In poker, a range refers to the spectrum of hands a player might hold in a given situation. Your betting range and calling range both reflect this collection of possible hole cards, which influences how opponents perceive and react to your actions.
A well-constructed range helps you conceal your actual holdings and leverage post flop dynamics—whether you’re betting big, mixing hands and bluffs, or navigating medium strength hands.
What Is a Linear Range?
A linear range is structured from weakest hands to strongest holdings in a continuous spectrum. When you adopt a poker linear range:
Your range consists of hands like suited connectors (e.g., 87), mid-pairs (e.g., 99), and premium hand combinations (e.g., AK, AA).
You rarely include pure bluffs; instead, you focus on hands with medium strength hands or better.
This approach is common in smaller bet sizes where value extraction takes priority over polarization.
By using a linear vs polarized range approach, you maintain a more predictable profile: opponents know that if you’re betting, you likely hold something at least above a certain threshold.
What Is a Polarized Range?
A polarized range poker strategy mixes only the strongest and weakest hands—with very few middling cards. A polarized range:
Ranges include premium hand combos (top pairs, overpairs, sets) as well as pure bluffs (e.g., 76 on a dry board).
When you bet big, you either have nuts—like hands like AA, KK, or AK suited—or a complete airball hand intended to induce folds.
You deliberately avoid medium strength hands to prevent opponents from easily calling down with modest showdown value.
Polarized and linear ranges differ sharply: with a polarized betting range, you’re completely unpredictable except at the extreme ends—either crushing or nothing.
Linear vs Polarized Range: Key Differences
| Aspect | Linear Range | Polarized Range |
|---|---|---|
| Range Composition | Contains hands across the spectrum, including merged ranges | Only premium hand value + bluffs |
| Post-Flop Play | Focus on value bets with medium strength hands | Focus on fold equity and maximum pressure |
| Bet Sizing | Often smaller to extract value and protect equity | Often larger to leverage polarization |
| Opponent Perception | Seen as predictable in strength order | Seen as all-or-nothing |
The Role of Merged Ranges
A merged poker range combines elements of both polarized and linear strategies. In merged ranges:
You include hands that fall between premium and garbage—like KQ or J10.
These hands can play as backdoor semi-bluffs or legitimate value bets depending on board texture.
Merging allows you to remain balanced, making it harder for opponents to exploit you.
Merged ranges shine on boards with mixed draw and pairing potential, where both a value and a bluff narrative can be plausible.
When to Use Each Approach
| Scenario | Recommended Range |
|---|---|
| Dry Board & Big Pot | Polarized Range (max pressure) |
| Paired Board with Draws | Merged Range (balance) |
| Shallow Stacks Pre-Flop | Linear Range (value-heavy) |
| Deep Stacks with SPR > 6 | Mix all three strategically |
Polarized range poker is ideal when you need to apply maximum pressure—think large bets on a rainbow Ace-high flop.
Linear vs polarized range debates often center on board texture: dry boards favor polarization; coordinated boards call for merged and linear approaches.
Post flop, adjust: if you hold a premium hand, polarize your betting range; if you have medium strength hands, consider a linear continuation bet.
Tips for Implementing Polarized Range Poker
Identify Board Texture: Use polarization on boards with minimal draw potential.
Calibrate Bet Sizes: Larger bets capitalize on fold equity; smaller bets lean linear.
Balance Hands and Bluffs: Ensure you mix enough bluffs to avoid becoming predictable when betting big.
Watch Your Opponents: Tight players fold too much to polarized ranges; loose players call down light, favoring linear.
Practice with Tools: Use range-construction software to visualize how your polarized and linear ranges overlap.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Over-Polarizing: Betting big with too few bluffs makes your value bets transparent.
Under-Polarizing: Leading with middling hands in big pots destroys fold equity.
Ignoring Stack Sizes: Shallow stacks limit your ability to bluff; deeper stacks demand more nuanced ranges.
Static Ranges: Don’t always use the same polarized or linear range—adjust dynamically to the opponent and table.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is a polarized range in poker?
A polarized range poker strategy splits your betting range into two groups: your strongest value hands (overpairs, sets, nuts) and pure bluffs (airballs). You avoid medium strength hands, maximizing fold equity and keeping opponents guessing.
Q2: How does a linear range differ from a polarized range?
A poker linear range includes hands across the spectrum—from weakest hands like suited connectors up to premium hand combos. You focus on value with medium strength hands, rather than mixing in pure bluffs as in a polarized range.
Q3: When should I use a merged poker range?
Use merged ranges on boards with both draw and pairing potential. By including medium strength hands like KQ in your ranges include list, you maintain balance—making it hard for opponents to read whether you have a draw, a made hand, or a bluff.
Q4: What bet sizes work best for polarized vs linear ranges?
Smaller bet sizes favor linear ranges, extracting value from worse hands. Larger bets favor polarization, leveraging fold equity against weakest hands. Always adjust sizing to stack depths and opponent tendencies.
Q5: Can I switch between polarized and linear ranges in one session?
Absolutely. Advanced poker strategy demands dynamic adjustment. Use a polarized approach on dry boards to bet big, then switch to linear or merged when facing draw-heavy boards or looser opponents.
