Ranges

What Is a Range?

Thinking in ranges is the single most important conceptual leap in poker development. Beginners try to put opponents on one specific hand: “I think he has Ace-King.” Intermediate and advanced players think in terms of ranges: “His range includes Ace-King, pocket Queens, some suited connectors, and a few bluffs.”

A range is a collection of all the possible hands a player could hold at any point in a hand. Every action a player takes, from preflop to the river, narrows their range. When someone raises from under the gun, their range is much tighter (stronger) than when they open from the button. When they call a raise on a King-high flop, their range likely includes Kings, pocket pairs below Kings, and some draws, while excluding total air that would fold.

Range-based thinking allows you to make mathematically sound decisions. Instead of guessing one hand and being wrong half the time, you evaluate your hand against the full spectrum of possibilities and choose the highest expected value action across all of them.

How It Works

Preflop Range Construction:

Position dictates opening ranges. A standard opening range tightens as you move from the button toward early position.

| Position | Approximate Opening Range | % of Hands |

|—|—|—|

| UTG (Under the Gun) | Premium pairs, AK, AQs, KQs | 10-12% |

| Middle Position | Add medium pairs, AJ, KJs, QJs | 15-18% |

| Cutoff | Add suited aces, more connectors | 22-28% |

| Button | Wide: most pairs, suited connectors, broadways | 35-50% |

| Small Blind | Mixed: some opens, many folds | 30-40% |

Narrowing Ranges Through Actions:

Each street provides information that narrows your opponent’s range.

Preflop: A UTG raise means a strong range (top 10-15% of hands).

Flop: They bet on a K-7-2 board. Their range includes top pair, overpairs, and some continuation bets with air.

Turn: The turn is a 5 and they bet again. Most bluffs from the flop drop out. Range narrows to strong Kings, overpairs, and select draws.

River: A blank and they bet a third time. Range heavily weighted toward value: sets, two pair, strong Kings. Very few bluffs remain.

Range Visualization:

Ranges are commonly displayed on a 13×13 grid showing all 169 starting hand combinations. Pairs run diagonally, suited hands above the diagonal, offsuit below. Software tools color-code which hands are in a player’s range for any given action.

Range vs. Range Thinking:

Advanced play considers both your range and your opponent’s range simultaneously. On a given board, ask: “How does this flop connect with my range versus theirs?” If you raised preflop and the flop is A-K-8, your range has more Aces and Kings than a caller’s range. This “range advantage” justifies frequent c-betting.

Polarized vs. Linear Ranges:

A polarized range contains very strong hands and bluffs, with few medium-strength hands. This is typical for large river bets.

A linear (or merged) range bets with strong hands and medium-strong hands, leaving bluffs out. This works better for small bets where you want calls from weak hands.

Example

You are in the big blind in a $1/$2 game. A competent regular raises to $6 from the cutoff. You call with 8s 7s.

You assign the cutoff an opening range of approximately 25% of hands: all pairs, suited aces, suited broadways, many offsuit broadways, and suited connectors down to about 5-6 suited.

Flop: Jh 8d 3c. You check, they bet $8 into a $13 pot.

You narrow their range. With this small bet sizing, they likely c-bet their entire range: overpairs, top pair, middle pair, gutshots, overcards, and complete air. Their range is still wide.

Turn: Ks. You check, they bet $18 into $29.

Range narrows significantly. Many air hands and weak pairs check back on the turn. Their continuing range now includes K-x hands, J-x hands, pocket pairs like Queens and Tens, and some draws. You have second pair, which beats some of this range but loses to most of it.

This range analysis guides your decision. Your 8s 7s is a call against their full range on the flop but becomes borderline on the turn as their range strengthens.

Common Mistakes

• Trying to put opponents on one exact hand instead of thinking about a range of possibilities
• Not adjusting ranges based on position, failing to recognize that a UTG raise is vastly different from a button raise
• Ignoring how each street’s action narrows or defines an opponent’s range
• Constructing your own ranges inconsistently, making you predictable to observant opponents

Related Terms

• GTO — GTO strategies are built entirely around optimizing range construction
• Equity — how your specific hand performs against an opponent’s range
• Value Bet — identifying when your hand beats enough of their range to bet for value
• Tight-Aggressive — a playing style defined by range selection and aggressive execution

FAQ

How do I practice thinking in ranges?

Start by assigning preflop ranges to opponents based on their position and action. After each hand, review and ask what range of hands could have taken those actions. Use training software or our poker odds calculator to practice equity calculations against specific ranges. Over time, range-based thinking becomes automatic.

Do ranges change against different opponents?

Absolutely. A tight player’s UTG opening range might be the top 8% of hands, while a loose player opens 20% from the same position. Observe each opponent and adjust the ranges you assign. Online players can use tracking software to see exact statistics. Live players rely on observation and notes.

What is a “capped” range?

A capped range is one that is unlikely to contain the very strongest hands. For example, if a player just calls a raise preflop (rather than three-betting), their range is capped because they would typically three-bet hands like AA, KK, and AK. Recognizing a capped range tells you your opponent is unlikely to have the nuts, which opens up more bluffing opportunities.