July 12, 2004
From Ducks to Rockets
by Luckbox
Aside from chip-shuffling, nothing makes you appear like a poker pro in a room full of amatuers like the use of solid poker lingo. Since mentioning pocket 9's and it's lack of a good nickname, I've had a few searches for "poker hand names" funnel people to Up For Poker.
With that in mind, let's see how much we can help people out:
Pocket 2's: Ducks
Not sure exactly how it got this nickname, but Paul Magriel loved saying "Quack, Quack" during his appearance on the World Poker Tour. I think that had more to do with his betting then with pocket two's, but maybe there's a connection.
Pocket 3's: Crabs
I'm assuming this nickname comes from the shape of a 3. I suppose you could say it looks like a crab. I thought you might use sports to jazz up this nickname. The number 33 is pretty famous in NBA history thanks to Larry Bird and others.
Pocket 4's: ???
I'm not sure this one has a nickname yet. I'd like to call it Syracuse. "44" is the most storied jersey number in Syracuse University sports history. It was first made famous by Jim Brown (the greatest pro running back and greatest college lacrosse player in history), and later worn by college basketball standouts Derrick Coleman and John Wallace.
Pocket 5's: Speed Limit and Presto
It's named speed limit for obvious reasons, but I prefer Presto. Here's the explanation I found for the nickname Presto: "Comes from what one says when revealing a pair of fives as one's holecards. The term was coined at the Big August Rec.Gambling Excursion and evolved from what a blackjack player says when turning over a blackjack."
Pocket 6's: ???
Any suggestions. When thinking of 6-6, Route 66 comes to mind. It's known as the Mother Road, but I'm not sure that makes a great nickname. There's also Phillips 66, so maybe the nickname "Phillips"? I need some inspiration here...
Pocket 7's: Hockey Sticks
That's the only nickname I could find, and I don't think I like it. Dave Foley on "Celebrity Poker Showdown" wanted to call them "walking sticks," but I think we can all agree that anything related to CPS is a bad idea. I think I'll start pushing "Sunset Strip" for the short-lived but hugely popular "77 Sunset Strip" TV series from the late 50's to early 60's.
Pocket 8's: Snowmen
I think Vince Van Patten once called this hand "octopus," but I'm not sure that ever caught on (and two of them would be octopi, right?). I've also seen it called "Little Oldsmobile," but I'm not a fan of that (Oldsmobile would be 8-9, both based on Oldsmoble car models).
Pocket 9's: Get Smart
This hand was named by fellow poker blogger Lord Geznikor after I asked for some suggestions. Get Smart comes from show-stopper Agent 99. It's one of my favorite hands, and I was concerned no one had given it a nickname yet. If anyone has anyother suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments.
Pocket 10's: ???
I was shocked to discover there were no accepted nicknames for pocket 10's. I suppose you could call them "Dimes" for obvious reasons. I think I might go with "Long Distance" after all of those 10-10-### commercials.
Pocket Jacks: Hooks or Fishooks
Again, it's the shape of the "J" that gave this hand its nickname. Poker players aren't always the most creative bunch of people. I prefer to call this hand "Hookers." It's just more fun.
Pocket Queens: The Hilton Sisters
As far as I can tell, this is a poker bloggers creation. Pauly has made this nickname more popular through his little contest. This hand has also been more traditionally called "Ladies." And until the recent tiger mauling, it was known as "Sigfried and Roy." I think Paris and Niki will hold this title for at least a little while.
Pocket Kings: Cowboys
I've actually seen this hand have the alternate nickname of "Kong," "King Kong" or "Gorillas." I don't think any of those have the charm of "Cowboys" especially considering the game we're playing is Texas Hold 'Em.
Pocket Aces: Rockets or American Airlines
The latter is my personal favorite, but the former is certainly more well-known and very appropriate. I've also seen this hand called "Bullets" and "Eyes of Texas." I'm not too sure of that last one.
And, of course, the last hand lingo that any good poker player must know is "THE HAMMER." That's the best hand in poker: 72 offsuit.
Vince Van Patten has referred to 44 as "the midlife crisis."
77 "Walking sticks" is a British term.
And what about "Scrotums" for pocket 8's.
Also if there is a Big Slick, shouldn't there be a Little Slick? Small Slick is even better. What cards should it be?
For some reason pocket 5s remind me of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Something about the way the 5 looks. So in that sense Presto is a nice fit IMO.
66: Boxcars. Though I think it more poetic to begin "I'm 2/3 of the way to hell with a raise and two callers...."
44 suggests 4 wheel drive. The Bronco, I suppose, if you want the Texan theme. Also squares, "all square", "stamps".
99 could by "luftballoons", or "under a dollar".
Enjoy your blog. I have seen a couple good card nicknames lately. Article in cardplayer I believe this month has some like :
44 (both black)-- "Darth Vader" -- the dark side of the force
44 -- Dirty Harry? -- Thats just my own idea from his .44 magnum?
69 -- Big Lick -- saw that somewhere.
Actually I snagged the term from VVP (Vince Van patten) from the first season of the WPT. But I definitely have pounded the pharse into everyone's heads!!!
I call...
AQ = Mrs. Slick
Q-10 = The Varkoyni
Like 3's, 2's also get their nickname from their appearance. They resemble ducks on the the water (more like swans imo).
I kind of liked what Dave Foley called 88 in one show - "double infinity." May be too much of a mouthful for a nickname, though.
44 is sometimes called "Canadian Presto" For some reason that amuses me greatly.
I've heard dog's balls for 88
I've heard them referred to as Jokers, but I'm a Chris Jericho fan, so I call J,J - "Assclowns." Take that for what it's worth.
I've heard pocket 9s called "the Gretzky". Of course, this could be only because the people I play with are complete hockey nuts. They're the same people that call 88 "the Lindros" and 77 "the Borque".
Of course, I prefer 77 = anisotropy (my football number) and 88 = hdouble (his football number)
Hey, can you come up with a name for 5-3. I had a run where I was in on 3-4 hands of 5-3 (checking the BB), and each of them kicked ass! I think the final hands were Flush, Boat, 2 Pair, maybe a straight. Anyway, there my pet hand now. If it does not cost more than 1BB I am in! heh. Now I just need to name them. Maybe Magic Crabs, a meld of 33 and 55?
Being from a theatrical background, we usually refer to QQ as a pair of costumers in my little group. I sometimes refer to 6-9 as "graduation" since that's the year I graduated....highschool.
in our home game, we call 44 "the butkus."
I also call JJ = Jerkoffs and KK = The Dudes
I've also seen KK in the hole referred to as Krispy Kreme.
I managed to stop myself from referring to QQ as Siegfried and Roy last January at the Mirage after Roy got munched by the tiger. Sure doesn't stop me at the home game!
Dave Foley referred to 44 as "sailboats", which I thought was pretty good.
Also, since Pauly mentioned the Varkoyni, T2o is usually referred to as "The Brunson", since Doyle won the WSoP twice with it.
44 - "Ron Jeremy" because 4-4 in craps is a hard eight.
5T - Walgreens "five and dime"
J5 - Jackson Five or "facial surgery"
Everyone left out "Snake Eyes" for pocket Aces. It's an obvious carryover from dice. Aces are ones after all.
25 = Mark McGwire: The sluggers jersey number.
8J = The Dahmer hand: He ate Jack (love that one!)
JK = Toyota: Ok that one is a St. Louis only reference to local famous auto dealer, "Jack King Toyota"
KJ = Kojak: More widely applicable than "Jack King Toyota" ;)
Q3 = San Francisco Waiter: A queen with a tray.
69 = Dinner for two: Hmmm...
57 = Chevrolet: The storied '57 Chevy.
59 = Woolworth: The famous "5 and Dime" stores.
K9 = Fido: The dog (canine).
95 = Dolly Parton. Her well known movie "9 to 5".
J5 = Motown: Jackson 5.
oops...
The 59 = Woolworth in the last post is supposed to be 5-10 (obviously). That makes the "5 and Dime" make a bit more sense...
;)
I think it was Paul Phillips that called 96 "Big Lick".
69 could also be Yin/Yang.
I am dumber for having written that.
I think that these terms should apply:
1. AK (suited) afterall we are "dressed up for the affair !
2. 5-10 "A Walton" have used the term "WoolsWorth" for this pocket but Sam Walton deserves the name for this POS Pocket !
3. AK (Unsuited) to lump this in with "Big Slick is not right ! AK unsuited should be referred to as "Shoulders" both stand taller than the rest, they ain't "dressed up" (suited) and 1 is shoulder high taller than the other
In last comment I meant to say I Can go for AK (suited) as "Big Slick) ! Also these terms I use in my empty head:
K-9 (unsuited) = "Dog Pocket"
K-9 (suited) = "Registered Dog Pocket"
pocket fours could be called sailboats
How about "pi" for pocket tens? Check it out: TT
On a side note, we like to call a full house an "Uncle Jesse" or "the Tanner family" from the show Full House. Also since fastfood is always the shiznit, particularly wendys', why not call pocket 9's "wendy's" since wendy's has the 99cent menu.
Maybe "double helix" for 88...too geeky?
All I know is QQ is now my favorite hand after seeing the Hiltons' pic!
Kevin
www.pokerlizard.com
Oh yeah, my 6-year old calls Ace Spade the "Big Daddy Ace." So maybe "Big Daddies" for AA.
Just wanted to share his early wisdom...
Kevin
pokerlizard.com
Pocket nines.....
they should be called "Balloons"...
the reference to 99 red balloons the song, and the look of two balloons on their strings...
J4 should be called flat tire because what a (jack)(4) a flat tire!
If it's been used before, I've never heard it, but I believe a fitting name for JA is "Barney Fife" (i.e. a sidekick with one bullet).
KJ = Mike Matusow cause after tuesday he is the King Jack OFF as far as I'm concerned.
