What Is A Poker Range?
A range is the group of hands someone could realistically have.
Example:
If a tight player raises from early position, their range might include:
- big pairs
- strong broadways (AK, AQ)
- fewer weak hands
If a loose player raises from the button, their range can include:
- many suited hands
- broadways
- weaker aces
- some junk
So instead of asking:
- “Do they have AK?”
You ask:
- “What kinds of hands do they raise here?”
If you want the full foundation first, start with Online Poker Guide: Rules, Strategy & Tips. This article explains ranges in plain English and shows you how to build, narrow, and use ranges in real online hands.
Why Range Thinking Is Better Than Hand Guessing
Hand guessing leads to emotional swings:
- “He always has it!”
- “He never has it!”
- “I knew it!”
Range thinking leads to calm decisions:
- “His range is strong here, so I fold.”
- “His range is capped here, so I bet.”
- “He has too many missed draws here, so I call.”
Poker becomes about likelihoods, not certainty.
Step 1: Start With Preflop Ranges
Preflop action builds the foundation of every range.
The most important inputs:
- position (early vs late)
- open raise vs limp
- 3-bet vs call
- stack size and tournament stage
A simple rule:
- earlier position = tighter range
- later position = wider range
If you want preflop structure first, revisit The Essentials Of Preflop Strategy In Online Poker.
Step 2: Narrow The Range After The Flop Action
Every time someone bets, calls, or raises, their range changes.
Example: They Call The Flop
When someone calls a flop bet, they often have:
- a pair
- a draw
- sometimes a slowplayed strong hand
They usually have fewer “air” hands, because many air hands fold.
Example: They Raise The Flop
Raises often remove weak hands and concentrate ranges toward:
- strong made hands
- strong draws
- occasional bluffs (depends on player)
Your job is not to “put them on one hand.”
Your job is to remove hands that no longer make sense.
Step 3: Use Board Texture To Understand Range Advantage
Board texture helps you decide:
- who is more likely to have strong hands
- who is more likely to have nut hands
- who can credibly represent strength
Dry High Boards (A-7-2 Rainbow)
Often favor the preflop raiser’s range because they have more aces.
Low Connected Boards (6-7-8 With A Flush Draw)
Often favor the caller’s range because they have more suited connectors and small pairs.
This is why c-bets are not automatic. They depend on who the board hits.
If you want this applied to c-betting, revisit Understanding Continuation Bets & When To Use Them.
Step 4: Understand “Capped” vs “Uncapped” Ranges
This concept is powerful and very usable online.
Capped Range
A capped range means someone is unlikely to have the strongest hands.
Example:
- they just call a 3-bet preflop (often fewer AA/KK)
- they call flop and call turn on a scary board (often they don’t have the nuts)
Uncapped Range
An uncapped range means someone can still have very strong hands.
Example:
- the aggressor in a 3-bet pot can still have AA/KK
- a player who check-raises flop can have sets and strong draws
Why it matters:
- you can pressure capped ranges
- you should be cautious against uncapped ranges
Step 5: Make Better Bets With Range Thinking
Range thinking improves:
- value betting
- bluffing
- calling decisions
Value Betting
Ask:
- What worse hands can call?
If many worse hands exist in their range, bet for value.
Bluffing
Ask:
- What better hands can fold?
If their range contains many weak hands that can fold, bluffing becomes profitable.
Calling
Ask:
- Does their range contain enough bluffs?
If not, fold—even if your hand “looks strong.”
A Simple Range Exercise You Can Do In Real Games
Next time you face a bet, do this:
- What hands would they play preflop from this position?
- After this flop action, what hands remain?
- Does this turn card help my range or theirs?
- If they bet big, what hands do that in their range?
- What would I do with my strongest hands here?
This “range narrowing” habit is the fastest way to stop clicking buttons randomly.
Common Mistakes When Learning Ranges
- trying to assign exact hands instead of categories
- ignoring position
- ignoring player type (tight vs loose)
- not updating the range after each action
- bluffing into ranges that don’t fold
- calling “because you have a good hand” without enough bluffs in their range
Range thinking is a skill. It improves fast with repetition.
Quick Takeaways
- Your opponent has a range, not one hand
- Start ranges with position and preflop action
- Narrow ranges after every bet, call, and raise
- Board texture tells you who has range advantage
- Capped ranges can be pressured; uncapped ranges deserve respect
- Use ranges to value bet better, bluff smarter, and make fewer hero calls
Mini FAQ
Do I Need Charts To Think In Ranges?
No. Start with simple categories: tight range vs wide range, strong vs weak, draws vs made hands.
What’s The Fastest Way To Improve Range Thinking?
After each action, remove hands that don’t make sense anymore. Keep narrowing.
Why Do Solvers Talk About Ranges So Much?
Because poker decisions are about probabilities. Ranges are how you model those probabilities.
Where To Go Next
You’ve now learned how to think in ranges instead of guessing single hands—and how that makes betting, bluffing, and calling decisions much cleaner.
If you want to reinforce this, the best next move is to learn about blockers. Blockers are a “range tool” that helps you choose better bluffs and better hero calls by understanding which key cards are removed from your opponent’s possible hands.
Continue with Understanding Blockers In Poker Strategy.
