How to Put an Opponent on a Range, Step by Step

You have probably heard a commentator say "he puts him on ace king" and thought that is the skill: figure out the exact two cards. It is not. Nobody can do that reliably, not even the best players in the world, and trying to is why most players either freeze or talk themselves into a bad call.

The real skill is narrower and much more learnable. You do not ask "what does he have?" You ask "what hands would he play this way?" The answer is a group of hands, called a range, and once you have it the math takes over. Your equity against that group, compared to the price you are being offered, tells you what to do.

This post gives you a simple method for building that range in real time. Three questions, asked in order, and a full hand walked through so you can see it work.