VPIP, PFR and Steal Ratio in Poker

When you play online poker these days, you often see various stats by clicking on a player, like VPIP, PFR, and more. While many players know about these, some don’t understand what they actually mean and just play randomly. So today, let’s talk about what these stats mean and how to use them.

We’ll cover three essential preflop stats:

1. VPIP
2. PFR
3. Steal Ratio

Let’s start with VPIP.

What is VPIP?

VPIP stands for Voluntarily Put Money into the Pot.

Meaning of VPIP

This stat shows how many times a player puts money into the pot voluntarily preflop, without being forced to do so. For example:

• If you’re in the big blind, it doesn’t count.
• If you’re in the small blind and call, it will count.

This means VPIP tells you how often a player chooses to enter a hand, excluding the big blind.

Example of VPIP

If a player has a VPIP of 20, it means they play 20 out of 100 hands by voluntarily putting money into the pot.

VPIP doesn’t tell you whether the player is aggressive or passive.
It only shows that the player enters the pot voluntarily.

If someone has a high VPIP (say 50), it means they’re playing 50 out of 100 hands, which is way too loose, because none of us get 50 good hands out of 100. It usually means the player is just playing anything and everything.

Using VPIP to Your Advantage

• High VPIP (e.g., 50%) = likely a timepass player. You can play aggressively against them and force folds.
• Low VPIP (e.g., 25%) = likely playing only strong poker hands. You should be cautious and fold your average hands against them.

Good VPIP Values

• In a 6-max table (6 players): A good VPIP is around 25%
• In a 9-max table (9 players): A good VPIP is around 20%

If you see a table where everyone has a high VPIP, it means people are playing way too many hands. You can switch your style and play tighter, only playing your strong hands, and extract more value.

What is PFR?

PFR stands for Preflop Raise.

Meaning of PFR

This shows how often a player enters the pot by raising preflop. Even if someone limped (just called the big blind), and you raised it up, it adds to your PFR stat.

If someone raised before you and you 3-bet (re-raised), that also counts towards your PFR.

Using PFR to Read a Player

PFR shows you how aggressive a player is preflop.

• If VPIP is high but PFR is low, the player is passive and likes to limp. This is typically a “calling station.”
• If both VPIP and PFR are high, the player is aggressive and raises a lot of hands.

Example of VPIP vs PFR

• VPIP = 50, PFR = 10 → passive player, limping 40 hands out of 50.
• VPIP = 45, PFR = 35 → very aggressive player, raising most of their playable hands.

In such a case, this player is playing every third hand aggressively. You can 3-bet them and force folds if you catch their pattern.

Ideal VPIP and PFR Combination

A good combination is:

• VPIP around 25%
• PFR around 18–20%

That means: Out of 100 hands, you’re playing 25, but doing it strongly and mostly by raising, not limping. This is a solid and aggressive poker strategy.

What is Steal Ratio?

Meaning of Steal Ratio

Steal Ratio refers to how often a player raises from late position (cutoff, button) to try and make the blinds (small blind and big blind) fold and take the pot without showdown.

This is called “stealing” or “attempt to steal”.

Importance in Tournaments

This stat becomes very important in poker tournaments, where:

• The structure demands that you keep accumulating chips.
• Even if you’re not getting good cards, you need to stay alive by collecting small pots.

Hence, a good Steal Ratio means you’re actively trying to pick up chips and not just sitting around waiting for premium hands.

Good Steal Ratio

• In a 6-max table, a 30–35% steal ratio is good.
• That means you’re attempting to steal once every three times you’re in late position.

If someone has a low Steal Ratio, they might be playing the same from early and late position, which is a mistake. You should open more hands from late position than early.

See more: Importance of Poker Table Positions

Summary of All Three Preflop Stats

Here’s a quick recap:

• VPIP: How many hands you voluntarily enter out of 100. Doesn’t indicate aggression.
• PFR: Out of those, how many times you’re raising preflop.
• Steal Ratio: How often you try to steal blinds from late position.

Next time you’re on a platform like Pocket52 and you click on a player’s stats, if you see:

• VPIP = 25–30%, they’re playing a decent range.
• VPIP = 50%+, they’re playing everything, time to attack.
• PFR close to VPIP, they’re raising strong, be cautious.
• Steal Ratio = 30%+, they’re actively building their stack, adjust accordingly.

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FAQs on Poker Stats