The situation
In these guides a squeeze always means the same spot: one player opens, another calls, and you raise behind them.
Example. The CO opens to 2.2bb, the BTN calls, you are in the BB with AQs. You raise to 12bb: that is a squeeze.
school
Guides
What is a squeeze?
A squeeze is a raise against an open that someone has called. It wins more than a regular 3-bet, but it has to get past two opponents instead of one.
Updated October 2026
Four differences from a heads-up 3-bet
A squeeze looks like a 3-bet, but four things change.
- More dead money. The caller's chips are already in the pot. When everyone folds, you win more.
- Two players have to fold. A bluff needs more fold equity, so squeeze ranges are tighter and more value-heavy than a 3-bet from the same seat.
- The caller is often capped. Most players raise QQ+ and AK instead of calling, so the caller's range rarely holds the very top.
- The opener is not. The opener's range is the one that can 4-bet you, so build your squeeze range against it first.
Baseline ranges, not solver output
RangerPro's squeeze ranges are heuristic baselines, not solver output. We built them to be easy to remember and sound against the players of online MTTs from $2 to $50, in 6-max and 3-max. We will recalibrate them over time.
The chart below is the BB's range against a CO open and a call at 100bb. A cell split into two colours is a mixed hand: it squeezes part of the time and calls the rest.
lightbulb
Strategy tip
Squeeze fewer hands than you 3-bet, but squeeze them bigger.
BB facing CO open + call, 100bb
Hands in range
52 / 169
Range width
30.8%
Fold
Call
3-bet value
3-bet bluff
help Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a squeeze and a 3-bet? expand_more
A 3-bet raises an open heads-up. A squeeze raises an open that has already been called: there is more dead money in the pot, but two players must fold for a bluff to work.
Why squeeze tighter than you 3-bet? expand_more
Because a bluff has to fold out two opponents instead of one. A squeeze range keeps its value and only the best bluffs, the hands that block big holdings.
Should I worry about the caller? expand_more
Less than about the opener. Most players raise QQ+ and AK rather than call, so the caller's range is usually capped. The opener is the one who can 4-bet you.
school Read next
rocket_launch
Practice with real ranges
Sign in to RangerPro to study these ranges interactively with drag-paint and modifiers.