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Your hands don’t exist in isolation. They exist within ranges.

When skilled players think about poker, they don’t think about individual hands—they think about ranges. A range is the complete set of hands you might hold in a given situation. Understanding how to construct ranges that include the right mix of value hands and bluffs, regardless if you are playing Texas Hold’em or Omaha, is fundamental to advanced poker strategy.

This guide breaks down range construction from first principles, showing you how to build balanced betting ranges that make you difficult to exploit.

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What Is a Range?

A range is every possible hand combination you could hold given the actions you’ve taken. When you raise from the button, you don’t have one hand—you have a range of hands that you’d play this way.

For example, a typical Texas Hold’em button opening range might include:

• All pairs (22-AA)
• All suited aces (A2s-AKs)
• Most suited kings (K5s+)
• Suited queens (Q7s+)
• Suited connectors (54s+)
• Most offsuit broadways (ATo+, KJo+, QJo)

This range contains roughly 40% of all starting hands. Your opponent doesn’t know which specific hand you have—only that you have something from this range.

Why Balance Matters

A balanced range contains an appropriate mix of value hands (hands that want to be called) and bluffs (hands that want folds). Here’s why this matters:

Against Thinking Opponents

If your betting range is 100% value hands, observant opponents will fold everything except their strongest holdings. You’ll win small pots but never get paid on your monsters.

If your betting range is 100% bluffs, observant opponents will call you down with any decent hand. You’ll win when they fold but hemorrhage chips when they don’t.

A balanced range makes your opponent’s decision difficult. They can’t profitably always call or always fold because your range contains enough of both hand types.

The Unexploitable Baseline

A perfectly balanced range is theoretically unexploitable—your opponent can’t gain an edge by adjusting their strategy. While pure game theory optimal (GTO) play isn’t always the most profitable approach, understanding balanced ranges gives you:

• A default strategy against unknown opponents
• Protection against exploitation
• A framework for understanding when to deviate

The Value-to-Bluff Ratio

The foundation of range construction is the value-to-bluff ratio. This ratio depends on your bet size relative to the pot.

The Math

When you bet, you offer your opponent pot odds. For your bluffs to break even, you need enough value hands to make calling indifferent for your opponent.

The formula:

Bluff frequency = Bet size / (Bet size + Pot after bet)

Let’s apply this to common bet sizes:

Bet Size	Pot Odds Given	Value : Bluff Ratio	Bluff %
1/3 pot	4:1	4:1	20%
1/2 pot	3:1	3:1	25%
2/3 pot	2.5:1	2.5:1	29%
3/4 pot	2.3:1	2.3:1	30%
Pot	2:1	2:1	33%
2x pot	1.5:1	1.5:1	40%

If you bet 2/3 pot on the river, a balanced range should contain roughly 2.5 value hands for every 1 bluff (about 29% bluffs).

Building Ranges Street by Street

Ranges evolve through each street. Let’s construct a range from preflop through the river.

Preflop Range Construction

Your preflop range is determined by position and action. A button opening range is wide; an under-the-gun opening range is tight. These ranges are largely memorized based on position.

Example: Cutoff Opening Range (~25% of hands)

• All pairs
• A2s+, A9o+
• K9s+, KTo+
• Q9s+, QTo+
• J9s+, JTo
• T8s+, T9o
• 97s+, 98o
• 87s, 76s, 65s

Flop Range Construction

After the flop, your preflop range interacts with the board. Some hands improve dramatically; others miss entirely. Your flop betting range should include:

Value hands: Top pair good kicker or better, strong draws

Bluffs: Hands with backdoor equity (backdoor flush draws, backdoor straight draws), hands that block opponent’s continuing range

Example: You raised cutoff, BB called. Flop: K♠ 7♦ 2♣

Your value betting range includes:

• Top pair (Kx hands)
• Overpairs (AA, QQ potentially)
• Sets (KK, 77, 22)

Your bluffing range includes:

• Ace-high with backdoor flush draws (A♠5♠, A♠4♠)
• Suited connectors with backdoor equity (8♠6♠, 9♠8♠)
• Gutshots (T9, 65 for wheel draw)

Hands like QJ offsuit with no draw often become checks—not strong enough to value bet, not enough equity to bluff profitably.

Turn Range Construction

By the turn, ranges have narrowed significantly. Your turn betting range should be tighter than your flop range because:

• Bets are larger relative to pot
• Your opponent’s calling range is stronger (they already called the flop)
• You have less information advantage

Continuing the example: Turn brings 9♠

Your value range on the turn:

• Two pair or better
• Strong top pairs (KQ, KJ)
• Hands that picked up equity (flush draws)

Your bluffing range:

• Flush draws that won’t call a check-raise
• Straight draws with fold equity if raised
• Air with good blockers

Many flop bluffs that missed the turn should check and give up or check with the intention to call.

River Range Construction

The river is where range construction becomes most critical because:

• No more cards to come—hands have final value
• Draws have either completed or missed
• Bluffs must work immediately or fail

Completing the example: River brings 3♦

Final board: K♠ 7♦ 2♣ 9♠ 3♦

Your river value betting range:

• Two pair or better
• Strong Kx that expects to be called by worse (KQ, KJ vs. weaker kings)

Your river bluffing range:

• Missed flush draws
• Missed straight draws
• Air with blockers to opponent’s calling hands

The key: your bluffs should be hands that cannot win at showdown and ideally block your opponent’s calling hands.

Blockers and Range Construction

Blockers significantly impact range construction, especially on the river.

What Are Blockers?

Blockers are cards you hold that reduce the likelihood your opponent holds certain hands. If you have A♠, your opponent is less likely to have a flush and cannot have the nut flush on a spade board.

Choosing Bluffs Based on Blockers

When selecting river bluffs, prioritize hands that:

• Block opponent’s calling range: If they call with top pair, hold a card that makes top pair less likely
• Unblock opponent’s folding range: Don’t hold cards that would be in hands they’d fold
• Have no showdown value: Why bluff with a hand that might win at showdown?

Example: On K♠ Q♦ 7♣ 5♠ 2♥ with a pot-sized bet, which is the better bluff?

• J♠T♠ (missed flush draw)
• A♠4♣ (ace-high, one spade)

J♠T♠ is the better bluff because:

• It blocks opponent’s calling hands (Kx with spade, flushes)
• It has zero showdown value
• A♠4♣ can only beat missed draws

Polarized vs. Merged Ranges

Not all betting ranges are constructed the same way.

Polarized Ranges

A polarized range contains only very strong hands and bluffs—nothing in between. You’re saying “I have the nuts or nothing.”

When to polarize:

• When using large bet sizes (pot or larger)
• When opponent’s range is capped
• On river after missed draws

Example: Opponent checks river after calling flop and turn on a flush-completing board. They’ve shown weakness by checking. Your betting range should be polarized: nut flushes and bluffs, not medium-strength hands.

Merged (Linear) Ranges

A merged range contains strong hands and medium-strength hands, with few or no bluffs. You’re betting for thin value.

When to merge:

• When using small bet sizes (1/4 to 1/3 pot)
• When opponent’s range is weak and elastic
• When there’s little benefit to bluffing

Example: Dry board like K♣ 7♦ 2♠ where you have range advantage. A small c-bet works with your entire continuing range—both value and marginal hands—because opponent folds too much.

Practical Range Construction Exercise

Let’s build a complete range for a common spot:

Situation: You opened button, big blind called. Pot is $10.

Board: A♣ 8♦ 5♠ 4♣ 2♥

You bet $7 (70% pot) on the river. What should your range look like?

Step 1: Identify Value Hands

Hands that want to be called:

• Sets: AA, 88, 55, 44, 22
• Two pair: A8, A5, A4, A2, 85, 54
• Strong top pair: AK, AQ, AJ
• Straights: 63, 73 for wheel

Let’s say this gives us roughly 40 value combinations.

Step 2: Calculate Bluff Frequency

At 70% pot, optimal bluff frequency is approximately 30%.

If we have 40 value combos, we want ~17 bluff combos (40 × 0.3 / 0.7 ≈ 17).

Step 3: Select Bluffs

Best bluff candidates:

• Missed flush draws: K♣Q♣, K♣J♣, Q♣J♣, etc.
• Missed straight draws: 76, 97 that didn’t get there
• Complete air with blockers to opponent’s calling range

We select 17 combinations of missed draws and air that have good blockers to complete our bluffing range.

Step 4: Identify Checking Hands

Everything else checks:

• Weak aces (A9, AT that might be outkicked)
• Middle pairs (88 on Axx board)
• Marginal hands that have showdown value but can’t bet for value

These hands don’t want to inflate the pot but can win at showdown.

Common Range Construction Errors

Too Many Bluffs

Over-bluffing makes your range easy to exploit—opponents simply call more frequently. If you’re getting called and losing frequently, reduce your bluff frequency.

Too Few Bluffs

Under-bluffing means opponents can fold to your bets profitably. If you never get called when you value bet, you’re not bluffing enough.

Wrong Bluff Selection

Bluffing with hands that have showdown value is usually wrong—you’re turning a potential winner into a loser. Choose bluffs that have zero chance of winning otherwise.

Ignoring Board Texture

Static boards (K72 rainbow) allow more bluffs because opponent’s range doesn’t improve. Dynamic boards (JT9 two-tone) require tighter ranges because opponent’s continuing range is strong.

Applying This on GGPoker

PokerCraft Analysis

Review your hand histories to identify range construction leaks:

• Are you betting too wide or too narrow on certain board textures?
• What hands are you bluffing with? Are they optimal choices?
• How often are your bets getting called vs. your bluff frequency?

Smart HUD for Range Reading

Use HUD stats to estimate opponent ranges:

• High VPIP = wide preflop ranges
• Low fold-to-c-bet = continuing ranges that include draws and weak pairs
• High aggression = betting ranges weighted toward value

Understanding opponent ranges helps you construct better ranges against them.

Key Takeaways

• Think in ranges, not hands: Every decision should consider all hands you’d play this way
• Value-to-bluff ratios depend on bet size: Larger bets allow more bluffs
• Use blockers for bluff selection: Choose bluffs that block opponent’s calling range
• Polarize with big bets, merge with small bets: Match your range construction to your sizing
• Balance protects you: Balanced ranges make you unexploitable as a baseline
• Ranges narrow each street: Your turn range should be tighter than your flop range

Start Building Better Ranges

Range construction is the foundation of advanced poker strategy. Every bet you make should come from a thoughtfully constructed range that includes appropriate value hands and bluffs.

Start by analyzing your river betting ranges. Are you betting with the right value-to-bluff ratio? Are your bluffs the optimal choices? Build from there, and your overall strategy will improve dramatically.

Load up PokerCraft on GGPoker and review your recent sessions. Find spots where your range construction was off, and work on building better, more balanced ranges.