5 Poker Leaks And How To Fix Them
Losing a big blind here and there might not sound like a big deal, but they all add up over time. Finding, and fixing small leaks can make a huge difference to your win rate over time, so here are 5 of the most common leaks, and how to fix them.
Completing the small blind
Two players limp, and you complete the small blind with a hand like 10-3 "because of the pot odds". While it's true that you're getting a very good 7-1 on your money, this spot just isn't going to be profitable. Far too many players complete the small blind with rag hands, and it's a definite losing play in the long term.
There are a number of ways this could play out. The big blind could squeeze, forcing you to fold preflop. If the big blind checks, you'll miss on the flop most of the time and be forced to fold to any action. Even if you hit top pair, you have a very weak kicker and are out of position, and with 2 cards to come there's a good chance of an over card on the turn or the flop.
Stop completing the small blind with rag hands. 90% of the time, if your hand isn't good enough to raise here then you should just fold.
Playing to tight on the button
In no limit, or pot limit, position is everything. The button is the strongest position, and as such you can play a very wide range here. In fact, if the action folds to you, you can probably open here with just about any two cards. You should also be widening your 3 bet range considerably, and raising to punish any limpers.
Playing too tight from the button is a major leak. The button should win you the most money of any position at the table, but you need to be in the action to take advantage. Loosen up here and you'll likely see your win rate increase.
Only firing one bullet continuation bets
Raising pre-flop, and then making a single continuation bet on the flop before giving up is a sure-fire way to leak chips. Your opponent can call with a wide range of hands on the flop, but may well be forced to lay hands down to aggression on the turn, and then the river.
Being more aggressive throughout a hand, and firing off multiple times, will win you a lot of medium sized pots. If you find yourself giving up after the flop, checking down and then losing to ace high, or a low pair, you know that betting on multiple streets would have won that hand. Choose your spots wisely though, don't just bet the turn randomly. Make sure your bets are believable, and that you're betting turn cards which logically could have helped your hand, otherwise you'll find yourself getting called down light.
Not isolating limpers
A fundamental rule of successful poker, is playing pots against weak opponents, in position. If a fishy player limps from early position, and the action fold to you, you should almost always raise to isolate.
A major leak here is to limp behind, or fold a mediocre holding. The weak opponent has already shown weakness by limping from early position, so take advantage. There is a very good chance they will fold to a raise, or to a single c-bet so start isolating more and see your results improve!
Checking to induce a bluff
Not getting maximum value with your strong hands is one of the worst leaks of all. If you have top pair, top kicker and you suspect your lone opponent is beat, checking to induce a bluff on the river is often a bad idea.
The thinking behind this move is that they may have a busted draw, and so will never call a river bet. However, they are just as likely to have a lower pair, or top pair with a lower kicker. Failing to bet in this position, and get maximum value from your hand is probably costing you money, so start value betting here and reap the rewards.
Losing a big blind here and there might not sound like a big deal, but they all add up over time. Finding, and fixing small leaks can make a huge difference to your win rate over time, so here are 5 of the most common leaks, and how to fix them.
Completing the small blind
Two players limp, and you complete the small blind with a hand like 10-3 "because of the pot odds". While it's true that you're getting a very good 7-1 on your money, this spot just isn't going to be profitable. Far too many players complete the small blind with rag hands, and it's a definite losing play in the long term.
There are a number of ways this could play out. The big blind could squeeze, forcing you to fold preflop. If the big blind checks, you'll miss on the flop most of the time and be forced to fold to any action. Even if you hit top pair, you have a very weak kicker and are out of position, and with 2 cards to come there's a good chance of an over card on the turn or the flop.
Stop completing the small blind with rag hands. 90% of the time, if your hand isn't good enough to raise here then you should just fold.
Playing to tight on the button
In no limit, or pot limit, position is everything. The button is the strongest position, and as such you can play a very wide range here. In fact, if the action folds to you, you can probably open here with just about any two cards. You should also be widening your 3 bet range considerably, and raising to punish any limpers.
Playing too tight from the button is a major leak. The button should win you the most money of any position at the table, but you need to be in the action to take advantage. Loosen up here and you'll likely see your win rate increase.
Only firing one bullet continuation bets
Raising pre-flop, and then making a single continuation bet on the flop before giving up is a sure-fire way to leak chips. Your opponent can call with a wide range of hands on the flop, but may well be forced to lay hands down to aggression on the turn, and then the river.
Being more aggressive throughout a hand, and firing off multiple times, will win you a lot of medium sized pots. If you find yourself giving up after the flop, checking down and then losing to ace high, or a low pair, you know that betting on multiple streets would have won that hand. Choose your spots wisely though, don't just bet the turn randomly. Make sure your bets are believable, and that you're betting turn cards which logically could have helped your hand, otherwise you'll find yourself getting called down light.
Not isolating limpers
A fundamental rule of successful poker, is playing pots against weak opponents, in position. If a fishy player limps from early position, and the action fold to you, you should almost always raise to isolate.
A major leak here is to limp behind, or fold a mediocre holding. The weak opponent has already shown weakness by limping from early position, so take advantage. There is a very good chance they will fold to a raise, or to a single c-bet so start isolating more and see your results improve!
Checking to induce a bluff
Not getting maximum value with your strong hands is one of the worst leaks of all. If you have top pair, top kicker and you suspect your lone opponent is beat, checking to induce a bluff on the river is often a bad idea.
The thinking behind this move is that they may have a busted draw, and so will never call a river bet. However, they are just as likely to have a lower pair, or top pair with a lower kicker. Failing to bet in this position, and get maximum value from your hand is probably costing you money, so start value betting here and reap the rewards.
