Blocker
阻挡牌
A blocker is a card you hold that makes it less likely an opponent has a particular hand or range. For example, holding the A♠ blocks your opponent from having the nut flush. Blocker effects are important in preflop 3-bet and 4-bet decisions, river bluff selection, and calling frequencies. Understanding combinatorial blocking effects is a key advanced poker skill.
Example
On a board with three spades, holding the A♠ in your hand is a powerful blocker — your opponent cannot have the nut flush.
Related Terms
More Advanced Terms
Board Texture
The composition and characteristics of the community cards on the board.
Polarized Range
A range consisting of very strong hands and bluffs, with few medium-strength holdings.
Range Advantage
When one player's range has more strong hands than their opponent's range on a given board.
Solver
Software that calculates game theory optimal solutions for specific poker scenarios.
MDF (Minimum Defense Frequency)
The minimum percentage of your range you must defend to prevent opponent from profiting with any two cards.
Nut Advantage
When one player's range contains more of the strongest possible hands than the opponent's.