Leak

A Leak in poker refers to a consistent strategic mistake that a player makes, which reduces their overall profitability in the game. These can be identified and corrected to improve the player's performance.

What is a Leak?

In poker, a Leak is a consistent strategic mistake or bad habit that a player makes during a game. These mistakes, while they might seem minor, can add up over time and significantly reduce a player's winnings or increase their losses. Leaks can occur in various aspects of a player's strategy, including their betting, bluffing, or hand selection strategies.

Identifying and Correcting Leaks

Identifying and correcting Leaks is a key part of improving as a poker player. This often involves reviewing and analysing your play to spot any consistent mistakes or suboptimal strategies. Once a Leak has been identified, the next step is to adjust your strategy to correct it. This could involve studying poker theory, getting coaching, or simply practicing more mindful and disciplined play.

Common Types of Leaks

There are many types of Leaks that players can have in poker. Some players might consistently play too many hands, leading to a hand selection Leak. Others might bluff too often or rarely at all, creating a bluffing Leak. Still others might not pay enough attention to their opponents' actions, resulting in a positional awareness Leak.

Example of "Leak"

For instance, if you consistently call bets with weak hands hoping to hit a lucky card, this would be considered a Leak. Over time, this strategy is likely to result in more losses than wins.

• "He identified a Leak in his play - he was bluffing too often and his opponents were catching on."
• "Her biggest Leak was playing too many weak hands out of position."
• "After reviewing his games, he realised his Leak was not paying enough attention to his opponents' betting patterns."