This week’s term is texture which refers to the composition of and how connected the community—or board—cards are with respect to their potential to complete draws or otherwise make a hand.

Texture is often referred to as wet or dry. A wet—or draw heavy—board is one with suited or otherwise connected community cards that provide many possibilities for straights, flushes, sets, or even full houses. For example, a K♥ J♥ 10♦ 9♦ 7♥ board would be considered wet.

Conversely, a dry board has few or no draw options because the cards are barely connected and/or rainbow (different suits). Thus, the fewer possible draws on a board, the drier it is said to be. For example, a 2♦ K♣ 7♥ 4♠ Q♦ board would be considered quite dry—bad for poker but great for martinis.