Merged range
A range of hands that are all of moderate to good strength, with few pure bluffs — the opposite of a polarised range. Merged bets are usually smaller and made for thin value and protection.
Frequently asked questions
What is a merged range in poker?
A betting range of strong and reasonable hands — the top and the middle, with few or no bluffs. The opposite of polarised: the hands bet because they are ahead of what calls, not because they need a fold.
When is merging better than polarising?
Against opponents who call too much. Bluffs lose value when nobody folds, so the money comes from betting every hand that beats their calling range — which means loading up the middle instead of the extremes.
What size suits a merged range?
Small to medium. A modest bet keeps weaker hands in and makes thin value possible, where a large bet would fold out exactly the hands you wanted to be called by.