Poker has a language somewhat
to itself. Here is a glossary to familiarize yourself with poker terminology.
Many of the words in this glossary are linked to one another. If you
click a link within a definition, click your browser's "back" button
to return to the definition you just left.
When a player goes all-in in a table stakes game, that player is only eligible to win the main pot - the pot consisting of those bets they were able to match. Additional bets, placed in a side pot, are contested among the remaining players.
Make
To (non-specifically) make a hand means to get a decent hand that has a shot at winning the pot.
Maniac
A maniac is a player who plays extremely loose and aggressive, often raising with just about anything. Maniacs at the table tend to increase the variance considerably.
Middle Pair
If there are three cards of different ranks on the flop in hold'em, and you pair the middle one, you have middle pair.
Miss
See hit.
Monster
An extremely strong hand, one that is almost certain to win the pot.
Muck
The pile of discarded cards in front of the dealer, or the act of putting cards in this pile (and therefore taking them out of play).