AF from BTN
AF from BTN
Term: Button Attack Frequency AF from BTN The frequency at which the Button position player actively bets or raises pre-flop or post-flop, reflecting their level of aggression.
Overview
AF from BTN (Aggression Frequency from Button) is a metric that measures a player's aggressive tendency when in the button position in Texas Hold'em. It typically refers to the frequency of proactive betting or raising post-flop (or pre-flop), as opposed to passive calling or folding. This term is commonly used in poker tracking software (such as Hold'em Manager or PokerTracker) to help players understand an opponent's aggressive tendencies from the button.
Calculation
Generally, AF (Aggression Frequency) is calculated as: (Number of Bets + Number of Raises) / (Number of Bets + Number of Raises + Number of Calls). When restricted to the button position, only actions taken while the player is on the button are counted. A higher AF indicates a stronger tendency to play aggressively, while a lower AF indicates a more passive approach.
Strategic Significance
The button (BTN) is one of the most profitable positions in Texas Hold'em due to its positional advantage post-flop. Therefore, a reasonable AF from BTN is often high. Skilled players frequently raise to enter the pot from this position and use their positional advantage to continue betting post-flop.
- High AF from BTN: May indicate an aggressive player on the button who effectively uses position to apply pressure, but could also be overly aggressive.
- Low AF from BTN: May indicate a passive player on the button who misses out on positional advantage or prefers to control the pot size.
Typical Range
Since specific values vary by game type, blind structure, and opponent style, there is no absolute standard. Generally, in 6-max no-limit hold'em, a post-flop AF from BTN between 2.0 and 4.0 is considered normal and aggressive. Below 1.5 may be too passive, while above 5.0 may be overly aggressive (but should be combined with other stats such as VPIP and PFR for a comprehensive assessment).
Notes
AF from BTN should be analyzed with sample size in mind: data with too few hands is unreliable. Also, this metric should be distinguished from pre-flop raise frequency (PFR from BTN), which only counts pre-flop actions. Additionally, reasonable ranges differ across game types (e.g., cash games vs. tournaments).