Online poker statistics: why do we need it and how to take advantage of it?

The role of statistics in online poker is difficult to overestimate, because it directly affects the results, and with that the player’s profit. In this article, we will tell you which parameters are the most important, as well as how poker player statistics help you analyze your hands, study your opponents’ playstyles, and improve your decision making at the tables. Let’s get started!

Basic Poker Statistics

If you’re just starting out using online poker statistics, there are three main stats to focus on: VPIP (Voluntary Pot Putting Into the Pot), PFR (Preflop Raise Rate), and Agg (Postflop Aggression Frequency). These stats, along with the “Big Blinds Won per 100 Hands”, will give you a clear picture of your opponents’ playstyles and help you make decisions that are more informed. Let’s look at each of them:

Voluntary Putting Money Into the Pot (VPIP)

VPIP shows how often a player voluntarily puts money into the pot before the flop (excluding blinds and antes). A low VPIP percentage reflects a tighter style of play with mostly strong hands, while a high VPIP percentage indicates a loose player willing to play more hands.

Recommended VPIP range: For full rings and microstakes, the optimal is around 15-20%. Beginners can keep their VPIP just below 15% for more rigorous hand selection. In 6-max, heads-up, or Pot Limit Omaha games, VPIP can be much higher.

Preflop Raise (PFR)

PFR shows how often a player raises preflop. A high PFR indicates an aggressive player who does not rely on passive play or frequent calling. It is important to keep your PFR close to your VPIP but slightly below it, indicating an aggressive play with decent hands preflop.

Recommended PFR Range: Around 2-3% below your VPIP. If your VPIP is 15%, your PFR should be around 12%, showing disciplined aggression with good hands.

Using VPIP and PFR Together

Comparing a player’s VPIP and PFR can reveal a lot about their style. For example, a player with a high VPIP but a low PFR is likely to have a loose-passive style, i.e. he often enters the game but rarely raises.

In classic online poker cash games, the difference between VPIP and PFR for professionals is usually less than 10 points. A regular player in the 6-max format typically has a VPIP/PFR of 26/21.

In discussions of hands and strategies, players often mention these two stats together as key information about their opponents. For example, you might hear: “I was on the button, opened-raised with A♣ 5♣, and got 3-bet by an aggressive 30/25 regular from the small blind.” This means that the player in the small blind has a VPIP of 30 and a PFR of 25.

3-bet Frequency

The 3-bet frequency shows how often a player re-raises before the flop. A high 3-bet frequency indicates an aggressive player who often raises with a wide range of hands. A low 3-bet frequency means that the player only re-raises with premium hands.

Knowing your opponent’s 3-bet frequency can help you adjust your strategy when facing a re-raise.

AF and Afq (Aggression Factor and Aggression Frequency)

AF and Afq are statistical indicators that reflect the degree of aggression of a player, but they are calculated slightly differently. AF is the ratio of the total number of bets and raises to the total number of calls by the player. Afq, in turn, shows the ratio of aggressive actions (bets and raises) to all passive actions (fold, call, check).

Which of these indicators is better to use? Opinions in the poker community vary, but most often Afq is considered more convenient. This value is expressed as a percentage of aggressive actions out of all actions, which makes it easier to visualize. It is also more informative with smaller samples, which is a significant advantage in modern games.

WTSD (Went to Showdown)

WTSD measures how often a player goes to a showdown after seeing a flop. A high WTSD may indicate that the player doesn’t like folding and is often referred to as a “calling station”, i.e. a player who often calls and rarely gives up. A low WTSD indicates that the player is more likely to fold before showdown, making him more vulnerable to bluffs.

In addition to these metrics, there are many more and the more you work with Staname, the more you will familiarize yourself with them. We recommend gradually incorporating statistics into your play and analysis, starting with the most used and moving on to the less popular ones.

Big Blinds Won Per 100 Hands (BB/100)

All of the above statistics are meaningless if your win rate is not positive. If this number is not above zero, you are losing money. In this case, you should consider going down the stakes to play against less experienced competition. If this number is consistently positive, you can consider climbing the stakes.

To even out this number across different stakes, tables of different sizes, and against different opponents, it is convenient to calculate your profit in big blinds. For example, if you play at a table with a big blind of $0.50 and win $20, this is equivalent to 40 big blinds.

How to Use HUD in Poker

Using HUD effectively takes practice and experience, but with the right approach, you can make smarter decisions at the table using it. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your HUD data:

1. Start with the basics. For beginners, it’s important to focus on key stats like VPIP (Voluntary Put Money into Pot), PFR (Preflop Raise), and Afq (Aggression Frequency). These stats give you a general idea of ​​your opponents’ playstyle.
2. Consider the sample size. The accuracy of your HUD stats depends on the number of hands you have on a player. A larger sample size will give you more reliable data, while a small sample can be misleading. Be careful with small samples, as variance can distort the information. It’s recommended to have at least 10 hands per stat to draw initial conclusions, but even then, interpret the data with caution.
3. Use stats in combination. Don’t rely on just one stat. Combining multiple stats can give you a more complete picture of your opponent’s playing style. For example, comparing VPIP and PFR can help you determine whether a player is loose-aggressive, tight-aggressive, or something else entirely.
4. Adapt your strategy. Use HUD data to adjust your play in real time. For example, if your opponent has a high Fold to C-Bet, you should bluff more often against them. If they have a high WTSD (Went to Showdown), be more careful with bluffs.
5. Consider position. Poker players’ stats are highly dependent on positions. For example, strong players may raise preflop about 14% of the time from early position, but 40% on the Button, since it is more profitable to play hands in this position.
6. Don’t get carried away with numbers. In poker, you play against other human beings and online poker HUD statistics should only be part of your analysis. Pay attention to other factors as well, such as history and dynamics, board texture, bet sizes, timing, and the equity of your hand. Over-reliance on statistics can cause you to miss important game moments.

How else can Statname help?

An excellent software for poker analysis is Statname. It provides a convenient and functional HUD, to which you can add any necessary statistical indicators. One of the unique features of Statname is the interface for creating your own graphs, which allows the player to set up unique metrics for different situations at the table.

The more statistics, the better. You can get a tangible advantage at online tables with the Statname service. Here are the options:

• Poker hand statistics in one click. Compatibility with popular poker assistants: StarsHelper, StarsCaption, WPN Tools, Table Tamer and others. Support for all the auxiliary poker software.
• A huge amount of data. More than 100 customizable indicators in the HUD, allowing you to personalize your profile. Access to detailed statistics for any selected day.
• Convenience and simplicity. Intuitive interface that is suitable even for beginners and helps to master the service quickly.
• Accuracy of calculations. All indicators are verified by professionals and specialized programs, which provides accurate formulas and minimizes errors.
• Complete statistics of cash poker players. Detailed information about each played hand, including key data on All-in EV, for an accurate analysis of your strategy.
• Maximum speed. The software works quickly and efficiently, processing a large amount of data, significantly surpassing similar services in this regard.

To learn more about Statname services, contact us on Telegram or Skype.

Conclusion

Statistics in online poker is a powerful tool that can give you a significant advantage in online poker. Having mastered the basic stats, you will be able to make more informed decisions and increase your chances of success. Start with basic stats, learn how to interpret them correctly and gradually implement them into your game. With experience, you will gain more confidence and become a more sophisticated player. Poker is not only a game of chance, but also the art of making decisions based on accurate information. Using statistics allows professional players to analyze their every move and understand how their playing style affects their results. Statname provides deep analysis of key stats, revealing both the strengths and weaknesses of players. This data helps make more informed decisions in the game, adjust strategies, and effectively respond to different opponents. If you want to take your skills to the next level and gain a competitive advantage, poker statistics sites like Statname are the right choice. Take a step towards success and purchase access to Statname from us to start increasing your win rate right now!