What Does Merged Mean in Poker?
In poker, “merged” refers to a betting or raising range that includes both strong hands and some bluffs or weaker hands, making it harder for opponents to determine the strength of the player’s hand.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Merged
You’ll often hear this term in situations where a player is trying to balance their range by including both strong value hands and bluffs. This strategy is common in advanced games where opponents are observant and skilled at hand reading.
In-Game Example
Imagine you are facing a river bet, holding a medium-strength hand like second pair. If your opponent has a merged range, they might be betting with top pair, a missed draw, or even a complete bluff, making your decision more complex.
Strategy / Tips
Best Practice: Use a merged range to keep your opponents guessing and to prevent them from easily putting you on a hand.
Common Mistake: Failing to properly balance your range, leading to predictability and exploitation by opponents.
Pro Tips: Against highly skilled players, merging your range can be an effective way to avoid giving away too much information about your hand strength.
Differences playing over the table vs online: Online players may rely more on statistics and tendencies, making a merged range useful to disguise your play. In live games, physical reads can adjust this strategy.
Alternative Names
There are no widely recognized alternative names for merged ranges.
FAQs
Q: What is the main advantage of using a merged range?
A: The main advantage is making it difficult for opponents to accurately read your hand, allowing you to maintain an edge in competitive games.
Related Terms
- Bluff
- Value Bet
- Range
