Aggression Factor Poker | What It Is & How to Use It

Aggression Factor (AF) is one of the most useful poker stats for instantly gauging how a player approaches each hand. By showing how often someone bets or raises instead of calling, the AF quickly reveals whether an opponent is passive, balanced, or highly aggressive. Giving you a shortcut to adjust your own play to counteract said opponent.

How to Calculate Aggression Factor

To understand an opponent’s AF, you only need a simple formula:

• Aggression Factor = (Bets + Raises) ÷ Calls
• Checks and folds are not included in the equation
• For example: If a player bets 10 times, raises 5 times, and calls 5 times → AF = (10+5)/5 = 3

An AF of 3 tells you that this player bets or raises three times as often as they call, which is a clear sign of aggressive tendencies. So once you understand how to calculate AF, the number becomes a quick read on someone’s table behavior, and you can adjust your play accordingly.

What Aggression Factor Reveals About Play Style

When you plug in the numbers, you can easily connect them to player archetypes:

• AF < 1 → Very passive; calls often and rarely bets or raises
• AF ≈ 1–2 → Balanced player with a mix of actions, not easy to predict
• AF 3+ → Highly aggressive; betting and raising to try and dominate

While AF is great for profiling opponents, it doesn’t tell the full story on its own. Sample size and game situation matter greatly. So treat AF as a strong signal, but not a standalone decisive factor.

Strategic Uses of Aggression Factor

Reading an opponent’s AF can help you decide how to respond in different matchups:

• Against low AF players: Bluff more frequently as they fold often and rarely apply pressure to you
• Against medium AF players: Expect a mix of play styles, so choose plays carefully
• Against high AF players: Trap them with strong hands, since they overbet and overraise, they may pay you well.

On its own, AF can give you a sharp edge in identifying tendencies and adapting your counter-strategy, but Aggression Factor is most effective when combined with other stats.

Aggression Factor vs. Aggression Frequency (AFq)

Although they sound similar, Aggression Factor (AF) and Aggression Frequency (AFq) measure two different things:

• Aggression Factor (AF): Ratio of bets and raises to calls
• Aggression Frequency (AFq): Percentage of times a player makes an aggressive action out of all opportunities

For example, a player who checks often, but bets only when strong, could have a very high AF (remember checks and folds are not included in the equation), but a low AFq. By comparing the two, you get a clearer picture of said opponent: AF tells you how skewed their actions are when they do play, while AFq shows how often they take the aggressive option overall.

This extra context ensures you don’t misread a player by relying solely on Aggression Factor, as AF alone might label someone “hyper-aggressive” even if they’re only betting rarely, whereas AFq shows how consistently they take aggressive actions across all situations available to them.

FAQs

What is considered a “good” Aggression Factor?
A balanced AF around 2–3 is often ideal as it shows you’re aggressive enough to apply pressure but not overcommitting in every spot. It makes you the most difficult to predict.

Does the Aggression Factor include folds and checks?
No. AF is calculated using only bets, raises, and calls. Folds and checks don’t count.

Can the Aggression Factor be misleading on its own?
Yes. A player with few hands recorded might show an artificially high or low AF. Always use a large sample size and combine AF with stats like VPIP or PFR.