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Poker terms: the D’s

Pressing on with our poker terminology (admit it, you used case in poker dialogue this week, didn’t you?), we’re onto the short but potent list of D’s.

Dead Money: You know how you feed into the pot over and over again during a hand, knowing you’re being baited in but unable to drop the potential between your fingers…until the river? So now you’ve folded, and you’ve got who knows how much money in the middle? That money you’ve left behind is known as dead money. Of course, dead money also refers to anyone entering a tournament who is an extreme longshot, and can’t be expected to realistically compete against the stronger competition.

Dominated hand: A common term for a hand that’s usually doomed from the start. The best example I can offer for this is a high card and low, off-suit card in Texas Hold ‘Em. A Q4 is usually going to lose to a QJ. The only thing that can really save the player with the dominated hand (which is why I said usually doomed) is a lucky flop. And if you’re relying heavily on a “lucky” flop as your only out to win a hand, you’re better off folding or trying for the bluff pre-flop to begin with.

Draw: This term also has a couple explanations. The first refers to a player who continues with his hand because it has a chance to win, but not in its current state. It can technically be used in any type of game, including the stud or hold ‘em variety. The other definition is, of course, to actually draw cards, most commonly used in the game of…wait for it…5-card-draw.

Draw dead: Putting a couple of terms together from this article, and we arrive at this combination, which means that unlike a dominated hand, where you still have a chance, you’re going to find yourself on the losing end of this one even if you make your hand. Think a straight chance going up against a made flush. Or a two-pair you’re trying to turn into a boat only to lose to your opponents four of a kind. You’re “drawing dead” throughout this hand because you have no chance to win.