I see lots of new terms at online poker sites and hear them on televised events. I'll be adding the following to the next edition of
The Official Dictionary of Poker.
Bubble: As a noun, the position just out of the money in a tournament; often part of the phrase "on the bubble." For example, if a tournament pays 18 places, the player unfortunate enough to bust out in 19th place is said to have been (or busted out) on the bubble. As a verb, to bust out on the bubble. "That's the third event in a row that I bubbled."
Cash: As a verb, to make the money in a tournament. "I cashed in today's event." As a noun, making the money in a tournament. "He's had three cashes in the
World Series so far." These specific usages are relatively new.
Close the action: Be the last to call a raise (so that no one can reraise). For example, in a no-limit hold'em game, with the blinds at $10-$25, Michael comes in from under the gun for a raise to $75. Chloe raises to $250. John and Emilie call the bet. The other players fold to the big blind, who puts in $225 to make the call. The bet now returns to Michael. If he calls the $150 raise - that is, does not reraise - that closes the action.
False tell: A tell that gives the opposite impression from what is expected. For example, if you see an opponent act in a certain way every time he's bluffing, and you make a large call when he does it one more time, but this time he's got the nuts, you've been taken in by a false tell. He might rub his eye in a certain way, interlace his fingers under his chin and lean his chin on them, or exhibit some other mannerism that appears to be unconscious, but it actually was done deliberately to set you up. (The poker game in
Casino Royale features a false tell.)
Featured table: In a major televised tournament of which more than just the final-table action is broadcast, one table is often designated for detailed ongoing coverage. Many hands are covered from start to finish. When a major all-in situation occurs at another table, coverage temporarily shifts to that action, usually only long enough to show the denouement of the confrontation. Then, focus returns to the featured table. In an event that goes on for more than one day, usually, a different table is featured each day. Such a table is often chosen due to its composition of either poker stars, celebrities, or colorful characters. The featured table is sometimes called the spotlight table.
In the zone: Playing perfectly by reading everyone just right and making all the right moves at the right times. This term comes to poker from sports.
Make the money: Last long enough in a tournament to be among the paying positions. For example, many tournaments pay graduated prizes to the top 10 percent of finishers, usually with the most money going to the top three places, and graduated to the point where those who just barely make the money might get back only their buy-ins. In the main event of the 2006
World Series of Poker, of the 8,773 entrants, 876 made the money. Payouts ranged from $12 million for first place to $10,616 for places 866 through 876.
Price someone out: In a no-limit game, make a large enough bet against an opponent such that the opponent - who presumably holds a worse hand than that of the bettor - is not getting good enough pot (if all in) or implied (if not) odds to warrant the call.
Put to the test: In a no-limit game, make a large bet against an opponent that risks a major portion - if not all - of the opponent's stack. This phrase usually describes a situation in which the opponent has a marginal hand, or at least one that is not a sure winner given the current circumstances, and often when the opponent already has made a significant investment in the pot. This is one of Mike Sexton's favorite phrases in his role as co-announcer of the
World Poker Tour.
Spotlight table: featured table.
TV bubble: A specialized bubble, the last position to bust out before the remaining players assemble for the TV table. In many tournaments, when the TV bubble player busts out, the players take a break, often until the next day, until the TV table assembles. The player who busts out on the TV bubble usually has made the money, sometimes even receiving a substantial prize. Unfortunately, he misses the TV appearance.
TV table: In a tournament in which the final table will be televised, that final table is often called the TV table. Oftentimes, the TV table consists of six players, even though an actual final table generally consists of nine. Someone who busts out before having made the TV table is said to have busted out on the TV bubble. Sometimes the term TV table is used for featured table.
Michael Wiesenberg's The Ultimate Casino Guide, published by Sourcebooks, is available at fine bookstores and at Amazon.com and other online book purveyors. Send soft soap, slams, and suggestions to [email protected].
