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Range Merging
This topic was briefly discussed on the show thread last night. I promised I'd give some sort of explanation of it, so here is my best attempt:
When we talk about merging our range we're usually talking about a bet on the river. We're making a (usually big) bet that is designed to look as though we must have either a massive hand, close to being the nuts, or a massive bluff.
If our range when making this bet actually was one of those two extremes, then we would be described as having a polarised range. This will give our opponent a problem when he's holding a middling hand, like second pair. If we can be bluffing a high enough percentage of the time, he can make a call here and bluff catch profitably.
When we're range merging, we're actually trying to make ourselves look as though we must have either a big hand or a bluff, so we're trying to represent a polarised range. What we actually have, though, is a hand like top-pair or similar - A hand that will beat the types of hand he can bluff-catch with. He can call us with a hand like second pair, thinking it's likely that we're bluffing because big hands are so hard to come by, but in reality we just show him top-pair.
The big benefit of this is that we can exploit more of our value range against an opponent we think is bluff-catching and we actually get more value than we would from a more 'standard' bet size.
Anything I've missed?
When we talk about merging our range we're usually talking about a bet on the river. We're making a (usually big) bet that is designed to look as though we must have either a massive hand, close to being the nuts, or a massive bluff.
If our range when making this bet actually was one of those two extremes, then we would be described as having a polarised range. This will give our opponent a problem when he's holding a middling hand, like second pair. If we can be bluffing a high enough percentage of the time, he can make a call here and bluff catch profitably.
When we're range merging, we're actually trying to make ourselves look as though we must have either a big hand or a bluff, so we're trying to represent a polarised range. What we actually have, though, is a hand like top-pair or similar - A hand that will beat the types of hand he can bluff-catch with. He can call us with a hand like second pair, thinking it's likely that we're bluffing because big hands are so hard to come by, but in reality we just show him top-pair.
The big benefit of this is that we can exploit more of our value range against an opponent we think is bluff-catching and we actually get more value than we would from a more 'standard' bet size.
Anything I've missed?
Comments
also with semi bluffs their is the added benefit of being able to get money into the pot ready for if you do hit the hand and if you miss they will have more chance of making ourselves look to be a decent hand whereas just calling until the draws will result in a loss over the long period.
it's also turning a portion of villians value range -ev
when range merging it's best to have linear (depolarised) range
The only question for Harry is whether you've got it or not. He decided you probably didn't have it, but you're not really repping that massive straight, flush or full house type of hand because they're not present on the board. The draws have missed and, presumably, Harry thinks you're betting the missed flush draw, but it's not really a merge because your perceived range isn't that polarised.
...and then we can de-polarise our range again when we've convinced our opponent that we're once again polarised...
...and then we can... etc. etc.
the higher the level of thought is where you see more and more range merging. players at the lower levels generally bet with more precise ranges.
players that just bet their strong hands and occasional bluffs are pretty easy to figure out, you would jus call with the stonger part of your range when you think their bluffing and fold the middle part and worse part with no SDV..
range merging is the concept that you could fold out a better hand but also a worse hand could call- when you identify the players you can start to merge your range it makes you increasingly more difficult to play against - i have heard the term ''value bluffing'' used before, and its because sometimes you may be betting for value and think you want a call and when the villan tanks and eventually calls, he may flip over the winner..
there are going to be times that we bet and he's got a better hand and folds, and there are times that we bet and he's got a better hand and calls, and there are times that we bet and he's got a worse hand and folds, and there are times that we bet that he's got a worse hand and calls.
this is range merging
that's the only reason I didn't ship the river here because that second 10 would be all this villain expects me to ship with.
Either way it's the same thing. It's just a matter of cause and effect, and which one you relate the term to.
Yeah, I wanted to keep the OP fairly straightforward with a river scenario since I find that is easiest to explain. This was in response to a specific question from a relatively new player, so I didn't want to end up writing an enormous amount.
It's certainly something that can be expanded upon, though.
Totally a merge then