Skip to content
school Guides

Squeezing under ICM

Near the bubble and at final tables, remove the bluffs first, then the bottom of your mixed value.

Updated October 2026

Why ICM tightens squeezes

ICM makes the chips you lose cost more than the chips you win. A squeeze bluff that gets called can bust you before the money, for a modest gain when it works.

The order to tighten in

In this order:

  1. Remove the offsuit bluffs, then the suited ones.
  2. Remove the bottom of your mixed value (for example 99 and AJo against a CO open).
  3. If the opener or the caller covers you, tighten one more notch: they can call without risking their tournament.

When you cover them

The other way round, when you cover both players your pressure grows. That advanced case is not modelled in our ranges yet.

lightbulb

Strategy tip

Under ICM, ask who covers whom before you squeeze.

menu_book Glossary terms

Squeeze ICM Effective Stack

help Frequently Asked Questions

Should I bluff-squeeze near the bubble? expand_more

Rarely. A called squeeze bluff can bust you before the money. Drop the offsuit bluffs first, then the suited ones.

Which value hands do I drop under ICM? expand_more

The bottom of your mixed value, for example 99 and AJo against a CO open. Keep the top of your value.

Why does it matter who covers whom? expand_more

An opponent who covers you can call without risking their tournament, so tighten one more notch. When you cover them, your pressure is stronger.

school Read next

Facing a 4-bet after you squeeze Fold your bluffs without a second thought, and decide before you squeeze What is a squeeze? Raising behind an open and a call: more dead money, but two players to fold Building your squeeze value range The earlier the open, the tighter your value
rocket_launch

Practice with real ranges

Sign in to RangerPro to study these ranges interactively with drag-paint and modifiers.

Open RangerPro MTT Poker Guides