Blocker
The term blocker is normally intended for a player who, in a game of community card poker, is holding one of the outs of an opponent. In community card poker, players are dealt an incomplete hand. A certain set of cards, called community cards, are placed facing up, in the center of the table. Players can use these cards, in any combination, to complete their hands. Applicable in draw poker only, players may discard their blocker cards for others to pick up.
A blocker comes into play when a straight or a straight draw comes into the equation. The cards(s) that an opponent requires to complete his hand for a straight or straight draw (commonly referred to as “Outs”) may be held by another player who, in such a scenario, prevents the former from completing her/his hand, thus “blocking” their chance of winning the round.
An example of this situation would be a case where a person may hold 4 straight cards of the same suite, after including the community cards as well. However, the fifth card required to complete the straight draw may be held by another player. Similarly, in a straight, a different player may hold the two cards required to complete a straight. These cards are called blockers.
There is another definition of a blocker, which refers to having a combination of cards. For e.g. if the cards on the board are A-2-3, then if a player holds two 5s, then these two cards act as blockers for the straight.
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