Written by Ad OpsHistory and Breeding Background
Poker Face is a boutique hybrid bred by Top Dawg Seeds, the New York–born house best known for cementing the Chem family and Stardawg into modern cannabis culture. Top Dawg’s founder, JJ-NYC, has long prioritized pungent, fuel-forward terpene chemotypes with resilient growth and resin-heavy flowers. Within that context, Poker Face emerged as a high-impact, indica/sativa hybrid aimed at combining dense bag appeal with a layered, gas-forward aroma.
Top Dawg often keeps the nitty-gritty of certain crosses in-house, and Poker Face is one of those cultivars where the exact parentage has not been widely disclosed by the breeder. This secrecy is not uncommon in elite seed lines where IP protection and phenotype hunting are competitive advantages. What is documented is the breeder and the hybridized heritage, which aligns with Top Dawg’s track record of Chemdog-leaning profiles and OG-influenced structure.
From a market perspective, Poker Face occupies the niche of high-terpene, high-THC craft flower that appeals to both connoisseurs and extraction artists. The strain’s rise coincides with consumer demand for “gassy” cultivars, a trend highlighted in coverage of diesel-forward strains and their popularity in North American markets. While not every region reports identical preferences, dispensaries consistently note that fuel, pine, and skunk aromatics move quickly, and Poker Face was clearly bred with that demand in mind.
Culturally, the name “Poker Face” nods to a cool, composed exterior masking potent inner strength—an apt metaphor for a cut that looks frosted and elegant but can hit with stealthy force. Growers who have run Top Dawg gear often report phenotypes that smell louder than they appear—buds that seem calm on the hanger yet overwhelm the dry room with volatile terpenes. In that sense, Poker Face fits the Top Dawg narrative of refined yet relentless potency.
Genetic Lineage and Heritage
Poker Face is an indica/sativa hybrid, placing it squarely in the modern hybrid category rather than a landrace or purebred line. Leafly’s overview of indica vs. sativa vs. hybrid underscores that hybrids are associated with balanced effects, often described as simultaneously uplifting and relaxing depending on dose and context. Poker Face follows this template, with phenotypes that can lean slightly sedative in later stages of the experience while providing clear-headed onset.
While Top Dawg Seeds has not publicly standardized a lineage statement for Poker Face, the cultivar’s sensory footprint suggests influences common to the Chem/OG/Runtz-era palette—think fuel, pine, damp earth, and a faint volatile sweetness. This profile places Poker Face adjacent to diesel-leaning classics that consumers cluster under the “gas” label. Leafly’s coverage on diesel terpene lovers shows that such profiles are dominated by combinations of beta-caryophyllene, myrcene, limonene, and pinene, and Poker Face appears to live in that same aromatic neighborhood.
In terms of breeding goals, a balanced indica/sativa hybrid often targets a 50/50 split in growth traits: moderate internodal spacing, hearty lateral branching, and a medium stretch into flower. Breeders also select for a calyx-biased flower to improve trichome exposure and post-harvest trim efficiency. Poker Face exhibits these general hybrid intentions, producing stout, well-stacked colas that are not spindly but still vent air through the canopy.
Phenotypic variation should be expected with any seed release, and Poker Face is no exception. Growers report that some phenos pull toward a heavier, Chem-forward pungency with a more sedative finish, while others present brighter citrus-pine top notes and a slightly more energetic mid-curve. The stability is good for a modern hybrid, but phenotype selection is recommended if you are seeking a specific aroma or effect balance.
Bud Structure and Visual Appearance
Poker Face typically develops medium-dense, calyx-forward colas with a symmetrical, spear-to-egg shape depending on training. The calyx-to-leaf ratio in dialed-in rooms often lands around 60–70% calyx, which speeds hand-trim and helps sugar leaves sit close to the bud for minimal waste. Under high-intensity light, bracts swell notably in weeks 6–8 of flower, creating a layered, crystalline look.
Trichome coverage is a calling card. Expect thick jacketed glandular heads, with a visible carpet of capitate-stalked trichomes making the flowers glisten even before peak maturity. When cured correctly, the resin takes on a greasy sheen that’s prized for both hand rolls and mechanical extraction.
Coloration ranges from lime to forest green, sometimes with lavender or slate undertones when night temperatures drop 5–8°C below day temps in late flower. Rust-to-copper stigmas provide contrast as the buds mature, and sugar leaves may exhibit mild anthocyanin expression. The overall bag appeal is high, particularly when growers run elevated CO2 and maintain ideal vapor pressure deficit to encourage fat, symmetrical bracts.
Structure-wise, Poker Face plants tend to stack nodes in a way that rewards topping and low-stress training, producing multiple uniform tops rather than one dominant cola. Internodal spacing is moderate, so a good lollipop and defoliation pass around days 21 and 42 of flower helps push energy to the upper canopy. The result is a tidy, photogenic presentation that trims quickly and looks premium in a jar.
Aroma and Bouquet
Leafly’s Cannabis 101 materials emphasize that terpenes are the aromatic compounds driving plant scent and a big part of cannabis’ flavor and experiential nuance. Poker Face’s bouquet is archetypically “gassy,” a lay term covering sharper fuel/diesel notes blended with earthy forest floor, peppery spice, and citrus-pine top notes. The first impression is volatile and high-pitched—think fresh rubber and petrol—before subsiding into warm soil and resinous conifer.
Cracking a cured jar releases a top note reminiscent of lemon peel and white pepper, consistent with limonene and pinene supported by beta-caryophyllene. Secondary notes include sharp glue, diesel, and a faint sweet solvent character that often indicates a Chem-leaning terpene ensemble. As the bud airs, myrcene’s musky depth becomes more apparent, smoothing the sharper edges.
On the stem during late flower, the live-plant aroma leans pine-solvent and skunked citrus, particularly in warmer rooms where terpenes volatilize more readily. This living bouquet can dominate a dry room, so carbon filtration and negative pressure are a must in compliance-focused grows. For many cultivators, the aroma alone is the giveaway that Poker Face belongs in the Top Dawg family.
Aromatics are not static; they develop across drying and curing. At 60°F/60% RH dry conditions for 10–14 days, expect the bouquet to “round” noticeably, revealing deeper woody resin and sweet, almost pastry-like undertones beneath the fuel. This dynamic evolution reflects the known volatility and oxidation pathways of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes during post-harvest.
Flavor and Mouthfeel
Poker Face’s flavor tracks the nose closely, with a combustible profile that hits bright and gassy on the first draw and settles into pine-wood, pepper, and earthy cocoa. The front-palate spark is citrus-petrol, often described as lemon cleaner meets pump gas, which quickly rounds into a resinous pine cone and cracked pepper snap. On exhale, a faint sweet dough or caramelized note sometimes emerges, providing balance to the diesel edge.
Combustion quality is strongly linked to cure and water activity. Targeting 0.58–0.62 aw in sealed jars, with stable 58–62% RH packs, helps preserve terpenes and keeps the smoke cool and flavorful. Well-cured Poker Face burns to a light ash and produces a dense yet pliant smoke that carries flavor through the entire joint instead of collapsing into a “flat” second half.
In vaporizers set between 180–195°C, the flavor is cleaner and more segmented, with limonene and pinene popping first, followed by a deeper wave of myrcene and caryophyllene. Users report that lower-temp sessions emphasize the citrus and pine, while mid-temp sessions unlock the earthy, peppery spine. At higher temps above 205°C, expect a heavier, hash-like finish with a subdued top note.
Mouthfeel is medium-full, not acrid, with a lingering resinous coating that keeps the palate engaged. A single hit often leaves a cool pine aftertaste alongside a faint numbing sensation on the tongue, which frequent smokers associate with terp-dense Chem/OG descendants. Overall, Poker Face is a terp-lover’s strain that rewards thoughtful curing and mindful consumption temperatures.
Cannabinoid Profile and Potency
Top Dawg Seeds is renowned for potent modern hybrids, and Poker Face tracks accordingly as a THC-dominant cultivar with minimal CBD. In contemporary legal markets, flower lots frequently test in the 18–28% THC range, and Top Dawg phenotypes commonly cluster in the 20–26% band when grown under optimal conditions. While batch-to-batch results vary, it is reasonable to expect Poker Face to land above 20% total THC in dialed-in rooms.
CBD is typically sub-1% in this chemotype, often registering as “trace” on compliance certificates. Minor cannabinoids like CBG may appear around 0.3–1.0% depending on cut and ripeness, and THCV is usually present only in trace amounts (≤0.3%). These minor constituents, while small in proportion, can contribute to the overall ensemble effect alongside terpenes.
It is worth reiterating a point echoed in Leafly’s reporting on the strongest strains: potency isn’t just about THC percentage. Terpenes modulate perceived intensity and the qualitative shape of the high, and high-terpene lots often feel stronger than their THC alone predicts. For example, a 22% THC batch with 2.5% total terpenes frequently hits harder than a 26% THC batch with only 0.8% terpenes, illustrating the entourage effect at play.
For dosage context, a 0.1 g inhalation of 22% THC flower contains roughly 22 mg of THC, though inhalation bioavailability varies widely (10–35% in published ranges). That translates to an estimated 2–8 mg of absorbed THC per small bowl or a few joint puffs, enough for noticeable effects in most users. Consumers should scale by tolerance and setting, as Poker Face’s terpene density can accelerate onset and perceived intensity.
Terpene Profile and Functional Roles
Leafly’s terpene education explains that terpenes drive aroma and contribute to cannabis’ flavor and experiential character. In Poker Face, the dominant trio is frequently beta-caryophyllene, myrcene, and limonene, with supporting roles from alpha- and beta-pinene and humulene. In total, terpene content in well-grown flower often ranges between 1.5–3.0% by weight, with standout batches crossing the 3% threshold prized by connoisseurs.
Beta-caryophyllene is a spicy-sesquiterpene associated with black pepper and clove, and uniquely, it can bind to CB2 receptors, earning it a “dietary cannabinoid” nickname in the literature. Myrcene, musky and herbal, is commonly the highest-percentage terpene in many modern cultivars; it’s correlated with earthy depth and a relaxing finish. Limonene adds the citrus lift and perceived mood-brightening, often giving Poker Face its “spark” on the first few inhalations.
Pinene, both alpha and beta isomers, contribute the resinous pine needle quality and are frequently cited for supporting alertness and countering short-term memory fog in experiential reports. Humulene adds woody, hoppy dryness that keeps the profile from feeling cloying and may subtly influence appetite modulation. Leafly’s infographic on primary terpenes outlines these broad properties and lists strains where each terpene often dominates, offering a good reference frame for Poker Face’s ensemble.
Typical relative proportions in Poker Face look like this in terpene-forward test results: beta-caryophyllene 0.3–0.9%, myrcene 0.4–1.2%, limonene 0.2–0.6%, pinene (α+β) 0.1–0.4%, humulene 0.1–0.3%. These numbers vary by phenotype, medium, and post-harvest handling. Maintaining cool, slow-dry conditions and 58–62% RH cures preserves these fragile monoterpenes and prevents terpene burn-off that would otherwise flatten the bouquet.
For flavor seekers, Dutch Passion’s perspective on “terpene explosions” underscores why breeders and growers chase high-total-terpene cultivars. Poker Face aligns with that pursuit, and when grown in terpene-friendly conditions—moderate EC, careful temperature control, and minimal late-flower stress—it delivers the layered, gassy-citrus complexity today’s market values. The result is a sensory fingerprint that is both classic Chem/OG-adjacent and distinctly modern.
Experiential Effects
As a balanced hybrid, Poker Face tends to open with an alert, euphoric onset within 1–3 minutes of inhalation, followed by a steady glide into body ease over 45–90 minutes. The early phase is often characterized by mental clarity and a sharpened sensory field—music, texture, and flavor can feel more vivid. Mid-curve, a palpable relaxation sets into the shoulders and jaw while keeping the mind relatively linear, which many users describe as “focused calm.”
Dose intensity changes the character. Light sessions (1–2 small hits) emphasize limonene- and pinene-forward brightness, suitable for conversation or light creative tasks. Heavier sessions (4–6+ hits) bring out myrcene and caryophyllene’s gravitational pull, shifting the experience toward stillness and deep relaxation.
Duration typically runs 2–3 hours for most consumers, with residual calm lingering beyond the main arc. Novices may find the perceived potency higher than the THC percentage suggests, especially in terpene-rich batches. As Leafly’s discussions on strong strains note, terpenes can amplify and shape the high, and Poker Face is a textbook case of that synergy.
Side effects are standard for THC-forward hybrids: occasional dry mouth and dry eyes, with transient short-term memory fuzz at higher doses. The diesel-forward aroma can also be quite pungent in enclosed spaces, so discretion may be a consideration. As always, set and setting matter—comfortable environments and hydration help ensure a smooth ride.
Potential Medical Uses
Poker Face’s THC-dominant chemotype combined with a caryophyllene–myrcene–limonene core suggests potential utility for patients seeking relief from stress, transient low mood, and certain types of discomfort. The National Academies’ 2017 review concluded there is substantial evidence cannabis can help with chronic pain in adults, although individual responses vary and delivery method matters. In this context, Poker Face’s robust THC content may offer short-term analgesic effects for some patients when used responsibly.
Beta-caryophyllene’s CB2 receptor activity is of interest for inflammation-related conditions, and myrcene is frequently associated anecdotally with relaxation and body ease. Limonene has been explored for mood-elevating properties in aromatherapy contexts, aligning with reports that the first phase of Poker Face feels bright and cheerful. While these associations are promising, rigorous clinical trials on specific strain chemovars remain limited.
Patients dealing with appetite suppression may find benefit, as many diesel-forward hybrids stimulate hunger after the initial energetic lift. Sleep support may also be a use case at moderate-to-high doses, where myrcene’s relaxing pull and caryophyllene’s grounding presence become more pronounced late in the arc. Conversely, those prone to anxiety with high-THC cultivars should start with very low doses to assess tolerance.
Nothing in this section constitutes medical advice. Patients should consult healthcare professionals, consider their personal history with THC, and track responses over multiple sessions. Selecting batches with known terpene data can help patients correlate outcomes with caryophyllene, myrcene, and limonene levels, improving personal tailoring over time.
Comprehensive Cultivation Guide
Genotype and growth habit: Poker Face grows as a balanced hybrid with robust lateral branching and a medium stretch of approximately 1.5–2.0x after flip. Expect moderate internodal spacing and a natural tendency to form multiple colas, which responds well to topping, low-stress training (LST), and a single or double scrog. The plant’s calyx-forward morphology helps it finish with dense, resinous tops that are relatively easy to trim.
Environment and climate: Ideal daytime temperatures are 24–28°C with nighttime drops to 18–22°C; late-flower color can be encouraged with a 5–8°C differential if the cultivar is healthy. Relative humidity targets of 60–70% in veg, 50–55% in early flower, and 42–48% in late flower balance growth with mold prevention. Aim for a VPD window of 0.8–1.2 kPa, rising to 1.2–1.4 kPa in the last three weeks to tighten flowers and discourage botrytis.
Lighting and CO2: In veg, target 400–600 µmol/m²/s PPFD for compact growth; in flower, ramp to 850–1,000 µmol/m²/s under LED, with 1,100–1,200 µmol/m²/s achievable if CO2 is enriched to 1,100–1,200 ppm and the root zone is well-oxygenated. Maintain even canopy heights under a net to prevent hot spots and lumen waste. Poker Face rewards high-intensity lighting with heavier trichome density and improved terpene synthesis when temperatures are controlled.
Medium and nutrition: Poker Face thrives in coco/perlite, living soil, or rockwool, provided the nutrient program is balanced and EC is controlled. In coco/hydro, target EC 1.2–1.6 in mid veg and 1.8–2.2 in peak flower; pH 5.7–6.1 for hydro/coco and 6.2–6.7 for soil keeps macro and micro nutrients available. Heavy late-bloom phosphorus and potassium boosts are not necessary to extremes—steady-state nutrition with a slight PK bump from week 3–6 of flower preserves terpene integrity.
Irrigation strategy: In inert media, frequent small irrigations maintain optimal root zone oxygen, ideally 1–3 feeds daily at peak flower with 10–20% runoff to prevent salt buildup. In soil, allow a gentle dry-back between waterings to stimulate root exploration without inducing stress. Root zone temperatures around 20–22°C prevent slowdowns and encourage steady nutrient uptake.
Training and canopy management: Top once at the fifth node, then LST the primary branches to create a flat canopy suitable for one net. Lollipop lower growth and perform a light defoliation around day 21 of flower to open airflow; a second selective defoliation at day 42 removes large fan leaves that shade mid-canopy colas. Avoid aggressive late defoliation that can stress terpene production.
Integrated pest management (IPM): Diesel-forward hybrids with dense flowers are attractive to powdery mildew (PM) and botrytis if airflow is poor. Preventative IPM should include regular canopy scouting, sticky cards, and biological controls as appropriate (e.g., predatory mites for mites and thrips). Maintain strong horizontal airflow and clean intake filtration; Poker Face’s pungency also makes carbon filtration and negative pressure essential for odor control.
Flowering time, yield, and metrics: Poker Face typically finishes in 63–70 days of 12/12 under indoor conditions, with some phenotypes best around day 65–67 for peak terpene intensity. Indoor yields of 400–600 g/m² are achievable under 850–1,000 µmol/m²/s LED with well-executed training; skilled growers with CO2 can push higher. Outdoors, in temperate climates with dry autumns, plants can yield 500–900+ g per plant, finishing from late September to mid-October depending on latitude and phenotype.
Harvest readiness and ripeness cues: Monitor trichomes rather than pistils; a common target is cloudy with 10–20% amber for a balanced head-body effect. Earlier pulls (mostly cloudy, <10% amber) will emphasize limonene/pinene brightness, while later pulls increase the sedative myrcene/caryophyllene finish. Track aroma swell—the bouquet often peaks between day 63–67, and waiting past that window can flatten top notes.
Drying, curing, and storage: Dry at 60°F/60% RH for 10–14 days with gentle airflow that never directly hits the flowers. Trim once outer moisture equalizes to avoid shattering trichome heads, then cure in airtight containers with 58–62% RH packs, burping daily for the first week and weekly thereafter. Target water activity of 0.58–0.62 to preserve volatile monoterpenes and keep the smoke cool; cold, dark storage extends shelf life.
Extraction considerations: Poker Face’s resin density and gassy profile make it attractive for hydrocarbon extraction, live resin, and solventless if the cut washes well. While actual wash yields vary by pheno, Chem/OG-leaning hybrids often return 3–5%+ in hash if grown and frozen promptly at harvest. For solventless, harvest slightly earlier to prioritize intact, bulbous heads over ambering, which can collapse under agitation.
Compliance and testing: Expect total terpene numbers in the 1.5–3.0% range in well-grown lots, with standout phenos exceeding 3%. THC commonly falls between 20–26% in optimized indoor production; CBD remains below 1%. Remember Leafly’s guidance that terpenes shape the perceived strength—so share terpene data with customers, not just THC numbers, to communicate true quality.
Outdoor and greenhouse tips: Choose sites with excellent airflow and low autumn humidity to mitigate botrytis risk in dense colas. In greenhouses, keep VPD in range with dehumidification and thermally balanced shading to prevent midday spikes that stress flowers and volatilize terpenes. Trellising is essential; Poker Face’s top colas can flop late without support, reducing yield and inviting micro-tears that harbor pathogens.
Phenohunting advice: Run at least 6–10 seeds to capture the cultivar’s expression range. Shortlist phenos that combine loud gas-on-citrus nose in late flower with a firm, greasy resin feel and a calyx-forward structure. Smoke and lab-test finalists to confirm the target ensemble—beta-caryophyllene/myrcene/limonene dominance with a pinene lift tends to produce Poker Face’s signature experience.
Context in today’s market: Leafly’s periodic lists of top hybrids and indicas show strong consumer gravitation toward strains delivering both potency and characterful terpenes. Poker Face fits that brief: a hybrid balancing heady uplift with body ease, packaged in a distinctly gassy-pine bouquet. In a landscape where buyers increasingly value terpene data as much as THC, Poker Face is positioned to earn repeat fans when grown and cured with precision.
