Why Is My VP$IP So Low?

[Spt2527]

After close to 3900 hands (which I know is still a very small sample size), my VP$IP is only 14.25 on .25/.5 limit tables. I'm wondering what hands I'm not playing that I should be playing. I use a starting hands chart that a 2+2er provided me that is from Sklanksy I believe, and looking at PT, my VP$IP does increase as my position gets closer to the button. My PFR % is only 6.45, though I feel as though I'm more aggressive than that. What hands do you guys think I should add to my arsenal of playable/raising hands? My raisers are AA-99, AK-AJ(AJ when in position), AKs-ATs(ATs anywhere but EP), KQs-KJs(KJs when in position), KQ, KJ in late positon, and a few others when I think I can steal. I also play things like JT-T9s when I can get in for one bet. Any input is appreciated.

[TheSeeker03]

What about Suited small Aces and suited connectors? what about small pocket pairs?

Also, start adding stuff like K8s after 2 or three people limp in.

Read Ed Miller's "take off the training wheels" post.

[bozlax]

Posting blind: just a guess...you don't play enough hands.

After reading your post: 1. There's no way for us to give you any advice, based on what you've provided. 2. 3900 hands is meaningless; you could have just been cold-decked for a couple of weeks. 3. Don't worry about getting your VPIP up...by keeping it low you're playing "safe" hands and learning how to play postflop which is what you should be doing. It'll keep your variance, and therefore your tilt, to a minimum while you get your sea-legs.

[Spt2527]

Boz, what else can I provide to help you guys out? TheSeeker, yes, I forgot about those, I do play suited Aces after a few people have come into the pot, as well as occasionally suited Kings (down to K9s) and QTs, as well as QTo in EP. I also call with small pairs if 2 or 3 others have entered the pot in front of me.

[Rev. Good Will]

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After close to 3900 hands (which I know is still a very small sample size), my VP$IP is only 14.25 on .25/.5 limit tables. I'm wondering what hands I'm not playing that I should be playing. I use a starting hands chart that a 2+2er provided me that is from Sklanksy I believe, and looking at PT, my VP$IP does increase as my position gets closer to the button. My PFR % is only 6.45, though I feel as though I'm more aggressive than that. What hands do you guys think I should add to my arsenal of playable/raising hands? My raisers are AA-99, AK-AJ(AJ when in position), AKs-ATs(ATs anywhere but EP), KQs-KJs(KJs when in position), KQ, KJ in late positon, and a few others when I think I can steal. I also play things like JT-T9s when I can get in for one bet. Any input is appreciated.

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limp 22+ and A2s+ UTG

[bozlax]

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Boz, what else can I provide to help you guys out?

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Really, nothing. The point is that 4k hands' worth of VPIP doesn't actually say anything about your playing style and how you play your hands. Moreover, you haven't told us WHY you want your VPIP to be higher.

[bozlax]

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limp 22+ and A2s+ UTG

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Will, you know better than to give advice like this to a n00b.

[Aaron W.]

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2. 3900 hands is meaningless; you could have just been cold-decked for a couple of weeks.

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3900 at 14.25 VPIP is more than being cold-decked.

[Haupt_234]

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Read Ed Miller's "take off the training wheels" post.

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I searched the archives for this post but couldn't find it. Do you have a link by any chance?

Haupt_234

[OziBattler]

Just a few commetns Ill add:
- if the tables you are playing are tight then you can be open raising many marginal or otherwise muckable hands in LP. When I last jumped limits to a tighter game (relative to where I was) all of a sudden there were many more opportunities to steal the blinds. if you arent confortable stealing then go and play 5/6 max to cure that disease. seriously.

-if the tables you are playing a loose then you should get opportunities lo limp in with many speculative hands.

- most starting hand charts are GUIDELINES only and do not discuss in detail how many limpers etc you need to play a certain hand. Bear this in mind when its open limped to you in CO and you hold low suited connectors.

- In otherwords, still continue to play tight in EP (if you arent limping 22, A2s etc in EP then theres no need to start now UNLESS the particular game conditions allow it) but in LP when you wield the power of position you can really start to play poker and play the players.

- if you dont know what extra hands that might be worth playing then look at the starting chart you have and see where the chart author 'draws the line'. Consider if there are any hands below the line that you think you can start playing on a situational basic. But do it with caution...if your postflop play sucks then playing extra marginal hands will probably do you no good.

- To ram the point home, dont try to increase your VPIP for the sake of it. Look for the right spots to play hands that you thought were otherwise unplayable and your VPIP should start to slowly increase. A final word of caution....take it slow in 'taking off the training wheels' because playing a more hands leaves you open to royally screw up postflop and kill any winrate you might have.

gl