Range advantage is a concept in poker that sounds complex at first, but it becomes much easier to understand when broken down into simple ideas. At its core, range advantage refers to which player is more likely to have stronger hands in a given situation. Instead of thinking about a single hand, poker strategy often focuses on ranges, meaning all the possible hands a player could be holding based on their actions. Understanding range advantage helps players make better decisions without needing perfect information.
In most poker situations, players do not know exactly what cards their opponents have. What they can do is estimate a range of hands that makes sense given the betting and position. Range advantage occurs when one player’s estimated range contains more strong hands than the opponent’s range. This advantage influences who can bet confidently and who should be more MPL Poker cautious.
Position plays a big role in range advantage. Players who act later in a hand usually have a wider and stronger range because they can enter pots with more hands and gather information from others’ actions. For example, a player who raises from a late position often has access to premium hands as well as strong medium hands, while a player calling from an early position may have a more limited range. In this case, the late-position player often has the range advantage.
Board texture also affects range advantage. Certain community card combinations connect better with specific ranges. A board with high cards may favor the player who raised before the flop, as that range typically includes strong high-card hands. On the other hand, a low and coordinated board might favor the caller, whose range includes more connected or suited hands. Understanding this interaction helps players decide when to apply pressure and when to slow down.
Range advantage influences betting strategy. When a player has the range advantage, they can often bet more frequently and apply pressure, even without a strong individual hand. This is because their opponent must respect the possibility of powerful hands. Conversely, when a player lacks range advantage, playing more defensively and selectively is usually a smarter approach.