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- What are statistics in poker?
- Basic statistics in poker
- Interpretation of advanced statistics in poker
- Combinations of Statistics in Poker
- VPIP and PFR
- VPIP and 3bet
- PFR and Fold vs 3bet
- Cold Call and Flop Fold vs Cbet
- Frequently Asked Questions about Poker Statistics
- What is the difference between interpreting and deciphering statistics in poker?
- What are samples in poker statistics?
- Why analyze poker statistics?
What are we talking about here? Poker statistics only viable for online games. In live games, players get information by reading facial expressions and overall behavior at the table. However, in an online environment, you cannot have those “reads”, but you can have stats.
Why we need stats? Statistics will help you create a game plan against a certain opponent. Its indicators will tell you whether the player will fold or play until the end without giving up. Trust me, this type of information can be worth tens of thousands in prize money.
What are statistics in poker?
In the offline format, the number of players is limited, which makes it easy to collect information about the playing style of each opponent. In an online environment, most opponents appear before us for the first time and, perhaps, for the last.
How, then, can one accumulate valuable information about one’s opponents? To do this you need to use poker statistics or HUDs.
The term “poker statistics” has two definitions:
- A collection of data about the actions taken by you and your opponents. To obtain this information, you can use tools (trackers) such as PokerTracker 4, Holdem Manager 3 or Hand2Note. The software analyzes continuation bets, raises, 3-bet, barreling and other important parameters, which are sent to the poker tracker database and displayed in the HUD and pop-ups. Then, you can base your strategy against a certain opponents on this data.
- List of game results in MTT, Sit & Go and cash. In this case, statistics represent a comprehensive overview of the gaming activity of a poker player. The total amount of prize money, the average buy-in and the current form of the player are taken into account, especially when it comes to tournament poker. For cash games, the most important parameters are the following: the stakes he played, the number of hands played, profit and win rate. There are special platform that collect such data to display to players.
Below you can find an example of a table of stats.
Resources that reflect cash game data can be very useful to a poker player. And the sites that you can use to get info on players during an MTT tournaments are even more useful.
Basic statistics in poker
Poker is a game of limited information. Therefore, no analytical estimate will be 100% accurate. However, some key parameters (especially in combination) provide an opportunity assess more accurately your opponent’s playing style and potential actions. Poker player statistics can include a variety of indicators. Let’s take a look at the most important of them:
- Total Hands
This is just a recorded number of hands an opponent has played. This parameter is not always paramount. Although, the more hands you have to work with, the better.
Judging an opponent’s playing style based on 5, 15, or even 50 hands will be inaccurate because the opponent may be dealt strong hands multiple times in a row.
- VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money ($) In Pot)
This stat displays the total number of hands in which the opponent was active in any way (limping, calling, raising or re-raising).
This parameter summarizes your opponent’s playing style and gives an idea of his strategy. VPIP makes it possible to determine the range of starting hands that a poker player uses. The higher the value, the more hands your opponent plays, indicating a wider range of starting hands.
- PFR (PreFlop Raise)
This is an indicator of the opponent’s activity preflop in a form of the percentage of hands in which the poker player aggressively enters the game, using a raise, 3-bet, 4-bet, etc.
- ATS (Attempt to Steal)
ATS is the percentage of hands that an opponent aggressively plays from late positions (Cut-Off (CO), Button (BU) and Small Blind (SB)) in an attempt to steal the blinds. For experienced mid- and high-stakes players, ATS can range from 50% to 80%. To put pressure on blinds constantly is an effective strategy.
- 3bet
This indicator reflects the frequency with which a player re-raises (raises preflop in response to an opponent’s raise). The 3bet level also serves as an indicator of your opponent’s aggressiveness.
Interpretation of advanced statistics in poker
- RFI (Raise First In)
RFI is the percentage of hands in which the opponent was active by raising first. This parameter should be considered in the context of different positions, since in a well-thought-out strategy, the level of RFI usually increases from early to late positions.
- Steal Pct
This metric reflects the frequency with which a player actively attacks the blinds from late positions. One can consider Steal Pct a more extensive version of ATS.
It is advisable to split this data by position, since the percentage of “stealing” blinds from the cut-off (CO), button (BU) and small blind (SB) in a well-thought-out strategy may and should vary.
- Agg (Aggression, abbreviated AF)
This parameter measures the opponent’s level of aggression postflop. In a well-thought-out strategy, the AF value is usually in the range of 2 to 4. Values less than 1.5 are typical for passive players who do not put a lot of bets themselves.
Dealing with such players requires caution, but if you have a strong hand, you can make larger bets. However, if they raise and re-raise, then you may have problems. These poker players rarely bluff and are likely to hold strong hands.
If the value is above 3, then you are dealing with an aggressive player who is constantly active, raising bets and attacking against a check. You should learn to expand your 3-bet range and choose the optimal moments for a check-raise. Also, be prepared to bluff-catch their bets with a medium-strength hand.
- Flop Cbet
This metric shows the frequency with which an opponent makes continuation bets on the flop after he has made an aggressive move preflop. Making such bets is an effective tactic. Some schools even recommend using it 100% of the time, especially when playing against one opponent postflop. Use small bets as a bluff (30% of the pot).
- Flop Fold vs Cbet
This metric reflects how often a player folds to a continuation bet on the flop. In tournament poker, this parameter is not so important. However, it helps to assess your opponent’s range on the turn after calling a continuation bet more accurately.
- WonSD% (no small pots) (Won Money at Showdown)
Shows how often (percentage wise) player wins at showdown, excluding small pots, where everyone has checked down.
A high number indicates a more cautious opponent’s style. In such cases, you should bluff more confidently. However, if this opponent bets on the river, then you should consider folding unless you have a strong hand. Low parameter (below 40%) may indicate a highly aggressive poker player. Most likely, he often bluffs and tries to catch his opponents’ bluffs.
- 4Bet Range
This parameter indicates the range of hands with which the opponent 4-bets. A low value (for example, 1 or 2%) indicates that the opponent is only 4-betting very good hands. 3% 4-bet means villain’s able to push mid hands.
At low stakes, it is recommended to avoid values higher than 3. At mid stakes, a range from 4% to 6% is considered a good indicator for a regular, which represents an ability to 4-bet bluff with the right hands.
- Cold Call
This stat shows how often your opponent calls preflop in response to a raise. If the value is above 20%, then this indicates a passive playing style.
A number of 15% to 19% is also considered too high and likely indicates a beginner. An ideal number is somewhere between 9% and 15%. Such a player is most likely a real pro.
- Fold To Steal
The frequency with which an opponent refuses to defend his blinds if opponent is trying to “steal” them. The higher the value, the more aggressive, fearless and profitable you can be with blind stealing – attacking the blinds with raises from late positions. The most important indicator is the Fold To Steal BB. If its value exceeds 40%, then this opens up great opportunities for you. Above 50%, you can steal even more aggressively, up to 100% of your hands from the button.
- Resteal (3bet vs Steal)
Shows how actively the opponent defends his blinds with the help of 3-bet against an attempt to “steal”. At low stakes, opponents mostly defend the blinds by calling.
However, this tactic is far from optimal. Pros use a lot of 3-betting to defend blinds. In this case, the number may be at around 15-25%. When the re-steal rate is less than 11%, it indicates that your opponent is barely defending the blinds with a 3-bet. Therefore, you should pay special attention to his 3-bet.
- Fold to 3bet
The number reflects how often the opponent folds his hand to a 3-bet. This is an important indicator to adapt your strategy to active but cautious opponents. The higher the value of this parameter (at micro-stakes there are players with 70%, 80% and even 90%), the more profitable it is to 3-bet as a bluff.
If Fold to 3bet value goes up, we have more room to expand our 3-bet bluff range. Typically, professional players have a rate between 40% and 60%. If the indicator exceeds 60%, this may be a signal for more 3-bet bluffing. If the value is less than 40%, it is advisable to reduce the number of 3-bet bluffs preflop.
Combinations of Statistics in Poker
Understanding your opponent’s playing style, his future actions and the effectiveness of your strategy can be obtained not only by analyzing individual statistical indicators, but also by studying them together. Put the numbers close to each other in your HUD so that you can evaluate them in combination. Let’s look at some sets of stats:
VPIP and PFR
The difference between VPIP and PFR is a key indicator that reflects your opponent’s playing style. The larger the gap, the weaker the opponent. For an experienced poker player, the difference usually does not exceed 7%. If the gap is more than 10%, you can assume that you are facing a weak beginner.
VPIP and 3bet
If a player is active in both playing hands and aggressively 3-betting, then most likely you are dealing with a “maniac”. Such an opponent constantly raises and bets, trying to bluff his opponents out of the pot.
PFR and Fold vs 3bet
PFR and Fold vs 3bet are key indicators that determine a player’s vulnerability. An opponent with high values of both these stats is an easy target for 3-bet bluffs.
Such players often open an excessive number of hands. They have to fold more often preflop when facing a 3-bet. If both indicators are high, it increases the likelihood that the high percentage of folds to 3-bet is not random, but reflects the characteristics of the playing style.
Cold Call and Flop Fold vs Cbet
A high Cold Call often indicates passivity preflop. When this indicator is combined with high Flop Fold vs Cbet, every continuation bet against such a player is profitable.
If your opponent calls a lot but rarely folds on the flop after a continuation bet, it’s worth considering when it’s appropriate to bluff on the flop and when it’s better to hold off. Sometimes you can even consider a strategy of bluffing two streets – both on the flop and on the turn, since if opponent folds less than 40% to a cbet, one bet will rarely do it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Poker Statistics
What is the difference between interpreting and deciphering statistics in poker?
When deciphering, the player tries to understand what exactly a particular statistical parameter is and how it is calculated.
Interpretation of statistics in poker involves assessing the indicator, based on which conclusions are drawn about the playing style, strategy and level of professionalism of opponents.
What are samples in poker statistics?
Samples are the number of recorded situations in which a specific poker indicator was taken into account. For example, while observing your opponent, you find that his 3-bet stat is 10%. This indicator may hide a different number of samples.
For example, he could have had 10 opportunities to 3-bet and he only used one. On the other hand, he could have had 100 opportunities and 3-bet in 10 of them. Obviously, the second example represents the real picture much better. Therefore, it is important to consider not only the value of the indicator, but also the number of samples on which it is based.
Why analyze poker statistics?
Analysis of statistics makes it possible to develop a clear plan of action in response to your opponent’s moves. By assessing several indicators, pros are able to predict how likely an opponent is to fold on a particular flop or to keep fighting.
Statistics in poker are an important component when developing a strategy preflop and postflop. It is necessary to analyze not individual values, but a set of parameters. In this case, you will be able to predict the actions of your opponents much more accurately.
