Poker Software and Analysis

Abstract

In followup to Which Limits Have the Loosest Players?, an analysis is run to compare the VPIP distributions for different limits on full 9 player Fixed Limit Holdem tables at Pokerstars. It is found that players at lower limit tables tend to have higher VPIP levels. This means that they play looser pre-flop, which implies that it should be easier to win money from them.

Introduction

My curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to see if the Fixed Limit tables at Pokerstars have different VPIP distributions when compared to the No Limit tables.

Method

I made a small modification to the script that produced the reverse cumalitive VPIP distribution chart.

Results

Reverse Cumulative VPIP

The results show, yet again, that players at lower limit tables have (on average) higher VPIP values. The reverse cumulative VPIP distribution chart shows the results, and can be used to estimate the proportion of players who have a VPIP value larger than a given number.

For example, for $1/$2 tables, over 30% of players have a VPIP greater than 30%. A VPIP over 30% is commonly regarded as being too high for optimal play. Therefore, the result shows that there are plenty of loose players at $1/$2 fixed limit tables at Pokerstars.

Conclusion

As with No Limit, the lower limit tables for Fixed Limit also contain looser tables.

Successful players who are thinking of moving up in limit, may therefore need to consider whether or not the tighter players will affect their profitability. This reduction in edge could be nullified by more careful table selection, using tools such as Poker Office to identify player traits before sitting down with them.

External Links

• PokerFTP
• Poker Crusher
• Poker Office
• Pokerstars