What is VPIP in Poker and How to Use it to Your Advantage?

Introduction

Poker is a game of probability. Many Poker HUD software are available online that provide table statistics to the players to help them make critical decisions while playing. To succeed on the card game tables, you must learn about the commonly used statistical measures that help evaluate opponents' playing styles.

This blog will explain VPIP and how it can help you read fellow players game plans.

What is VPIP?

VPIP, or "Voluntarily Put Money in the Pot," is a crucial poker stat on most players' HUDs (Heads-Up Displays). It shows the percentage of hands a player actively participates in by calling or raising pre-flop. This stat helps assess a player’s overall level of aggression or passivity, giving insight into their style of play.

Poker VPIP Objective

The objective of calculating VPIP is to determine how loose or tight a player's starting hand selection is.

How to Use VPIP in Your Poker Games

Here's how you can use VPIP poker in your games:

• VPIP, or voluntarily putting money in the pot, shows how often you are putting money in the pot. This shows how active you are.
• A VPIP of 25%- 35% is considered good. This shows that you have played a fair number of hands.
• The Player with <25% VPIP is called Nits; they usually play tight. You can quickly push them and play aggressively.
• The players with >35% VPIP are maniacs. They are overly aggressive; you have to be cautious around them.
• Some players with >35% of VPIP don’t bet; they just call. These are called limping.
• When playing, you should look at the VPIP and the PFR (Preflop raise). A player with a small gap between these two is considered good and aggressive.
• A player with a large gap between VPIP and PFR is considered weak. These players only raise with strong hands or limp.
• Using VPIP and PFR on your head-up display (HUD) allows you to strategise your game efficiently according to different players.

Player Types by VPIP %

Based on VPIP percentage, you can identify the type of players sitting opposite you. Here’s a list of the kinds of players based on VPIP percentage:

• 0-10 VPIP: They are the tightest players. They only play when they have a strong hand. You should try avoiding playing with them unless you have a strong hand.
• 10-20 VPIP: Still a tight player, but they play a few hands based on their position. You can try and steal their blinds.
• 20-30 VPIP: Many skilled players come under this range. You can play aggressively, especially around players with 20 VPIP, as they won't play enough hands.
• 30-40 VPIP: These players are aggressive. You can check their PFR to see whether they just like to play more or are wild players and raise very often.
• 40+ VPIP: These are the weakest players, called Fish. They just pay too many hands and don’t fold much. You can easily win with a strong hand.

Examples of Using VPIP to Improve Your Game

Here are three different scenarios to explain you how you can improve your game:

• Example 1: You have AJ on the button, and a player with VPIP 11 raises. You usually will re-raise, but folding here is a wise option since the player is tight.
• Example 2: You have A2s in the BB, and a player with VPIP 45 raises from the button. You should re-raise. This will make them fold.
• Example 3: You are in a tournament and got AA in the big blind, and a player with a VPIP 52 raises. You should trap them and let them bet more.

High vs. Low VPIP

A higher VPIP indicates a looser player who plays more hands, while a lower VPIP suggests a tighter player who plays fewer hands.

VPIP vs. PFR

VPIP and PFR (Preflop Raise) are poker statistical measures that help read opponents’ playing styles.

As mentioned above, with VPIP, it becomes easy to find out how frequently a player invests chips into the pot before the flop. On the other hand, PFR helps determine a player's frequency of pre-flop raises. It reflects aggression and initiative, as raising preflop requires confidence in the strength of one's hand or a strategic intent to put pressure on opponents.

1. Higher PFR: The player is actively raising and taking control of pots.
2. Lower PFR: The player likes to play cautiously preflop.

A player with a high VPIP and a low PFR might enter many pots but often with passive actions like limping instead of aggressive raises. This indicates a player is comfortable seeing flops but is less inclined to take the lead in betting. A player with a high VPIP and PFR is likely active and aggressive and frequently joins the pots.

Posting the small and big blinds doesn't impact the VPIP metric. Since these actions are obligatory, they do not offer important information about a player's behaviour. While calculating VPIP, you must exclude all situations in which a player must invest in the pot.

How to Play against Players with a Low VPIP

Here are some tried-n-tested strategies to apply when you play against such players -

Exploit Their Tight Gameplay

As your opponent plays fewer hands, you can exploit this by raising the bet more often when in position. This puts pressure on them to play hands out of their comfort zone or fold, giving them an edge over time.

Steal Blinds

With tighter opponents, stealing blinds becomes more profitable. You should look for opportunities to raise the bet from the late position, especially when the tight players are in the blinds.

Watch for Patterns

Although they play with fewer hands, you need to observe if there are any patterns in their play. For example, do they always raise when they have a strong hand? Do they tend to limp with speculative hands? It is advisable to adjust your strategy accordingly based on these observations.

Avoid Bluffing Excessively

Since tight players are more likely to have strong hands when they do enter a pot, bluffing may be less effective against them. Instead, you should focus on value betting your strong hands.

Positional Awareness

You should pay close attention to your position relative to the tight players. You should play more pots in position against them, as it gives you more control over the hand and allows you to extract more value.

Be Patient

Playing against tight players can sometimes lead to slower-paced games. You must be patient and wait for opportunities to present themselves rather than force action.

Mind Your Bet Sizing

Adjust your bet sizes accordingly. Since tight players are more selective about the hands they play, you might need to size your bets larger to extract value from their stronger ranges.

How to Play against Players with High VPIP

Here's how you can outwit players with high VPIP -

Narrow Your Starting Hand Range

Against loose players, you need to tighten up your starting hand selection. It is essential to focus on playing premium hands with a higher probability of winning against a wide range, such as high pairs (AA, KK), strong Broadway hands (AK, AQ), and suited connectors in position.

Avoid Marginal Hands

Hands profitable against tighter opponents may not fare well against looser players. You must avoid playing marginal hands out of position, as they are more likely to be dominated or face multiple opponents.

Pot Control

Be mindful of the size of the pot when playing against loose opponents. Avoid bloating the pot with marginal hands, and focus on pot control when you have a medium-strength hand. This helps mitigate potential losses against their wide range.

Be Prepared for Variance

You can face higher variance when you play against loose players due to the unpredictable nature of their game. Therefore, you need to be mentally prepared to deal with swings in your bankroll. Also, you have to learn how to maintain emotion to avoid going on tilt when facing bad beats.

Stay Selective

Most players easily get tempted to play maximum hands against opponents who play loose. Experienced players know the importance of maintaining discipline and sticking to a selective hand range. You should play only those hands with a positive expected value in the long run.

Observation is Key

You have to pay close attention to the gameplay of your fellow players. By keeping a keen eye on their actions, you can identify patterns in their bets and read their tells

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good VPIP in poker?

Generally, a VPIP of 15% to 20% is considered solid in a full-ring cash game.

How is VPIP calculated in poker?

To calculate VPIP, you have to apply the following formula:

VPIP = Number of times a player puts money into the pot/number of hands he has played. If a player plays 100 hands and puts cash in 25 hands, his VPIP is 25%.

What is the VPIP score?

The VPIP score is the percentage obtained by calculating the VPIP statistic. It represents the proportion of hands a player chooses to play preflop by voluntarily contributing chips to the pot.

What does a high VPIP mean?

In poker, a high VPIP means that the player tends to enter pots before the flop, even with weak hands. It indicates a more aggressive playing style, where the player is comfortable playing a variety of hands.

Conclusion

VPIP gives you an excellent statistical idea about what type of player you are playing against and helps you make calculated decisions quickly on the table. By employing the strategies mentioned above in your gameplay, you can promptly deal with the challenges of loose players and capitalise on their weaknesses.