Squeeze ranges: when to 3-bet after an open and a call.
Someone opens, someone calls, and the action is on you in the blinds. This is a squeeze spot, and it's one of the most profitable places to 3-bet in cash games. There's extra money in the middle, and the caller usually can't stand a re-raise. Below are the real squeeze charts from the Rep Range trainer for online 6-max and live cash, plus the rules that make them easy to remember.
What a squeeze is, and why it works
A squeeze is a 3-bet after an open and at least one call. Two things make it strong:
- Dead money. The open and the call are already in the pot, so a squeeze wins more when everyone folds.
- The caller is capped. Most players 3-bet their best hands, so a flat call usually means a medium hand that can't continue against a big raise. The opener also has to act knowing the caller is still behind.
Squeeze charts
CO opens, BTN calls, and you're in the blinds. Pick your game and seat. Red is a squeeze, gold is a call and dark is a fold. Split cells are hands the chart plays more than one way.
Hover or long-press a hand to see its exact split.
Six rules behind the charts
1 · Small blind: squeeze or fold
Online, the small blind's chart never calls here (8.9% squeeze, 0% call). A call invites the big blind to squeeze behind you, and you'd play a three-way pot out of position. Live, it calls only 2.9% of hands.
2 · Big blind: call more
The big blind closes the action and gets the best price, so it calls a lot more: 14.2% of hands online, 18.3% live. Medium pairs and suited connectors like 98s mostly call rather than squeeze.
3 · Squeeze big
There's more money in the pot and you'll be out of position, so go bigger than a normal 3-bet. Online that's 14bb against a 2.25bb open and a call. Live, the big blind uses 7.5x to 8.5x the open. Add more for each extra caller.
4 · Wider against late opens
Who opened matters more than who called. Online, the big blind squeezes 5.7% of hands against a UTG open and a button call, but 8.7% against a cutoff open.
5 · Suited aces are your bluffs
A5s and A4s block aces and ace-king and still have equity when called. Online, the big blind squeezes A5s 75% of the time here. Offsuit hands like A9o just fold, because they're dominated and play badly in a three-way pot.
6 · Value is tight and linear
Big pairs, AK, AQ and KQs squeeze every time in both games. The middle is where online and live differ. Live, the big blind squeezes KTs 100% and TT 64%, while online TT is mostly a call (82%).
Key hands, online vs live
| Hand (BB, CO opens, BTN calls) | Online 6-max | Live cash |
|---|---|---|
| AQo | squeeze 100% | squeeze 100% |
| AJo | squeeze 40% · call 60% | call 100% |
| A9o | fold 100% | fold 100% |
| A5s | squeeze 75% · call 25% | squeeze 29% · call 71% |
| KQo | squeeze 72% · call 28% | squeeze 60% · call 40% |
| KJo | squeeze 8% · call 92% | call 98% · fold 2% |
| KTs | squeeze 34% · call 66% | squeeze 100% |
| TT | squeeze 18% · call 82% | squeeze 64% · call 36% |
| 99 | call 100% | squeeze 6% · call 94% |
| 76s | squeeze 57% · call 43% | squeeze 73% · call 27% |
When you get squeezed
The other side of the spot. If you opened and someone squeezes after a call, you need a tighter range than facing a normal 3-bet, because there's a caller still to act behind you who can wake up with a hand. If you were the caller, you're capped, so most of your flats should fold. Keep only the hands that can 4-bet or call profitably. The trainer has all of these spots too: opener vs squeeze, caller vs squeeze, and cold 4-bets.
🔒 Every squeeze spot is in the gym
The charts above are free to view. Sign up free to see every squeeze chart, with every opener, every caller and both blinds, plus how to respond when you get squeezed, and drill them until they're automatic.
- Online: 6 squeeze spots
- Live: 50+ squeeze spots, including two callers
- Opener vs squeeze
- Caller vs squeeze
- Cold 4-bets
Questions
What is a squeeze in poker?
A squeeze is a 3-bet after one player has opened and at least one player has called. The opener has to worry about the player behind, and the caller's range is capped, because most strong hands would have 3-bet already.
What size should I squeeze to?
Bigger than a normal 3-bet, because there is more money in the pot and you'll usually be out of position. Online at 100bb, the charts squeeze to 14bb against a 2.25bb open and a call. Live at 200bb, the big blind squeezes to 7.5x or 8.5x the open.
Should I call or squeeze from the small blind?
Online, the small blind's chart never calls: it's squeeze or fold. Calling from the small blind invites the big blind to squeeze behind you, and you'll play the pot out of position against three players.
Which hands make good squeeze bluffs?
Suited aces like A5s and A4s. They block aces and ace-king, and they still have a chance when called. In the online big blind chart A5s squeezes 75% of the time against a cutoff open and a button call.
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