The squeeze play is a particular type of bluff done during the first round of betting. It occurs when one player makes a bet, is flat called by another player, and then a third player makes a significant raise. This often results in the first two players folding.

This is how the squeeze play works. It starts with the flat caller who may be announcing a weak hand, or at least not a very strong hand. His action both increases the number of players in the pot and the size of the pot. This allows the late position to put in a large bet -- it is expected of a player with a good hand. The first play now faces a large amount to call and is up against two players. They may take the raise to be a bluff, but they don't know for sure what the flat caller will do. With only a mediocre hand the original bettor is thus inclined to fold. In turn the flat caller is also likely to fold. If they do have a hand strong enough to call the raise they likely would have raised themselves in the first place.

The squeeze play technically need not be a bluff, and this is why it is often so effective as a bluff. A player who is in late position with a strong hand should raise in this situation.