Part 16 [Beginner] Squeeze Play

A squeeze is when one player raises and another player calls, and a third player makes a large 3-bet. It's a powerful weapon to put pressure on two players simultaneously and win the pot.

Basic Strategy

A squeeze is a strategy to make two players fold by making a large 3-bet in a raise + call situation.

Basic Premise: Cash game 100BB stack, 6-max, opponents are average players

Situations where a squeeze is effective:

• Late position opens and one or more players call
• You have a strong hand or a bluffing hand in the blinds
• There is enough dead money in the pot (blinds + open raise + caller)

Basic sizing is 4-5 times the original raise + 1BB for each caller. For example, if there's a $6 open and one caller, the squeeze would be around $26-$32.

Squeeze Hand Composition:

• Value Squeeze: QQ+, AK (making a big pot with premium hands)
• Bluff Squeeze: A5s~A2s, K9s~K7s, suited connectors (inducing folds)

Reasons for this:

• The open raiser likely opened with a wide range, and the caller likely called with a weaker hand.
• Since the probability of both players holding strong hands is low, a large sizing can induce folds.
• There's already a lot of dead money in the pot, so it can be profitable even with a low success rate.

Responses by Situation

1. When the open raiser is tight and the caller is loose

Increase the proportion of value squeezes (JJ+, AQs+). If the open raiser is tight, they might 4-bet with a strong hand, so you should include more value hands.

2. When the open raiser is loose and the caller is tight

Increase the frequency of bluff squeezes (add A4s~A2s, Q9s, J8s). Both players have weak ranges, making it easier to induce folds.

3. When there are 2 or more callers

Reduce bluff squeezes and play value-oriented (mainly QQ+). In multi-way pots, the probability of someone holding a strong hand is higher, so hand strength is more important.

4. When stacks are deep (150BB+)

Make the squeeze size larger (5-6 times). When stacks are deep, callers might be looking for set mining or implied odds, so you need to reduce their profitability with a larger size.

Things to Consider

When a raise + call situation occurs, try to think in this order:

1. What is the open raiser's position and type? Are they in late position and loose?
2. How many callers are there? 1 vs 2 or more
3. Is my hand a value squeeze or a bluff squeeze?
4. What is the pot size? Is there enough dead money?
5. What is the squeeze size? 4-5 times the original raise + 1BB per caller

Example Hand Analysis

Example 1: Value Squeeze

Game: Cash game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: Big Blind
Preflop: BTN raises $6, SB calls $6, Hero is dealt KK
Pot: $15 (Blinds $3 + Raise $6 + Call $6)

Thought Process:

1. “Who has a structural advantage in this situation?”
→ KK is a premium hand. BTN opens wide, and SB's call is likely a weaker range

2. “What role does my hand play within my range?”
→ A clear value squeeze. I need to put pressure on both players and build a big pot

3. “Do opponents have enough hands to fold / do they call a lot?”
→ Both BTN and SB likely have many marginal hands. A large squeeze will induce folds, or I'll be ahead if called

Conclusion: Squeeze to $30 (5 times the original raise of $6)

Comment: Just calling can make it difficult to play in a multi-way pot. Squeeze to isolate one player or win the pot immediately.

Example 2: Bluff Squeeze

Game: Cash game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: Small Blind
Preflop: CO raises $6, BTN calls $6, Hero is dealt A4s
Pot: $15

Thought Process:

1. “Who has a structural advantage in this situation?”
→ CO's open range is wide, and BTN's call is a medium-strength hand. The probability of both players having premium hands is low

2. “What role does my hand play within my range?”
→ A4s is for a bluff squeeze. It can induce folds, or if called, I have flush draw opportunities on the flop

3. “Do opponents have enough hands to fold / do they call a lot?”
→ There's $15 of dead money in the pot, and the probability of both players simultaneously holding strong hands is low. The squeeze has high profitability

Conclusion: Squeeze to $28 (approximately 4.5 times the original raise)

Comment: Even if called, you can continue to apply pressure with a continuation bet on the flop. A squeeze is a powerful weapon to seize the initiative preflop.

Example 3: Failed Squeeze Case (Learning)

Game: Cash game 1/2, Stack 200BB
Position: Big Blind
Preflop: UTG raises $6, Middle Position calls, CO calls, Hero is dealt A3s
Pot: $21 (Blinds $3 + Raise $6 + Call $6 + Call $6)

Thought Process:

1. “Who has a structural advantage in this situation?”
→ UTG is tight, and there are two callers. The probability of someone holding a strong hand is high

2. “What role does my hand play within my range?”
→ A3s is for bluffing, but it's risky in a multi-way pot

3. “Do opponents have enough hands to fold / do they call a lot?”
→ It's difficult to make all three players fold. The probability of at least one player holding a strong hand is high

Conclusion: Fold (bluff squeeze is risky)

Comment: A squeeze is effective when facing 1-2 opponents. If there are 3 or more, it's safer to fold unless you have a value hand (QQ+).

Key Patterns Summary

Pattern 1: Squeeze = Large 3-bet in a raise + call situation to pressure two players

Pattern 2: Squeeze Sizing = 4-5 times the original raise + 1BB per caller

Pattern 3: Value Squeeze = QQ+, AK (premium hands)

Pattern 4: Bluff Squeeze = A5s~A2s, K9s~K7s, suited connectors

Pattern 5: Late position open + call → Squeeze opportunity

Pattern 6: 2 or more callers → Reduce bluff squeezes

Pattern 7: More dead money → Higher squeeze profitability

Quiz

Question 1
BTN raises $6, SB calls, and you are dealt QQ in the Big Blind. What is the correct action?

A) Call $6
B) 3-bet $18
C) Squeeze to $30
D) Fold

Question 2
Which of the following is NOT a main purpose of a squeeze?

A) Making two players fold simultaneously
B) Utilizing dead money
C) Creating a multi-way pot
D) Seizing the initiative

Question 3
CO raises $6, BTN calls, and you are dealt A4s in the Small Blind. What is the standard squeeze size?

A) $18
B) $24
C) $28
D) $36

Question 4
In which situation should you avoid a squeeze?

A) Late position open + 1 caller
B) UTG open + 3 callers
C) BTN open + SB call
D) CO open + BTN call

Question 5
Which of the following is an effective bluff hand for a squeeze?

A) 72o
B) A3s
C) K9o
D) J4s

Answers and Explanations

Question 1
Answer: C) Squeeze to $30

Explanation: QQ is a premium hand, making it a clear value squeeze. Squeezing to $30, which is 5 times the original raise of $6, is standard. This allows you to pressure both players and build a large pot.

Question 2
Answer: C) Creating a multi-way pot

Explanation: The purpose of a squeeze is to make two players fold with a large sizing. Creating a multi-way pot is not the goal of a squeeze.

Question 3
Answer: C) $28

Explanation: Between $24 and $30 (4-5 times the original raise of $6) is appropriate. $28 falls within the standard range.

Question 4
Answer: B) UTG open + 3 callers

Explanation: If UTG is tight and there are 3 callers, the probability of someone holding a strong hand is high. In such a situation, it's safer to avoid a squeeze unless you have a premium hand.

Question 5
Answer: B) A3s

Explanation: A3s belongs to the bluff squeeze range. It's suited and has an Ace, so even if called, you have opportunities to make a flush draw or top pair on the flop. 72o, K9o, and J4s are too weak or offsuit, making them unsuitable.