Inducing a Squeeze
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Inducing a Squeeze
by Miiwiin
We've looked a lot at the advantages and disadvantages of squeezing and squeeze play and which spots you can use them in.
However, your opponents also know this move and will use it against you regularly. In many cases, your hands are tied, still there are plenty of opportunities to challenge this weapon.
What is inducing a squeeze?
Inducing a squeeze is a mixture of inducing a bluff, meaning you get squeezed by worse hands that simply want to steal the pot and slow play, as in spots like this, you'll often have a hand which you definitely want your opponent to call, if you've pushed.
What does the play look like?
PartyPoker $100 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($100)
Hero ($100)
CO ($100)
BU ($100)
SB ($100)
BB ($100)
Preflop: Hero is MP with X, X
UTG raises to $4.00, Hero calls $4.00, 1 fold, BU raises to $16.00, 3 folds, Hero raises all-in, BU...
The much discussed question is whether you should 4-bet first, or just go straight for a push. Both are possible, as it would hardly be sensible to still 4-bet/fold against this squeeze.
Even with a min-raise to $32, you still only need 34% equity if your opponent pushes.
| Equity analysis | |||||
| Equity | Win | Split | Loss | Hand | |
| Player 1 | 35.14% | 34.9% | 0.48% | 64.62% | 4 , 4 |
| Player 2 | 64.86% | 64.62% | 0.48% | 34.9% | QQ+, AKs, AKo |
Many thinking players know that you may even commit yourself with an even higher 4-bet, so you can skip this step and just push.
Why induce squeezes at all?
Inducing a squeeze has a lot of advantages. It deals with several problems simultaneously.
Take a look at the following example:
PartyPoker $100 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($100) (17/14/2.5/4/2) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
Hero ($100)
CO ($100)
BU ($100) (25/23/3.4/11/12) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
SB ($100)
BB ($100)
Preflop: Hero is MP with A
, K
UTG raises to $4.00, Hero calls $4.00, 1 fold, BU raises to $16.00, 3 folds, Hero raises all-in, BU...
In this example the advantages are quite clear. Let's start with the most obvious one:
Here, you want to play against the button. He'll squeeze a lot in this spot and try to take the pot straight away. What range could you call in middle position? Pocket pairs, suited connectors, anything else?
As your range is really narrow here, the button is in an optimum position to play against you. However, this changes if you include such hands in the calling range after early raises.
The play in itself alone is +EV. The button will fold a lot after your push, if he does call, it will ususally be a flip. The EV of this move is positive.
At the same time you'll achieve other goals:
- Your calling range from early position can have traps.
- Opponents won't squeeze against you so lightly in the future if you include the line cold call/push in your repertoire.
- This will also make it more profitable to call with pocket pairs and suited connectors in the future, as there will be fewer moves against you.
- You will become generally harder to read.
If you've looked carefully at the example above, you may have noticed another point: Do you really want to 3-bet against an opponent from UTG? Do you really want to go all-in on his 4-bet?
You can hardly assume here that he will readily go all-in with hands like JJ/TT in this position. He's a bit too tight for that (although it's not completely out of the question).
A 3-bet with AK from middle position against quite a strong range would isolate you. Your goal is by no means a multi-way pot, which is why a call may be really difficult. However, it's at precisely this point that you can bring the goals together. You don't want to isolate yourself against a tight range by the open raiser and at the same time lead the loose players behind you into a trap.
It won't be easy if your plan goes wrong, however, even with AKo you'll usually make good decisions:
PartyPoker $100 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($100) (17/14/2.5/4/2) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
Hero ($100)
CO ($100)
BU ($100) (25/23/3.4/11/12) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
SB ($100)
BB ($100)
Preflop: Hero is MP with A, K
UTG raises to $4.00, Hero calls $4.00, 4 folds
Here you would play heads-up on the flop against UTG with a hand he would rarely think you were capable of. There are certainly worse spots.
PartyPoker $100 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($100) (17/14/2.5/4/2) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
Hero ($100)
CO ($100)
BU ($100) (25/23/3.4/11/12) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
SB ($100)
BB ($100)
Preflop: Hero is MP with A, K
UTG raises to $4.00, Hero calls $4.00, 1 fold, BU calls $4.00, 1 fold, BB calls $4.00
This is one of the least preferable spots. However, 4-handed postflop you can be sure not to over play a possible top pair. Even if you've achieved your acutal goal, this kind of situation doesn't necessarily spell disaster.
PartyPoker $100 NL Hold'em (6-handed)
Stacks & Stats
UTG ($100) (17/14/2.5/4/2) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
Hero ($100)
CO ($100)
BU ($100) (25/23/3.4/11/12) (VPIP/PFR/AF/3-b/squeeze value)
SB ($100)
BB ($100)
Preflop: Hero is MP with A, K
UTG raises to $4.00, Hero calls $4.00, 1 fold, BU raises to $16.00, 2 folds, UTG raises all-in, Hero folds, BU...
In this situation you shouldn't stay in the hand with AK. UTG demonstrates immense strength and in a 3-way pot, AK loses a lot of equity. This is also an advantage of your (apparantly) passive play.
What hands are suitable for inducing a squeeze?
You've now seen the example above with the hand A K. This hand is very suitable as it may be a little weak against UTG's range for 3-bet/call (push), however, you can still see yourself well ahead against button's squeeze/broke range.
What other hands does this apply to?
First and foremost QQ and JJ. You don't absolutely have to play these hands against a tight UTG player postflop, however, you can see yourself with a good chance against an active 3-better behind you.
You could certainly say that these three hands would be suitable.
What about aces and kings? Essentially the same applies here, however spots can be painful here if your preflop plan goes awry and you can only get a small heads-up pot or a multi-way pot. You should be careful here not to trap yourself too often.
It would be ideal to have several aggressive players behind you here. There are situations where you can calculate a squeeze. In these spots there is little reason to raise hands like aces or kings.
You also need to measure the implications of fact balancing. Your cold call/pushes will also be called sometimes and you could well have opponents who watch which hands you play. If you do this only with AK and occasionally with QQ, you'll also be very easy to read.
Moreover, nobody can say exactly which hands you only call preflop, because it can include strong hands (traps) as well as drawing hands and hands that are easily dominated.
Your personal assessment
So it's important that you consider if this makes sense at your limit with your opponents' individual stats. Here, the priority is assessing your opponents reactions.
If you notice that your play isn't being given any credit and you're called regularly, you should play aces and kings for value more often.
If, on the other hand you establish that your anti-squeeze play is always folded to, you can always build it in as a bluff as well.
This is especially worthwhile if you've only called to see the flop with a small pocket pair or a suited connector. After your scheme has failed, you could push as a bluff more often preflop with your high rated fold equity.
Stats – who's an aggressive player?
You'll probably have noticed that there are lots of situations where you'd rather not 3-bet against passive players from early position with hands such as AK/QQ/JJ. But how can you tell who's lying in wait to squeeze behind you?
Observation and keen perception are clearly always prerequisite, however the stats can help you out here as well.
Players who 3-bet a lot won't be falling over themselves to reach for the squeeze as a weapon either. The level from which you can assess the value of a 3-bet as high is dependant on too many factors to provide exact figures. However, a 3-bet value which is closer to a two figure amoung is always worth a closer look.
The direct squeeze value is just as helpful. There are lots of programs that can show you this. Essentially, they evaluate how often Villain uses the squeeze spots given him.
Special attention should be given to players who have a similar squeeze value to their 3-bet value. Here, you can assume that they are waiting for just such a situation. So you know now's the tme to set your traps.
| » SUMMARY |
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As you have seen, inducing a squeeze has advantages. You don't isolate yourself against tight open raisers, you defend yourself against aggressive players behind you, you can balance your play with pocket pairs and suited connectors whilst at the same time createing a +EV spot for yourself. It may not always be easy to recognise these occasions, however, with time, you'll train your eye and you'll know exactly what's going on behind you. This is where poker starts, change your standard playing style frequently and try to confuse your opponents even more with different styles. The less successful they are at reading you, the more mistakes they'll make, which you'll profit from in the long run. |
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