What is a good VPIP?

Goalie35 said:

I try to play a reasonable opening range using the online charts which show 15 to 22% depending on position. Several of the "pros" state that if your VPIP is less than 18% you are a Nit. My VPIP has been between 10 and 12% for the last 6 months. I would love to play more hands but I am not playing 9, 3o just to get my VPIP higher. What is a reasonable VPIP rate?

Click to expand...

Joe said:

Great question Goalie35, thanks for posting it!

Unfortunately, as with many things (if not everything) in poker what might seem straightforward becomes more complicated the closer you look and although can sometimes be reduced or simplified into generalised concepts, ratios or rules there is never a cookie cutter approach or formula for the perfect and best way to play that is applicable in all scenarios, besides GTO which isn't something that can be memorised or calculated by a human brain.

So, that was a very verbose way of saying 'it depends'... My apologies for not cutting to the chase sooner. 😅

Different approaches or strategies will have vastly different VPIP's and there are of course countless other factors which might affect how frequently players will be volunteering chips into the pot.

Myself personally, I used to play a fairly nitty strategy, which led to more of a TAG style (which I stuck to for quite some time with relative success) whereas these days I'd probably describe my own play as LAG more often than not.

My opinion (at this point in time*) is that a nitty strategy is rarely ideal, on specific occasions, such as a huge bubble in tournament when short stacked, or at a FT when there are big ladder jumps and ICM considerations leading to folding hands in spots we'd usually snap.

Rather than have one specific game plan and hoping that it works in all situations, much better is to tailor your approach based on the situation you find yourself in.

One of Phil Ivey's famous quotes is (essentially) 'do the opposite of what the rest of the table is doing', which I believe refers to the idea of if the whole table is playing tight, you should play agressively. Whereas if the table is maniac city, you should play snug.

If you're playing fluidly in that way it'll result in different VPIP's at different times but overall...?

Hmmm... I'm not sure and would like to know!

Wonder what Ivey's total VPIP looks like...

We digress..!

I'd say if you're not too comfortable widening up your range in more positions yet then perhaps aim for that 18% but playing from positon with the majority.

I should have asked this first, but what kind of games and stakes are you playing?

*Ask me again in the morning!

Click to expand...

Goalie35 said:

Thanks for the reply. I typically play 5/10 NL online and 50/1 home games with friends. Is my question strange? You are the only person that has replied.

Click to expand...

Joe said:

Great question Goalie35, thanks for posting it!

Unfortunately, as with many things (if not everything) in poker what might seem straightforward becomes more complicated the closer you look and although can sometimes be reduced or simplified into generalised concepts, ratios or rules there is never a cookie cutter approach or formula for the perfect and best way to play that is applicable in all scenarios, besides GTO which isn't something that can be memorised or calculated by a human brain.

So, that was a very verbose way of saying 'it depends'... My apologies for not cutting to the chase sooner. 😅

Different approaches or strategies will have vastly different VPIP's and there are of course countless other factors which might affect how frequently players will be volunteering chips into the pot.

Myself personally, I used to play a fairly nitty strategy, which led to more of a TAG style (which I stuck to for quite some time with relative success) whereas these days I'd probably describe my own play as LAG more often than not.

My opinion (at this point in time*) is that a nitty strategy is rarely ideal, on specific occasions, such as a huge bubble in tournament when short stacked, or at a FT when there are big ladder jumps and ICM considerations leading to folding hands in spots we'd usually snap.

Rather than have one specific game plan and hoping that it works in all situations, much better is to tailor your approach based on the situation you find yourself in.

One of Phil Ivey's famous quotes is (essentially) 'do the opposite of what the rest of the table is doing', which I believe refers to the idea of if the whole table is playing tight, you should play agressively. Whereas if the table is maniac city, you should play snug.

If you're playing fluidly in that way it'll result in different VPIP's at different times but overall...?

Hmmm... I'm not sure and would like to know!

Wonder what Ivey's total VPIP looks like...

We digress..!

I'd say if you're not too comfortable widening up your range in more positions yet then perhaps aim for that 18% but playing from positon with the majority.

I should have asked this first, but what kind of games and stakes are you playing?

*Ask me again in the morning!

Click to expand...

fundiver199 said:

Well you kind of gave the answer yourself already. Even for full ring anything lower than 18% means, you are playing tight and giving up on potentially profitable spots. To get your VPIP up, start by trying to widen your range from CO and BTN, both when it folds to you, and when there is previous action. And perhaps also defend your big blind a bit wider. The most common reason for a low VPIP is not being positionally aware. While a hand like KTo is not good enough to open UTG, it is certainly good enough to open from CO or BTN.

Click to expand...

LUKADONCICMVP said:

a good vpip depends on the players u play obv, there is no correct answer

Click to expand...

ADRI7HO said:

Thanks, that was a detailed explanation of the concept of VPIP. I only meet him on GGPoker, but I use what I read here.

Click to expand...