Cut the deck, deal, flush, raise, fold, hit me! These terms are commonly used while playing cards, especially poker. Poker, a family of card game which involves betting. Games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown (in some games, the pot is split between the high and low hands), limits on bets and how many rounds of betting are allowed. In most modern poker games, the first round of betting begins with some form of forced bet.
The are three families of variants – straight poker, stud poker and draw poker.
Although the origin of poker is the subject to much debate, it’s origination, by many historians, is said to be around mid-1700′s. Over time, the games evolved and drew attention of many card players and gamblers, until the beginning of the 21st century, poker experienced an unprecedented drop in the number of players, largely because of the online poker games and hole-card camera.
You can probably lose some, if luck isn’t on your side, in Texas hold ‘em like Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) in Rounders.
Or can win some in Flush, if you are James Bond (Daniel Craig) in Casino Royale
The game and jargon of poker have become important parts of American culture and English culture. Such phrases and cliches as ace in the hole, ace up one’s sleeve, beats me, blue chip, call one’s bluff, cash in, high roller, pass the buck, poker face, stack up, up the ante, when the chips are down, wild card, and others are used in everyday conversation, even by those unaware of their origins at the poker table.
an ace in the hole
Meaning: an advantage that you have that other people do not know about
Usage: The local team has an ace in the hole with their new player.
come within an ace of something/doing something
Meaning: to almost achieve something
Usage: Linford Christie came within an ace of the world indoor record for the 100m last night.
have an ace up your sleeve
Meaning: to have an advantage that other people do not know about
Usage: The new game show has an ace up its sleeve. It will allow viewers to play from home and win prizes.
have/hold all the aces
Meaning: to be in a strong position when you are competing with someone else, because you have all the advantages
Usage: In the battle between road builders and environmentalists, the road builders seem to hold all the aces.
play your ace
Meaning: to do the thing that you know will bring you success
Usage: The prosecutor played her ace, the results of the DNA tests on samples taken from the victim’s clothing.
beats me
Meaning: something that you say when you cannot understand something
Usage: It beats me how he managed to survive for three weeks alone in the mountains.
blue chip
Meaning: a gambling chip with the highest value
It also has the following meanings
1. A stock that sells at a high price because of public confidence in its long record of steady earnings
2. An extremely valuable asset or property.
call one’s bluff
Meaning: to make someone prove that what they are saying is true, or to make someone prove that they will really do what they say they will do, because you do not believe them
Usage:Alice called his bluff and dared him to tell everyone what he knew about her.
cash in
Meaning: to obtain profits; or to exchange poker chips for cash
high roller
Meaning: One who gambles rashly or for high stakes.
pass the buck
Meaning: to pass the blame (to someone else); to give the responsibility (to someone else)
Usage: Don’t try to pass the buck! It’s your fault, and everybody knows it.
poker face
Meaning: A face lacking any interpretable expression, as that of an expert poker player.
up the ante
Meaning: to increase the costs, risks, or considerations involved in taking an action or reaching a conclusion
when the chips are down
Meaning: at a critical or difficult time.
wild card
Meaning: A playing card whose value can vary as determined by its holder.
