Know Your Holdem Terminology: Slang for Starting Hands

When you consider that there are over 169 different possible starting hand types in a game of Texas Holdem, you get an idea of just how complicated the deceptively simple card game really is. It doesn't matter if you play in the casino or through Texas Holdem software online, if you really plan to be a decent Holdem player, it’s worth devoting some time to learning some of the hands most likely to win you the pot. And given the huge counterculture surrounding Holdem, it’s probably worth your while to learn some of the slang terms for particular hands. That way, you’ll understand what it means when your competitors are off talking about cowboys coming down the river.

Aces
This notoriously strong starting hand has been gathering clever names for years now. We’ve listed just a few of the more commonly used nicknames.

• Pocket Rockets
• Joe Louis – because you’ll get black eyes if you go up against Joe Louis.
• Eyes—like “snake eyes” in dice.
• Bullets—they look like bullets, but some players speculate the name comes from the fact that Wild Bill was holding aces when he was shot in the back during a poker match.
• Teepees—the resemblance to the Native American dwelling is certainly obvious, if uncreative.

Kings
Kings can only be beat out by bullets off the starting line which makes them the second best Texas Holdem starting hand. It’s no surprise that kings have a handful of nicknames.

• Cowboys
• Elvis Presley—the King of Rock and Roll, get it?
• Ace Magnets—the ace beats out kings, so it often feels like kings summon aces.
• King Kong—simple alliteration

Suited Ace-King
A suited ace and king in the hole open up the possibility of a strong pair, a straight or a flush.

• Big Slick—it’s a solid hand, but a slippery one.
• Exxon Valdez—a play on “slick.”
• Anna Kournikova—she plays well.

Queens
Queens can be beat out by aces and kings, but with a little help from the flop a pair of queens can clean house.

• Ladies
• Canadian Aces—they still pay homage to the Queen up north.
• Calamity Jane—cowgirls can hold their own too.

Suited Ace-Queen
Like the Big Slick, a suited ace and queen in the hole might play out as a straight, strong pair or flush.

• Big Chick—like Big Slick, but with a female card.
• Little Slick—a smaller, slightly weaker version of Big Slick.
• Mrs. Slick—again, female Big Slick.

Just about every hand in poker has a nickname, but the terms listed above are some of the more well known and frequently used. While you might bump into a Dead Man’s Hand (Ace and Eight) or Dynamite (pair of tens) every now and again, if you’re familiar with Cowboys, Ladies and Bullets, you won’t have to worry about making a fool of yourself at the poker table.

If you’re anxious to start pushing chips around, be sure to read our reviews of the best Texas Holdem software available online.

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