What is WTSD in Poker?

Introduction

Success on the game table often comes down to understanding the behaviour of your opponents. One valuable statistic for this purpose is WTSd (Went to Showdown). This statistic can reveal much about a player's playing style — whether conservative, aggressive, or prone to chasing draws.

In this article, we will explore the importance of Poker WTSd, how it can help you refine your strategy, and how to use it to better read your opponents.

What is WTSd?

WTSd stands for ‘Went to Showdown’, a statistic that tracks the percentage of hands in which a player reaches the showdown after the river bet. The showdown happens when two or more players remain in the hand after the final betting round and reveal their cards to determine the winner.

How to Calculate WTSd

To calculate WTSd, you need the number of hands where you went to showdown and the number of hands where you saw the flop.

Formula:

The formula for calculating WTSd is simple:

WTSd = (Hands played to showdown / Hands played) × 100

For example, if a player plays 100 hands and goes to the showdown 25 times, their WTSd would be 25%.

What a High WTSd Percentage Indicates

• Passive Playstyle: A high WTSd generally indicates a passive player who doesn’t mind seeing the showdown, even with weak hands. These players might be more inclined to see all the cards for cheap, hoping to improve.
• Loose Player: High WTSd percentages are common in loose players, who call with a wide range of hands and don’t fold easily. This could include players who call with speculative hands like suited connectors or low pairs, potentially requiring seeing all the cards to make a strong hand.
• Calling Station: Players with high WTSd might be called ‘calling stations’. They tend to call bets, especially if the pot is growing, even if they don’t have a strong hand, making them difficult to bluff.

Example of High WTSd:

Player A has a WTSd of 45%. They call from the button with 9♠7♠. The flop comes 10♦6♥3♠, giving them a flush draw. Player A calls the bet. The turn brings a 5♣, completing their straight. They call another bet on the river, and they will show down with their straight. This is a usual scenario for a high WTSd player.

What a Low WTSd Percentage Indicates

• Aggressive Playstyle: A low WTSd indicates that the player is more aggressive and tends to fold more frequently when they don't have a strong hand. They are selective and only continue to the showdown when they are confident in their hand.
• Tight Player: Players with low WTSd are mostly tight players who only play strong hands, and if they don’t hit anything on the flop, they will likely fold.
• Bluffing and Pressure: These players are generally tougher to bluff because they don't go to the showdown unless they have something solid. They tend to fold hands that aren't strong and will raise or bet when they have good cards.

Example of Low WTSd:

Player B has a WTSd of 18%. They raise pre-flop with A♣K♠ from the button, and the flop comes Q♦5♠2♣. They continue with a bet, and after two more rounds of betting, they win the hand without going to the showdown because their opponent folded. Player B didn't need to go to Showdown, so they have a low WTSd.

How to Adjust to High WTSd Players?

• Bluffing: If you identify a player with a high WTSd, it’s best to adjust your bluffing strategy. Since they go to showdown frequently, bluffing them may be ineffective unless you have a strong hand. Instead, focus on betting for value when you hit a strong hand.
• Value Betting: These players are likely to call with a wide range of hands, so you can extract more value from them by betting your strong hands, as they are inclined to call with weaker ones.

How to Adjust to Low WTSd Players?

• Aggression: Against low WTSd players, applying pressure by betting larger is often more effective, especially on the flop and turn. Since these players tend to fold more often, you can take down pots without showing your hand.
• Caution: Because these players tend to play only strong hands to the showdown if they call your bet, you should be cautious, as they likely have a solid hand.

WTSd and Hand Selection

For High WTSd Players: They will often enter the pot with weak hands like small pocket pairs, suited connectors, or one-gapper hands. These hands have the potential to improve on the flop, but they will often chase the draw or go to a showdown with just a pair.

Low WTSd Players are likelier to enter pots with premium hands like big pocket pairs (Aces, Kings), high-suited cards (AK, AQ), or top-tier connectors. If they don't improve on the flop, they will likely fold.

WTSd in Tournament vs. Cash Games

In tournament play, WTSd might be higher because players have to take more risks to accumulate chips, leading them to stay in pots even with marginal hands. As a result, WTSd can be inflated due to the nature of tournament play.

WTSd tends to be more stable in cash games because players are often less inclined to risk their chips in marginal spots. This means cash game players might have a lower WTSd, reflecting their more selective approach.

Relationship of WTSd with Other Stats

• VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money In Pot): WTSd is directly related to VPIP. Players with a high VPIP (for example, those with a wide range of hands) are likely to have a high WTSd.
• PFR (Pre-Flop Raise): A high pre-flop raise percentage (PFR) is associated with a lower WTSd because these players tend to bet or raise aggressively pre-flop and may fold post-flop if the hand doesn't connect.
• AF (Aggression Factor): WTSd also correlates with aggression. Players with a high aggression factor might have a low WTSd because they are more likely to force others to fold before reaching the showdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WTSd mean in Poker?

WTSd meaning can be summarized as the likelihood of a player taking a hand all the way to the showdown rather than folding earlier in the hand. A higher WTSd indicates a passive or loose player who calls often, while a lower WTSd suggests an aggressive or selective player who folds more frequently.

What is a high WTSd percentage?

A high WTSd Poker percentage (over 30-35%) indicates that a player plays many hands, even weak ones, and stays in the hand until the end. These players are often passive and may be more susceptible to value betting.

What is a low WTSd percentage?

A low WTSd Poker percentage (below 20%) signifies an aggressive player who folds more frequently and only continues to the showdown with strong hands. These players are harder to bluff but may fold weaker hands when pressured.

Conclusion

WTSd is more than just a statistic. It is a window into understanding your opponents’ behaviour. By analyzing a player's WTSd, you can identify whether they are passive or aggressive and tailor your betting strategies to exploit their weaknesses. Remember that every showdown is a lesson. You should learn from them and let your WTSd understanding take you to the next level.