First, let’s clarify what we mean by the term fish in the realm of poker. It's crucial to approach this definition with a brief cautionary note:
While fish serves as a technical label within the poker community, many consider it an unflattering term. Therefore, it's wise to use this label carefully.
Fish –
A less skilled or novice player at the table, frequently a casual participant, representing an advantageous opportunity to win their chips.
While the term “ fish Though we may casually refer to players as \"fish\" among friends, it’s generally inappropriate to use this term during actual gameplay.
There are two main reasons for this stance.
1. Labeling a weaker player as a \"fish\" could offend them. While it may not be the worst thing to say, it certainly isn't polite, and may lead them to leave the game prematurely, which would hurt our chances of winning. etiquette 2. If an opponent truly fits the description of a fish, there’s no benefit in making them aware of it. Such recognition might prompt them to seek coaching, making them a much tougher adversary in the future.
The main point to understand is that savvy professional players regard fish as their \"clients\". It’s essential to treat less skilled players with great respect and politeness, as their presence is vital for the success of many professionals.
A significant part of a winning player's strategy involves maximizing the number of hands played against fish. Conversely, a skilled player generally avoids engaging too frequently with tougher competitors at the table. While we won’t entirely steer clear of strong players, we lack the incentive to play excessively broad ranges against them. career .
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Isolating Against Fish
When it comes to fish, however, we aim to broaden our participation in the game significantly. Naturally, there are limits to this approach, but, on the whole, we should be willing to enter pots with more speculative hands simply to face weaker opponents.
One obvious tactic to play more pots is known as iso-raising . Although many players think of this as the primary method for exploiting fish, there are numerous valuable strategies that often go unnoticed. preflop ranges Before we can effectively increase our engagement with fish, we must first learn to identify them. Here are several characteristics to look for.
These are typical behaviors displayed by fish at poker tables.
Failing to rebuy to 100bb when they lose chips, especially in online games.
Recognising Weaker Players
Selecting unorthodox hands before the flop, often erring too much on either side of loose or tight play.
- Lots of open-limping preflop rather than open-raising.
- Demonstrating unusual tactics after the flop, such as checking strong hands down or calling far too liberally. This includes using excessively large or small 3-bet adjustments before the flop and varying c-bet sizes too dramatically.
- Engaging in excessive chatter (particularly online), as skilled players tend to refrain from using chat features. Nits are fish as well!)
- Exhibiting clear signs of inexperience when playing in person, such as mishandling chips or failing to keep up with the flow of the game. equity , etc. etc.
- Unorthodox bet-sizings Isolation raising (or iso-raising for short) is a strategic approach aimed at increasing the number of hands we play against fish by focusing on those who limp into the pot during the preflop phase.
- The concept is straightforward; an opponent limps in, and we respond with a preflop raise (typically 4bb or more) in hopes of contesting the pot heads-up against that limper. In scenarios where several players are calling our iso-raise (especially in live settings), it's common to raise the size of the iso-raise.
- By scaling up our raise, we aim to isolate the action strictly against the fish. In many live games, iso-raises of 7bb or more are not uncommon. string-betting /acting-out-of-turn, etc.
Isolation Raising
While iso-raising tends to dominate discussions on playing against fish, we’ll alter that narrative by outlining other essential techniques that often go under the radar.
Iso-3betting – Not every recreational player will limp; some will opt to open-raise. We still have the opportunity to isolate the pot heads-up by executing small 3-bets.
Expanding Opens – If the action folds to us before the flop, we can widen our raising range when fish remain behind us (especially if those fish are located in the blinds). In extreme scenarios, we might consider raising with any two cards from the button if particularly weak players occupy the blinds. While we can also open-raise from early positions, this adjustment is typically not as significant as it is when players are in a later position.
Other Isolation Techniques
SB Completes HU – When it's folded to us in the small blind, we can expand our preflop ranges if the big blind is a fish. With weaker cards, it can often be more strategic to complete in the small blind rather than to open-raise. Against an exceptionally weak player in the big blind, we should aim to play all our preflop starting hands.
SB Completes HU – From the small blind facing an open limp, we should be inclined to participate in the pot with various hands, given that our opponent is likely a fish. Not every hand warrants an iso-raise, so we may be satisfied simply completing the small blind with a diverse range while anticipating a competitive encounter. 3bets (especially in position).
Expanding Cold-Calls – Even if the open-raiser in a hand is a solid regular player, we can still expand our cold-calling range when we have fish behind us. This strategy can enhance our potential to capitalize on weaker players. open-raise Identifying and targeting the less competent players at the table is crucial for achieving a high win rate. Whether or not top winners acknowledge it, a significant portion of their profits generally comes from opponents who are considerably weaker. blinds Even if we don't possess the highest skill level in poker, we can still achieve a respectable win rate by simply engaging more often with fish as opposed to skilled regulars. button Timothy \"Ch0r0r0\" Allin is a professional poker player, trainer, and author. Since starting in 2006, he has grown his bankroll from the lowest online limits without ever depositing any money. After competing in some of the most challenging environments globally (and emerging victorious), he now shares his experiences and techniques through the 888poker magazine.
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