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There are two main ways the term ‘rag’ is used in poker. The first refers to the value of a player’s starting hole cards. Two cards that most average tight players would consider ‘junk’ or bad cards are considered rags. A few examples of severely ‘raggy’ hands would be 3 9, 4 J, 5 10 and other non-connected, non suited hands.

The term ‘rag’ also refers to poker cards that come on the flop, turn, or river, when the cards seem to ‘not connect’ to big cards or drawing hands. A rag flop would consist of low, disconnected unsuited cards. A ‘rag’ on the turn would be a low card that does not appear to fill in drawing hands, does not change the value of the top pair on board, does not complete a flush draw, etc. Another word for a ‘rag’ in this spot would be a ‘blank’ or a ‘miss.’

In general, a ‘rag’ on the turn is good for a online poker player who already has a made hand and believes he is defending his hand from a player who is drawing. This spot represents the opportunity for the player to continue to bet and protect his hand. A ‘blank’ hitting the board usually does not change the outcome of the hand except to encourage further betting, or if a player still in the hand had a severely disguised draw (ie: they stay in the hand with an underpair and end up turning a ’set’).