Explanation of Squeeze
Typically, a squeeze happens during the preflop betting phase in Hold'em and Omaha games. This situation arises when a player makes a three-bet after an opening raise has been made, along with one or more calls from other players. In simpler terms, it's a re-raise that targets multiple opponents simultaneously.
For example, imagine the following -
BTN open-raises to 3bb.
SB calls.
BB 3bets (squeezes).
The term squeeze is used because the player in the Button position finds himself metaphorically 'squeezed' between two others. Regardless of his choice, he must consider that the Small Blind still has the opportunity to act after him. If the Button decides to call the squeeze , there’s no certainty that he’ll get to see the flop, as the Small Blind might opt to four-bet.
In the scenario described earlier, should the Button call and the Small Blind then make a four-bet, this would be known as a '4bet squeeze ' because the Small Blind is making a four-bet against two opponents. In this case, the Big Blind would experience a form of being 'squeezed' as he now has to consider the potential actions of the Button if he merely calls.
Example of Squeeze used in a sentence -> The button raised preflop, the small blind entered the pot by calling, and the big blind executed a squeeze play.
Incorporating Squeeze into Your Poker Strategy
Squeezing ranges are generally expected to be more robust than regular three-betting ranges because they are aimed at multiple opponents instead of a single adversary.
When it comes to typical squeeze sizes, they are often larger than conventional three-bet sizes. For instance, when the Button opens with a raise of 3 big blinds, it’s common for players in the blinds to re-raise to around 9 or 10 big blinds. However, if the Button opens and the Small Blind calls, the Big Blind would likely opt to squeeze to 12 big blinds instead of just 9.
The general guideline for determining the squeeze sizing is considered to be 3 times the initial raise amount plus an extra 1 times for each cold-caller , where x represents the initial open raise size.
Check out Here are 10 effective techniques for utilizing the squeeze play, especially geared towards beginners in poker. article.
See Also