Poker leak finder: a checklist to find what's costing you money
A leak is a repeated mistake that costs you money over time. Most players have a few big ones. Use this checklist after a block of sessions to find yours. Fix one leak at a time.
Preflop
Section titled “Preflop”- Do I play more than about 25% of hands at a 6-max table? (Probably too loose.) See VPIP and PFR.
- Is my VPIP much higher than my PFR? (Too much calling and limping.)
- Do I limp or call raises with weak offsuit hands? See domination.
- Do I play the same hands from every position? See poker positions.
- Do I defend the big blind with almost anything? See big blind defence.
After the flop
Section titled “After the flop”- Do I c-bet every flop, even multiway and on bad boards? See continuation bet.
- Do I call down with one pair against big turn and river bets? See bluff catchers.
- Do I bluff players who never fold? See giving up a bluff.
- Do I check strong hands instead of betting for value? See value betting.
- Do I call draws without the odds? See poker math cheat sheet.
Mindset and sessions
Section titled “Mindset and sessions”- Do my biggest losses come late in long sessions? See poker session tips.
- Do I play worse after a bad beat? See tilt.
- Do I move up stakes after a good day without the bankroll? See moving up stakes.
How to use it
Section titled “How to use it”- Track results by stake, format and session length. See tracking results.
- Review your biggest losing hands — they often show the same leak. See review your hands.
- Choose one leak, write a simple rule (“no limping”), and stick to it for a week.
- Re-check the list.
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What is a leak in poker?
Section titled “What is a leak in poker?”A repeated mistake that costs you money over time.
How do I find my poker leaks?
Section titled “How do I find my poker leaks?”Use a checklist, track results by stake and format and review your biggest losing hands.
What are the most common leaks?
Section titled “What are the most common leaks?”Playing too many hands, limping, calling down with one pair and bluffing calling stations.
How many leaks should I work on at once?
Section titled “How many leaks should I work on at once?”One at a time, with a simple rule you follow for a week or so.