Nicknames of Starting Hands in Texas Holdem

Texas holdem slang for starting hands or hole cards embody poker lingo's unusual nature. There are, generally, four terms that describe a suit, order and rank combination for a player's hole cards in holdem and these are suited, connectors, suited connectors and pocket pair. But because of the uniqueness of poker language, almost every other combination of two pocket cards has been known to earn a nickname or two, as well.

Generally, suited starting hands are those that have the same suit like a queen of diamonds and an ace of diamonds. Connectors, on the other hand, are off-suit hole cards that are in consecutive order like a three of clubs and a four of hearts.

Suited connectors, then again, are just the combination of a player's two private cards that are in order and have the same suit. For example, a jack of clubs and queen of clubs for starting hands are called suited connectors.

Pocket pairs are simply hole cards of the same value like two jacks or two sixes. And some pocket pairs do have great value and that's not lost in Texas holdem slang. Specifically, the term pocket rockets exclusively pertain to two aces for starting hands.

Now, the big slick is the unique nickname for pocket connectors of an ace and a king. And in the subject of unique Texas holdem slang for starting hands, each of the general terms have evolved to include specific hole cards as well.

Some of the common nicknames of starting hands in Texas holdem poker include cowboys, sailboats, ducks, and blackjack. Cowboys are a pocket pair made up of two kings. Sailboats are also a pocket pair but this time they're of two fours. Ducks, on the other hand, are also called deuces which refer to a pair of twos among Texas holdem starting hands. The hole cards slang, blackjack, is taken from the game of the matching name and it pertains to an ace and jack pockets.

Nicknames of starting hands in Texas holdem encompass suits and order but because of the unique characteristic of poker lingo, every other combination of a player's two private hole cards has earned a unique name as well. They can be suited, connectors, suited connectors, pocket pairs, or specifically, pocket rockets, big slick, cowboys, sailboats, etc. So when you come across the term blackjack at the Texas holdem table, don't think you've sat in on the wrong game. It just means someone's talking about their ace and jack hole cards in poker!