CO AFq

Overview

CO AFq, short for Cutoff Aggression Frequency, is a positional stat used in poker tracking software like PokerTracker or Hold'em Manager. It quantifies a player's tendency to be aggressive from the cutoff position—the seat to the immediate right of the button. AFq focuses on the ratio of aggressive actions (bets and raises) to all non-fold actions when the player has a chance to bet or raise (i.e., they are not facing a bet). A high CO AFq indicates a player who frequently bets or raises when given the opportunity from the cutoff, while a low value suggests a more passive approach, preferring to call or check.

Calculation and Interpretation

CO AFq is calculated specifically for hands where the player is in the cutoff and faces a decision where they can bet, raise, call, or check. The formula is:

AFq = (Number of bets + Number of raises) / (Number of bets + Number of raises + Number of calls)

This yields a percentage ranging from 0% to 100%. For example, if a player from the cutoff makes 20 bets/raises and 10 calls, the CO AFq is 20/(20+10) = 66.7%.

• High CO AFq (e.g., >70%): Suggests the player is very aggressive from the cutoff, likely value-betting strong hands and bluffing frequently. They may exploit the positional advantage to apply pressure.
• Low CO AFq (e.g., <40%): Indicates a passive style, often checking or calling rather than raising. Such players typically only bet with very strong hands or draw-heavy boards.
• Very low CO AFq (e.g., <25%): Often implies a calling station who rarely takes the lead postflop from the cutoff.

Importance in Strategy

The cutoff is a strong position due to its proximity to the button. A player's CO AFq helps opponents understand their postflop tendencies. For example, against a high CO AFq player, you might check-raise more or call with weaker hands knowing they will often bet. Against a low CO AFq, you might lead out more to take advantage of their passivity.

Comparison with Aggression Factor (AF)

Aggression Factor (AF) uses a different formula: (bets + raises) / calls. AF can be skewed by few actions and has no upper bound, while AFq is a percentage bounded between 0 and 100, making it easier to compare. AFq also includes check actions in the denominator? Actually, AFq does not include checks; it only counts bets, raises, and calls. So it measures aggression only when the player voluntarily puts money in, ignoring checks. This makes AFq a cleaner measure of bet/raise frequency among non-fold actions.

Typical Ranges

While player-dependent, common CO AFq values in online 6-max cash games often range from 40% to 70%. Regulative players tend to have higher AFq from the cutoff because of their positional advantage. Note that sample size matters: hundreds of hands are needed for reliable AFq stats.

Limitations

CO AFq does not capture the timing or sizing of aggression, nor does it differentiate between bets and raises. Additionally, it only considers postflop decisions (or preflop if specifically defined as preflop AFq, but typically CO AFq is postflop). Always combine with other stats like VPIP, PFR, and AF for a fuller profile.