Considering Your Opponent's Range: What About Your Own?

Janak9955

For many poker players, considering ranges seems to be a challenging task due to the educational mindset ingrained during our upbringing, which makes us believe that professional poker players can accurately guess what cards their opponents hold.

As poker becomes more widespread, people are starting to accept the idea of considering ranges, but often, the focus is on thinking about the opponent's range rather than one's own. While considering the opponent's range is essential for devising strategies to counter them, it is equally crucial to think about our own range, especially when the flop is revealed and we find ourselves without a strong hand.

After the flop, you can break down the process of considering your range into three stages:

1. Evaluate the Flop:
   You should ask yourself: Is this flop good, bad, or neutral for my range? The key here is to consider "my range" rather than "my starting hand." For example, if a tight player raises from UTG, and you defend the big blind, and the flop comes A-K-9, it is a bad flop for your range. Even if you hold a hand like 99, it is not a favorable situation because strong hands like AA, KK, and AK are more likely in your opponent's range.

   On the other hand, if the flop is 8-7-6, it is favorable for your range, considering hands like 88, 77, 66, 89, 87, 76, and 65. Generally, what benefits your range is detrimental to your opponent's range and vice versa. It's crucial to emphasize that you don't need to think about your strategy based on the actual cards you have; instead, focus on your overall range.

2. Develop a General Flop Strategy:
   The assessment of whether the flop is good or bad for your range directly affects your basic strategy, such as whether to donk-bet, check-call, check-raise, or check-fold. For instance, if the flop is unfavorable for your range, donk-betting may not be the best move. Using the example of A-K-9, if you donk-bet, your opponent is likely to call or raise, making it difficult to continue with the hand. Even with a hand like 99, donk-betting is not recommended because the flop favors your opponent's range.

   If the flop is favorable for your range, donk-betting can be a suitable strategy. Consider your options and think about potential bluffs or value bets based on your overall range.

3. Establish Your Range:
   After evaluating the flop and deciding on a general strategy, you need to determine how to play specific hands within your range. This is where you establish your range. For example, if your range includes 22-JJ, 34s, 45s, 56s, 67s, 78s, 9Ts, JQs, KQs, Axs, and AJo, you might choose to donk-bet with 34s, 45s, 56s, 67s, 22, 33, and 44. You could check-raise with hidden threes, 78s, and 98s, and check-call with AXs and overpairs.

   When deciding how to play each hand within your range, remember that each range contains both strong and weak hands. Except for hands meant for check-fold, your range should have a mix of both. If your range consists entirely of strong or weak hands, you become susceptible to exploitation by your opponents.

Once you've established your range, you can then decide how to play your actual starting hand based on the developed strategy. Initially, thinking about all these considerations in one hand may seem challenging, but with practice, it becomes a beneficial habit that works to your advantage.

Jatin255

Thank you for sharing

Jayne94133

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