to play poker / to bluff
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to play poker
To play the card game poker, in which players bet on the strength of their own hand in order to win a shared pot.
Jeden zweiten Freitag treffen wir uns mit Freunden, um die ganze Nacht zu pokern.
Every other Friday, we meet up with friends to play poker all night.
to bluff / take risks
In a figurative sense: to take risks, bluff, and hide one's own intentions or weaknesses in an uncertain situation (e.g., in negotiations) in order to achieve a better result.
Bei den Vertragsverhandlungen hat sie hoch gepokert und am Ende alle ihre Forderungen durchgesetzt.
In the contract negotiations, she played a high-stakes game and ultimately pushed through all her demands.
The verb 'pokern' (to play poker) is derived directly from the name of the card game 'Poker'. With the ending '-n', it is conjugated like a regular German verb.
Am Wochenende pokern wir oft mit Freunden.
On weekends, we often play poker with friends.
You can recognize the literal meaning (the card game) from contexts involving games, leisure, or cards. The figurative meaning (to bluff, to take risks) appears in contexts such as business, politics, or negotiations.
Wir haben die ganze Nacht Karten gespielt und gepokert.
We played cards and poker all night.
If you want to express what is being played for, use the preposition 'um' followed by the accusative.
Die Freunde saßen am Tisch und pokerten um kleine Geldbeträge.
The friends sat at the table and played poker for small amounts of money.
In the figurative meaning, 'pokern' (to bluff / take risks) is often combined with the adverb 'hoch' (high). 'Hoch pokern' means to take a big risk in order to achieve a high goal.
Der Manager pokerte hoch, als er die riskante Investition tätigte.
The manager took a big gamble when he made the risky investment.
to game / gamble
Zocken and pokern can both describe risky behavior. Zocken is colloquial and emphasizes speculative risk-taking in the hope of making a profit. Pokern emphasizes a more strategic approach in which someone bluffs or conceals their intentions.
Bei der Preisverhandlung pokert Ben und verschweigt seine höchste Zahlungsbereitschaft.
Ben is playing his cards close to his chest in the price negotiation and is not revealing the most he is willing to pay.
Beim Kauf der riskanten Aktien zockt Ben auf einen schnellen Gewinn.
By buying the risky stocks, Ben is gambling on making a quick profit.
