Councilman's Corner-Volume 10: Hand Ranges in No-Limit Hold’em, Misfits Poker League Edition
- Lance Palmer
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
In Misfits Poker League (MPL) games, the goal isn’t just to win a single night, it’s to learn solid fundamentals, make repeatable good decisions, and build habits that transfer cleanly to casino play. One of the most important fundamentals is thinking in hand ranges, not single hands.
This article breaks down pre-flop ranges and how those ranges narrow and change on every street, using league-friendly charts and practical explanations you can apply immediately at the table.
What Is a Range?
In No-Limit Hold’em, there are a total of 1,326 possible combinations of starting hole cards. A range is subset of that 1,326 combos that a player can realistically have based on the information available to you. Every action your opponent takes narrows that group. Their position tells you how many hands they can start with. The action they choose, whether they raise, call, or re-raise, further filters those hands. Finally, the community cards determine which parts of that range improve, miss, or pick up drawing potential.
Newer players often try to put an opponent on one exact hand, like Ace-King or pocket Queens. While that feels logical, it’s rarely accurate. Most betting decisions don’t represent a single hand, they represent a collection of hands that all make sense in that spot. A raise on the button, for example, could mean many different holdings, not just one specific combo.
Strong players think in ranges because poker is a game of incomplete information. You’re never trying to be perfectly right; you’re trying to make the best decision with the information you have. When you think in ranges, your choices become clearer. You bluff more effectively, value bet more confidently, and fold strong-looking hands without frustration.
Range thinking replaces guessing with logic, and that shift is one of the biggest steps toward consistent, confident decision-making at the table.
The following is a break down of the range possibilities and playability for the Misfits Poker League and beyond. Using these guidelines and developing your play around them will make you a better player in the league and make the game less frustrating and more enjoyable.
Pre-Flop Opening Ranges (League-Optimized)
These ranges are designed for live league play:
7–9 handed tables
Moderate stacks
Lower re-raise frequency than casinos
They favor clarity and discipline over hyper-aggression. These are NOT EXACT! These charts are guidelines to help you develop your own style and strategy base on your level of discipline and risk tolerance.
Early Position (UTG / UTG+1)
Open ~12–15% of hands
AA–TT
AK, AQ
AJs
KQs
Why: You’ll act first post-flop. Strong, straightforward hands only.
Middle Position (MP)
Open ~18–22% of hands
AA–88
AK–AJ
KQ, QJs
ATs
98s
Why: Fewer players behind you allows for slightly more flexibility.
Late Position (Cutoff)
Open ~25–30% of hands
AA–55
AK–AT
KQ, KJs, QJs
Suited connectors: 98s–65s
Suited aces (AKs-A2s)
Why: Position lets you win more pots with initiative.
Button
Open ~35–45% of hands
Any pair
Any suited ace (AKs-A2s)
Most suited connectors and one-gappers
Broadways (A,K,Q,J, & 10 in combination)
Select offsuit hands (A9o+, KTo+)
Why: Best position at the table, you act last.
Blinds
Small Blind:
Tighter opens
Prefer raise-or-fold
Big Blind:
Defend wide vs late position opens
Call with suited hands, connectors, and pairs
Flop Ranges: Who Hits the Board?
Once the flop is dealt, ranges split into five main categories:
Flop Range Buckets
Strong Value: sets, two-pair, over-pairs
Top Pair: good and weak kickers
Middle / Weak Pair
Draws: flush, straight, combo
Air: missed hands
Board Texture Matters
Dry Boards (A♠-7♦-2♣)
Pre-flop raiser has the range advantage
Continuation bets work more often
Wet Boards (J♥-T♥-9♠)
Calling ranges connect harder
Expect more check-calling and fewer bluffs
Ask yourself:
“Which player’s pre-flop range connects better with this flop?”
Turn Ranges: Pressure Street
WATCH OUT! The turn is where mistakes get expensive.
What Happens on the Turn?
Weak hands fold
Medium hands become uncomfortable
Draws either improve or lose equity
Turn betting ranges often become polarized:
Strong value (sets, two pair+)
Strong draws
Fewer one-pair hands betting
MPL Adjustment: League players under-bluff turns. Respect turn aggression.
River Ranges: Value or Bluff
By the river, ranges are extremely narrow.
River Betting Range
Straights
Flushes
Full houses
Strong two pair
Occasional missed-draw bluffs
River Calling Question (MPL Gold Standard)
“Do I beat enough of their value range to justify this call?”
If the answer isn’t clearly yes, folding is usually correct. Although, on close calls, that lean toward fold, you can throw the occasional reasonable “gamble” out there just to keep your game balanced.
Simple Range Charts for MPL Play
Pre-Flop Open Summary
Early: Tight & strong
Middle: Balanced
Late: Aggressive & wide
Button: Pressure-heavy
Street-by-Street Range Narrowing
Final Thoughts for Misfits Players
In Misfits Poker League, success comes from disciplined fundamentals, not fancy plays.
Stop asking:
“What hand do they have?”
Start asking:
“What does their range look like here, and how does my hand perform against it?”
That single shift will immediately improve:
Your folds
Your value bets
Your confidence at the table
And most importantly, it prepares you for the next level of poker.
Play. Learn. Grow. Repeat.
Until next time, may all your cards be gems and may you never get stacked.
~The Councilman
You can reach the Lance at lance@misfitspoker.com or via FB messenger @lancejpalmer.
Catch him at a venue (our Locations) and ask for his number, he’ll give it to you.
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