While playing online poker, players are bombarded with tons of stats. Amongst this sea of numbers, the one stat that stands head and shoulder above the rest is VPIP. It allows you to analyze players' betting patterns and make more strategic decisions.
Spotting playing styles with VPIP can really give you an edge. You have to play differently with a player with high VPIP than with moderate and low players.
Also when looking at VPIP stats, assessing the sample size is crucial. A large sample size like 100 or 300 hands gives a better understanding of a player’s true VPIP and playing style, as small samples can be misleading due to variance.
So, what is VPIP and how can you use it to your advantage? Keep reading the article to find out.
VPIP or VP$IP is an abbreviation for “Voluntarily Put Money in Pot” and is a pre-flop statistic. It shows how many hands a player plays out of 100 or how often a player voluntarily puts chips into the pot. For example: If a player has a VPIP of 60, it means they play 60 out of 100 hands. This covers calls, raises and reraises, but doesn't count blind or antes.
VPIP (Voluntarily Put in Pot) and PFR (Pre-flop Raise) are key stats for reading players before the flop. VPIP shows how often a player puts money into the pot voluntarily, whether by raising, calling, or limping.
For example: If a player has a VPIP of 65% and a PFR of 25%, they’re likely to be loose and somewhat aggressive, entering many hands but raising only a quarter of the time.
On the other hand, if their VPIP is 65% but their PFR is just 10%, they’re more passive, calling often, but rarely raising.
Knowing these stats helps you figure out if a player is tight or loose, aggressive or passive, so you can tweak your strategy to stay ahead.
Here is the simple math behind it:
VPIP = (Number of times a player puts money in the pot/Total number of hands played) X 100
For example, if a player has a VPIP of 25%, it means they voluntarily put money into the pot in 25 out of every 100 hands they play.
To grasp how VPIP works, let’s break it down with an example of each player in a single hand.
Early Position (UTG): Puts $2 in voluntarily. Their VPIP for this hand is 100%.
Middle Position (MP): Folds without putting any money in. Their VPIP is 0%.
Cutoff (CO): Raise to $6, which is a voluntary action. Their VPIP is 100%.
Button: Folds and does not contribute any money. Their VPIP is 0%.
Small Blind: Folds without adding anything beyond the required $1 small blind. Since that $1 is a forced bet, their VPIP is 0%
Big Blind: Calls with an additional $5 voluntarily. Their VPIP is 100%.
Once a player puts money in the pot voluntarily, their VPIP for that hand is set. So, if UGT puts in $2 and then folds, their VPIP for that hand is still 100%. The same goes for BB with their $5.
In poker, you’ll come across all sorts of players. For some VPIP is quite high while others are more selective with a lower VPIP. Then there are those with a moderate VPIP who are more balanced and patient. These are the players you should really watch out for.
This player loves to play a tone of hands, whether they’re aggressive or calling a lot. You can take advantage by sticking to strong, tight hands.
This player is super tight, only getting involved with the best hands. Bluffing them isn't the best strategy, but you make some easy gains by stealing their blinds and antes.
These players strike a balance between being too loose and too tight. They adapt their strategy based on the game, sometimes playing more hands, sometimes fewer. To get a good read on them, keep track of their actions — how often they raise vs call and how they play after the flop. Understanding these patterns will help you make better decisions.
In full-ring poker, since there are more players at the table, you need to play a little tighter. So your VPIP stats are usually lower than in six-max games. For example, a winning player in a full-ring game might have a VPIP/PFR around 10/7 or 15/12, which means they’re entering the pot with 10-15% of their hands and raising with 7-12% of them.
However, more skilled players might play a bit looser, like 20/18, and still manage to turn a profit.
In six-max games, players tend to play more hands and raise more often, so their VPIP/PFR might be around 22/18 or even 25/20, showing a more aggressive and loose style.
VPIP is more useful for online players who can easily track it with software. Live players may have a hard time doing that as they have to make up all the calculations in their head which can be exhausting.
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During live play, the absence of HUD means you need to rely more on your observational skills and less on data-driven insights. Take mental notes on their behavior, such as their preflop actions, post-flop tendencies and bet sizes. Be ready to tweak your reads as you gather more info.
As for online poker, the HUD gives exact numbers, making the process a lot easier. They are updated in real time, allowing you to adjust your strategy instantly based on the stats you see.
You can see the stats on your screen, but now what?
How can you use it to your advantage? Let us simplify things for you.
Be aggressive with raising and 3-betting when they fold easily, but back off if they show any real resistance — they probably have something big.
These are the loose ones who love to see flops. Widen your range a bit when you’re in position, but don’t be afraid to fold those marginal hands if they start pushing back. Use isolation plays to go after their weaker hands.
When they call or raise, assume they have a strong hand. Play conservatively and avoid big bluffs.
With these players, it’s all about getting value. Bet bigger when you think you have the best hand, as they are likely to call with weaker holdings.
Now, you know what VPIP is and how you can utilize it to turn the game in your favor. By tracking how often your opponents put money in the pot, you can adjust your approach to exploit their tendencies. Players with high VPIP and low PFR are often the weakest at the table. Take’em down with strong hands and stick to straightforward post-flop play. Remember, poker requires more skill than luck!
