Glossary of Poker Terms - F

F

family pot

A deal in which every (or almost every) seated player called the first opening bet.

fast

Aggressive play. I was afraid of too many chasers, so I played my trips fast. Compare to "speeding".

favorite

A hand which when matched against another in a showdown has an advantage odds-wise over the other. A hand can be called a small or a big favorite depending on how much it is dominating the other. Contrast "underdog" where the situations are reversed. Favorites are usually used but not exclusively comparing how 2 hole cards do against 2 other hole cards pre-flop.

feeder

In a casino setting, a second or third table playing the same game as a "main" table, and from which players move to the main game as players there leave. Also called a "must-move table."

felt

The cloth covering of a poker table, whatever the actual material. Metaphorically, the table itself: Doyle and I have played across the felt. Also used to refer to table felt made visible by being uncluttered with chips from a player having lost them all or taken all of an opponent's. I felted Carla when I filled up against her flush.

field

1. All players as a collective in a large tournament: There were many professionals amongst the field of the Main Event.
2. The number of players in a large tournament: Duhamel defeated a field of 7318 other players to win the title.

fifth street

1. The last card dealt to the board in community card games. Also see river.
2. The fifth card dealt to each player in stud poker.

fill, fill up

To successfully draw to a hand that needs one card to complete it, by getting the last card of a straight, flush, or full house. Jerry made his flush when I was betting my kings up, but I filled on seventh street to catch up.

final table

The last table in a multi-table poker tournament. The final table is set when a sufficient amount of people have been eliminated from the tournament leaving an exact amount of players to occupy one table (typically no more than ten players).

first position

The playing position to the direct left of the blinds in Texas hold 'em or Omaha hold 'em, also known as "under the gun." The player in first position must act first on the first round of betting.

fish

A weak player in poker or chess. See also donkey.

To chase draws holding weak hand. Especially when facing aggressive play by another player.

five of a kind

A hand possible only in games with wild cards, or a game with more than one deck, defeating all other hands, comprising five cards of equal rank.

fixed limit, flat limit

See main article: fixed limits.

flash

1. Any card which becomes briefly exposed by accident to at least 1 player must be shown to all the players by the dealer during dealing. The card is said to be "flashed" to all players before being discarded to the muck pile. See also exposed.
2. Unintentionally showing the bottom of the deck if not using a cut-card (an opaque non-play card used to conceal the bottom of the deck) is considered flashing.
3. To show one or more downcards from one's hand. After everyone folded, Ted flashed his bluff to the other players.

flat call

A call, in a situation where one might be expected to raise. Normally I raise with jacks, but with three limpers ahead of me I decided to flat call. Also "smooth call". Compare to "cold call", "overcall". See slow play.

float

Calling a bet with the intention of bluffing on a later betting round. A player might do this when he suspects an opponent of making a continuation bet on the flop in the hopes that the bettor will give up his unimproved hand and check on the turn, allowing the caller to bet with a weak hand and hopefully take the pot away from the preflop aggressor. We are floating over the other guys flop bet looking for an opportunity to take the pot.

floorman, floorperson

A casino employee whose duties include adjudicating player disputes, keeping games filled and balanced, and managing dealers and other personnel. Players may shout "floor!" to call for a floorperson to resolve a dispute, to ask for a table or seat change, or to ask for some other casino service.

flop

The dealing of the first three face-up cards to the board, or to those three cards themselves. Also see turn and river.

flop game

A community card game.

flush

A hand comprising five cards of the same suit. See List of poker hands.

fold

To discard one's hand and forfeit interest in the current pot. See main article: fold.

fold equity

The portion of the pot one expects to win, on average, by a bet that induces your opponents to fold, rather than seeing the showdown. For example, if your opponent folds 50% of the time to bets in situations like this, your fold equity = (current pot size) * (0.50). See also equity.

forced bet

See main article: forced bets.

forced-move

In a casino where more than one table is playing the same game with the same betting structure, one of the tables may be designated the "main" table, and will be kept full by requiring a player to move from one of the feeder tables to fill any vacancies. Players will generally be informed that their table is a "forced-move" table to be used in this way before they agree to play there. Also "must-move".

forward motion

A house rule of some casinos states that if a player in turn picks up chips from his stack and moves his hand toward the pot ("forward motion with chips in hand"), this constitutes a commitment to bet (or call), and the player may not withdraw his hand to check or fold. Such a player still has the choice of whether to call or raise. Compare to "string bet".

fouled hand

A hand that is ruled unplayable because of an irregularity, such as being found with too many or too few cards, having been mixed with cards of other players or the muck, having fallen off the table, etc. Compare to "dead hand".

four-flush

Four cards of the same suit. A non-standard poker hand in some games, an incomplete drawing hand in most. See main article: Four flush.

four of a kind

A hand containing four cards of equal rank. Also "quads". See List of poker hands.

four-straight

Four cards in rank sequence; either an open-ender or one-ender. A non-standard poker hand in some games, an incomplete drawing hand in most. Sometimes "four to a straight".

fourth street

1. The fourth card dealt to the board in community card games. Also "turn".
2. The fourth card dealt to each player in stud.

free card

A card dealt to one's hand (or to the board of community cards) after a betting round in which no player opened. One is thereby being given a chance to improve one's hand without having to pay anything. I wasn't sure my hand was good, but I bet so I wouldn't give a free card to Bill's flush draw.

freeroll

See main article: freeroll.

freezeout

The most common form of tournament. There's no rebuy, play continues until one player has all the chips.

full house, full boat, full hand, full

A hand with three cards of one rank and two of a second rank. Also "boat", "tight". See List of poker hands.

full bet rule

In some casinos, the rule that a player must wager the full amount required in order for his action to constitute a raise. For example, in a game with a $4 fixed limit, a player facing an opening bet of $4 who wagers $7 is deemed to have flat called, because $8 is required to raise. Compare to "half bet rule". See Public cardroom rules and "All in" betting.

full ring

A full ring game is a cash game with more than six players involved, typically nine to eleven. This term is normally used in the context of online poker. Compare to "shorthanded".