards and four
up cards. You play
the best five of
those seven cards.
Click here for
information on
Seven-card Stud. |
Seventh Street |
This
is the final round
of betting in Seven
Card Stud and Stud 8
or Better. |
Shills |
Shills are paid
props who
help start and
maintain poker games. |
Short
Buying |
Purchasing chips
after your initial
purchase. Usually
the minimum for a
short buy-in is less
than the initial
buy-in. |
Short-Handed |
An
adjective used to
describe a game with
few players. |
Showdown |
At
the end of the final
betting round, it's
when all active
players turn their
cards face-up to see
who has won the
pot. |
Side
Pot |
A
separate pot(s)
which is contested
by remaining active
players when one or
more players are
all-in. |
Sixth
Street |
In
Seven-card Stud,
this is the fourth
"up" card dealt to
the player (their
6th card). It is
also the 4th round
of betting. |
Soft
Seat |
A
seat or game, which
is favorable because
of the lack of skill
at the table. |
Solid |
A
fairly tight player
(and reasonably good). |
Small
Blind |
The
amount put in the
pot by the person
immediately to the
left of the dealer "button"
prior to the cards
being dealt. |
Speed
Limit |
A
pair of fives. |
Split |
Tie. |
Stack |
A
pile of chips. |
Stay |
When
a player remains in
the game by
calling
rather than
raising. |
Steal
Raise |
A
raise by someone in
late position in an
attempt to reduce
the number of
players and/or steal
the pot. |
Steamrolling |
Re-raising to make a
player(s) call two
bets instead of one. |
Steel
Wheel |
A
five high straight
(A-2-3-4-5) of the
same suit. |
Straddle |
A
straddle is a Blind
bet which is usually
double the size of
the Big Blind\ (and
that player may
raise when the
action gets to him). |
Straight |
Five
consecutive cards of
any suit. |
Straight Flush |
Five
consecutive cards of
the same suit. |
Structure |
The
limits put on the
blinds/ante,
bets, and
raises in any
particular game. |
Stud
Games |
Games
in which players get
down cards and up
cards. |
Stuck |
A
player who is losing
in a game. |
Suit |
A
characteristic of a
playing card. The
card being either of
Clubs, Diamonds,
Hearts, or Spades. |
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T |
|
Table |
The
surface on which
poker is played. |
Tell |
An
action that gives
clues about the
cards someone is
holding. |
Texas
Hold'em |
This
is also the name for
Hold'em, the
most popular form of
poker. |
Third
Street |
In
Seven Card Stud
and Seven Card Stud
8 or Better, this is
the first betting
round on the first
three cards. |
Thirty Miles |
Three
tens. |
Three
of a Kind |
Three
cards of the same
number or face value
("trips"). |
Tight |
A
player who doesn't
play many pots. A
tight game is one
that doesn't have
much action. |
Tilt,
On |
Behavior as a result
of losing, usually
negative. |
TOC |
Tournament of
Champions. |
Top
Pair |
In
flop games,
when the player
pairs one of his
down cards
with the highest
card on board. |
Top
Two Pair |
Having both your
pocket cards match
the highest two
cards on the board. |
Treys |
A
pair of threes. |
Trips |
Three
of a kind. |
Turn |
In
flop games,
this is the fourth
card dealt. It is
the third round of
betting. |
Two
Pair |
A
hand consisting of
two different pairs. |
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U |
|
Underpair |
A
pocket pair of lower
value than the
lowest card on the
board. |
Under
the Gun |
Being
the first person to
act, being in the
earliest position. |
Up
Card |
A
card that is dealt
face-up. |
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|
V-W |
|
Walking Sticks |
A
pair of sevens. |
Wild
Card |
A
card that can be
played as any value. |
Worst
Hand |
A
losing hand. |
WSOP |
World
Series of Poker. |
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CHAT
GLOSSARY
This chat glossary
will help with the
social side of Poker
when you chat with
the other players
during the game.
Remember that if you
type in capital
letters it appears
you are SHOUTING!!!
GG: Good Game
- Usually said at
the conclussion of a
tournament
GH: Good Hand
GP: Good Play
GTG: Got To
Go - A Player is
leaving
HeHe:
Giggling, usually
expressed to a
player that got
lucky.
LOL: Laugh
Out Loud - Usually
from a player that
responds to good
humor from another
player or mocks his
own bad luck.
Str8:
Straight
OMG: Oh My
God - Used when a
good hand is beaten
by an even better
hand, also known as
a bad beat.
NH:Nice hand
Tilt: Used by
a player on a bad
run.
TY: Thank You
- Comment from a
player who has just
won a big pot (various
versions of this are
used).
UW: You Wish.
VNH: Very
Nice Hand
WTG: Way To
Go - Congratulatory
remark from one
player to another.
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