hole card

noun

1. Stud Poker. the card dealt face down in the first round of a deal.
2. something held in reserve until it can be used to advantage.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hole card¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Jan. 6-7 at Arizona: For much of the year this game has seemed like a winning hole card for the Seahawks to end the year.

From Seattle Times

The Seahawks also have the hole card of a win over the Giants, giving them the edge in any ties with New York.

From Seattle Times

In it, dozens of poker players alleged that Postle, while playing on the casino’s streamed games, was fed information about opponents’ hole cards in real time by an accomplice.

From Los Angeles Times

“Essentially she played a very bad hand in a way that suggested she could see her opponent’s hole cards,” said poker pro Matt Berkey, who runs a well-known poker coaching website.

From Los Angeles Times

And long-term, Seattle does have something of a hole card here if it really wanted to force the issue in the franchise tag after the 2022 season.

From Seattle Times