optimal vpip for $5NL

[Prison Mike]

yeah yeah i know i'm only playing .01/.02, but we all gotta start somewhere right? i tried to use the search function for an answer to this question, but what is an optimal vpip for $5NL? I just finished a 2K hand session (6-tabling), i was up a buy-in, then took a few bad beats and ended up down ~1 BI.

according to the stats that pstars keeps for you, i played 26% of my hands, but vpip is the percentage of hands played minus your BB hands, correct?

[cheburashka]

You can't use pokerstars stats, because they don't tell you anything. For example, if you raise and are not called, pokerstars will count that as not seeing the flop, whereas it should count towards VPIP. So get pokertracker; it will pay for itself in short order.

As to what is optimal VPIP, I suspect it varies fairly widely among good players. More important is how positionally aware you are (i.e. playing more hands in position than out of position) and how aggressive you are (how often you bet or raise compared to calling).

[Prison Mike]

[ QUOTE ]
So get pokertracker; it will pay for itself in short order.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks, i was pretty much for sure going to do this soon. i believe that it will help if i spend about 30 mins reviewing this after every session.

question: is PA HUD significantly +EV at this level ($5NL)?

another question: is rakeback available on PokerStars or Full Tilt?

[basementproject]

PAhud isn't necessary at all at $5NL.

All you want to be doing at that level is playing your cards in a very solid, basic fashion. PT helps with that by quantifying everything you do, so you can figure out if you're running solid game or not that will transcend levels.

PT stats mean next to nothing at $5NL. Interpreting PAhud stats implies that your opponents must be using a strategy, or at least thinking logically, which isn't true at $5.

PAhud can be neat to tool around with at 10NL but still is not necessary... I'd reccoment investing in it @ 25NL.

PT is essential for all levels simply to track your own play at least.

[basementproject]

Also, I know rakeback is available at fulltilt, not sure about stars.

[Prison Mike]

thanks for the replies, i will buy pt tomorrow and probably move to fulltilt, as rakeback may be my saving grace at $5 NL.

[jerryf1914]

sadly there is no 5nl at ftp

[basementproject]

Yooo don't sign up at fulltilt yet!!! Don't do it!

Do pokerstars first. 5NL at pokerstars is rediculously easy, you should have no problems with it at all. If you do, post hands and stats here and we can fix you up.

Fulltilt has a first-time deposit bonus of 100% up to $600, meaning if you deposit 600 bucks, they will match it. But this is FIRST DEPOSIT ONLY. DO NOT waste this by throwing 50 bucks in your account!

Also, with the potential winrate you can expect at $5NL, rakeback won't mean anything just yet.

Never forget to exploit your bonus options! Grind your roll up to a bigger number and take advantage of the FT bonus.

[dsteff]

Since noone gave an answer your vpip should probably be anywhere from 18%-32% with you pfr somewhere from 12%-24%.

[basementproject]

32% is much too high. Anywhere from 15-25 is great.