Many new entries planned for the forthcoming revision of
The Official Dictionary of Poker include terms that didn't exist until recently, since they're exclusive to online poker.
animation: (
n) In an
online cardroom, this term refers to the dealing of cards, chip movement, and so on, which take place as smooth movements. At some sites, you can disable this facility so that these actions take place instantaneously.
auto-muck hands: (
v phrase) When this facility is enabled, the software automatically discards your cards at the showdown in turn when you have a loser. When this facility is disabled, the software prompts you in turn to either discard your losing cards or, if you wish, show those cards before then discarding them.
auto-post: (
v) Either
auto-post antes or
auto-post blinds.
auto-post antes: (
v phrase) When this facility is enabled in an ante game, the software automatically puts in your ante for you at the start of each hand.
auto-post blinds: (
v phrase) When this facility is enabled in a blinds game, the software automatically posts your blinds for you at the appropriate time.
auto-post when entering a table: (
v phrase) When this facility is enabled, the software automatically immediately posts a blind for you as soon as you sit down.
avatar: (
n) The graphical representation of a player while he is seated at a table, presented in the form of a caricature at his seating position at the table. Some sites predefine avatars and assign them to specific seats, some allow players to choose from a predefined (but limited) collection not tied to specific seats, while still others allow players to upload their own images, which can then be seen by all participants and viewers. (These uploadable images are technically not avatars, but are mentioned for completeness.) Some sites also allow players to turn on or off the representation of avatars; when turned off, a player sees only iconic representations of players (as, for example, disk-shaped figures).
chat box: (
n phrase) Part of the playing area at a table in an
online cardroom, it's a text field into which dealer text and player comments go.
chat talk: (
n phrase) The comments entered into the
chat box.
chat term: (
n phrase) See
chat terms.
chat terms: (
n phrase) Specialized shorthand that players use when they type comments into the chat box. These are often congratulatory or offer comments about play. (An exhaustive list of terms appeared in a February 2005 issue of
Card Player (Vol. 18/No. 4), and can be found in the archives at CardPlayer.com.)
client software: (
n phrase) See
software.
dealer text: (
n phrase) The running verbiage, displayed in the
chat box, describing the action. Such description includes whether players check, fold, raise, and so on, by how much in no-limit games, and other game information. How much information to display is often configurable by the player.
frequent player points: (
n phrase) Incentives offered to players by an
online cardroom to keep the players loyal to the site. These are awarded in the form of points allotted at some predefined rate per number of raked hands played and stored as part of a player's account. These points can be redeemed for cash, merchandise, entry into tournaments, and so on.
hand history: (
n phrase) S virtual replay of one or more previously played hands. At some cardrooms, a hand history appears as a textual or graphical summary of the hand that can be viewed online while playing; at others, it is sent to the requesting player as an e-mail message.
Internet player: (
n phrase) Someone who plays in an
online cardroom. The term is sometimes used derogatorily by brick-and-mortar cardroom players and tournament competitors for players who have learned their poker skills on the Internet and are sometimes viewed as poor players; also, online player.
Internet poker: (
n phrase)
Online poker
Internet poker site: (
n phrase)
Online cardroom
micro-limits: (
n) Very small stakes, generally used only with reference to
online poker. Many sites can profitably offer games at lower stakes than public cardrooms are able to. You can find games with stakes as low as 1¢-2¢.
multitable: (
v) 1. Play more than one table simultaneously at an
online cardroom.
online: (
adv) In or pertaining to an
online cardroom. "I play mostly online."
online cardroom: (
n phrase) A cardroom that exists only on the Internet, as opposed to a brick-and-mortar cardroom.
online game: (
n phrase) A poker game played in an
online cardroom; also,
Internet game.
online player: (
n phrase) Someone who plays mainly or exclusively in an
online cardroom; also,
Internet player.
online poker: (
n phrase) Poker played in an
online cardroom; also,
Internet poker.
online poker site: (
n phrase)
Online cardroom
online satellite: (
n phrase) A satellite tournament played in an
online cardroom.
software: (n) Beyond the common and accepted meanings, software refers to what runs the functionality of an
online cardroom. Specifically, the software manages player accounts, seats players, distributes cards, moves money during play from players to pots, awards pots, and handles various housekeeping tasks; also known as
application or
app,
client software or
client.
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 comments, complaints, and congratulations to [email protected].
