“CHROMATICA”THE SIXTH ALBUM BY LADY GAGAOUT NOWON ME” THE NEW SINGLE & VIDEO FROM LADY GAGA WITH ARIANA GRANDEOUT NOWhttp. The following is a glossary of poker terms used in the card game of poker.It supplements the glossary of card game terms.Besides the terms listed here, there are thousands of common and uncommon poker slang terms. This is not intended to be a formal dictionary; precise usage details and multiple closely related senses are omitted here in favor of concise treatment of the basics. The following is a list of nicknames used for playing cards used in most card games which use the standard 52-card pack. Such games usually require the revealing or announcement of held cards, at which point the nicknames may be used. Poker Face synonyms. Top synonyms for poker face (other words for poker face) are straight face, pokerface and wooden face.
05:4931 Oct
One of my favorite things about being part of a niche culture is the special language that develops around it. While we may not always think of it as such, poker most certainly has its own lexicon full of words and phrases that a layman would never understand. I honestly doubt my own mother would know what the “flop” was, much less a phrase like, “angle shooting.” However, there is one poker term that, among all others, has risen out of our game and into the common language at large, the “poker face.”
The phrase poker face is a phrase thrown around constantly to refer to keeping one’s emotions in check. Upon meeting someone with a stoic nature one might comment, “That’s quite a poker face you’ve got there.” In another instance one might say, “The boss can smell fear. If you go in there, You’d better have your poker face ready.” But where did the phrase come from? Has it existed since the dawn of poker or is it secretly a recent invention? I set out to track it down.
My first google searches were fruitless. I got all sorts of results defining the phrase and many more about the hit Lady Gaga song of the same name, but no one knew where it started. I started combing through encyclopedias looking for an entry on the phrase. “Poker” always had results, but no one had a story for the creation of “poker face.” Finally I resorted to a rare trick called using something I learned in college. I learned some years ago that the Oxford English Dictionary includes, among its vast wealth of information, a list of important places where a word or phrase has been quoted in publication. Usually, this includes the word’s first instance of publication. I searched for “poker face” and after following that trail for a bit, I finally came up with this:
It follows that the possession of a good poker face is an advantage. No one who has any pretensions to good play will betray the value of his hand by gesture, change of countenance, or any other symptom.'Cavendish. Round Games at Cards. London: Thomas De La Rue & Co. 1875;As far as I can tell, this quotation is the first ever published use of the phrase “poker face.” It comes from a book about card games and gambling that was originally published back in 1875! While it is possible that the phrase had some use before it was ever in printed form, there is no way to prove it, and we must give credit to Cavendish, whose first name I was unable to find.
Frankly, the whole book is quite interesting as it teaches what, at the time, must have been quite new to a lot of people. Moreover, I got a kick out of some of the older terms used. For example, while the author never calls it “Blackjack,” He does go into great detail about a French game called “Vingt-Et-Un” which translates to “21.” It is played nearly identically to modern Blackjack except that you bet after receiving your first card. It also appears as though a “full house” used to just be called a “full hand.” If you enjoy the history of our sport and want to check it out, can find the free version here, thanks to Google Books.
As to the rest of my questions, it seems the idea of the poker face came around a significant time later than the game itself. While it is very hard to pin down exactly when “Poker” became popular, card games of skill and betting have existed for hundreds of years previous to 1875. While the word ”poker” itself entered the English language some time in the early 1800’s, games like Brag (English), Poque (French), and Pochen (German) are well evidenced back into the first half of the 1700’s. Each of these games revolve similarly around cards and gambling. They are likely the progenitors of the poker we know today. And of course, these games could not have been played without bluffing, so the idea of concealing your facial tells probably predates our popular phrase by a good 100-150 years.
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+0Do you wear your emotions on your sleeve? Can people tell if you’re happy or sad instantly? Are you tired of that impacting your hand in poker?
We all know that succeeding at poker doesn’t just come down to strategy or luck. It comes down to your presence and your personality. In other words, it comes down to having a killer poker face.
Although some people are born with a poker face, many people have to practice building theirs over time.
Let’s get into how you can develop yours!
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Master The Rules
You can’t have a good poker face if you don’t thoroughly understand poker rules. Spend some time on researching and observing before you join in on a game.
This may mean showing up at poker night- and merely watching others gamble. It may mean heading over to Youtube and watching tutorials.
You don’t want to be in the middle of the game asking for clarification. That’s essentially a surefire way to ruin your odds instantly.
Once you have a grasp on the essentials, practice playing with friends first before heading to the casino. If that’s not an option, play a low-stakes game. You don’t want to lose all your money without knowing what you’re doing.
Take Up Meditation
Stress often dominates our emotions. And when we’re at the tables and the stakes are high, we’re going to feel, well, stressed!
That said, learning how to manage this stress is one of the first steps. The less stressed you feel, the less you have to worry about your expressions, right!
Consider picking up the worthwhile habit of meditation. Meditation yields numerous, incredible benefits including:
- mindfulness
- clarity and sharpness
- stress relief
- decreased anxiety and depression
- self-esteem
- positive thinking
These benefits undoubtedly boost your mental and physical health. However, they can also dramatically improve your poker game!
Meditation doesn’t need to be complicated. Start by devoting five minutes a day. Set yourself in a quiet room and sit comfortably or lie down.
You can practice deep breathing on your own. This means breathing in through your chest and out through your mouth. Inhale slowly and exhale slowly. When extraneous thoughts arise, practice diverting back to your breath.
Not a fan of doing it yourself? Consider checking out a guided meditation script or app. They can help orient your thoughts and bodily reactions.
Different Term For Poker Face
Relax The Face
Your face is the obvious giveaway to your emotions. It’s what can make or break your poker game. Through meditation, you can learn how to relax your mind and thoughts.
However, you’ll also want to be aware of your facial expressions. Any clue can sabotage your hand. After all, skilled poker players pick up nonverbal cues.
Practice getting comfortable with hiding your reaction. This means relaxing your face muscles in a way that seems natural.
Control The Eyes
They say the eyes are the gateways to the soul. In poker, they can be the gateway to determining your bluff.
Ideally, you want to maintain eye contact with your opponents through the game. Eye contact conveys a sense of control and power. It shows that you feel confident about what you’re holding.
If direct eye contact is awkward for you, focus between their eyes on the bridge of their nose. This averts some of the ‘directness,’ but it still shows alertness.
Finally, don’t forget to blink! Staring can jeopardize your poker face. It may hint that you’re not really paying attention. Or, it may reveal a sense of concern about your cards.
Good poker players blink naturally. Excessiveness shows anxious energy. Staring too hard shows stiffness, and it comes across as unnatural.
Really not sure how to manage the eyes? Don’t overlook the power of sunglasses. That way, you don’t have to worry about what signs you may be giving away.
Mind The Posture
We carry tension and stress in our bodies. Undoubtedly, poker can be stressful, but you want to demonstrate that you’re calm and collected.
Before you even begin playing, loosen up your body with a few stretches. Stretch out your arms and legs. Roll your neck around.
As you sit down at the table, engage in a brief, head-to-toe analysis. Remove your tongue from the roof of your mouth. Drop the shoulders. Unclench your hands and feet.
Finally, check your posture. Slumping around looks sloppy. Likewise, sitting up too uptight can show that you’re “trying too hard.” Keep your posture natural.
Practice Your Voice
Our tone reveals so much about our emotional state. When we’re anxious, we tend to babble, as if the words can’t come out fast enough. When we’re happy, we tend to speak louder.
Before you speak, clear your mind and take a full breath. Visualize moving your mind into a neutral place.
When you do speak, stay objective. Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. This is not the time to tell your life story!
Be mindful of any stuttering or stumbling when you’re anxious. This could reveal insecurity or nervousness. Instead, focus on providing short, concise answers (one-word statements are perfectly acceptable).
Not comfortable speaking? Nod your head to indicate yes or no.
Check Your Nervous Energy
Most of us have nervous twitches. We often fidget around without even realizing it. However, they can be a huge red flag in showing our emotions.
Some nervous twitches to consider:
- Playing with hair
- Cracking knuckles
- Tapping fingers
- Playing with clothing
- Rubbing or scratching the skin
You want to keep your hands free and calm. Hide any movements that could show tension. For example, if you must release stress, squeeze your hands together under the table.
Finally, mind your grip. Gripping cards tightly can reveal a sense of anxiety. And what’s more of an obvious sign than blaring, white knuckles?
Learn The Art of Bluffing
A poker face doesn’t always mean complete stillness. It means being able to hide what’s going on. Sometimes, that means tracking and bluffing your opponents.
Bluffing takes time and practice. Expert poker players spend several years mastering this craft. Don’t be too hard on yourself if it feels awkward and forced in the beginning.
With that in mind, despite Hollywood depictions, bluffing doesn’t mean taking huge, dramatic bluffs during every opportunity you have. Instead, bluffing comes in various degrees. And some players don’t bluff at all!
You should always understand the stakes. Some poker games have ‘no limit,’ which means there can be a tremendous risk. Friendlier poker games, on the other hand, can simply result in you just losing the game.
Successful bluffing means nobody knows you are bluffing. In this case, your opponents have folded before the last bet. You win the pot by default.
However, if there is a showdown, your bluffing will be revealed. This isn’t inherently a problem, but if you get in the habit of it, people will quickly catch on.
You should assess how many other players are bluffing. You have a better chance at succeeding with fewer opponents. Bluffing 1-2 opponents will always be better than trying to trick 3+ people.
Observe The Bluffing around You
Now that you know about your own poker face and body language, you can learn to spot it in other people.
First, watch the body language. Look for any holding of breath or hand movements. Look for signs of nervous twitching or anxious energy.
Stay tuned of ‘extreme’ emotions. For example, if someone is acting “very weak,” they may be “very strong” and vice versa.
Finally, watch how other players manage their chips. Research shows that players who place their chips further away from them have weaker hands. Therefore, they may be bluffing.
If a player places his chips closer to him, that may be a sign that he “values” his cards and assumes money is coming his way.
Ask For Feedback
Are you playing with good friends? Don’t shy away from asking from feedback. After the game, ask for an honest interpretation of your poker face.
What did you do well? What obvious signs did you miss? Were you able to throw off anybody successfully?
Remember that practice makes perfect. Your friends are the ones who are actually seeking your poker face (or lack thereof). If you want to improve, consider their feedback.
Final Thoughts on Maintaining Your Poker Face
Learning and maintaining a poker face can take your poker game to the next level. With effort, dedication, and practice, you’ll be well on your way towards winning more games- and landing more money!
Words Made From Poker
Are you interested in learning more about profitable poker tips? Check out our Texas Hold ‘Em guide today.