Squeeze
A 3-bet made after an open AND at least one call
Definition
A squeeze is a 3-bet made after one player has opened AND at least one other has called. The name comes from the pressure applied: the opener is "squeezed" between your raise and the players still to act behind, while the caller is sandwiched with no initiative. The squeeze is profitable for three structural reasons. First, the pot already holds more dead money (the open + the call). Second, the caller's range is capped: with a premium hand they would have 3-bet themselves, so they fold often against the squeeze. Third, the opener has to fear not only your hand but also the caller behind, which forces them to tighten up. Squeeze sizing is markedly bigger than a regular 3-bet: roughly 4 times the open plus 1 open per caller when out of position (about 12-13bb against a 2.5bb open and one call), a bit less in position. A balanced squeeze range mixes the top of your value range (QQ+, AK) with blocker-driven bluffs (A5s, A4s, KQs) — no medium hands, which play poorly in a bloated pot.
CO opens to 2.5bb, BTN calls. You're in the SB with A♠K♠: squeeze to ~12.5bb (4× the open + 1× for the caller, out of position). Folding is out of the question, and calling invites the BB into a multiway pot where AK plays poorly. The squeeze isolates, collects the dead money, and builds the pot with one of the best preflop hands.