In poker, the term “fish” refers to players who are not very good at the game and therefore lose money over time. Spotting fish at a poker table and exploiting them is one of the most effective ways to make money in the game. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most common mistakes that fish make and how to spot them in the first place.
The primary difference between a fish and an average player is the consistency and magnitude of their mistakes. While everyone makes mistakes in poker, experienced players try to limit the number and severity of those mistakes so that they don’t cost themselves too much money. Fish on the other hand, are prone to making a lot of mistakes that can be very costly to their bankroll.
Fish often have a poor understanding of the game of poker and will be making many mistakes that lead to them losing money. This can be seen in their sizing of their bets and the hands that they call with. One of the biggest mistakes that a fish will make is calling large bets without much consideration for what their opponent may have. This is something that most good players will avoid doing, as it’s not only rude but it can also lead to your opponent making a mistake that could cost them a big pot.
Another thing that a fish will do is play in a very passive manner. This means they will check frequently and rarely bluff. They will also be very reluctant to raise their own bets when they have a strong hand. If you are playing against a fish, it’s a good idea to be more aggressive with your bets and bluff more often than you normally would.
Lastly, a fish will usually have a poor understanding of position. This will mean that they will often be checking in early positions when they should be raising and will be calling a lot of bluffs from other players. This is something that most good players will try to avoid, as it’s very easy for opponents to catch on and punish you.
While it is important to remember that you can’t rely on spotting fish by looking for specific tells, it is still an effective way of finding winning poker games. You can do this by simply paying attention to how other players are playing and observing their behavior. While some players will use HUDs and tracking software to do this, you can just as easily identify fish by noticing their bad habits at the table. For example, if you see someone showing their losing hands face up, this is a sign that they are not a good player. They are seeking validation from their peers that they are doing things correctly instead of focusing on improving their game.