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The material is based on the original article: pekarstas.com
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If you're familiar with poker, you've probably heard of polarized and linear ranges. These are key concepts that are important to understand if you want to succeed in the game.
In this article, we'll look at:
- What is a range?
- What is a polarized range?
- What is a linear range?
- When should a polarized range be used?
- When is the best time to apply a linear range?
The article will also mention three poker rooms where you can put your knowledge into practice. If you are new to poker and just starting to learn the basics, or an experienced player looking to improve their game, this article will be useful.
1. What is a range?
Range is a set of hands that a player can hold at a particular point in the game.
For example, if you know that a Tight player makes a 4-bet, it could mean that their range includes hands like QQ, KK, or AA. This range can be written as [QQ+], that is, all hands starting with QQ. Professionals often think in ranges categories rather than trying to ascribe a specific hand to an opponent.
2. Polarized range: what is it?
A polarized range is a concept in which one set of hands combines both very strong and weak hands, but there are no “middle” hands that occupy an intermediate position.
The basic idea is that such range represents a kind of “polarity” — either you want to play with a strong hand, or you want to bluff with rather weak cards.
An example of a polarized range on a preflop might look like this:
Powerful hands: AK, JJ+
Weak Hands: A2s-A5s
It is important to understand here that this range is designed to put pressure on the opponent both with strong cards (which can buy most of the time) and with cards that represent a bluff. By applying such range, you create confusion among rivals, as they can not understand exactly what is on your hands. This range contains two opposing hand types: strong (JJ+) and weak (A2s-A5s).
3. Linear range: what is it?
The linear range (or so-called merge range) is a range that includes both stronger and weaker hands, but there is no clear polarity in it.
All hands in this range have more or less similar chances of winning, and they are presented in a more "cohesive" form. This allows for a more flexible approach to betting without creating strong contrasts in the range.
Example of linear range:
Strong hands: AA, AQs
Middle arms: 88, KJs
Weak hands: 22, 65, K5
This approach is most often used in the early streets and on the flop, when the game does not involve rigid polarization.
4. Application of polarized and linear ranges on post-flop
Let's look at a specific flop to show how these two types of ranges work in a real game. Suppose you opened a raise with CO with a range, as in the last example, and the flop is:
.
Your hands can now be divided into three categories:
- Strong hands: top pairs, sets, two pair (e.g. QQ, 99, 66, Q9, AQ).
- Medium arms: medium top pairs, pair, lower pair (e.g. QT, A9, T9).
- Weak hands: firewood and weak hands (e.g. draw JT, T8, 75).
With a polarized range, you will most likely only bet with strong and weak hands. With a linear range, you could bet with hands of all categories, depending on the situation.
5. When to apply the polarized range?
The polarized range is commonly used on the turn and the river. On these streets, the ratio of stack size to pot (SPR) is high, and to extract the maximum value from strong hands, you need to place big bet. Large bet should lead to opponents throwing out hands of medium strength. If you place a large hand with a medium hand, this may cause you to face a stronger hand after the call.
Example: on the river, when all the cards on the table are open, your range will include:
- Velju Hands: Hands that win more than 50% of the time, such as QQ, 99, 66, Q9, AQ, KK, AA.
- Bluff: hands that have no chance of improving, e.g. KJ, KT, JT. These hands are useful because they block the hands that the villain will call to (e.g. KQ, QJ).
6. When to apply the linear range?
The linear range has a greater application on the flop. At this point, your hands may be broken and your bluff may improve with the following cards. On the flop, there is no such clear division into strong and weak hands as on later streets, and the equity is distributed more evenly.
Example:
- Schedule of equity distribution on the flop: equity gradually increases from weak hands (25%) to strong hands (90%).
- Chart on the river: equity rises sharply in strong hands, and weak hands lose their significance.
Thus, strategies on the flop are often more linear, and polarized on the river. These differences in approaches help the player better build their strategy and adapt the range depending on the situation and the cards on the table.
