Poker Glossary

What are poker players talking about? I suppose that I could write a poker dictionary (assuming one doesn't already exist), but I think for now we're fine with a short list of poker terms, most of which refer either to all sorts of poker or to Texas Hold'em.

All In - A bet for all the chips you have; frequently encountered in no-limit games.
Antes - Money placed in the pot by all the players, before the hand starts. In no-limit tournaments, there are at first only blinds, but in later rounds there are usually blinds and antes; for example, blinds are $100 - $200, $25 ante means the big blind puts in $200, the small blind puts in $100, and then every player at the table puts in $25.
Bad Beat - An unlucky event that causes an initially superior hand to lose. If you start off with a pair of aces as hole cards, and an opponent who starts off playing 4-5 makes a straight or a flush, then you suffer a bad beat. Amateurs are much more likely than professionals to tell "bad beat stories," since professionals realize that luck is a factor in poker.
Blinds - Forced bets, made before play. There are usually two blinds in hold'em tournaments; the big blind and the small blind. The small blind sits to the immediate left of the player with the button, and puts in (obviously) the smaller of the two blinds. He will be next to last to act in the first round of betting, and first to act in subsequent rounds. The big blind is to the immediate left of the small blind; he will be last to act in the first round of betting, and second to act (assuming he and the small blind are in the hand) in subsequent rounds of betting. Blinds force players to do more than just sit there waiting all day for a good hand; if you don't play, eventually you'll be "blinded away," which means you'll lose all your chips making forced bets.
Button - In hold'em, the button moves one seat to the left with each hand. The player who has the button (a small white marker) in front of him is said to be "on the button." Except for the first round of betting, he will be the last to act, which is advantageous.
Flop - In Texas Hold'em, each player is dealt two hole cards, which are unseen by other players. There is a round of betting once hole cards are dealt, and then three cards are dealt face up - these are community cards, and are collectively called "the flop." There is a round of betting after the flop.
Hole Cards - Two cards dealt face down. See above.
Nuts - An unbeatable hand. The person with an unbeatable hand is said to have "the nuts." A player who is holding an ace of heart (as an example) when four hearts are dealt is said to be holding "the nut flush."
Omaha - A poker variation similar to Texas Hold 'em. One is dealt four hole cards, and must use exactly two of them, combined with three of the five cards on the board, to make the best hand.
Out - A card that, should it arrive, would theoretically give you a winning hand. For instance, if you need a jack to complete a straight, then any jack would be an out; thus, since there are four jacks in a deck, you are said to have "four outs." Generally speaking, the more outs you have, the better.
River, or Fifth Street - Last community card dealt, followed by last round of betting. A player who would have won the hand had it not been for the river card may be said to have been "rivered."
Stack - Number of chips a player has. The player who has the most chips at a table has the "big stack." The player with the least chips at a table has the "short stack," or is said to be "short-stacked." One would rather have a big stack than a short stack in a tournament, but one always has the opportunity of turning a short stack into a big stack by "doubling up" one or more times.
Turn, or Fourth Street - Fourth community card dealt, followed by a round of betting.