Poker Chat Room Lingo

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.

Beginners Tips

This collection of poker tips was put together by Mike Sexton, host of PartyPoker.com and commentator for the World Poker Tour, and Linda Johnson, noted poker player and personality.

Pay attention. Watch and see who the aggressive/loose players are and who the tight players are. (Generally, you should try to play with the loose players. Avoid the tight players when they come into a pot unless you have a strong hand.)

Always be aware of everyone's chip count. Know who has more chips than you and be more careful against them (as a mistake against them could knock you out). It's usually better to play pots with those who have fewer chips than you.

If your cards do not match the community cards, throw your hand away if someone bets.

Dont play every time you have an ace in your hand; you may play an ace if it is accompanied by another card of the same suit or by a ten or higher.

Hands to stay with before the flop: pairs (7-7, 9-9), two face cards (K-Q, A-J), or hands that can make both a straight and a flush (8-9, 6-7 of the same suit). Be patient and fold other hands unless you are in the blind.

In no-limit Texas Holdem, players can bet all of their chips at any time, so bet aggressively when you have a good hand.

Play few hands when you are one of the first players to act, because you are out of position and vulnerable to raises from remaining players.

Do not act until it is your turn; play proceeds clockwise at the poker table.

Be a bettor, not a caller. (Being aggressive is good.)

If someone raises in late position (back by or on the button), re-raise them a good amount if you are in the blind. Chances are, they don't have a real big hand and they are just trying to steal your blinds. (This play, going "over the top" is probably the strongest play one can make in no limit Hold'em.)

The biggest mistake most players make is to act too quickly. When you have an important decision to make, take your time and re-think how the betting has gone and what your opponent might have. Take your time.