Determining A Player's Range

SeaRun

SeaRun

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Maybe it's just the tables I've been at, I don't know, but I don't quite understand how to determine a player's range with any accuracy. In many cash ring games and tournaments, players are changing so often, it's hard to keep up with any accurate history.

Very often you see mucked hands, folds on a river bet, a big raise or all-in either pre or post flop that goes uncalled, etc. Actually very seldom do I see enough of a player's hands to get even an idea of what he's capable of.

Any hints or explanations?

Jamie
 
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TheNoobie

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In pokerstars when somebody mucks is hand you can check the prev. hand history and it will show what he had. How to determine.. oh well. thats explainable, but it varies in different situations. Most of the time you determine somebody's range its based on his play history. You need to have played with him atleast a few hands to know whether he is loose or aggressive. When people are shortstacked they tend to lose hope, so when a shortstacked player goes all-in I put him on a high card and low card, suited or not. For example A 5. Many times it comes out in a different way, which is worse for him and better for me, 8 5off for example. When I see that a player is tight and suddenly he goes aggressive over a hand, I check for the possibilities of flush and straight draw, based on either high cards, like AK, AQ or pocketpairs, OR suited connectors. If he is on the button and flop comes 5 6 7 or something and he is raising I'd suggest he has suited connectors. Many times I dont trust my instincts and bust out of tournaments or cash games.
It varies every time. You just need to have a history with the player to be certain. But usually those that are shortstacked dont wait too long for a big hand, they just throw it away with the first or second hand they get. Doesnt mean that they couldnt have gotten a big hand, for example AK. I make a lot of mistakes in such positions because I put them on a tilt, call their all-ins and Im actually the dog, not him. It just comes with experience :). But once you figure it out for yourself it will be easier for you to catch bluffs and stuff. When I spot a TAG on my table, he raises pre-flop but there are 3 5 8 on the table I would never put him on more than a pair. In such situations I become the calling station, because in most of the cases he raises with a high card because he doesnt want to accept that he waited for so long for a hand and missed the flop. As I said, everything comes with experience.
 
micromachine

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You don't need to see showdown to get some idea of your opponents range, you already have some info based how many hands you think he is playing, on his position and how the hand pans out. Very simple example: when a player who you don't assume to be a fish 4bets pre flop you can massively narrow his likely range to QQ+,AK. You've done that without seeing any showdown. That is a simple example but you can do the same street by street asking yourself questions like, "what hands is he barrelling this runout with?", or "what hands would he call that sized bet I just made with considering the board?". Hand reading is complex to say the least!

You should seriously consider buying a tracker...can do the free trials first to see which you like. Gives you a wealth of info that, once you know how to use, helps immensely with determining ranges, especially for cash games.
 
SeaRun

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In pokerstars when somebody mucks is hand you can check the prev. hand history and it will show what he had. >>>>SNIP

As stupid as it may sound, I didn't know that. Thanks.

SNIP<<<< You should seriously consider buying a tracker...can do the free trials first to see which you like. Gives you a wealth of info that, once you know how to use, helps immensely with determining ranges, especially for cash games.

I do intend to get one, but that will be later when I can take it from my poker winnings. Maybe a catch 22 situation, if I have it I should win more, but won't win more 'till I get one.

Right now, I consider myself a recreational player only playing $0.01 / $0.02 so do I really need one right now? Kind of hard to justify. But yes, as I move up in the game if I stay on PS, it will prove worthwhile. Once I get closer, I'll do the free trial then so I see the latest version of the software.

Thanks for the responses.

Jamie
 
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hffjd2000

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You can assign your opponents personality by color code (right clicking the username). And you can assign each personality on what range he is playing.

Say for example: Assign red color for maniac- very LA. His range is anything/everything.
 
micromachine

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I do intend to get one, but that will be later when I can take it from my poker winnings. Maybe a catch 22 situation, if I have it I should win more, but won't win more 'till I get one.

Right now, I consider myself a recreational player only playing $0.01 / $0.02 so do I really need one right now? Kind of hard to justify. But yes, as I move up in the game if I stay on PS, it will prove worthwhile. Once I get closer, I'll do the free trial then so I see the latest version of the software.

It's personal preference as to whether you want to spend $50 on it atm, I got mine when I was playing 2nl and 5nl (not from poker winnings) because I knew I was going to play a lot of hands and it would be useful right away and that it would pay for itself eventually. You certainly don't need a tracker to beat 2nl but it would probably improve your win rate. I would say at higher levels 10nl and above it's a significant disadvantage not to have one when most of your opponents do.
 
BluffMeAllIn

BluffMeAllIn

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Just to add, the tracker will pay for itself eventually and if you plan to get it eventually as micro indicated it almost becomes a necessity to play on even playing field up the limits. The small stakes one is like 55ish bucks, full holdem is 100 but you can always get the small stakes and upgrade later once you start rocking your way up the ladders (not sure off hand the limit restrictions on small as when i got mine a month ago went with full as was thinking positive that the small for stt/tournies wouldn't be long before would have to upgreade :D).

Good luck sir jamie, you shall be crushing 2nl yet
 
Arjonius

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You might try using a tool like Equilab to familiarize yourself with what different ranges tend to look like. This will give you some idea of what a person's range is likely to be if he's playing X% of hands.

This isn't exact since, for example, one person may play more small pairs while another with the same stat plays more connectors and suited hands. But you'll generally be able to ballpark a player's range based on how many hands he plays.

If you don't have a tracker, you have to watch closely enough to estimate what X% is for each opponent.
 
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