22 Jan 2025 Advanced This material is for experienced players equity ranges Poker is getting tougher every year as players continue to improve their game. Many modern concepts shape today’s poker strategy, and one of the most important is equity distribution. This concept was largely unknown in the pre-solver era, but now it’s essential for high-level play. If you want to make optimal decisions in specific scenarios, understanding how equity is distributed within different hand ranges is crucial. In this article, we’ll cover: What equity distribution is Linear equity distribution Polarized equity distribution How equity distribution should influence your strategy Let’s get started! What Is Equity Distribution? Equity distribution refers to how equity is spread across different parts of a player’s range compared to their opponent’s range. To better understand this, let’s break down equity distribution graphs: The X-axis (horizontal) represents the percentage of a range. The Y-axis (vertical) represents the equity of each part of that range relative to the opponent’s range. We will now explore two main types of equity distribution: linear and polarized. Linear Equity Distribution Linear equity distribution means that equity is fairly evenly spread across the entire range. This typically happens on the flop, where a range contains strong hands, medium-strength hands, draws, and air. Here’s what such a graph looks like: Characteristics: The bottom 20% of the range generally has 25-40% equity. The middle of the range has around 50% equity. The top of the range has 80-90% equity. This balanced distribution is quite different from the polarized type we’ll discuss next. Polarized Equity Distribution Polarized equity distribution occurs when there is a sharp contrast between the weakest and strongest parts of a range. This often happens on the river, where hands are divided into bluffs with 0% equity and strong value hands with high equity. Characteristics: The bottom 35% of the range has 0% equity. The top 65% of the range has 70-100% equity. This polarization significantly impacts betting strategies, especially on later streets. Why Equity Distribution Matters Now we get to the key part — how equity distribution affects your strategy. By comparing your equity distribution with your opponent’s, you can gain valuable insights to adjust your game plan. Let’s analyze a common situation: a single-raised pot where the Button (BU) raised and the Big Blind (BB) called. We’ll compare two different flop textures: Dry flop: Wet flop: Key Takeaways: On , the preflop aggressor (BU) has a significant equity advantage over the BB. The equity gap between the ranges is large. On , the equity gap is much smaller, meaning the BB has a more competitive range. How to Adjust Your Strategy Your betting frequency and sizing should depend on how your equity distribution compares to your opponent’s. Key Principles: When there’s a large and consistent equity gap, the player with the stronger range should bet more often. On flops with a big equity gap, the in-position player can bet aggressively, as the out-of-position player lacks strong hands to defend against pressure. Example: On , the BU should c-bet frequently, while on , they should bet less often. When there’s a gap in the top 20% of hands, the player with more strong hands should bet bigger (leveraging nut advantage). The bigger the equity advantage in the strongest hands, the larger the bet sizing should be (including overbets when appropriate). Final Thoughts Understanding equity distribution is essential for improving your poker strategy. While we’ve only scratched the surface, these concepts will help you make better decisions and refine your approach to different board textures. By analyzing equity graphs and adjusting your strategy accordingly, you can gain a significant edge over opponents who don’t consider these factors. Mastering equity distribution will take time, but once you do, you’ll make more precise bets, apply better pressure, and ultimately win more pots.
