1) Every time they voluntarily put money into the pot their VPIP is increased. This includes everything you mentioned; limping, raising, calling raises.

2) Yes, it affects limp/call (not sure if PT3 has a stat for it) and any other custom stats that you could think of that involve that situation.

3) In your first hypothetical situation if you called the SB (thats vpip) and then raised once (thats vpip and pfr) you would look like 20/10

If someone calls twice per rotation and raises once then they are 30/10. Notice they've put money into the pot voluntarily 30% of the time and raised 10%.

NOTE: Raising is voluntarily putting money in, its also preflop raising.

4) The two stats you're looking at are probably AF (HEM uses by default) and AFq (PT3 uses by default)

AF is a factor, AFq is a percentage. You can look up how the two are calculated to get an idea.

5) I'm not qualified to answer this one. Pretty tight for tight players, and consequently very aggressive as they only enter with great holdings.

Anything not considered tight would be different factors of loose, and anything not aggressive would be passive.

Thanks diab0lic, your answers have really helped my understanding. I think we have gotten our wires crossed on Q5 however. I meant what would for example be classed as a TAG in a full ring. Would it be something like 20/18, or more like 10/8? And the same question for all the other classifications such as LAG's etc.

As for VPIP, does this stat only for pre-flop actions, or will it increase if you put money in the pot post flop?

Also I seem to be having a nightmare configuring different stats to appear in my HUD for Pokertracker. The standard VPIP, PFR and AF is in one box, but when I try to add more it creates a seperate box with those in which is big, and it's a pain because you have 2 boxes to try to arrange for each player instead of one! Is Hold'em Manager any better? I am only on a free trial of Pokertracker at the mo so thinking about switching.

As for question 5 I was trying to provide a general guideline. I can't quote any numbers as I don't play full ring. :P

VPIP is definitely only preflop actions, as it only counts the first time you voluntarily enter a pot. Otherwise you'd be able to get numbers higher than 100%

For your last question I can tell you that as for configuring the HUD you're going to have a much easier time doing it on HEM. I've used both programs, and HEM is by far more user friendly / easy to use.

HEM is also the most heavily recommended of the two, and all of the videos around here use it. We have instructional series here on it as well. Give both a try and see how it works out for you.

One final piece of advice: Do not buy PT3 without trying HEM and vice-versa. Make sure you put in enough time to honestly trial both, that includes customizing the HUD, reports, etc...

Thanks for all your comments fella, much appreciated.

No problem! :D

I'm following your blog in my reader nwo, so be sure to make updates every now and again. :P

Not really sure how this blogging m'larky works. If you are following me does that mean you will see all blogs, because I have started another one called My Poker Journey. Not sure if it works best if I keep adding to an existing blog or creating new ones!

I have just downloaded a free trial of HEM and that seems much better than poker tracker, so think I will go for that one. My next job is to join a site I can get rakeback on seeing as I'm playing regular now. The misserable sods at Full Tilt won't let me have rakeback as I am already a member, so they are just going to have to lose my custom!

I get updates to all your posts, you're currently using it correctly. :)

I figured you'd probably like HEM better, most do. The two biggest advantages to PT3 are that it runs on a mac and you can do some pretty neat custom stats.

All the coaches on the site use HEM pretty much, and all the videos that have HUDS or stuff about HUDS are HEM. That said PT3 works fine in all these spots too, so it just is a matter of personal preference.

As for rakeback on FTP, I sent them and rakebackpros an email saying I'd never spend anymore money on their site (after withdrawing it all) and it got rakeback within 10 hours.

I have been in touch with a few rakeback sites and they have both said I can't get it. I think it's time to try your approach and email them direct. I'll let you know what happens.....

Another HUD question! I have just seen someone write about stats 18/13 with a 3bet of 14!? How can this be? Wouldn't a 3 bet be classed as a PFR therefore making that higher than 13?

Is the 3 bet percentage 14% of total hands, or 14% of the hands he has raised, i.e. 14% of 13%? Mmmmm, think I might have just answered my own question!