Explaining what "insurance", "over pair", "smooth call", "split-pair", "over call", "move all-in", "Whipsaw" and the "swing hand" mean in poker today....
LESSER KNOWN TERMS Over the decades poker has pretty much evolved it’s own unique language. It’s now a fast growing language as online poker spreads globally and new terms are drawn into usage all the time. Amusingly, terms like “give me a heads up” and “pocket rockets”, are actually adding to the richness of our every day, non-poker verbal exchanges. Today I’ll address some of your questions about lesser known poker terms and try to flesh out the lingo a little more.
Q: What does the term “insurance” mean when applied to Texas Hold’em? A: It’s a side bet made on the possible occurrence of cards being drawn or hands being made. If you make a side bet with anyone be sure you have fully understood exactly what has been agreed and write it down between you.
Q: What is an “overpair”? A: This would be a pair in the pocket (your hole cards) that are higher than any card currently showing on the board.
Q: What does it mean to make a “smooth call”? A: It can mean two things. If someone deliberately slow-plays a hand or makes a tricky call that would be a smooth call. It’s also a term for when a player calls in anticipation of a raise coming from a player behind him or her.
Q: What is meant by a “split pair”? A: This applies during a game of Seven Card Stud Poker when a pair is composed of one card showing face up while the other is face down. The pair is said to be split.
Q: I’ve heard the term “short call”. What is that? A: To call a bet with an insufficient amount of cash in a game when the amount of the call is all the money that the player has left on the table.
Q: How do you force another player to “move all-in”? A: You move another player all-in by making a bet so large that it would force your opponent to commit his entire chip stack to the pot. This is a powerful and useful tool in poker.
Q: What is the “Whipsaw”? A: The name given to the “caller” who finds himself squeezed between two players who are both raising.
Q: What is a “swing hand”? A: This would be a hand in any game of high-low that has the potential to win both the high and low ends of the pot.
Q: What is a “scoop” when applied to the game of poker? A: Again it applies to any game of high-low. A scoop is if you manage to win the high and low ends of the pot.
