Poker Terms in Everyday Language

Poker Lingo Has Long Since Become Part of Common Speech

Poker has taken over our TV stars and become part of our daily lives, but what you may not know is that the game is an integral part of our daily speech, and has been for years. Most people don't even realize they are speaking the sweet language of the green felt.

For openers, well what do you know, that didn't take long. An opener is a common way of beginning a list of topics, a natural step from its poker definitions of the first player to throw in a bet, or the bet itself.

Success in life, which many see as one big card game, anyways, may depend on the same kinds of skills it takes to win at poker. No wonder the language we use about the game fits so neatly into our daily lingo. What more important or succinct, bit of advice can you use in conducting your life than that immortalized in the hit song "The Gambler," sung by Kenny Rogers? You simply have to know when to hold'em and know when to throw them away, and that's poker in a nutshell.

Hey, and that the lifeblood of the stock market, too, no? Just make sure you're not playing with a stacked deck, because if you are, you're a loser before your start. Carrying it further, those who failed in an undertaking of any kind are commonly said to have folded, taken directly from poker where folding your cards puts you out of the game, and sorry, buddy, you lose the payout.

In the military as in life, a success might be called an ace, the highest card in the deck. Of course, an individual may run into trouble and call on an ace up his sleeve (no further explanation necessary). One of his more honest brethren may have an ace in the hole, which I've seen described as a secret weapon.

Another unsavory type of individual was popularized in old Western movies. A four-flusher is a cheat and back-stabber trying to con you, subject to a quickly drawn Colt and early demise. The term is taken directly from poker, a player who tries to cheat by miscalling a hand that contains one card short of a flush. In the wide-open gun-toting Western frontier, a cowpoke who attempted this little gambit (now, "gambit" is a chess term , how did that get in here?) against a seasoned player (and "player" has entered everyday parlance with exactly the same meaning: a skillful, aggressive participant), was either stupid or not playing with a full deck. Sometimes, in life, you're faced with a showdown "showdown" (the most thrilling part of a Western movie.

In life, as in poker, the object of the game is to win, sometimes for high stakes. At the table, that's playing for a large amount of money. In life, a strong hand (just can't get away from the table, can we?) may, indeed, lead to money, but the jackpot may be anything from a promotion to a relationship, or any very important goal. You just have to avoid sitting it out. (How many non-players know that means being dealt out of a poker game?)

By the way, the word "jackpot" come from jacks-or-better draw poker, where the pot would be "jacked-up" due to the opening qualifier. Because of the qualifier and the larger pots generated by reanteing after unopened hands, these pots could become large "jackpots" back in the day.

Cashing in (exchanging your chips for legal tender/reaching your goal) may follow a streak (which in life, as in the game, may be winning or losing). But it always means playing the hand you're dealt (the opposite tack to "When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade"). So play it straight (by the rulebook). Hold your information as you hold your cards, close to the vest. They literally wore vests on the frontier). Remember not to tip your hand (in poker, alert other players to the strength or weakness of your hand, by tells or other giveaways or inadvertently showing your cards, and it's the same idea in life.

And when you find an opportunity, that is, when it comes around (just like your dealt cards), don't you say with enthusiasm, "Deal me in!"? Success in life rarely comes to someone who, when presented with an opportunity, stands pat (refuses cards at the draw). And when you're running good, you may want to "up the ante" or raise the stakes.

So don't be penny ante; be a money-player. Making a play for someone or something in life is just like in poker, that is, being aggressive with the chips whether you think your hand is strong enough or not. If your opponent call your bluff because your poker face failed and was just too expressive, you may have to pony up (from the poker term for adding money to the pot). Well, that's poker and that's life.