The third instalment of “Poker Patter”, a look at the weird and wonderfully varied vocabulary that can be heard at the poker table, takes a look at terms for types of play or moves made at the felt. If you ever considered what a “crying call” might be or looked puzzled after accusations of “slowrolling”, then wonder no more.
Hero Call: Matching a sizeable bet, usually when heads-up, when all logic seems to suggest that the hand is behind. “Heroic” because it seems almost certain that the hand is a loser, a “hero call” is often a poor call excused by a fictitious tell (or similar) rather than a truly amazing read.
Crying Call: Most poker players have been there. Having fallen in love with a hand, calling that last bet on the river despite a strong suspicion of being beaten. Usually followed by cries of “I knew it!”
Sandbagging: Also known as “slow playing” or “trapping”, this is the art of allowing opponents to build a pot whilst concealing the strength of a hand, before changing to a more aggressive course. A player flopping a straight may be tempted to sandbag by checking and calling a couple of bets, before raising on the river.
Slowrolling: A sure fire way to make enemies at the table, “slowrolling” is the frowned upon practice of pretending to think about calling a bet when the decision is straightforward and already made, usually when the bet is an all-in move. Imagine a pre-flop shove and a player taking an age to call, before flipping over aces. Terrible etiquette.
Instacall: In the previous example, the guy with the aces has such an easy decision that he will more than likely “instacall”. The decision is so obviously straightforward, the word “call” will be uttered so quickly that it seems almost instant. A “no-brainer”.
Floating: This is a common tactic against an overly aggressive player. Knowing they are likely to bet any flop, even when they have missed, “floating” is calling the bet with nothing, intending to push them off the pot on the turn or river by representing a hand.
Soul Read: Similar to a “hero call”, but even more incredible. The term is tongue-in-cheek, after Phil Hellmuth’s famous “It’s like I can look into their souls” quote.
So now you know. Try not to slowroll, don’t sandbag too often and cut out the crying calls!
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