Hey! In this guide we are gonna go through one of the first steps on your journey learning poker, the understanding of the concept of range We will go through a quick, free guide on how to learn ranges. If you don’t know your poker varieties yet, we suggest starting by the basics.
When you’re playing GTO (Game Theory Optimized), you are not thinking of a single, isolated hand. You must be thinking about a range, that being:
– Range is a set of multiple possible hands a player can hold at given moment.
Your range will be defined by multiple aspects, such as:
– Number of players playing the hand
– Player stack size
– Positions close to the bubble / ITM (in the money)
– Your position on the table (BTN, SB, etc.)
– Your stack (and risk profile)
– Your analysis of the villain: keep track of loose and tight players
These are the factors considered when building and discussing ranges on Poker.
While studying poker you’ll read descriptions like this:
UTG open-raise range in 6-max.
This would be an estimate approach to this range. This will be narrowed down as we further develop the hand. A classic example:
Ranges and Position on Poker
Player position is without a doubt the most important factor when determining pre-flop ranges. It is quite simple; when you act late, you collect information about your opponent’s hand, which allow you to play more hands that turn profit.
| Position | Range | Facts |
| Early Position (EP) (UTG, UTG+1) | Tight (narrow selection) | You are acting first, with many players going after you. This require strong hands. |
| Middle Position (MP) (MP, Lojack) | Medium | You’re playing more hands than EP, but still cautious. |
| Late Position (LP) (Cutoff, Button) | Wide | You act last on most rounds. This position allow you to play bluffs (speculative hands) and apply more pressure |
| Blinds (Small Blind, Big Blind) | Defensive | Complex ranges since you put chips in, but you’re out of position post-flop |
Range difference between an Under The Gun (UTG) and Button (BTN) player can be drastic.
While UTG may open with only 10-15% of the best hands, BTN can open 40-50%. This exploits position to steal blinds and apply pressure.
Stack Sizes
A player’s effective stack is the second most important aspect when building a range, specially in regards to tournaments. Stacks are usually measured in BB (Big Blind)
- Short Stack (20 BB or less): In these cases playing post-flop is less relevant. Strategy is focused in push-or-fold (all in or fold), where these ranges are simplified to maximize fold equity and avoid complex post-flop decisions.
- Medium Stack (30 – 60 BB): Allows for a balanced game, with lot of space for 3-bets (re-raises) and flats (calls), still with a pre-flop all-in threat.
- Deep Stack (100BB+): Playing deep stack guarantees range exploration, with a lot of post-flop opportunities. Lot of speculative hands to be played (like suited connectors) play well in these big pots.
Stack determines how deep the game is, building your ideal range composition.
RFI and vs RFI: Path to Assertive Plays
To make assertive plays players use pre-defined range charts, many times optimized by GTO.
RFI (Raise First In)
RFI means being the first player entering the pot with a raise, after seeing every previous player fold. RFI charts are the start of pre-flop strategy.
- Objective: steal blinds and (if possible) build a pot with this initiative.
- Use: Hero must memorize or consult RFI charts for his current position. Example given, RFI from BTN will be wider than RFI from UTG, showing his positional advantage
vs RFI (Ranges Against a Raise)
All vs RFI ranges define how you must act after a player RFI on you. The options are Fold (give up), Call (pay), or 3-bet (re-raise)
- Objective: Defend your stack in a balanced way, maximizing your hand value.
- Use: vs RFI ranges are built based on your position, by the original RFI position, and by the size of your stack. We can assume now that SB 3-bet range against RFI from BTN will be different from a BB call range from the same RFI
Using these pre-defined ranges consistently guarantees that your plays are mathematically solid. They are the foundation for controlled agression and assertiveness in your game.
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The Range Builder
The knowledge gained from our ebook is invaluable, but true mastery comes from active application.
That’s why we recommend pairing your study with the ultimate practical tool: the RANGE BUILDER.
This intuitive, powerful software allows you to seamlessly translate the theoretical concepts you’ve learned into personalized, visual, and actionable poker range charts.
Whether you’re customizing a GTO base for a specific player pool or simply drilling your memory, the RANGE BUILDER is your laboratory for strategic development.
