Theory of Squeeze Play

[D-Nut]

I need some advice......

First, let me say that obviously I've been playing long enough to experience many hot and cold streaks.....like everyone, I've obviously run everything from real hot to real cold and then neutral. But I will tell you, that this is one of my worst cold streaks I've had.....and I'm trying to see the good in it, and I did come up with one thing......Lots of us overestimate our poker abilities, and I am no exception. But this has really allowed me to take a step back and really humble myself and ask for some advice on lots of things, and I think once this cold streak has run its course, I will be a better player because of it......because I've finally come to the realization that while I'm running bad.....I need to take a step back and learn more, because I'm nowhere near the player I want to be.

ANYWAYS.......this is why I am looking to learn, and one particular hand comes to mind. Especially after reading Jordan's tourney report......he had a very similar hand and it makes me think I blotched it....

So, Dublin Poker League Saturday night.....

I have donked away almost half my starting stack of 5000....and am sitting with about 2800. Blinds are 100-200, so I'm already looking for a spot to get my money in. Dave Gatliff (who is a friend of GW's and looks like he has some game, but I have never played with him) raises from EP to 600....now I'd seen him raise PF and showdown a range of hands, so I'm not putting him on a big hand just yet.....it folds to Chad Weese in LP and he smooth calls and leaves about 3000-ish back. I am in the SB and I look down at AQs. Now my thought is that I need to double up.....I am not sure if this is an ideal "squeeze" spot, but my thinking is that Dave G. has shown the ability to raise with a range of hands, and has shown the ability to laydown as well.....I obviously have played with Chad a lot and, and while I've seen him get tricky in a spot like this, I'm more putting him on a middle pair, even though the thought crossed my mind with his chip stack, that I'm a bit confused what the smooth call means.....But I shove, figuring I do have some fold equity here, but if I get called, I'm in a race, and with my stack, I'm cool with that. I dont want to sit with 13BB and get pounded on for the next 30 mins... Dave G. folded to my raise and I figured I was in the clear as Chad tanked for about 15 seconds, and thought worst case again, that I was racing, but Chad called with AK and I was a done deal.

Now my question is did I jump the gun with this? Not a good spot to squeeze? Or do I not understand the theory of the squeeze play? I figured there was a decent chance of getting both to fold, and again, my reads were that if I got called, it would only be in one spot and it would be a race, which I was cool with , especially with the anticipated "extra chips" in there.

So let me have it....if it was a horrible idea, I wanna know. But let me know why it was horrible....dont just say "Dave you suck" LOL because I already know that.....

[Chipless Wonder]

Dave, you suck.

[D-Nut]

Dave, you suck.

How did I know that YOU would be the smart ass that came in and said that?

[Chipless Wonder]

I earned the right to point out that you suck when I outlasted you by a grand total of six minutes in Saturday's game.

[BguitarH]

I may not be the best person to give advice on this one as I don't implement the squeeze play as much as I should and there are others on here that appear to be far better tournament players than I.... BUT... I think this was an excellent time to squeeze and couldn't have been played better....

[Goldnutz69]

First of all being the last aggressor in a hand most of the time is not bad. So I don't think this was a terrible spot to squeeze by any means. AQ off suit is considered by some players to be a questionable hand to make this play with. But still, the players ranges in this particular hand are pretty wide open here. First and most importantly Dave could very easily have raised in early position with a medium strength hand . That alone constitutes a squeeze play. I mean there are a shit load of hands Dave could have raised with here, that he'd never call your re-raise all-in with just because Chad(who has a fairly tight table image) is behind him. We're talkin 55,66,77,88,J10,Qj,Kj,Aj,Kq, and possibly Aq. I don't think he calls you in this spot with any of those hands. I think with 99, and 10 10 he sometimes calls, and sometimes folds here as well. So that only leaves a few hands that your definitely getting called with. AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AK. Then its basically the same run down for Chad.

I actually think Chad's range is a little more open than Dave's simply because he has the button. Most of us view Chad as a pretty tight player. But don't forget, he is also a very smart player who knows the value of position. So I think you take down this pot possibly 3/5 times in this spot. SO to me bottom line is, NOT A BAD PLAY

P.S. check your private messages

[wreaks]

Not a bad play or a bad time for the play, it just happened you ran into one of 4 hands you didn't want to see. I haven't played enough with Chad, but in general when a tight player smooth calls a raise, I'm always hesitant about making a move. On one hand, he's tight so he'll lay down more hands than a looser player, but he's also going to be calling the initial raise with more premium hands, and therefore more likely to have you beat/crushed if he calls.

[niner1984]

i think you just got unlucky. I think the move you made was a perfectly fine move. I think chad has the one hand he flats dave with and calls your allin and you are not racing.

[Goldnutz69]

George where do you put chads range,when he smooth calls a raise from th button. Or at least in this spot?

[D-Nut]

George where do you put chads range,when he smooth calls a raise from th button. Or at least in this spot?

I am curious on this too.....because with Chad's stack, I certainly did not put him on this hand. I would have expected a shove from Chad on any hand like this considering this is the type of hand that you are not afraid to go to showdown with, and I wouldn't want to limit myself to just the 3 card flop. And the fold equity with a rangy EP raiser is still there....

I put him on a middle pair and was way more worried about getting looked up by Dave G. But I'm wondering if I just put a bad read on.....well obviously I did.....but more often than not will I be right here?