So I know that thinking in pictures is much more efficient than thinking in concepts, but I've been having trouble visualizing ranges.

How do you visualize a range? Specifically, what shape is it, or what color? Are your ranges like containers that some hands can "spill out" of (which is sort of what it's like for me... I am playing plo, and shockingly I can't visualize tens of thousands of combo's) or do they contain other information, like strategy tips, equities or even EV's? What's good about the way you visualize ranges, and how would you recommend I can practise that? I appreciate any feedback.

Cheers.

It sounds like you're describing Synesthesia (google it). Most people don't experience it that way.

However, if there is a way to train your brain to do this, I'm interested.

Not sure what's so hard about the default way we've been visualizing ranges for years now?

You can even color them any way you like.

So now that you've taken that step, take another step with me:

How do you think about a spot? How do you think about a range vs range situation? How do you think about your range on the flop? How do you visualize your range on the flop? How do you visualize range vs range on the flop? Those questions are all sort of synonymous.

There's some sort of internal representation, otherwise you'd have no concept of a spot. It could be as simple as internal verbal cue's, which is very ineffective: "I should check this hand." "This is a call." Then maybe a fleeting image of a PIOSolver spot that you remember fuzzily. As I said, all very ineffective.

What other sorts of representations are there?

Hand types on the flop:



Straight outs on the flop (Pot Limit Omaha):



Flush Outs on the flop:



If you play PLO... how do you represent this internally:



Equity on the flop:



If you're like me, you've got a sort of CPU in your head that translates all of those things into polarization, playability, potential value bets, potential bluffing hands, and many more. You then get some sort of glimpse of a strategy. All of this is what I mean when I say "you represent your range, or even a range vs range spot, internally." You probably don't know how to do it yet, but what I want to know is:

Now that you know what to look for, how would you describe your internal representation? What's good about it, or what works for you?

That's what I am learning about right now, and that's what I would love some input on from other experts on the topic.

Cheers.

I actually think about my range and an opponents range in the form I posted above.
Then compare the equity, think about how often they hit/miss compared to me, who can have the nuts.

But I'm visualizing the ranges in the form I posted above and then comparing them.

Actually visualizing them is mostly while doing off-table work.
It's mostly intuitively while playing, which I believe it should be.
The off-table work sharpens your intuition.

I'm not using any of the other visualizations you posted.
Though I do think about how much equity I have, how much equity realization I have, my number of outs and how much equity those give me vs the pot odds I need to continue.

Again, I do all of this nearly instantly and intuitively while playing.
But I improve my intuition by doing off table work with tools like FlopZilla and GTO+, discussing hands with others and thinking about their replies.

There is indeed a way to do this, that's what I am a bit of an expert on. But what is it that you'd want to train yourself to do? That's what I want to know.

The OP said: "How do you visualize a range? Specifically, what shape is it, or what color?"

A range is a mathematical concept that he wants to be an image in his mind. I've never been able to do that. Usually, I follow the evidence logically and come to a conclusion, which is often correct. Other times, I'll mull on the situation a bit and an answer pops into my mind, which is virtually always correct - when it happens. I have no real idea how this works, only that it sometimes does. It is extremely rare for me to actually get a picture in my mind and when I do, it's a memory, not an abstract concept.

It seems like mental images would be very useful in refining this process.