Online poker is a firm favorite for all types of players thanks to its unique combination of social interaction, strategy, and entertainment. Part of the fun comes from belonging to a gaming culture with its own special language — for example, the names people give to various poker hands. Even if you’ve played at many poker tables and read plenty of resources about poker hands ranked according to their strength, there will still likely be a few hands you might never have heard of, like “Dead Man’s Hand” and “Big Slick.”

Read on to explore both common and uncommon hands to take your knowledge of the best poker winning hands up a notch.

Common Poker Hand Names

Most common poker hand names are “common” simply because they’re either the most frequently played or the most powerful. After all, the correct poker mindset focuses on strength, not weakness. These hand names express players’ attitudes to these cards. Here they are in descending order of hand strength.

Ace-Ace

A pair of aces is typically called Pocket Rockets (based on the shape of the letter A) or American Airlines because of the airline’s acronym AA. As the names suggest, it’s one of the best poker hands with which to start a round.

King-King

Pocket kings are typically called Cowboys. This nickname is a nod to the royal connection, the image of cowboys in Western movies, and the evident strength of the hand itself.

Queen-Queen

Pocket queens are known as Ladies because of their feminine appearance and because Lady Luck has dealt you one of the most powerful starting hands.

Jack-Jack

Fish-Hooks or Hockey Sticks are the most common names for this combination, owing to the shape of the letter J.

Ace-King

Players talk about ace-king frequently. It’s often referred to as Big Slick because it’s a notoriously slippery combination. Another name for it is Anna Kournikova because it always looks good but doesn’t always win as expected, as well as Santa Barbara, home of the character Ace Kingston in “The Big Valley” television show. Big Alaskan and Big Ugly are also common ways of referring to the ace-king combo.

Ace-Queen

The combination of an ace and a queen is called Big Chick, playing off the word “chick” for a queen and emphasizing the dominance of the ace.

Ten-Ten

Pocket 10s are known as Dimes, partly because of their face value and partly because they might make you some money if you play them right.

Six-Six

If you start with pocket 6s, you’re holding Route 66, which is named after the famous song.

Five-Five

Pocket 5s are known as Nickels based on their face value and their mediocre potential.

Five-Four Suited

This drawing hand gets its name from the conjurer’s phrase “Presto Change-o,” reflecting its potential to improve on the flop, turn, or river.

Seven-Two Off-Suit

Widely regarded as the worst hand in poker, 7-2 off-suit comes in for a great deal of abuse. One of its names is Beer Hand because you’re better off grabbing a beer than playing it. Another is Hammer, because it’ll crush your bankroll if you play it.

Uncommon Poker Hand Names

Grouped in categories, here are some hand names you won’t hear so often when you play in casinos online, either because they’re seldom played (because they’re lousy) or the cultural references behind them have become outdated.

Gambling and Luck

Try your luck with these gambling-influenced terms:

• Dead Man’s Hand: This consists of pocket aces and pocket 8s. This hand gained its name from the legend that Wild Bill Hickok was holding it when he was shot dead during a game of Five-Card Draw.
• Gambler’s Hand: This is a starting hand of 10 and 2, popularized by the song “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers.
• Unlucky Thirteen: This is a starting hand of 7 and 6, often considered unlucky in some cultures.

Sports and Celebrities

These uncommon names draw inspiration from celebrities and sports:

• Football Hand: This is a starting hand of 5 and 3, representing the iconic football formation.
• Marilyn Monroe: This is a starting hand of 6 and 2, referencing the actress’s famous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” performance in 1962.
• Frank Sinatra: This is a starting hand consisting of a jack and a 5, associated with a poker hand that the iconic singer played in “The Man with the Golden Arm.” 

Music and Dance

There are also a few uncommon names drawing inspiration from the world of dance and music.

• Tango: A starting hand of 4 and 3 is called a Tango, after the time signature of the passionate dance.
• Motown: If your starting hand is 10 and 5, tap your toes because it references the record label Motown 10-5.
• Jackson 5: A jack-5 starting hand is a Jackson Five, playing on the sound of the name of the famous pop group.
• Guitar: A king-9 is a Guitar, referencing the shape of a guitar neck.
• Piano: Pocket eights is sometimes referred to as a Piano because the double 8 shape resembles the keys on a piano.

Try these unusual names out the next time you’re in a live dealer online casino.

Tips for Deciding When To Play a Hand in Poker

Knowing the less common names of all the poker hands is all good and well, but it isn’t very helpful if you aren’t sure which ones are worth playing and which are better ignored. Here are some tips for making that crucial decision:

• Analyze the Table Dynamics: Pay attention to how other players are betting, their body language, and their tendencies. Look for opportunities where you can exploit weaker opponents or avoid confrontations with stronger ones.
• Evaluate Your Hand Strength: Make sure you assess the strength of your hand relative to the community cards and the cards your opponents are likely to be holding (and know that there are certain instances when it makes sense to fold a good hand). You’ll also want to consider your position at the table and how the betting has played out so far. Sometimes, a “strong” hand in an early position might be marginal in a late position, and vice versa.
• Calculate the Pot Odds: Do this to determine if the potential reward justifies the risk of investing more chips. It’s also important to compare the size of the current bet to the size of the pot.
• Consider Your Image: Think about your table image based on how you’ve played up until now — it will significantly influence your opponents’ perceptions of your playing style. Adjust your strategy accordingly to capitalize on your image or to exploit misconceptions others may have about your tendencies (just like many characters did in iconic gambling movies).
• Consider Your Position: Understand the importance of position in poker. Playing hands from a late position allows you to act with more information, whereas playing from an early position requires stronger hands due to the risk of being out of position for the rest of the hand.
• Manage Your Bankroll Wisely: Do this to avoid playing hands that exceed your comfort zone. Don’t risk more than you can afford to lose in any given session, and be prepared to fold when the odds are against you. As Kenny Rogers wisely sang, “Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.” 

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