Think you’ve got what it takes to play this game? Just to save face, you might want to review Phil’s house rules. And before you open your mouth, play it smart and learn the lingo.

Poker Hands (in descending order)

Royal Flush:
A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit.
More likely than winning the lottery, but not by much.

Straight Flush:
5 cards of one suit in sequence.
Opponents will hate you for this hand — a fine feeling indeed.

4 of a Kind:
4 aces, 4 threes, and so on.
Holding this hand is a good time to consider betting your child’s tuition, especially if you’re not really fond of the kid.

Full House:
3 of one value and 2 of another.
This is where you’ve got to learn to stay cool while you bet.

Flush:
5 cards of one suit, not in any order.
A powerful hand…and pretty to look at, too!

Straight:
5 cards of different suits in sequence.
Be careful…if you’ve got this, an opponent probably does, too.

3 of a Kind:
3 of one value.
A good hand, but still quite beatable, so don’t go slinging your chips around just yet.

2 Pair:
2 of one value and two of another.
A tricky hand — it looks good, but notice where it sits on the food chain.

1 Pair:
2 of one value.
This hand wins more often than you’d think, especially if you’re holding twin royalty.

High Card:
When players have none of the above, the player with the highest card wins.
This might be a good time to get a snack…in other words, FOLD!

Game Lingo

Before you saunter into the pit against pros like Phil, you might want to master a phrase or two.

Pocket Cards: The two cards that are dealt face down to each player.

Community Cards: The five cards dealt face up in the center of the table during each hand. These cards may be used by any and all of the players to make the best five-card hand.

The Flop: The first three "community cards" dealt face up in the center of the table.

The Turn: The fourth community card, dealt face up in the center of the table. Also known as "Fourth Street."

The River: The fifth — and final — community card dealt face up in the center of the table. Sometimes called "Fifth Street."

Showdown: When the betting is over and those remaining in the hand reveal their cards to determine the winner. If only one player remains, no cards are shown. If there is just one winner (normal), that person wins the entire pot.

Blind: To make the game interesting, the first two active players to the left of the current dealer must each make an initial wager during the first round of betting. This is done BEFORE they have a chance to study their cards, hence the name.

A Rag (or "Ragged flops"): A card that looks harmless when it hits the table (like a 2 when the board is K-Q-10-8).

All-in: Bet all your chips. Or, when a player does not have enough chips to call a bet, and has to put all of his chips in to stay in the hand.

On Tilt: When a player loses all composure and starts to play badly.

Slow Play: To play a strong hand weakly to sucker your opponent into betting.

The Nuts: The best possible hand at any moment in time.
Stone Cold Nuts: The best possible hand after all the table cards have been dealt.

Drawing Dead: Now matter what cards come next, you can’t win.

Dead Money:The money (or buy-in) put into a tournament by a player who has virtually no chance to win the tournament.
Limp In: To enter the round by only calling, rather than raising, a bet.

Over The Top: Making a large raise.

Buy-in: The minimum amount of money you need to come to a particular table.