| In poker, the term fish basically refers to | | | | should be able to win money off of them just |
| poor players, and can describe those players | | | | by sitting tight and waiting for premium |
| who consistently lose money and have a poor | | | | hands. |
| overall grasp of the game, as well as those | | | | |
| players who may simply be new to the game and | | | | Another sign of a poker fish is if they have |
| are still learning the ropes. | | | | a tendency to show their hands to the rest of |
| | | | the table when not required to, and regularly |
| In truth, we've all been a poker fish at some | | | | make comments using the chat facility. The |
| stage of our poker career, so it's nothing to | | | | stronger players will generally just sit |
| be ashamed of, particularly when you first | | | | quietly and completely focus on the game, and |
| start playing the game. Very few players pick | | | | not distract themselves or give players |
| up the game and start consistently winning | | | | unnecessary information about their hands. |
| money straight away, but the key is to come | | | | |
| through the initial learning stage, learn | | | | Also look out for players who get frustrated |
| from your mistakes, and develop your game | | | | and use the chat facility to vent their anger |
| over time as you gain more experience. | | | | or criticise other players. These players are |
| | | | more likely to go on tilt and again will be |
| If, however, you have been playing for | | | | easy pickings if you sit tight and wait for |
| several years and still find yourself | | | | good hands. |
| regularly losing money, then the harsh | | | | |
| reality is that you're probably a fish | | | | What else should you be looking out for? |
| yourself, and the type of player who the | | | | |
| poker pros love to come up against because | | | | Well if a player is seemingly taking forever |
| you're an easy target. The truth is you | | | | to decide what to do when it's their turn to |
| should probably consider either giving up the | | | | act, then this is a tell-tale sign of a |
| game, or reading various poker books, | | | | newbie, and therefore you should be able to |
| furthering your education, and trying to | | | | use your greater experience to win money from |
| bring your game up to scratch. | | | | them by playing a solid game. |
| | | | |
| Assuming you're a decent player, how do you | | | | Also, look at every single hand, even those |
| identify which of your opponents are fish, | | | | you're not a part of, and watch for weak |
| and therefore there for the taking? | | | | moves and hopeful calls by your opponents, |
| | | | and make a note of this for future reference. |
| Well firstly look at how often your opponents | | | | |
| are playing their hands. If you find a player | | | | And finally, as the old saying goes, if you |
| who loves to be involved in nearly every pot, | | | | still can't decide who the fish are at your |
| and plays more hands than he should, then you | | | | table, then it's probably you. |