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VPIP, PFR, 3-Bet: poker stats explained simply
When you open a tracker or get an analysis of your hands, you run into a string of acronyms: VPIP, PFR, 3-Bet%, C-Bet, AF... These are the fundamental stats of online poker. This guide explains what each one measures, what a normal value looks like, and how to read these numbers to understand your playing style or your opponents'.
The 4 stats to understand first
VPIP
Voluntarily Put money In PotPercentage of hands where the player voluntarily enters the pot (calling or raising preflop, excluding the forced big blind).
Too low
VPIP < 18% → Nit. Plays very few hands, easy to read, misses profitable spots.
Too high
VPIP > 32% → Loose. Too many marginal hands, negative preflop EV, hard to play postflop with speculative hands.
PFR
Pre-Flop RaisePercentage of hands where the player raises preflop (open-raise, 3-bet, 4-bet). Measures preflop aggression.
Too low
PFR too low relative to VPIP → passive player who calls too much and raises too little. Cedes the initiative to opponents.
Too high
PFR close to or above VPIP → very aggressive style. Can work but requires strong postflop skills.
3-Bet%
Preflop 3-bet ratePercentage of times the player reraises against an open-raise. Reveals their aggression in preflop reraise situations.
Too low
3-Bet < 5% → easily exploitable, regular players can steal regularly with little risk of a reraise.
Too high
3-Bet > 18% → range too wide, 3-bet bluffs can become exploitable if opponents adjust.
C-Bet%
Continuation Bet RatePercentage of times the player bets the flop after being the preflop aggressor. Measures their tendency to keep applying pressure postflop.
Too low
C-bet < 45% → too passive, often gives up the hand without a fight. Opponents can float easily.
Too high
C-bet > 80% → too predictable, easy to exploit with check-raises and floats.
The PFR/VPIP ratio: the quick-read key
The PFR/VPIP ratio is the single most useful metric for quickly assessing an opponent's style. If VPIP = 26% and PFR = 20%, the ratio is 20/26 = 0.77. A high ratio (> 0.7) indicates an aggressive style. A low ratio (< 0.5) indicates a passive style.
> 0.70
Tag / Lag
Aggressive, 3-bets a range, hard to exploit
0.50–0.70
Standard
Balanced, neither too passive nor too aggressive
< 0.50
Calling station
Too passive, calls too much, exploitable with aggression
The Aggression Factor (AF)
AF measures the ratio between aggressive actions (bet + raise) and passive actions (call) postflop. An AF of 2 means the player bets or raises twice as often as they call.
Calls too much, doesn't build enough pots with strong hands. Exploitable with bluffs.
Good balance between aggression and calling. Most winning players fall in this range.
Regular barreling, frequent bluffs. Can be exploitable if too linear.
Analyze your stats for free
FlopIQ calculates your VPIP, PFR, 3-Bet, C-Bet, and AF from your Winamax history and explains what they mean for your game.
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How to read these stats on an opponent
A VPIP 42% / PFR 8% profile (ratio 0.19): a very loose-passive player who enters a lot of pots but almost never raises. Exploit by value betting more often — they'll call.
A VPIP 18% / PFR 16% profile (ratio 0.89): a tight-aggressive player, selective but aggressive when they play. Avoid big pots without premium hands. Respect their raises.
A VPIP 28% / PFR 22% / 3-Bet 14% profile: a very active player. Potentially a strong aggressive player, or one who 3-bets too wide. Watch their showdowns to gauge the quality of their range.
What FlopIQ does on this topic
The FlopIQ tools and analyses that directly address what you just read.
VPIP
The definition, the normal ranges, and what a VPIP that's too high or too low really costs you.
VPIP glossary entry →PFR
What your preflop raise rate says about your style, and the healthy gap to keep with your VPIP.
PFR glossary entry →Analyze your Winamax history
Your score out of 100, your leaks quantified in BB/100, and your costliest hands broken down street by street. First analysis free.
See a full analysis →