Poker Terms Explained: Barrel? Cap? Squeeze?

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Poker Terms Explained

The poker world can often be a confusing one, even if you already know how to play poker. You can read as many poker strategy articles and books as you like, but it's always an intimidating moment when you don't quite understand the meaning of a certain word or phrase.

There are certainly many eclectic and confusing poker terms that make poker such an exciting game, and PokerNews is here to explain seven of them to you.


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Barrel

A Barrel is normally a reference to a bet, especially when made on consecutive streets.

Example: "The player bet on the flop and barreled again on turn and river"


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Verbal Declaration

In poker, you must be very careful with what you say at the table as anything you say can be binding in the right context. For example, people may tap the table to indicate a check, or might simply say "check."

Under the same logic, players may announce a raise size without counting out the chips to bet that amount. That would be considered a Verbal Declaration by the dealer.

Cap

There are multiple meanings to the term "Cap" in poker depending on the context.

1) To reach the maximum number of bets allowed in a limit game. For example, certain limit games allow for a bet and three raises. A player "caps it" after they put in the third raise.

2) Certain games, cash especially online, have a specific dollar amount cap. In these games, each player is not allowed to put in more than that amount. For example, PokerStars have $5/$10 online cash game tables with a cap of 20 big blinds. This means the most chips that a player can commit to a pot is $200.

Squeeze

There are two different meanings to Squeeze in poker. The first refers to looking at your card's by slowly bending them back. This can be in Texas Hold'em or in Draw Games where all-in players squeeze to see whether they have drawn the card the wanted.

The other meaning refers to a situation preflop where a player three-bets after a raise and one or more calls. The initial raiser's holdings may now seem inferior facing a raise and a call, and the caller(s) may now feel "squeezed" out of the pot following the three-bet.

Dominating

Dominating refers to hands that are extreme underdogs. For example, aces vs kings. Alternatively, it can refer to a hand that shares one hole card but has a lower kicker. For example, if Player A held A10 they would be said to be "dominating" Player B's Q10.

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Last Longer

Players might enter a Last Longer when playing in a tournament. This is a side bet made between two or more tournament players in which the last player to be eliminated wins the bet.

Jam

Jam is another word for moving all-in.

Example: My opponent raised and I jammed

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