Top 10 hand nicknames for poker

There are lots of hand nicknames. But the best ones are phrases that either sound really good when you use them in a sentence, or have a cool story associated with them that you can tell your friends. Here's our Top 10 taken from pokerzone.com/dictionary/:

1. Steel Wheel

Winning with this hand, A-2-3-4-5 of the same suit, is the most of fun you'll ever have -- especially if you scoop both the low and the high in high-low games. All you have to do is say: "I beat you with a steel wheel" and you'll start giggling. Try it. It's lots of fun.

2. Aces and Spaces

This hand (A-A-rag-rag-rag) is on the other end of the spectrum. When you lose with this hand, just mutter in disgust "Damn Aces and spaces!"

3. Wayne Gretzky

Impress your friends with your sports knowledge by referring to pocket nines as Wayne Gretzky. The all-time hockey great's jersey number was 99.

4. Big Slick

It sounds good to say it. But more importantly, it feels good to see A-K staring up at you when you peek at your cards.

5. Darth Vader

This one is for the Star Wars geek in all of us. It means you have 4s-4c in the hole. DARK fours sounds like dark force and that leads to Darth Vader. Tell that story in right the company and they'll be suitably impressed.

6. Montana Banana

Another nickname with a cool story behind it. According to legend and lore, the hand (9-2) refers to the number (92) of the proposition that legalized poker in Montana. That would be a great story if it were true. But poker was legaized in Montana by the Card Games Act.

7. Motown

This one is subtle. It refers to hands with jacks and fives (J-5, J-J-5-5-, J-J-J-5-5). Jacks and Fives. Jakcson Five. A little Motown. Got to love it.

8. Flat Tire

This nickname for (J-4) answers the question "What's a jack for (four)?" Groan away, but it will go over well at your next home game.

9. Kojak

For those of you who have never seen the show, watch it. Telly Savalas was the epitome of cool, and it makes playing K-J quite fun.

10. Doyle Brunson

Hate the hand (10-2), love the man. Brunson, a poker legend, won back-to-back World Series of Poker championships with this hand. Each time, he won the showdown with 10s full of 2s.