Poker hand nicknames add color and character to the game. From the iconic "Dead Man's Hand" to creative monikers like "Darth Vader" and "Honeymoon in Vegas," these names link poker hands to history, pop culture, real people, and more.
We've compiled an extensive list of nicknames for poker hands below. Discover the stories behind these creative names as you explore poker lingo.
Highlights
● Pocket aces, the strongest starting hand, have been called everything from "Bullets" to "Santa Clauses."
● The ace-king ("Big Slick") combo is nicknamed "Walking Back to Houston" due to players betting big and losing with it.
● Drawing a king and queen suited is nicknamed "Marriage." Drawing them unsuited is called a "Mixed Marriage."
● Pocket jacks earned names like “Fishhooks” and “Brothers” due to their appearance. But they can be a “Danger Hand” that loses to higher cards.
● Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event with a 5-4 offsuit, now often called the “Moneymaker.”
● Doyle Brunson frequently played the T-2 starting hand because he won the WSOP Main Event two years in a row with it in 1976 and 1977. Thus it's called the "Texas Dolly."
A-X Nicknames
Pocket Aces
● Bullets
● American Airlines
● Pocket Rockets
● Santa Clauses
● Snake Eyes
● Weapons of Mass Destruction
AK ("Big Slick")
● Anna Kournikova
● Big Ugly (offsuit)
● Walking Back to Houston
AQ ("Big Chick")
● Big Slut
● Rocket Queen
AJ
● Apple Jacks
● Blackjack
AT
● Bookends
● Johnny Moss
A9
● Rounders/McDermott
● Gimp
A8
● Dead Man's Hand
A7
● Slapshot
A6
● Mile High Club
A5
● High Five
A4
● Fake Aces
● Broken Aces
A3
● Baskin Robbins
● Ashtray
A2
● Acey Deucey
● Little Slick
K-X Nicknames
Pocket Kings
● Cowboys
● King Kong
● Ace Magnets
KQ ("Marriage")
● Ferdinand and Isabella
● Divorce (if unsuited)
KJ (Bachelor)
● Just Kidding/Joking
● King John
KT
● Big Al
● Ike Turner
K9
● Canine
● Rin Tin Tin
K5
● Knives
● Seattle Special
K3
● King Crab
● Sizzler
K2
● King Fritz
● Donald
Q-X Nicknames
Pocket Queens
● Ladies
● Bitches (if loses)
● Mop Squeezers
QJ
● Maverick
● Quack
QT
● Cutie
● Tina Turner
Q9
● Quinine
● Frigid Bitch
Q7
● Dike
● Computer Hand
Q6
● Nesquik
● Quix
Q5
● Granny Mae
Q3
● Gay Waiter
● Windsor Waiter
Q2
● Daisy
● Queen Elizabeth
J-X Nicknames
Pocket Jacks
● Fishhooks
● Brothers
● Danger Hand
JT
● Justin Timberlake
● Greek Passport
J9
● Braggarts
● Virgin Princess
J8
● Jeffrey Dahmer
● Jacket
J7
● Jack Daniels
● Dice
J6
● Railroad Tracks
● Jack Sikma
J5
● Jackson Five
● The Meat
J4
● Flat Tire
● Austin Squatty
J3
● Lumberjack
● Minus Michael
J2
● The Prince and the Pauper
● Jack Shit
10-X Nicknames
Pocket Tens
● Dynamite
● Audi
● Speed Limit
T9
● Countdown
T7
● Bowling Hand
● Daniel Negreanu
T6
● Sweet 16
● Tennessee Ernie Ford
T5
● Five and Dime
● Woolworths
T3
● Hot Waitress
T2
● Texas Dolly
● Terminator 2
Miscellaneous Nicknames
● 99 ("Party Hardy")
● 22 ("Ducks")
● 32 ("The Nut Low")
● 54 (Moneymaker)
● 55 ("Snakes")
● 69 ("The Dirty")
● 72 (W.H.I.P.)
● 87 (Crosby)
● 98 (Oldsmobile)
We've only scratched the surface of poker's vibrant lingo. As you play more hands, you'll pick up even more entertaining nicknames.
Now let's dive deeper into the stories and meanings behind some of poker's classic hands.
The Tales Behind the Top Starting Hands
Dead Man's Hand
On August 2, 1876, gunslinger "Wild Bill" Hickok was shot dead while playing poker with his back turned. According to legend, his final hand was the ace of spades and ace of clubs, paired with two black eights.
This gave birth to the infamous "Dead Man's Hand." It's considered an omen of bad luck by some, but that doesn't stop players from treasuring aces and eights.
Pocket Bullets
The ace is the highest card in poker, making pocket aces a powerful starting hand. Nicknamed "pocket rockets" or "bullets," players love seeing them, though their rarity makes them a once-in-a-while treat.
Fun fact: Despite their strength, pocket aces lose one third of the time because at least one ace hits the board by the river roughly one third of the time.
Big Slick
An ace plus a king makes for a slick combination known as "Big Slick." It's an excellent starting hand, but the lack of suits means it can be slippery.
As the nickname "Walking Back to Houston" suggests, Texas players tend to lose big pots playing ace-king, left walking home empty handed.
Texas Dolly
This hand was the foundation of Doyle Brunson’s Main Event victories in 1976 and 1977. He regularly played the T-2 cards, unusual since it's one of the worst starting hands.
Brunson proved nines and treys can win bracelets, and the T-2 starting hand took on his nickname, Texas Dolly.
Final Thoughts
Poker nicknames link hands to history, real people, pop culture, and more. They add flair and fun to the game while providing a common language for poker enthusiasts.
Hopefully this guide provides helpful background on some of poker's classic nicknames. The next time someone refers to "Hooters" or "Speed Limit" at the table, you'll be in the know!
