VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money In Pot)
VPIP is the percentage of hands in which a player voluntarily puts money into the pot before the flop. It shows how loose or tight someone plays.
VPIP stands for Voluntarily Put money In Pot. It is the percentage of hands in which a player chooses to put chips into the pot before the flop, by calling or raising. It is one of the most useful single numbers for describing how loose or tight a player is.
What counts and what does not
- Counts: calling a bet, limping, raising or re-raising before the flop.
- Does not count: posting the small blind or big blind, because those are forced bets.
- Does not count: checking in the big blind when nobody raised, because no extra money went in.
VPIP counts hands, not actions. If you call and then call a re-raise in the same hand, it still counts once.
Worked example
Over 100 hands, a player:
- raises first in 14 hands, for example with A♠ Q♦ and 8♣ 8♥,
- calls a raise in 6 other hands, for example with 7♠ 6♠ on the button,
- checks their big blind in 3 unraised pots,
- folds everything else.
They voluntarily put money in during 14 + 6 = 20 hands, so their VPIP is 20%. The three big-blind checks do not count.
Reading VPIP alongside PFR
VPIP is usually paired with PFR (preflop raise percentage), the share of hands a player raises before the flop. In the example above, PFR is 14%. The gap between the two shows how often someone calls instead of raising.
| VPIP / PFR | Typical description |
|---|---|
| Low / close to VPIP | Tight and aggressive |
| High / close to VPIP | Loose and aggressive |
| High / much lower | Loose and passive, calls a lot |
| Low / much lower | Tight and passive |
A player with a VPIP of 45% and a PFR of 6% is entering nearly half of all pots, mostly by calling. That suggests a loose, passive opponent, someone you would generally value bet often and bluff rarely. A tight-aggressive player shows a much lower VPIP with a PFR close to it.
Using VPIP wisely
- Sample size matters. Over just 20 hands, a few good or bad cards can swing VPIP enormously. The number becomes more reliable over hundreds of hands.
- Table size matters. Players naturally have a higher VPIP in short-handed and heads-up games than at a full table.
- Look at your own. If your VPIP is much higher than you intend, you may be calling too many marginal hands. If it is very low, you may be folding profitable spots, especially from late position.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good VPIP in poker?
It depends on the game. Solid players at full tables often have lower VPIPs than in six-handed or heads-up games, and what matters most is that the hands you play are chosen well.
Does posting the big blind count toward VPIP?
No. Blinds are forced bets, so they do not count. Only voluntary calls and raises before the flop count.
What is the difference between VPIP and PFR?
VPIP counts every hand where a player voluntarily puts money in preflop, while PFR counts only the hands where they raise.
Related poker terms
- Tight-Aggressive (TAG) — Tight-aggressive (TAG) is a playing style that plays a selective set of strong hands and plays them assertively with bets and raises.
- Exploitative Play — Exploitative play means adjusting your strategy to target a specific opponent's mistakes, such as bluffing players who fold too much.
- Big Blind — The big blind is the larger forced bet posted two seats left of the button before the deal. It sets the minimum bet and is the last to act preflop.
- Limp — A limp in poker is entering the pot preflop by just calling the big blind instead of raising. It's common among beginners and usually a weak play.
- Position — Position in poker is where you sit relative to the button, which decides when you act. Acting later gives you more information and more control.