What A Leak Looks Like (In Real Life)
A leak usually shows up as:
- you losing chips in the same type of spot repeatedly
- you feeling “confused” in the same situations
- you making decisions faster when stressed
- you saying “I always lose in these 3-bet pots”
Leaks are patterns, not one bad hand.
If you want the full foundation first, start with Online Poker Guide: Rules, Strategy & Tips. This article gives you a simple system to identify leaks—whether you use tracking software or not.
The Leak-Finding Rule: Don’t Fix Everything At Once
If you try to fix 10 leaks simultaneously, you fix none.
Instead:
- find the biggest leak
- build one simple rule to stop it
- play a small sample
- review again
This is how real improvement happens.
Step 1: Start With The Highest-Impact Categories
If you don’t know where to look, start here. These are the most common leak zones in online poker:
Preflop Leaks
- calling raises too wide
- playing too many hands out of position
- defending blinds without a plan
- calling 3-bets in bad spots
Postflop Leaks
- c-betting autopilot
- overfolding turns
- overcalling rivers (especially in under-bluffed pools)
- poor sizing (too small with value, too big with medium strength)
Tournament Leaks (If You Play MTTs)
- blinding down in middle stages
- calling too wide near bubble/pay jumps
- missing shove spots
- making fear-based decisions
Mental Leaks
- tilt after coolers
- ego wars
- “I deserve to win” calls
- speeding up under pressure
Pick one category you suspect first. That’s usually where the biggest leak lives.
Step 2: Use The “Three Signal” Leak Test
A leak is real when you see at least two of these signals:
- Money signal: you lose big pots or repeated medium pots in the same spot
- Confusion signal: you frequently tag the same type of hand as “unsure”
- Emotion signal: you feel tilt, fear, or urgency in that spot
If a spot triggers all three, it’s almost always your biggest leak.
Step 3: Use A Simple Leak Scorecard (No Software Needed)
After a session, answer these quickly:
- Did I play too many hands out of position?
- Did I make any “curiosity calls” preflop?
- Did I barrel with no plan?
- Did I call a big river bet without enough bluffs?
- Did I miss a shove/steal spot because I was scared?
- Did I speed up after losing a pot?
Circle the one you answered “yes” to most.
That’s your leak target.
Step 4: If You Use A Tracker, Check These First
If you have tracking software, don’t drown in stats. Start with the biggest leak indicators:
1) Win Rate By Position
Many players discover instantly:
- they win on the button
- they bleed in early position and blinds
If your blinds are a disaster, that’s normal—but you can still reduce the bleeding.
2) VPIP vs PFR Gap
A big gap often means:
- too many calls
- too many weak hands seeing flops
3) River Call Efficiency (If Available)
If you call rivers too wide, your graph will quietly collapse.
4) 3-Bet Pot Results
If you’re losing massively in 3-bet pots:
- you’re likely defending too wide
- or stacking off too light postflop
If you want a refresher, revisit How To Play 3-Bet Pots Effectively.
Step 5: Use Hand Review To Confirm The Leak
Stats suggest leaks. Hands confirm them.
Use this process:
- Filter for the spot (example: river calls, 3-bet pots, blind defense)
- Review 10–20 hands only
- Look for repeated decision errors
If you need a hand review workflow, revisit How To Review Your Online Poker Hands For Improvement.
Step 6: Turn The Leak Into One Simple Rule
This is where leaks actually get fixed.
Examples of leak rules:
- “No more calling 3-bets out of position with dominated hands.”
- “If I float flop in position, I must know which turns I bet.”
- “Big river bets are under-bluffed at my stakes, so I fold more.”
- “After a bad beat, I pause for 30 seconds before the next hand.”
Rules beat motivation. Rules show up in-game.
Step 7: Track One Leak KPI For The Next 5 Sessions
Choose one KPI:
- “Did I avoid my leak?”
Yes or no.
That’s enough.
After 5 sessions:
- review again
- either tighten the rule, or move to the next leak
This keeps improvement measurable and sustainable.
Common Leak-Finding Mistakes
- chasing tiny leaks while ignoring the biggest one
- relying on “feelings” without confirming with hands
- looking at too many stats at once
- blaming variance instead of decisions
- changing five things at once and getting confused
- never converting leaks into rules
Quick Takeaways
- Leaks are repeatable mistakes that drain win rate over time
- The fastest improvement comes from fixing the biggest leak first
- Use the three signals: money, confusion, emotion
- Start with common categories: preflop, postflop, tournaments, mental game
- If you use a tracker, focus on win rate by position, VPIP/PFR gap, river calls, and 3-bet pots
- Confirm leaks with hand reviews and turn them into one simple rule
- Track one KPI for 5 sessions, then reassess
Mini FAQ
What’s The Most Common Leak For Online Players?
Calling too much preflop and playing too many hands out of position.
How Long Does It Take To Fix A Leak?
Often you can improve immediately by using a simple rule, but true leak reduction shows over a sample of sessions.
What If I Don’t Have Enough Hands Yet?
Use tagged hands and the three-signal test. You can still find patterns from your biggest pots and most confusing spots.
Where To Go Next
You now have a practical leak-finding system: use signals, confirm with hands, convert the leak into one rule, and track it for five sessions.
If you want to reinforce this, the best next move is to train the skill that makes leak-fixing easier: mental game discipline. Most leaks show up when you’re tired, tilted, or rushing decisions.
Continue with The Role Of Mental Game Training In Poker Success.
