Quick answer: Hand reading is the process of narrowing down what cards your opponent might hold based on their actions. You start with all possible hands, then eliminate those inconsistent with their bets, raises, and folds. The goal isn't to guess one specific hand—it's to identify a range of likely holdings that guides your decisions. After spending over 1,000 hours at online poker tables, I've learned that hand reading separates break-even players from winning ones. Here's a practical step-by-step approach I wish I had from day one. Step 1: Start with Preflop Ranges, Not the Flop What to do: Before any community cards appear, assign each opponent a starting range based on their position and preflop action. Why: Most beginners try to read hands after the flop, but that's backward. The flop only makes sense if you know what hands your opponent could logically have before it came. Common mistake: Assuming every raise means a strong hand.…