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Poker Range Notation Converter

Convert poker hand ranges between different notation formats used by various poker software and training tools. Whether you're working with range visualizers, GTO solvers, or studying hand ranges from coaching videos, this tool helps you translate between common notation styles and analyze the statistical composition of any range.

Understanding range notation is essential for serious poker study. Different platforms use different conventions - PokerStars uses one format, solvers like PioSOLVER use another, and many coaches write ranges in their own shorthand. This converter bridges those gaps and provides instant statistics about any range you input.

Range Notation Converter

Supported formats: Plus notation (ATs+), Dash notation (77-TT), Comma lists (AA,KK,QQ), Individual hands (AKs,AKo)

Visual Hand Matrix (Click cells to toggle)

Pairs (6 combos)
Suited (4 combos)
Offsuit (12 combos)

Understanding Poker Range Notation

Range notation is a standardized way of representing groups of starting hands in poker. Rather than listing every possible hand combination, notation systems use shorthand to describe sets of hands efficiently. This is particularly important when studying range construction and discussing strategy, where brevity and precision matter.

The most common notation system was popularized by poker training sites and eventually standardized across most software platforms. According to research published by the Poker Scientist methodology resources, consistent notation helps players communicate precisely about hand ranges without ambiguity.

Common Notation Formats

ATs+
Plus notation: All suited Ax hands from AT and better (ATs, AJs, AQs, AKs). The "+" means "this hand and all better hands of the same type."
77-TT
Dash notation: A range of pocket pairs from 77 through TT (77, 88, 99, TT). The dash indicates a continuous range between two hands.
AKs, AKo
Suited/Offsuit designation: "s" indicates suited (same suit), "o" indicates offsuit (different suits). AK without suffix typically means both.
KQs-KTs
Suited range: All suited Kx hands from KT through KQ (KTs, KJs, KQs). The range goes from the lower hand to the higher hand.
22+
All pairs: Every pocket pair from 22 through AA. This is the most compact way to represent all 13 pocket pairs (78 total combos).

Why Range Notation Matters

When studying poker strategy, you'll encounter ranges in various formats across different resources. A coaching video might describe a hand verbally as "suited Broadway cards," while a solver output displays the same concept as "KQs,KJs,QJs,JTs." Understanding how to translate between these representations allows you to apply lessons across different learning contexts.

Range notation also enables precise communication between players. When discussing hands in forums, study groups, or with coaches, using proper notation eliminates ambiguity. Saying "I open ATs+" is much clearer than "I open suited aces with decent kickers." This precision is especially valuable when analyzing close decisions where small differences in ranges significantly impact strategy.

  • Software compatibility: Different poker tools use different notation formats - this converter bridges those gaps
  • Study efficiency: Quickly convert ranges from coaching content into formats your preferred tools accept
  • Combo counting: Instantly see how many hand combinations a range contains for equity calculations
  • Range comparison: Convert ranges to a common format to compare opening strategies across positions
  • Communication: Translate informal range descriptions into precise notation for discussion

Hand Combinations Explained

A standard 52-card deck produces 1,326 unique two-card combinations (52×51÷2). However, because suits are equivalent in Texas Hold'em preflop, we group these into 169 strategically distinct hand types. Understanding combo counts is fundamental to poker mathematics and range analysis.

The three categories of starting hands each have different combo counts that affect how often you'll be dealt them:

  • Pocket Pairs (13 types, 6 combos each): AA through 22. Each pair has 6 combinations because you're choosing 2 suits from 4 available (4×3÷2=6). Total: 78 combos (5.9% of all hands)
  • Suited Hands (78 types, 4 combos each): AKs through 32s. Only 4 suits exist, so only 4 ways to have two cards of the same suit. Total: 312 combos (23.5% of all hands)
  • Offsuit Hands (78 types, 12 combos each): AKo through 32o. Each card can be any of 4 suits, but they must differ, giving 4×3=12 combinations. Total: 936 combos (70.6% of all hands)

This is why suited hands appear less frequently than offsuit hands (4 combos vs 12). When building ranges, a hand listed as "AKs" represents only 4 combos, while "AKo" represents 12 combos. A range containing "AK" (both) includes all 16 combos. This has significant implications for range percentages and equity calculations, as explained in depth by Upswing Poker's combo analysis guide.

Position-Based Opening Ranges

The presets in this tool represent typical opening ranges for different table positions. These ranges vary significantly because players in late position have more information (they've seen more players act) and have positional advantage for the rest of the hand.

Early positions like Under The Gun (UTG) require tighter ranges because you're acting first with no information and will be out of position for the entire hand. Late positions like the Button (BTN) can open much wider because you'll have positional advantage and have seen most opponents fold. This concept is central to winning preflop strategy.

The preset ranges in this converter are based on commonly recommended 6-max cash game opening strategies. Tournament ranges differ based on stack sizes and ICM considerations, while heads-up and short-handed games require significant adjustments. Use these presets as starting points for understanding range construction rather than as rigid rules to follow.

Using This Tool with Other Resources

The Range Notation Converter works seamlessly with our other poker analysis tools. After converting a range, you can use the Hand Range Visualizer to explore hand types in more detail, the Range Equity Analyzer to calculate how your range performs against opponents, or the Combination Calculator to understand blocker effects when specific cards are removed from play.

For players studying with GTO solvers, this tool helps translate solver outputs into more readable formats. Many solvers display ranges as raw comma-separated lists, which can be difficult to parse visually. Converting to plus notation or viewing the visual matrix makes patterns in ranges more apparent. Research from the PokerStrategy hand range basics guide suggests that visual representation of ranges accelerates pattern recognition and learning.

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