Poker is one of the most common and oldest card games worldwide that can take long hours or be over in a jiffy. The game has evolved through generations, and players have gotten more creative with the names and gameplay. Today, a poker strategy cheat sheet ranks possible hands from the strongest (royal flush) to the weakest (High Card). However, one of the first things that must be learned is poker hand names.
Knowing poker hand names and their value is essential for every player. It will help you get along in a poker room with several pro gamblers. Today’s casino news takes a look at several poker hand names commonly used by players around the globe.
Poker Hand Names: Common Names for Pocket Pairs
Poker hand names provide a standardized way of referring to different hand strengths. They allow players to communicate and understand each other easily, regardless of their native language or background. Standardized names make it easier to discuss and compare hands in poker strategy, analysis, and discussions. They also help in conveying information quickly and concisely. Instead of describing a hand with a lengthy explanation, players can simply mention the name of the hand, and others will understand its relative strength and significance.
Other reasons why people use poker hand names include tradition, history, and strategic discussions.
In all poker casino games, pocket pairs are poker hands with two cards of the same rank. Pocket Aces (AA) are the strongest pocket pairs, while Two-Two ranks lowest in hand value.
The following are the most popular nicknames for pocket pairs in poker.
Poker Hand Names: K – 9 pairs
Aces (A-A)
The best poker starting hand has gotten several nicks over the years. A pair of Aces, popularly known as “Bullets,” originated from the Old Wild West with many cowboys and gunfights because AA looks like two bullets.
Make sure you have a pair of Aces because the AA batteries will charge you for an exciting round of Mississippi Stud Poker (which can be played as a practice in the Mississippi Stud Online demo version of the game). Pocket Rockets, Apollo 11, Teepee, American Airlines, Needles, and Snake Eyes are other poker hand names for a pair of Aces.
Kings (K-K)
The initials of the giant Skull Island ape are an excellent choice for naming a pair of Kings. You can also call it “Elvis Presley, ” the King of Rock ‘n Roll and a regular on the biggest stages in Vegas. Cowboys and Ace Magnets are other not common poker hand names for a pair of Kings.
Queens (Q-Q)
Ladies, Bitches, and Calamity Jane
Jacks (J-J)
Brothers, Fishhooks, and John Juanda (American Poker gambler with 5 WSOP bracelets and millions of dollars in winnings)
Ten-Ten (10-10)
This is a strong hand, p.k.a. Train Tracks (an old Western reference), Dynamite, Dimes (10 cents in the US), and Tension.
Nine-Nine (9-9)
Wayne Gretzky (the legendary hockey player who wore no. 99), Popeyes (remember the arm muscle of this cartoon character?) And Phil Hellmuth (the poker player who won the 1989 WSOP main event with this pair).
Poker Hand Names: 8 – 2 pairs
Eight-Eight (8-8)
Racetracks, Infinity (8 turned sideways), Pretzels, Snowmen, and Piano Keys (a piano has 88 keys) are popular poker hand names for a pair of 8.
Seven-Seven (7-7)
Hockey Sticks (upside down 7), Candy Canes, Axes, and Walking Sticks are nicks that stand out for a pocket 7.
Pocket Six (6-6)
It’s hard to deny that 66 looks like boots and cherries. Route 66 (Chicago to LA) is another nick for this pocket pair.
Five-Five (5-5)
If you have a pocket 5, you can call that hand nickels (equals 5 cents), snakes, or Speed Limit (the former maximum speed in the US – 55mph).
Pocket Four (4-4)
Magnum (the famous .44 handgun), Sailboats (identical to the two sails on a boat), and Darth Vader (from Star Wars, May the “Fours” be with you).
Three-Three (3-3)
There aren’t many, but a pair of 3s are also known as Crabs (the pincers on this crustacean), Lucky Dragons, and Treys (the 14th-century French nickname for a card or die with three points).
Two-Two (2-2)
The worst pocket pair has a few aliases: Deuces (from Deux, the number 2 in French), Desmond (Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ducks, and Richard Nixon (his two victory signs).
These are all the poker hand names we have on pocket pairs. There are various nicknames for several other card pairs: Ace-King, King-Two, Ten-Two, Nine-Five, Three-Two, etc.
Kalashnikov is a slang term for an Ace-King pair (AK) named after the designer of the AK-47, Michael Jordan wore the No. 32 in his NBA career, and Dolly Parton starred in the movie “9 to 5.”
Final Thoughts
There is at least one poker hand name for any possible pair of cards. Feel free to comment on your favorite hand aliases not included above. You can practice betting limits in poker by playing at Vegas Aces Casino. In addition, ensure you understand the games you play by reading about them in the multiple casino content available for you, like the Pai Gow poker guide, a poker bluffing guide, and many more, before gambling with real money. Gamble responsibly!
If you want further context into the notable benefits of playing online poker free games, keep your eyes peeled on Vegas Aces Casino, and share this with your friends on social media.
