Mobile Poker Glossary: 80+ Essential Terms Every Club App Player Must Know

A countdown timer that limits how long a player can take before making a decision. In mobile clubs, this timer is commonly called calltime and is usually shorter than on desktop platforms — typically 15–30 seconds — to keep the pace fast on small screens. Club admins can often adjust the calltime per table.

An intermediary between the player and the club. The agent processes deposits and withdrawals, negotiates rakeback terms, and is responsible for the player's chip balance within the club. Choosing a trusted agent is one of the most important decisions in mobile poker.

→ See Union.

A cash-game format where every player posts a forced ante each hand in addition to (or instead of) traditional blinds. Many mobile clubs offer ante games to encourage looser play and bigger pots.

A visual or regional variant of a poker platform that runs on the same engine. For example, some operators license the PPPoker engine and offer their own branded version of the app.

A setting that automatically refills a player's stack to the maximum (or a preset) buy-in amount whenever it drops below a certain threshold. Most mobile poker apps offer this toggle at the table, saving players from manually rebuying between hands.

A progressive prize pool that triggers when a very strong hand (e.g., quad eights or better) loses at showdown. Not all clubs run a BBJ — it requires an extra micro-rake from each pot to fund the jackpot. When it hits, the payout typically splits between the losing hand (largest share), the winning hand, and all other players at the table.

A popular Omaha variant where each player receives 5 hole cards and the pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. Big O has grown significantly on ClubGG and PokerBros, especially in US-based unions.

A special hand where all players at the table post a predetermined ante and the action begins on the flop — no preflop betting round. On PPPoker and PokerBros, club admins can set bomb pot frequency (e.g., every 10th hand) and the ante size (2–10 big blinds).

Anti-cheating systems built into mobile poker apps that monitor player behavior patterns, timing tells, and decision consistency to identify automated play. Platforms like ClubGG and PPPoker invest heavily in these systems.

The maximum amount of chips a player can bring to a specific table. Club owners set buy-in caps to control game dynamics. A typical range is 50–200 big blinds.

A "cap game" limits the maximum bet size per hand (e.g., 30 BB cap), while an "uncapped" game has no such restriction — players can bet their entire stack at any time. Club admins choose the cap setting per table. Uncapped games are standard for NLH; cap structures are more common in PLO to control the size of pots.

An illegal practice where one player intentionally loses chips to another player at the table. Security teams on PPPoker, ClubGG, and PokerBros actively monitor for chip dumping and may ban offending accounts.

A private, invitation-only community of players within a mobile poker app. Each club has its own tables, rake structure, rules, and management. Clubs are the fundamental organizational unit on PPPoker, PokerBros, X-Poker, and ClubGG.

A person with elevated permissions inside a club who can create tables, set game parameters, approve new members, and perform chip transfers. Larger clubs may have multiple managers handling different tasks.

→ See Rake.

A unique numeric code that identifies a specific club within the app. Players need a Club ID (and often a Referral ID) to submit a join request. Club IDs are shared by agents and affiliates as the entry point to a club.

A form of cheating where two or more players secretly share information about their hands or coordinate their betting to gain an unfair advantage. Mobile poker apps use IP tracking, GPS data, and behavioral analysis to detect and penalize colluding accounts.

A metric used to measure live traffic in a club or union — it counts the total number of players currently seated at tables. When a union advertises "500+ connections," it means 500 player-seats are active across all its tables at that moment.

In-app virtual currency used for cosmetic purchases or entry fees on some platforms. Diamonds are separate from the chips used at poker tables and typically cannot be cashed out.

A built-in safeguard that handles what happens when a player loses internet connection during a hand. Most mobile apps auto-check or auto-fold after a set timeout, and some protect the player's hand through the current street if they are all-in. The exact rules vary between platforms.

A game variant where two separate community boards are dealt simultaneously and the pot is split between the best hand on each board. Double-board bomb pots have become popular on ClubGG and PPPoker.

An animated reaction (thumbs up, laugh, angry face, etc.) that players can send at the table during a hand. Emotes are a core social feature on mobile poker apps, replacing the chat box of traditional online poker.

A PPPoker feature that lets a player receive their expected value immediately when all-in, instead of waiting for the remaining community cards to be dealt. The app calculates each player's equity in the pot and distributes the chips accordingly. Unlike Insurance, which is a side bet you choose to take, EV Cashout replaces the runout entirely. It reduces variance and speeds up play — especially popular in PLO games with large all-in pots.

A feature that lets a player "insure" their hand when all-in and ahead. The app calculates the player's equity and offers an immediate partial cash-out — if the opponent draws out, the insured player still receives the payout; if the opponent misses, a small premium is deducted. Insurance is one of the signature features of mobile club apps and is rarely found on traditional online poker sites. The exact terms (premium, minimum pot size) are set by the club admin.

The overall player pool in a club or union. When someone says "the field is soft," they mean the average skill level of opponents is low. Evaluating field quality is a major reason players switch between clubs and unions.

A tournament format where the first stage is an all-in "flip" — every player is dealt cards, the board runs out, and survivors advance to a standard tournament. This high-variance format is available on ClubGG and some PPPoker clubs, offering fast action and big prize pools with minimal time commitment.

Slang for a weak or inexperienced player who loses money consistently. In the mobile club ecosystem, fish are the lifeblood of the economy — clubs and unions that attract a large fish population are considered "soft" and highly desirable. See also Rec.

A security feature that prevents players at the same physical location from sitting at the same table. GPS checks help combat collusion. Some apps also use IP-based restrictions for the same purpose.

A temporary, unverified account that some apps allow players to use before completing full registration. Guest accounts typically have limited features and may be unable to join clubs.

A third-party tool that transforms hand history files from mobile poker apps into a format compatible with tracking software like PokerTracker or Hand2Note. Since each app uses a proprietary HH format, a converter is essential for players who want to analyze their play in a database. Popular converters include PPPoker-to-PT4 and PokerBros HH Converter.

A text-based record of every action in a played hand. Most mobile poker apps provide hand histories, though the format and level of detail varies. Some platforms email HH files; others let players download them within the app.

A visual, animated playback of a completed hand. Unlike a raw hand history, a hand replay shows the cards and action on a virtual table. On PokerBros and PPPoker, players can replay recent hands directly in the app.

A real-time statistical overlay that shows opponent tendencies (VPIP, PFR, aggression, etc.) during play. HUDs are banned or technically blocked on virtually all mobile poker platforms, unlike traditional desktop poker sites.

A security measure that prevents multiple accounts from the same IP address from sitting at the same table. Combined with GPS Restriction, it is one of the main anti-collusion tools built into mobile poker apps.

A lottery-style sit-and-go tournament (usually 3 players) where the prize pool is randomly determined by a multiplier before the game starts — it can range from 2× to 1,000× the buy-in or more. Jackpot SNGs are a major traffic driver on ClubGG and PPPoker.

A ranking system within a club or union that tracks top-performing players over a set period (weekly, monthly). Many clubs use leaderboards to distribute bonus prizes and incentivize volume.

Playing at more than one table simultaneously. Mobile apps generally restrict multi-tabling to 2–4 tables due to screen limitations. PC clients for PPPoker and ClubGG support up to 4–5 tables.

A tournament format where players are distributed across multiple tables that gradually merge as eliminations occur. Mobile clubs run MTTs with various structures — freezeout, re-entry, bounty, and turbo. MTT schedules and guarantees are set by the club or union admin.

A player who plays an extremely tight, risk-averse style — entering very few pots and almost never bluffing. Nits typically have a VPIP below 15%. In mobile clubs, overly nitty regs may be flagged by club owners or unions and asked to leave, because they extract value without contributing to a fun table atmosphere.

The most widely played poker format on mobile club apps. Abbreviated as NLH in lobbies and club descriptions. Stakes are listed in blind format (e.g., NLH 1/2 means $1 small blind / $2 big blind).

A poker variant where players arrange 13 cards into three hands (top, middle, bottom). OFC is widely available on mobile club apps and is especially popular in Asian player pools.

The difference between a tournament's guaranteed prize pool and the total buy-ins actually collected. When a tournament doesn't attract enough entries to meet its guarantee, the club or union covers the shortfall — that extra money is the overlay. Overlays are common in mobile club MTTs and represent free equity for the players who do enter.

The time window when the most tables and players are active in a club or union. Peak hours depend on the geographic makeup of the player pool — for US-heavy unions, peak is typically 1 PM – 9 PM EST.

A statistic measuring how often a player raises before the flop, expressed as a percentage. Along with VPIP, PFR is one of the two fundamental stats used to profile opponents. While HUDs are banned on mobile apps, players can review their own PFR in session stats and hand history analysis tools.

The standard 4-card Omaha variant and the second most popular cash game format on mobile clubs after NLH. PLO4 tables typically run at higher stakes and attract action-oriented players. Abbreviated as PLO or PLO4 in club lobbies.

Pot-Limit Omaha variants where each player is dealt 5 or 6 hole cards instead of the standard 4. These "big Omaha" formats have exploded in popularity on ClubGG and are now a staple of many mobile unions.

A table within a club that is only visible or accessible to specific invited members, not the entire club. Club owners use private tables to organize higher-stakes games or exclusive sessions.

A feature that reveals what the remaining community cards would have been after a hand ends before the river — so you can see if your draw would have hit. Rabbit hunting is available as a per-hand toggle or a global setting on most mobile apps. It has no impact on the outcome and is purely for entertainment.

The fee taken by the club from each pot, expressed as a percentage with a cap (e.g., 5% up to 3 BB). Rake is the primary revenue source for club owners. On mobile apps, rake structure is set at the club level and can vary between tables.

A rebate returned to the player as a percentage of the rake they generated. Rakeback is negotiated through agents and typically ranges from 10% to 50% depending on the club, union, and the player's volume.

The portion of collected rake that goes to the agent for each player they bring to the club. The agent's rakeback offer to players comes directly out of this rake share, so agents with a larger share can offer better deals.

Short for "recreational player" — someone who plays poker primarily for fun rather than profit. Recs are the backbone of the mobile club economy. Clubs and unions actively work to attract and retain recs through soft game management, bomb pots, splash pots, and a fun social atmosphere. See also Fish, Whale.

A secondary code (in addition to the Club ID) that links a new player to a specific agent when joining a club. Using the correct Referral ID ensures the player receives the rakeback deal associated with that agent.

A player who plays consistently at the same stakes and tables, usually as a primary or secondary source of income. Regs are identified by high volume, tight-aggressive stats, and predictable session schedules. Some mobile clubs limit the number of regs or ban winning regs entirely to protect the recreational player base. See also Shark, Nit.

An option where, during an all-in situation, the remaining community cards are dealt twice, and the pot is split based on the outcome of both runouts. RIT is available on most mobile poker apps as a mutual opt-in feature.

An extended version of Run It Twice where the remaining board is dealt three times and the pot is divided into thirds. Available on select platforms and tables, RIT3 reduces variance even further and is especially popular among high-stakes PLO players in mobile clubs.

The algorithm that shuffles and deals cards. Reputable mobile poker apps (PPPoker, ClubGG) have their RNG certified by independent laboratories such as GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) to ensure fair dealing.

A third-party script or bot that automatically joins tables as soon as a seat opens, bypassing the manual wait list. Seat scripts give users an unfair advantage in table selection and are banned on all major mobile poker platforms. Detection and punishment vary — some apps issue warnings, others permanently ban offending accounts.

Built-in statistics that mobile apps display after (or during) a playing session — typically showing hands played, win rate, VPIP, PFR, biggest pot won, and total profit/loss. Session stats are the mobile player's substitute for a full HUD and database tracking.

The process by which a player's chip balance is converted into real money and paid out (or collected) at the end of a session or settlement period. Settlements are handled by the agent, not the app itself. Settlement frequency (daily, weekly) and payment method vary by club.

A highly skilled, profitable player who consistently wins over the long run. In the mobile club context, sharks are both valued (they generate rake) and feared (they drain chips from recreational players). Some unions actively monitor and restrict sharks to maintain a soft player pool. See also Reg, Nit.

A Hold'em variant played with a 36-card deck (all 2s through 5s are removed). Short Deck is widely available on PPPoker, PokerBros, and ClubGG and features a modified hand ranking where a flush beats a full house.

A tournament that starts as soon as a set number of players register (e.g., 6 or 9), with no scheduled start time. SNGs are a staple of mobile poker apps. Formats include regular, turbo, hyper-turbo, and the popular Jackpot SNG (spin) variant.

Temporarily stepping away from the table without leaving your seat. The app folds your hand automatically each round. Most mobile clubs impose a sit-out timer — if you are away for too long (typically 10–15 minutes), you are removed from the table.

A game or player pool where the average skill level is relatively low, making it more profitable for experienced players. Finding soft games is one of the main reasons players use agents and join specific unions.

A promotional pot where the club adds extra chips from its own balance into a random hand, boosting the pot size at no cost to the players. Splash pots are used by club owners to attract and retain players. Similar in spirit to a bomb pot, but funded by the club rather than the players.

An arrangement where one person (the staker/backer) provides the bankroll for another player (the horse) in exchange for a share of the profits. Staking is extremely common in mobile poker clubs, and many agents also operate staking groups.

A voluntary blind bet (usually 2× the big blind) posted before cards are dealt. Straddles increase the action and effective stakes. PPPoker and PokerBros support straddle options that can be enabled by club admins.

An agent who operates under a primary agent, recruiting players and handling their transactions. Sub-agents receive a smaller rake share and act as an additional layer in the player–club relationship.

Informal term for a player or bot that systematically moves between tables looking for the weakest opponents or most favorable seat positions. Anti-sweeping rules and detection are part of security efforts in many unions.

The practice of choosing which table to join based on the skill level, stack sizes, and playing tendencies of the opponents already seated. On mobile apps with a lobby, table selection is limited by the number of active tables and club rules.

A club management feature that lets admins set tables to open and close on a fixed schedule — for example, auto-starting a PLO table every evening at 8 PM and closing it at 2 AM. Table timers help clubs maintain consistent traffic patterns and ensure games run during peak hours without requiring a manager to be online.

An extra pool of seconds a player can use when the standard action clock runs out. Time bank reserves are usually capped (e.g., 60 extra seconds per session) and do not replenish until the next session.

Desktop software that imports and analyzes hand histories to provide detailed statistics on your play and your opponents' tendencies. Since mobile poker apps ban HUDs, trackers are used for off-table review only. Players typically export HH files from the app and use a hand converter to import them into PokerTracker 4 or Hand2Note.

The overall number of active players and running tables in a club or union at any given time. "Good traffic" means there are consistently enough players to fill tables across multiple stakes and game types.

A network of multiple clubs that share a common player pool, table lobby, and chip rate. Unions allow players from different clubs to sit at the same tables, dramatically increasing traffic. Examples include Diamond Union (PokerBros) and UTG (ClubGG).

A key statistic showing the percentage of hands in which a player voluntarily puts money into the pot (by calling or raising preflop). VPIP is the most commonly referenced stat for profiling opponents — a high VPIP (40%+) indicates a loose, recreational player; a low VPIP (15–20%) indicates a tight regular. While HUDs are banned on mobile apps, players can track their own VPIP in session stats.

Software that masks a player's real IP address and geographic location. While VPNs are commonly used to access clubs from restricted regions, many platforms consider VPN use a violation of their terms of service and may ban accounts caught using one.

A queue that players can join when a table is full. The app automatically seats the next player in line as soon as a seat opens. On mobile platforms, wait list notifications appear as push alerts, which is especially useful when multi-tabling or away from the app.

A recreational player who plays at high stakes and is willing to lose large amounts of money. Whales are the most sought-after players in the mobile club ecosystem — entire clubs and unions may revolve around keeping a single whale happy and engaged. Agents and club owners go to great lengths to attract and retain whales. See also Fish, Rec.