KEY TAKEAWAYS
Poker players love to rename their hole cards. A pair of aces becomes pocket rockets, ace-king becomes big slick, and a hand as ordinary as ten-two carries the name of a legend. These names are shorthand, and they turn up in live card rooms, in commentary and in online chat. This glossary defines 26 of the best-known nicknames for Texas hold’em starting hands, with the cards each one names, an example of use and its origin when a source supports one. The entries are grouped into four sets: pocket pairs, ace and face-card hands, hands named after people and events, and number puns and jokes. Nicknames are informal and vary by table and region, so many hands have more than one name, and some names are used for more than one hand. Betting vocabulary is covered separately in the poker betting terms glossary.
Pocket Pair Nicknames
A pocket pair is two hole cards of the same rank, and pairs collect nicknames from the shape or sound of the cards.
Pocket Rockets
Definition: The nickname for a pair of aces as hole cards (AA), the highest possible pocket pair. The name is commonly explained by the resemblance of the letter A to a rocket.
Example: “I picked up pocket rockets in the cutoff.”
Related names: bullets, American Airlines. The shape explanation is popular but not confirmed.
Bullets
Definition: Another nickname for pocket aces (AA). A sideways A is said to look like a bullet.
Example: “Bullets again? That is the second time tonight.”
Related names: pocket rockets. Aces are also called bullets as single cards.
American Airlines
Definition: A nickname for pocket aces (AA), taken from the initials of the U.S. airline. It is a pun on the letters, not a reference to the airline’s business.
Example: “He showed American Airlines and took the pot.”
Register: jokey, mostly casual home games and commentary.
Cowboys
Definition: The nickname for a pair of kings as hole cards (KK). The name is often explained by the similar opening sound of king and cowboy.
Example: “Cowboys held up against ace-queen.”
Origin uncertain. Related names: king kong.
King Kong
Definition: A nickname for pocket kings (KK), built on the repeated K and the big gorilla of the film.
Example: “I look down and see King Kong.”
Register: jokey. Related names: cowboys.
Ladies
Definition: The nickname for a pair of queens as hole cards (QQ), from the other name for the queen cards. The name is traditional and widely understood.
Example: “Ladies are tough to play when an ace and a king show up.”
Related names: hilton sisters, flower girls, and other regional versions.
Hooks
Definition: The nickname for a pair of jacks as hole cards (JJ). The curved shape of the letter J resembles a fishhook.
Example: “He raised with hooks from early position.”
Also called fishhooks and, in some places, one-eyed jacks.
Dimes
Definition: A nickname for a pair of tens as hole cards (TT). A dime is a ten-cent coin, so two tens are two dimes.
Example: “Dimes were good against his ace-jack.”
Register: informal. Related names: tens.
Snowmen
Definition: The nickname for a pair of eights as hole cards (88). The digit 8 resembles a snowman made of two stacked circles.
Example: “I flopped a set with snowmen.”
Also called pocket snowmen and, in some rooms, piano keys, since a piano has 88 keys.
Sailboats
Definition: A nickname for a pair of fours as hole cards (44). The shape of the digit 4 is said to resemble a sailboat.
Example: “I called with sailboats and hit my set.”
Also called colt .44, magnum and other names.
Ducks
Definition: The nickname for a pair of twos as hole cards (22), the lowest possible pocket pair. A 2 is thought to look like a swimming duck.
Example: “I limped in with ducks and saw a flop.”
Related names: deuces. Twos are also called ducks as single cards.
Ace and Face-Card Nicknames
Unpaired hands with an ace or a face card collect their own names, many of them wordplay on the card letters.
Big Slick
Definition: The nickname for ace-king as hole cards (AK), the strongest unpaired starting hand in hold’em. It is called big slick whether the cards are suited or not.
Example: “Big slick missed the flop, so I checked.”
Origin uncertain. A popular explanation is that the hand looks strong but can slip away when it misses the board. Related names: anna kournikova.
Anna Kournikova
Definition: A nickname for ace-king (AK), built on the initials of tennis player Anna Kournikova. The usual joke is that the hand looks good but rarely wins.
Example: “I got Anna Kournikova again and lost the flip.”
Register: jokey. Related names: big slick.
Big Chick
Definition: The nickname for ace-queen as hole cards (AQ). It is a play on the word chick for a queen.
Example: “I three-bet with big chick and he folded.”
Register: informal. Related names: antony and cleopatra.
Ajax
Definition: A nickname for ace-jack as hole cards (AJ), based on the sound of the letters A and J.
Example: “I never like Ajax against a big raise.”
Register: informal pun.
Kojak
Definition: The nickname for king-jack as hole cards (KJ), from the sound of K-J and the name of the television detective.
Example: “Kojak got me into trouble against a queen-high flop.”
Register: informal pun. Related names: king john.
Marriage
Definition: The nickname for king-queen as hole cards (KQ), since the king and queen are royal partners. Suited versions are sometimes called a royal couple.
Example: “It was a mixed marriage, so I folded.”
Related names: royal couple; mixed marriage for off-suit.
Hunting Season
Definition: A nickname for ace-deuce as hole cards (A2), from the pairing of bullets (aces) and ducks (twos).
Example: “It was hunting season, and I raised from the button.”
Register: jokey. Related names: bullets, ducks.
Nicknames Named After People and Events
Some hands are named after the players, performances and stories that made them famous.
Doyle Brunson
Definition: The nickname for ten-deuce as hole cards (T2). It is named for poker player Doyle Brunson, who won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1976 and 1977 with that hand as his final holding.
Example: “He won with Doyle Brunson, the one hand nobody wants.”
Related names: texas dolly, ten-deuce, terminator 2. The name is a tribute, not a sign the hand is strong.
Moneymaker
Definition: The nickname for five-four as hole cards (54). It is named for Chris Moneymaker, who won the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event with that hand as his final holding.
Example: “Moneymaker flopped a straight draw.”
Related names: colt .45. The name is a tribute to a famous win.
Dead Man’s Hand
Definition: A hand of two pair, aces and eights, tied to a popular story that Wild Bill Hickok held it when he was shot at a card table. Accounts of the exact hand vary, and the story is better known than documented.
Example: “He showed aces and eights, the dead man’s hand.”
Origin: a popular but unconfirmed story. Related names: aces and eights.
Dolly Parton
Definition: A nickname for nine-five as hole cards (95), from the title of the song and film “9 to 5.” Some lists also use the name for pocket queens, so context matters.
Example: “I had Dolly Parton and bluffed the river.”
Register: jokey. Related names: nine to five.
Number and Pun Nicknames
These names come from number associations, shapes and wordplay rather than from people.
Speed Limit
Definition: A nickname for a pair of fives as hole cards (55), from the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit once set across the United States.
Example: “Speed limit is one hand I like to play.”
Register: informal. Related names: presto.
Route 66
Definition: The nickname for a pair of sixes as hole cards (66), from the famous U.S. highway.
Example: “I raised with Route 66 and saw a flop.”
Related names: kicks.
Heinz
Definition: A nickname for seven-five as hole cards (75), from the company’s old claim of 57 varieties, which uses the same digits in reverse.
Example: “I limped with Heinz and made a straight.”
Register: informal; the digits are reversed on purpose.
Beer Hand
Definition: A nickname for seven-deuce as hole cards (72), often called the worst starting hand in hold’em. Some players say the hand is only good for a beer.
Example: “Beer hand again, I folded.”
Register: jokey. Related names: seven-deuce.
Quick-Reference Table of Poker Hand Nicknames
Use this table to find a nickname fast. Each term links to its full entry above.
| Term | Short definition |
|---|---|
| Pocket Rockets | The nickname for a pair of aces as hole cards (AA), the highest possible pocket pair. |
| Bullets | Another nickname for pocket aces (AA). |
| American Airlines | A nickname for pocket aces (AA), taken from the initials of the U.S. airline. |
| Cowboys | The nickname for a pair of kings as hole cards (KK). |
| King Kong | A nickname for pocket kings (KK), built on the repeated K and the big gorilla of the film. |
| Ladies | The nickname for a pair of queens as hole cards (QQ), from the other name for the queen cards. |
| Hooks | The nickname for a pair of jacks as hole cards (JJ). |
| Dimes | A nickname for a pair of tens as hole cards (TT). |
| Snowmen | The nickname for a pair of eights as hole cards (88). |
| Sailboats | A nickname for a pair of fours as hole cards (44). |
| Ducks | The nickname for a pair of twos as hole cards (22), the lowest possible pocket pair. |
| Big Slick | The nickname for ace-king as hole cards (AK), the strongest unpaired starting hand in hold’em. |
| Anna Kournikova | A nickname for ace-king (AK), built on the initials of tennis player Anna Kournikova. |
| Big Chick | The nickname for ace-queen as hole cards (AQ). |
| Ajax | A nickname for ace-jack as hole cards (AJ), based on the sound of the letters A and J. |
| Kojak | The nickname for king-jack as hole cards (KJ), from the sound of K-J and the name of the television detective. |
| Marriage | The nickname for king-queen as hole cards (KQ), since the king and queen are royal partners. |
| Hunting Season | A nickname for ace-deuce as hole cards (A2), from the pairing of bullets (aces) and ducks (twos). |
| Doyle Brunson | The nickname for ten-deuce as hole cards (T2). |
| Moneymaker | The nickname for five-four as hole cards (54). |
| Dead Man’s Hand | A hand of two pair, aces and eights, tied to a popular story that Wild Bill Hickok held it when he was shot at a card table. |
| Dolly Parton | A nickname for nine-five as hole cards (95), from the title of the song and film “9 to 5.” Some lists also use the name for pocket queens, so context matters. |
| Speed Limit | A nickname for a pair of fives as hole cards (55), from the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit once set across the United States. |
| Route 66 | The nickname for a pair of sixes as hole cards (66), from the famous U.S. highway. |
| Heinz | A nickname for seven-five as hole cards (75), from the company’s old claim of 57 varieties, which uses the same digits in reverse. |
| Beer Hand | A nickname for seven-deuce as hole cards (72), often called the worst starting hand in hold’em. |
Related Glossaries
Betting actions such as raise, 3-bet and all-in are defined in Poker Betting Terms: 24 Definitions With Examples. Names for the people at the table, such as grinder and fish, are in Types of Gamblers: 24 Terms From Whales to Grinders. Short forms such as ITM and UTG are explained in Gambling Acronyms and Abbreviations: 24 Definitions, and money words like bankroll are covered in Gambling Money Terms: Bankroll, Stake, Vig and More.
