The technical fundamentals
The prerequisite course before everything else.
Full read: about 30 min
The prerequisite course before everything else. The 6 principles you must have internalized before diving into VPIP, PFR, 3-bet, cbet and the rest of the LeakLab system.
This isn't a course about stats. It's the course that comes before the stats courses. The foundation. Skip it and you'll understand the other courses but apply them badly. Internalize it and everything else gets simpler.
Who this course is for
You play micro-stakes cash game, NL2 to NL100. You want to improve but you're lost in the flood of info online. You're tired of courses that throw GTO theory at you without telling you what to concretely do at your next session.
If that's you, F1 is your starting point. If you play higher than NL100, this course isn't for you: the simplifications we make here are below your level.
In this course
- 014 min readBuy-in: why you always play 100bb max
The first setting before stats. Why 100bb, the SPR concept, and the 180-200bb cap at the table.
- 024 min readLimping is dead
The most universal micro-stakes leak. What a limp signals, and why winners don't limp.
- 035 min readRaise-or-fold: your default philosophy
The rule that transforms your preflop. Why calling must stay the exception, and the framed exceptions.
- 045 min readAdaptation beats style
The concept that takes you from correct to winning. Why exploit crushes GTO in micros.
- 055 min readTagging your opponents: the minimal method
The most profitable and least-used lever. A color system and notes that actually matter.
- 063 min readHow to read the LeakLab courses and coaching card
The three-piece system, the full loop, and the over-diagnosis trap to avoid.
How this course fits with the rest
The LeakLab system has 9 courses total: two fundamentals (F1 and F2) and seven thematic courses (G1 to G7).
F1 (this one) covers the basic technical principles. F2 will cover the mental fundamentals. The 7 thematic courses (G1 to G7) each dig into a group of stats: preflop ranges, preflop aggression, blind stealing, flop play, turn play, showdown, and overall postflop style.
Recommended order: F1 then F2 then G1. After that, follow the leaks LeakLab detects in your game via your personalized coaching card.
The full course
The online chapters cover the core principles. The full F1 course goes further: worked examples, detailed SPR calculations, the 3 raise-or-fold exceptions with concrete examples, the full opponent-tagging method, and the concrete actions to apply at your next session.
The full course
Online reading, for logged-in members only.
Read the full course onlineFrequently asked questions
How long does F1 take to read?
Between 30 and 40 minutes for the full course. You can read it in one go or one chapter a day. What matters isn't reading speed but applying the principles at your next session.
Do I need to know the basics of poker to read F1?
Yes. F1 assumes you know the rules of Texas Hold'em, the positions (UTG, MP, CO, BTN, SB, BB) and the basic vocabulary. If some terms are new to you, the LeakLab lexicon is there for that.
Is F1 valid for both 5-max and 6-max?
Yes. The 6 principles of F1 are transversal to every NL2-NL100 cash game variant. The format-specific details (5-max Winamax, 6-max PokerStars) are covered in the thematic courses G1 to G7.
Is the F1 course really free?
Yes, free. You just need to be logged into your LeakLab account to read the full course. Creating an account is free and also gives you access to the analysis of your imported hands.