Advanced Range Construction: Frequency & Combinations

Building balanced ranges is the core skill that separates strong players from the rest. Every action communicates information about your range.

Range Types

**Linear Range**: Contains strong, medium, and weak hands in proportion. Used for opening and 3-betting.

**Polarized Range**: Only very strong and very weak hands with nothing in between. Used for 4-betting, river raises, and overbets.

**Condensed/Merged Range**: Mostly medium-strength hands. Often used for calling 3-bets or defending blinds.

**Capped Range**: A range that cannot contain the absolute strongest hands. Usually a calling range.

**Value-to-bluff ratio**: On the river, bet sizing determines the optimal ratio. Pot-sized bet = 2 value : 1 bluff. Half-pot = 3 value : 1 bluff.

**Check-back range**: Always include hands that can call a river bet in your flop/turn checking range. Do not make your check range too weak.

**Bet/check frequencies**: On most flops, c-bet 60-75% of your preflop range. Adjust based on board texture.

**Best bluffs have equity**: Semi-bluffs with flush draws, straight draws, or overcards can improve to the best hand

**Best bluffs have blockers**: Bluff when you hold cards that block the opponent's continuing range (e.g., bluff with A♠ on a three-spade board)

**Worst showdown value first**: Bluff with hands too weak to win at showdown but with relevant blockers

Value betting too wide — not every top pair is worth three streets of value

Bluffing with wrong combos — bluffing hands that block the folding range instead of the calling range

Not protecting check ranges — if you always bet strong hands, your check range is face-up and exploitable

Frequency neglect — betting the same amount with all hands makes your range transparent

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