Pocket cards
In poker, “pocket cards” refer to the two private cards dealt to each player at the start of a hand in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Unlike community cards placed face-up in the center of the table, pocket cards are dealt face-down, visible only to the player holding them. These hidden cards form the foundation of a player’s hand and strategy, as they combine with community cards to make the best possible five-card hand. Players often refer to strong pocket pairs, like pocket aces or kings, as “premium hands” because they hold a competitive edge from the start.