Home > Gambling Terms > All Gambling Terms > P > All Gambling Terms 05.Htm Suggestions? Comments?

P

Play Tight [Poker] Playing tight simply means playing fewer hands and folding them earlier.

Play Up [Poker] Play in liberal fashion. The opposite is to play tight.

Play with [Poker] Staying in the hand by betting, calling, raising, or re-raising.

Play-Action Pass [Football] A passing play after the quarterback has faked a hand-off.

Player [Poker] 1) Any participant in a poker game. "There are eight players at each table." 2) Any participant in a particular pot. "Even after the raise, there were still five players in the pot." 3) Someone who knows what's going on in the card room milieu, and usually implying someone making his living playing cards. "Who's that guy putting all the chips in the pot? Some live one?" "Nah, he's a player."

Player Card [Keno] A plastic card identifying a Player to the System.

Player Control Foul [Basketball] In college and high school basketball, a foul committed by the player holding, dribbling, or shooting the ball. The penalty is always a throw-in for the opposing team, never a free throw.

Player Hand [Baccarat] The hand opposing the bank hand, which receives cards and acts upon themselves.

Player's Bank [Poker] A fund on deposit by a player with the management of a card room, from which he can withdraw cash to play on, or to which he can add his winnings, and which he can, of course, clear out at any time. This is a convenient means for a player to get around the difficulty of carrying large amounts of cash on his person. The player's bank is usually kept track of on a ledger card with transactions initialled by the player or a house official or both. The cashier is usually responsible for keeping the records straight.

Player-Clocking [Roulette] Watching to see which players have been winning and with what methods in order to use the Chameleon Strategy and mimic their betting patterns.

Player-Control Foul [Basketball] An offensive foul that is committed not when a player is shooting, but just when his team is in control of the ball.

Players to Be Named [Baseball] A player to be named (later) is a term used for an undecided player or a player ineligible to be traded at the time of a trade. Players to be named must play in a different league than the league they are traded to. Sometimes the team which offers the player to be named later will submit a list of names to the other team to choose from by a certain date. Other times a player is on the disabled list. In rare cases, the player to be named is a recently drafted player, who cannot be traded until at least a year after his signing. Trades must be completed within six months of their initial announcement.

Playing Behind a Log [Poker] Describing a situation in which a player is far ahead of a game and thus playing only premium hands.

Playing Card [Poker] Any one card in a deck.

Playing Conditions [Blackjack] The options that a casino has imposed on the game of blackjack at that casino e.g.. No double after split, double down on only 10, 11 etc. Table limits for betting, minimum bet and maximum bet.

Playing Correlation (Pc) [Blackjack] "Playing correlation" indicates the point count’s ability to convey information regarding how one should play. A higher playing correlation implies a greater playing accuracy.

Playing Efficiency (Pe) [Blackjack] A description of the accuracy of any card counting system, usually expressed as a percentage or fraction. The closer to 1 the number is, the more accurate the system is in terms of indicating the proper strategy decision to be made.

Playing Professional [Golf] A professional golfer who primarily competes in tournaments.

Playing S & M [Poker] Sklansky & Malmuth. Generally refers to the ideas and algorithms published by these two authors. When used in a 7-card stud context, often refers to '7 Card Stud For Advanced Players', and when used in a Hold'em context, often refers to 'Texas Hold 'em For Advanced Players'.

Playing Side [Croquet] Area in front of the wicket being approached.

Playing Surface [Table Tennis] The table's upper surface.

Playing Through [Golf] Passing another group of players who are playing ahead

Playmaker [Basketball] 1) The player who usually works to set up plays for his teammates; almost always the point guard. 2) A player who consistently comes up with big plays when needed.

Playoff [Poker] In some tournaments, the final portion, in which the winners of previous levels compete. For example, a tournament may be held weekly for a number of months. At the end of that time, the winners of each weekly tournament compete in the playoff. In a shootout tournament, a number of single-table contests are played, with one winner in each. After these end, the winners compete in the playoff.

Playoff Rosters [Baseball] Playoff rosters must be set at 25, not including disabled players, on August 31. For each player on the 60-day DL, teams may add players to the eligible list during the playoffs at the same position, provided that they were in the orginization on August 31. This is why some teams will bring up injured minor-league players and put them on the 60-day DL. Teams must choose 25 players from their playoff eligible list before each round of the playoffs.

Playoffs [Football] The post-season tournament that determines the NFL champion.

Playover Box [Poker] A plastic box set over the chips of a player on break while another player plays over the absent player. The purpose of a playover box is to make sure the chips of the two players don't accidentally get mixed together.

Plf [Skydiving] Parachute Landing Fall. A technique used to minimize injury during rough landings, a PLF distributes the landing shock along feet, calves, thighs, hip and shoulder.

Plodding [Horse Racing] A horse which is not racing as quickly as its ability allows is simply plodding along.

Ploppy [Blackjack] A term coined by gambling author Frank Scoblete to describe a typical uninformed gambler.

Plot [Sailing] To find a ship's actual or intended course or mark a fix on a chart.

Plow Anchor [Sailing] Also called a CQR or coastal quick release anchor. An anchor that is designed to bury itself into the ground by use of its plow shape.

Plug [Poker] 1) A chip, a stack of chips, or a token of some sort (sometimes labeled "hold") set down by the house at any empty position to indicate that no one may sit there. The house may place a plug because a player has asked to hold his seat while he goes to get more cash, or because it wants to keep the seating arrangements balanced. For example, two draw tables have seven players each. The house may place a plug at each empty position so no one can move to the other game and leave one table with only six seats while the other is full. The floor man who puts a plug at an empty spot may not tell the players at the table that those chips do not represent a real player, leading some to wrongly think that the seat has been sold and someone will soon come to play those chips. 2) To place a plug; often followed by the seat designation. A floor man may say to the house dealer, "Plug the No. 2 seat, dealer."

Plug Check [Motor Sports] During a practice or a qualifying session, if a driver shuts off the engine while at full power and then coasts into the pits , it is generally so that the crew can perform a plug check. The spark plugs are removed and the electrodes and insulator examined; the condition of these components (and particularly the color of the insulator) can reveal much about how the engine is performing. Running the engine at idle leaves deposits on the plugs that interfere with the plug check, and that is why the driver must shut off the engine while at full power, press in the clutch, and then coast in to the pits in order for a plug check to be done.

Plugged Ball [Golf] Ball imbedded in its own pitch mark in the ground. It may be dropped without penalty no closer to the hole.

Plugged Lie [Golf] A lie in which the ball is buried in sand.

Plunge [General] Related to backed off the map. The numerous substantial investments made on such a horse are referred to as a betting plunge.

Plunge Around [Poker] To play more loosely than you should. Also Splash Around.

Plus / Minus [Blackjack] A commonly used term to describe the Hi-Lo counting system.

Plus Handicap [Golf] A player whose average is below par has a plus handicap, meaning that he must add strokes to the gross, rather than subtracting them, to determine the net score.

Plw [Wrestling] Pittsburgh Wrestling League

Pneumatic Tire [Motor Sports] A circular tube of rubber or synthetic rubber and fabric, and sometimes also steel, attached to the rim of the car's wheel, having resilience due to its containing air under pressure.

Pnw [Wrestling] Pacific Northwest Wrestling

Po [Baseball] Putouts

Poch [Poker] An early German card game having some of the features of poker. (Pochen means to boast of, which could be construed as to bluff.)

Poche [Poker] An early German card game having some of the features of poker. (Pochen means to boast of, which could be construed as to bluff.)

Pochen [Poker] An early German card game having some of the features of poker. (Pochen means to boast of, which could be construed as to bluff.)

Pocket [Poker] 1) The first two cards in hold 'em, that is a player's "private cards" (as opposed to the community cards or flop). "I had a king in the pocket." 2) The down card or down cards in a stud game.

Pocket Cards [Poker] The two cards dealt to you face down in hold'em, or the first two face down in seven card stud are your pocket cards, or hole cards. Hold'em players tend to call them pocket cards, stud players tend to call them hole cards.

Pocket Pair [Poker] Generic Hold'em term for 2 hole cards of the same rank.

Pocket Rockets [Poker] In Hold'em, a pair of aces for hole cards.

Pod [Luge] An aerodynamically shaped shell that hangs from the bridges. It serves as the athlete's seat.

Pod Top [Bingo] This is the unit which sits on top of the barrier and contains the mechanisms used in the game - typically the coin mechanisms, valid & credit displays, and claim buttons. Most pod tops have the equipment for 4-6 playing positions. Also Saddle.

Point [Ice Hockey] 1) A goal or an assist credited to a player. 2) A unit used to determine league standings, in which a team is given 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie or overtime loss. 3) An area near the boards and just inside the opposition's blue line, where a defenseman is normally stationed when his team has control of the puck in the attacking zone.

Point Count [Blackjack] The net value of the card count at the end of a hand.

Point Guard [Basketball] The player who usually brings the ball upcourt for his team and runs the offense. Compare shooting guard.

Point in Line [Fencing] A position in which the fencer's arm is extended, with the point of the blade threatening a target.

Point Number [Craps] The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 established on the come-out roll.

Point of Sail [Sailing] The position of a sailboat in relation to the wind. A boat with its head into the wind is known as "head to wind" or "in irons". The point of sail with the bow of the boat as close as possible to the wind is called close hauled. As the bow moves further from the wind, the points of sail are called: close reach, beam reach, broad reach, and running. The general direction that a boat is sailing is known as its tack.

Point Paying [Motor Sports] In some series (e.g. CART and Formula One), you must finish a certain place or higher to receive points towards the championship. Conversely, NASCAR awards points to any driver who starts a race.

Point Spread [Basketball] A device established by bookmakers to equalize 2 teams for betting purposes; e.g., if a team is considered to be 4 points better than another, the spread is 4 points; to win a bet on the favorite, that team would need to win by more than the spread (in this case, by more than 4 points); the margin of victory is more important than whether a team wins or loses.

Point(s) of Call [Horse Racing] A race animal's position at various locations on the racetrack where its running position is noted on a chart. The locations vary with the distance of the race.

Point-after-Touchdown (Pat) [Football] A place kick taken from the opponent’s 2-yard line; awarded to a team that has scored a touchdown, it is worth 1 point if it goes through the goalpost.

Point-Shaving [Basketball] An illegal practice where players intentionally win a game, but by fewer points than the point spread; led to 2 major college scandals (involved 32 of the biggest stars in the 1950s, then 22 colleges in 1961).

Points [Motor Sports] A points system rewards drivers with points based on where they finish in a race, and may contain opportunities for earning bonus points by doing things like winning the pole position or leading a lap. At the end of the season, there is often a large cash award for the points champion, and perhaps other privileges such as first choice of pit position all next season. The main objects of a points system are to discourage teams from skipping races, and to build up sustained fan interest over the course of a season. Many series have additional points systems for rewarding car owners, chassis/engine suppliers, etc..

Points Race [Cycling] This is similar to a scratch race, but points are awarded to the top riders in a series of sprints conducted at various points throughout the race, and the winner is the rider who accumulates the most points.

Points Start [General] Punter concedes or receives a start designed to make an event a more even betting proposition. Also known as Line Betting.

Points to Remember [Blackjack] When indicating your decision to stand or draw it is advisable to use the standard hand signals, i.e. flat hand above your cards to stand or point at your cards to draw. All other decisions should be indicated verbally. Only the dealer is allowed to handle, remove or change the position of the cards. Please do not hesitate to ask the dealer if there is anything that you do not understand. In the event of a dispute, the final decision rests with the Management.

Pointspread [General] The pointspread - also called "the line" - is used as a margin to handicap the favorite team. The oddsmaker - also called the handicapper - "gives" points (or goals) to the underdog - for betting purposes only. The bettor must take either the favorite or the underdog. The favorite is always indicated by a minus sign (e.g. -8.5) and the underdog by a plus sign (e.g.+8.5). For betting purposes, the outcome of the game is determined by taking the actual game score and finding the difference between the scores of the two teams playing (called the pointspread or just the "spread"). For example - The Green Bay Packers are 8 point favorites over the Miami Dolphins (an 8 point spread shown as -8 beside Green Bay on our "lines" page). If the final score is Green Bay 20 Miami 13, then the actual game score "spread" is 7 points (20 minus 13). In our example if you took Miami (called the "dog"), you would win the bet since Green Bay had to win by 9 points or more to "cover the spread." Green Bay needed 2 more points to "cover" since if the game landed right on the "spread" of 8 points it would be called a "push" (similar in concept to a tie in Moneyline wagering, which is also called a push) and it would be "no action" (no bet and money held in your account to cover the wager is released back into your available balance). If the "spread" is put in at a half point (eg. -8.5 for the favorite Green Bay) by the Sportsbook handicappers then there can be no "push." In this case, there is "action" at any final game score pointspread. In a pointspread, you must wager $11 to win $10 ($21 is returned to the winner). 10/11 is the standard for pointspread bets on most sports.

Poison Ivy [Bowling] The 3-6-10 split.

Poke [Poker] 1) A bankroll. 2) The place where one keeps that bankroll, as a wallet or purse.

Poke Check [Ice Hockey] A stick check on which the player jabs his stick blade at the puck or an opponent's stick to dislodge the puck.

Pokeno [Poker] A commercial board game that combines some of the elements of poker with those of other games.

Poker Clack [Poker] An apparently sad nonverbal sound (a sort of tsk-like click) made by a player who in reality has a good hand. The term was invented by Mike Caro, and described in his books, columns, and videos about tells.

Poker Clergy [Poker] Poker players.

Poker Club [Poker] 1) An establishment, usually open to the public, in which players gather to play poker. This definition is somewhat more restricted than a card room, in which any form of cards may be played (bridge, gin rummy, California games, for example). 2) A group of players who meet regularly to play poker, usually in the home of one player or alternating among the homes of various players, or at a private club.

Poker Dice [Poker] 1) Dice that have card symbols, usually ranking from 9 through ace, one of each, on each die, three, four, or five of which are shaken in a cup and then thrown out. When several players compete, the player throwing the best poker hand combination wins. Sometimes players are allowed to "draw" to a hand, by leaving some of the dice on the table or counter top and shaking and tossing the remainder. 2) A set of five ordinary dice, thrown similarly for poker hands. Flushes are not possible, but pairs, aces through sixes, two pair, and so on, and two straights (1-2-3-4-5 and 2-3-4-5-6) are possible.

Poker Dictionary [Poker] Card Game. Poker is commonly played in card rooms (often within casinos) and in private home games (illegally in many states). The games played in card rooms seem to divide into stud games, draw games, and flop games. In home games, however, anything goes, including games that seem to have no reason to be called poker. The varieties played in home games probably number in the hundreds, or even the thousands. Some common card room games include Texas Hold'em, Seven Card Stud, Omaha, Razz, Lowball and Pineapple.

Poker Digest [Poker] A magazine devoted to poker playing.

Poker Face [Poker] A poker player's supposed lack of facial expression, such that others cannot tell whether she is bluffing. In reality, few poker players remain expressionless doing play.

Poker Flat [Poker] A place where poker players play; card room.

Poker God [Poker] A mythical deity to whom poker players supposedly pray for good hands, and who presumably protects those in his (her?) good graces; used humorously.

Poker Hand [Poker] The five cards (usually) that a poker player uses in his contention for a pot. Some of the possible five-card combinations from the poker deck have higher (or lower, in low games) ranking than others, and this is how the winner of a particular contest is determined.

Poker Joint [Poker] A place where poker players play; card room.

Poker Machine [Poker] Video poker machine (A computerized slot machine (video slot machine) based on draw poker (but not really a form of poker), with card symbols, on which players try to make certain poker hand combinations, a casino game that can sometimes be beaten by skill, the fastest-growing form of mechanized gambling.).

Poker Patience [Poker] A form of solitaire in which the player tries to arrange 25 cards in a 5-by-5 grid such that all (or most of) the horizontals and verticals (and sometimes the diagonals) form the highest possible poker hands. Also called patience poker and poker solitaire.

Poker Player [Poker] One who plays poker.

Poker Professional [Poker] One who plays poker for a living.

Poker Room [Poker] A place where poker players play; card room.

Poker Rules [Poker] The regulations of a particular card room on the conduct of a poker game, often codified in that card room's rule book, sometimes posted on the wall. Poker rules are not standard, although most rule books contain many similar rules. Some rules (frequently termed the rules of poker), such as what hand beats what, are fairly standard, particularly in public card rooms, while others, such as what constitutes a legitimate bet or raise and the manner in which betting must be made, vary widely. The smart player familiarizes herself with the poker rules of a particular establishment before first sitting down to play.

Poker School [Poker] People assembled to play poker. Sometimes called simply school. Also, poker clergy.

Poker Session [Poker] 1) With respect to a given player, a period of playing cards, from the point at which the player first sits down to the table until he cashes out (or leaves the table broke). 2) With respect to a group, the period of time for which the game lasts, from the deal of the first hand until it breaks up for lack of players, or due to a prearranged ending time. For both meanings, sometimes called poker session.

Poker Sharp [Poker] An expert poker player, often implying one who wins by cheating, usually by manipulating the cards; a mechanic. Also known as a cardsharp, sharp, or sharper.

Poker Solitaire [Poker] A form of solitaire in which the player tries to arrange 25 cards in a 5-by-5 grid such that all (or most of) the horizontals and verticals (and sometimes the diagonals) form the highest possible poker hands. Also called patience poker and poker patience.

Poker Table [Poker] 1) A table used in card rooms especially for the play of poker. Most poker tables have a felt cover. Poker tables for draw or stud games generally accommodate eight players, with an extra place for the house dealer, if there is one. Poker tables for hold 'em games can accommodate as many as 12 or 13 players, although nine or 10 is more common. 2) Any table on which to play poker. In home games, this can be the kitchen table, or a fancy table with seven or eight places having recessed chip racks and drink holders at each position.

Poker Tournaments [Poker] A poker tournament is an event in which poker players compete for all or part of a prize pool.

Poker with the Joker [Poker] 1) Any poker game in which a joker is used. Also called joker poker. 2) High draw poker played with a 53-card deck (that is, one containing a joker)

Poker-Faced [Poker] Having a poker face.

Pokerino [Poker] Poker played for very low stakes, often found in retirement homes, convalescent hospitals, and the like.

Pokerist [Poker] A poker player. This usage is rare.

Polaris [Sailing] Polaris, the North Star, is visible in the northern hemisphere and indicates the direction of north. In the southern hemisphere the Southern Cross is used to find the direction of south.

Pole [Motor Sports] The best position in which to start a race, in the front row on the inside position. Originated in horse racing, where a brass fanfare calls horses to the post, which is like a pole, except shorter. Often there is an actual pole at the start/finish line giving the lineup.

Pole Line [Cycling] A yellow line around the inside of a velodrome track that measures the track's length.

Pole Position [Motor Sports] The driver qualifying fastest is awarded the first starting position. This means the driver will start on the inside (relative to the first turn) of the first row.

Pole Sitter [Motor Sports] The top qualifier for a race. Note that, due to qualifying procedures, this is not necesarily the fastest-qualified car.

Pole(s) [Horse Racing] 1) Markers at measured distances around the track designating the distance from the finish. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start. 2) The top of the head, between the ears.

Pole, (Pole Position, Pole Sitter) [Motor Sports] The most desirable place to start a race. The pole is on the inside of the track at the start/finish line. Since NASCAR races begin with a rolling start after the pace lap this position is on the inside line as the cars approach the green flag at the beginning of a race. Pole sitters have been determined by pole qualifying race (1959-65); by two-lap average (1966-68); by fastest single lap since 1969.

Pole-Plant [Skiing] The point at which the ski pole is driven into the snow, either as a trigger to aid turning, or as a method of propulsion.

Poles [Horse Racing] The markers around the track indicating the distance to the finish line. The quarter pole, for instance, is a quarter of a mile from the finish, not from the start.

Policeman [Ice Hockey] See enforcer.

Policy Period [Motor Sports] The amount of time that the policy covers (i.e., six months or two years).

Policyholder [Motor Sports] The person who has possession of the policy.

Polite Play [Croquet] An oxymoron.

Politeness [Wrestling] This act is known as the care and concern a wrestler shows to his opponent by carefully removing all television monitors from the announce table before planting that same person through it immediately afterwards. - [email protected].

Pommel [Fencing] The fastener that holds the grip to the blade and also acts as a counter balance to the blade.

Pommel Horse [Gymnastics] 1) A piece of apparatus 115 centimeters high, 35 centimeters wide, and 160 centimeters long, surmounted by two pommels, between 40 and 45 centimeters apart. 2) A men's event performed on the apparatus. A routine consists of a series of circular movements and required scissors elements performed with one or both hands on the pommels. No other part of the body may touch the apparatus.

Pone [Poker] The player sitting to the dealer's immediate right.

Pontoon [Blackjack] A social card game with rules similar to Blackjack but with many important differences. Played mostly in the UK.

Pony [Horse Racing] Any horse or pony that leads the parade of the field from paddock to starting gate. Also, a horse or pony which accompanies a starter to the starting gate. Also can be used as a verb He was ponied to the gate. Also known as a "lead [LEED] pony."

Pony Person [Horse Racing] A person on horseback who accompanies a horse and jockey to the starting gate.

Poodle [Bowling] To throw a gutter ball; probably a facetious corruption of puddle.

Pool [General] A pool is a sum of many collected as bets on a horse race. It is intended to be distributed amongst those punters that successfully wagered on the podium places.

Pool Pattern [Synchro Swimming] The swimmer's path through the water.

Poop Deck [Sailing] A boat's aft deck.

Pooped [Sailing] A wave that breaks over the stern of the boat.

Pop [Wrestling] A loud audience reaction to a wrestler's introduction or to an impressive move during a match.

Pop it [Poker] Raise

Pop Kick [Rugby] A short, high kick, usually over the head of a nearby defender.

Pop Up [Golf] A short, high shot.