If you’ve ever heard someone say “I’m raising a polarized range on the flop” and thought wait, that doesn’t quite make sense — you’re not alone. In this episode of the Red Chip Poker Podcast, Coach W34z3l introduces a new term you’ll want to add to your poker vocabulary: pseudo polarization.
While traditional polarized ranges make perfect sense on the river—where you’re typically betting either your strongest value hands or your weakest bluffs—the same logic falls apart when you try to apply it to early street play. That’s where pseudo polarization comes in. It describes the kind of range composition you see in flop and turn solver outputs: some strong draws, some mid-strength hands, and a mix of weak bluffs that don’t quite fit the classic definition of polarization.
This is a deeper, theory-focused episode that will challenge the way you think about bluff combos, equity distribution, and the limits of GTO shortcut terms like “polarized.” You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of:
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Why solvers raise mid-strength hands that wouldn’t be in a true polarized range
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The dangers of blindly following bluff/value combo ratios like 70/30
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How to build flop-raising ranges that can’t be exploited—even if they don’t look “polarized” in the traditional sense
Whether you're studying solver output or just trying to speak more precisely about your strategy, this episode will help you move beyond vague buzzwords and into real conceptual clarity.
**LINKS**
· GTO Gems 2: https://redchippoker.com/gto-gems-2-book
· CORE Poker Course: https://redchippoker.com/launch-core
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