Polarized Range

Also known as: polarised range, polarized, polar range

A range split into strong value hands and low-equity bluffs, with the medium-strength hands deliberately omitted.

A polarized range is built from two clusters — premium value and low-equity bluffs — with the middling hands removed (those are played as a call or a different action). Polarization is the correct shape when you're applying maximum pressure: large 3-bets out of position, 4-bets, 5-bets, squeezes, overbets, and most big-sizing river bets.

The logic: medium hands have showdown value and don't want to bloat the pot or get raised off their equity, so they prefer calling. The strong hands want stacks in; the bluffs have little equity but generate fold equity and let you bet a large size profitably. Sizing and polarization go together — bigger bets demand a more polar range, because the price you lay sets the bluff-to-value ratio via alpha: a pot-sized bet ( \(\alpha = \tfrac{1}{2}\) ) supports roughly 1 bluff per 2 value combos at equilibrium.

Contrast with a linear range (top-down, no bluffs) and a merged range (value-weighted with thinner value rather than pure air). Bluff selection within a polar range is driven by blockers — you pick the air that blocks the opponent's continues. Out-of-position 3-bet ranges are the canonical preflop example of polarization.