Pre Flop Squeeze Play

A pre flop squeeze play is a move that players use in order to “balance out their ranges.” In poker, balancing out a range means adding in some weak hands to compensate for all the strong hands that you play. For example, if you only 3-bet your opponents with AK or better it would make it easy for the other players to fold whenever you 3-bet as they would know that you have AK or better. If, however, you occasionally 3-bet with weaker hands like 89 suited, you would then be able to confuse your opponents. One of the general keys to success in poker is making sure that your game is not translucent. The more obvious your plays are the less effective your overall game will be.

Squeeze Play Dynamics

A squeeze play is when a player makes a re raise (3-bet) or a player’s bet pre flop. More often than not you will find that squeeze plays are made when there are multiple players who have limped into a pot. When a player raises pre flop, gets one call, and another player makes a re raise, this is a squeeze play. The idea behind a squeeze play is that you will force many folds, but other times you will go to the flop in position. This is where you will uncover the hidden beauty of the squeeze play. There will be times where you make a squeeze but end up being called by one or more players. This might not be the ideal outcome of a squeeze play, but it is not the end of the world either. Since you are in position you will have the upper hand once the flop is dealt. Remember that you making a re raise pre flop will also force the other player into thinking that you are much stronger than you probably are. You don’t have to make a squeeze with anything much better than random suited connectors, but you should try to avoid squeezing with complete trash.

When you start to 3-bet with very week hands you will end up getting calls, but will rarely connect with the flop. You want to have a chance to take down a huge pot those times where you squeeze with 78 suited, get called by JJ, and have the flop come 9TJ. Situations like this are the primary reason why making a squeeze play is so profitable. There are many different moves in poker that rely on help from the board in order to be successful, but a squeeze play relies on your position. If you get called after making a squeeze play and brick the flop you will still be able to make continuation bets that will allow you to take down the pot. You might be surprised to find out just how scared players are when they are 3-bet by someone and have to play the hand out of position. Poker players have a natural tendency to want to see flops at any cost, but sometimes this is their downfall. Exploit players who hate folding by making periodic squeeze plays when you have a suitable hand.

SUMMARY: Squeeze Play Pre Flop

A squeeze play is a move in poker that allows players to make money largely based on their position. Squeeze plays do not force players to make hands in order for the move to be effective. Part of the value in making a squeeze play is found in the times where the hand doesn’t even get to the flop.