Star Poker Academy

Texas Hold’em Basic Terms
Blinds: Short for "blind bets," these are the forced bets made before the cards are dealt. In Hold'em, blinds take the place of the classic "ante."


Burn Card: The card dealt facedown before any community card is dealt.


Button: Nickname for the player acting as the dealer in current hand, or the name for the physical dealer button used to denote the current dealer.

Check: Similar to a call, but no money is bet. If there is no bet or raise, the next player to act may check.


Fifth Street: See River.


Flop: The first three community cards dealt.


Fourth Street: See Turn.


Preflop: Anything that occurs before the flop is dealt is preflop.


River: The final (5th) community card dealt; also known as fifth street.


Showdown: When players reveal their hands to discover the pot's winner.


Turn: The fourth community card dealt; also known as fourth street.