Range — Poker Definition

Quick answer

Range: the collection of hands a player could plausibly hold in a given situation.

Example

An early-position raise might represent a relatively strong selection of pairs, big cards and suited holdings, while a late-position opening range may include many more combinations.

Why it matters

You almost never know an opponent’s exact cards during the hand. Range reasoning lets you compare your hand against all plausible holdings and update that distribution as actions and board cards provide information.

Related reading

Poker Equity

Learn how a hand performs against a range.

Read guide →

Last updated: August 26, 2026 · Publisher: Double Up Poker