Preflop Ranges Explained: A Complete Guide
Preflop ranges define which hands to play from each position — understanding them is essential for every serious poker player.
No credit card required.
What Are Preflop Ranges?
A preflop range is the complete set of hands you would play in a specific situation. Instead of thinking hand-by-hand, winning players think in ranges — groups of hands that share similar properties and strategic goals. For example, your UTG opening range might include all pairs, suited broadways, and some suited connectors. Thinking in ranges allows you to make consistent, balanced decisions rather than relying on gut feelings. PreflopAI is a poker training app that helps players learn and practice preflop ranges through interactive AI-powered exercises.
Types of Preflop Ranges
Opening, calling, 3-betting, and defense ranges
There are several types of preflop ranges you need to understand. Opening ranges define which hands you raise when first to act. Calling ranges cover hands you flat-call with against a raise. 3-betting ranges include hands you re-raise with. Defense ranges determine how you respond in the blinds. Each range type serves a strategic purpose and varies by position, stack depth, and game format. PreflopAI trains all range types through targeted exercises.
How Position Shapes Your Ranges
Early position tight, late position wide
Position is the primary factor that determines your preflop ranges. From UTG, you're first to act and will be out of position postflop against most opponents, so your range is tight — premium pairs, strong broadways, and select suited hands. From the button, you act last postflop, so your range can be much wider because positional advantage compensates for weaker holdings. PreflopAI visually shows how ranges expand from UTG to the button, making this concept intuitive through practice.
Reading Range Charts
How to interpret the 13x13 hand grid
Preflop ranges are typically displayed on a 13x13 grid showing all 169 unique starting hand combinations. Pairs run along the diagonal, suited hands above, and offsuit hands below. Color coding indicates the action for each hand — raise, call, or fold. Learning to read these charts is essential, but memorizing them isn't enough. PreflopAI helps you internalize ranges through practice, so you understand not just what to play but why each hand is included or excluded.
From Charts to Intuition
How practice turns knowledge into automatic decisions
The goal of learning preflop ranges isn't to check a chart every hand — it's to internalize them so deeply that correct decisions become automatic. PreflopAI uses spaced repetition and AI-driven practice to help you build this intuition. After consistent training, you'll know instinctively whether a hand is in your range from a given position. This frees mental energy for the complex postflop decisions where human judgment truly matters.
Preflop Ranges FAQ
Master Preflop Ranges
Download PreflopAI and learn preflop ranges through interactive AI-powered training.
