Poker hand nicknames: Big Slick, Cowboys, Ladies and more
Poker players give many starting hands nicknames. Knowing them helps you follow table talk, commentary and strategy articles. Here are the most common ones.
Pocket pairs
Section titled “Pocket pairs”| Hand | Nickname(s) |
|---|---|
| A-A | Pocket Rockets, Bullets |
| K-K | Cowboys |
| Q-Q | Ladies |
| J-J | Hooks, Fishhooks |
| 10-10 | Dimes |
| 8-8 | Snowmen |
| 7-7 | Hockey Sticks |
| 6-6 | Route 66 |
| 5-5 | Speed Limit |
| 3-3 | Crabs |
| 2-2 | Ducks, Deuces |
Unpaired hands
Section titled “Unpaired hands”| Hand | Nickname |
|---|---|
| A-K | Big Slick |
| A-Q | Big Chick |
| K-Q | Marriage (often suited) |
| K-J | Kojak |
| 7-2 offsuit | The Hammer (the worst hand) |
| 10-2 | Doyle Brunson (he famously won two World Series of Poker Main Events with it) |
Famous made hands
Section titled “Famous made hands”- Dead Man’s Hand: two pair, aces and eights, the hand Wild Bill Hickok is said to have held when he was shot.
- The Wheel: A-2-3-4-5, the lowest straight.
- Broadway: 10-J-Q-K-A, the highest straight.
Nicknames don’t change the strategy
Section titled “Nicknames don’t change the strategy”A hand’s name doesn’t make it better. “Big Slick” is still an unpaired hand that misses most flops: see ace-king. For how to play the big pairs, see pocket aces, pocket kings, pocket queens and pocket jacks. More terms are in the poker glossary.
Why is A-K called Big Slick?
Section titled “Why is A-K called Big Slick?”It’s a traditional nickname for ace-king; the hand looks big but often misses the flop.
What are Cowboys in poker?
Section titled “What are Cowboys in poker?”Pocket kings, K-K.
What is the Hammer in poker?
Section titled “What is the Hammer in poker?”7-2 offsuit, usually considered the worst starting hand.
What is the Dead Man’s Hand?
Section titled “What is the Dead Man’s Hand?”Two pair, aces and eights, linked to the legend of Wild Bill Hickok.