The player to the immediate left of the big blind in Texas Hold’em or Omaha hold’em. Players in this position must act first preflop and may not fold until their opponents have done so. This is also referred to as being in early position or UTG.
In poker, to bluff in a way that attempts to frighten or confuse an opponent into calling a raise. The term is often used in high stakes tournament play where players have a higher chance of winning if they make their raise larger than their opponent’s, or if they make a raise when their opponent has already committed to the pot.
A slang word used to describe an opponent that is particularly bad at the game. Usually, such a person is unable to read the board or make sound decisions in the heat of the moment, and will be easy to target. In some cases, a person can be described as a “live one,” meaning that they play a lot of hands and have a healthy bankroll to fund their participation at the table.
An unpaired poker card that is dealt face up to a player who has already made a bet or raised on an earlier street. This gives the person holding the undercard an advantage in the flop, as they will know what kind of cards their opponent has, which allows them to adjust their own betting and calling range.
In poker, a hand that is considered to be a good one because it contains the ace of spades, king of hearts, or queen of diamonds. A hand that is missing these cards is considered a weak or average hand, and should be folded unless it can be improved by the flop.
The earliest of all betting positions in a poker game. A player in this position must bet first in each betting round and cannot call any raises. This is a disadvantage of playing in early position, but if a player raises often in early position, they can force players to call them and get more action than they would otherwise be able to generate.
When a player calls an open raise with a poor hand, hoping to improve on the flop. This is a poor strategy and can lead to costly mistakes that can hurt a player’s profits. This is sometimes referred to as a “hollywood” call.
Learning how to play poker in a profitable manner is an endeavor that requires years of experience and seeking out both free and premium resources. Understanding what and when to play in the Under the Gun position is an important skill for anyone who wishes to maximize their earnings at the poker table. However, deciphering precisely when to fold a mediocre starting hand from this position can be a difficult task. Seek out resources, play a lot of poker, and be prepared to learn from your mistakes! David Huber is a poker writer and editor who has been in the industry for over two decades. He has written extensively on the subject of online poker and is a frequent contributor to several leading blogs.