Soft play

Also: soft-playing

Going easy on a particular opponent — checking down a strong hand against a friend, or not betting when you normally would — which cheats everyone else at the table out of the chips that player should have lost. Explicitly banned in tournaments.

Example. Checking the nuts on the river against your backer is soft play, and a floor call.

Related terms

Full glossary

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Ante

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Big blind

The larger of the two forced bets posted before the cards are dealt, by the player two seats to the left of th…

Blinds

The two forced bets (small blind and big blind) posted by the players to the left of the button before any car…

Board

The community cards in the middle of the table that every player can use: the flop (three cards), the turn (fo…

Button

The dealer position, marked by a round disc that moves one seat clockwise every hand. The button acts last on …