Hi guys, I'm still starting out in poker and I have a question that I bet many of you have too: how to play against fish??? What's the best way to get +EV? How to avoid losing your chips to them in a suckout? I believe that the answers from the more experienced players will help the more inexperienced players a lot. Thanks!
DonBorella, no PokerTips Forum.
Great DonBorella! I found the question so interesting that I decided to write this article! Thanks for the question!
First, let's define fish.
In short, he is a weak player who plays many hands, relying on his “feeling”. He makes wrong moves (bluffs without anything against a tight player who raised with a full table; he slowplays directly with top pair/bad kick, etc.). How do you play against players like this?
1. You have to have a solid game against this type of player! Why? Because he won't fold middle pair for anything!! Is he waiting for a drill? "I won't fold, what if he hits?". If you have a good draw on the flop and raise 1/2 of the pot, he will call, and if your draw doesn't hit, there's no point in bluffing with 2/3 of the pot because he won't fold!!! So you need to play slower and be patient. You will even lose one or two medium pots against this player. But that's okay! Wait for a good opportunity and hook him!!
2. If you have a good hand, bet. Avoid slowplaying against this type of player unless the situation is really favorable. In general, it is best to value bet.
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4. Play speculative hands against him (98s+, KJs, QTs, J9s, A2s+, K2s+, etc.), taking advantage of his greater post-flop ability, even if the fish raises 3BB. If you have an overpair or if you come with top pair/good kicker, two pair, trips (or something higher, of course) or draws with 8 or more outs, stay in the hand. If not, the evaluation must be done carefully.
5. Against these players NEVER BLUFF, EVER!! A semi-bluff can be made from time to time, but a straight bluff never. And why? Because for fish there is no button/word fold! He thinks that the card that will help him will always come on the river! And every now and then he does!! (Bluff only against players who have the ability to fold a marginal hand…).
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Very good text.. I always realized that I had a lot of success against good players, but those fish always got on my nerves and I ended up playing the way they wanted.. anyway, I agree with everything you said, especially the part about NEVER BLUFFING against fish..
Great Raphael!
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It cost!
Kra... very very good article!!!! I could never have written it better!!! haha
Congratulations on the website!
Great tutorial! It's a great tactic against dangerous fishes! Thanks, Raphael!
“Also, always treat fishes kindly, praising their “great” plays. And when they clean up, tell them that they lost because they were unlucky, that in poker what really counts is luck… Buy them a beer and when you leave, invite them to play another day! :)”
Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk………..excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had great results against fish after reading your article, thank you. Especially my father-in-law, he is the biggest fish I have ever seen, he bets big on everything. He is very unpredictable. But now I am managing to get good results from him. ^^
I remember the play as if it were today: I have 5,6 of hearts, flop: 10 clubs, 6 diamonds and K clubs, I give CHEK and he RAISES 0.20 cents, I call and opens 6 clubs on the turn, I BET 0.20 and he RAISES 0.30, I call and opens Q clubs on the river, I BET 0.10 and he RAISES 1.50, I RUN. He gives me a huge smile and shows me his cards 2 of diamonds and Ace of diamonds. Congratulations Fabiano… Hugs
Hello
Could you tell me what “limp” means?
Furthermore, great site, great tips…..thank you very much
Big Andre. Limp is when the player only pays the Big Blind, not raising the bet before the flop.
I'm a fish xD
and I didn't even know
Good morning guys!
Wow, I was a fish and I didn't know lol how I lost money before reading your article...
I always thought it would become what I needed, consequently paying fish bets and in the vast majority doing badly.
Today I play at Poker Stars at the 0.50/1.00 table and with your tips I'm doing very well, not to mention the peace of mind that makes a huge difference (patience, the soul of poker).
Thank you very much, all in on them!!!
This is one of the best articles on the site, congratulations Petrillo!
excellent !!!!
Even better was the ending with the compliments and the invitation to play another day!!!
hahahaha !!!!
brilliant !!!
note 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Thanks for the tip!!!
Question: If you don't raise the bet pre-flop, will you be considered a fish?
I know there are times when it's better to start slowly, but articles always say to raise pre-flop.
Personally, I have a habit of not raising many times pre-flop. I'm usually incredibly unlucky to get a pair on the flop, and even more unlucky to have someone have a card and make a set or even a fullen.
There is no defined concept of fish. But if you only limp (without raising), you will give the impression of being a fish. The issue of raising is not just because it should be done that way. There is a logic to it. To value good hands, scare away opponents with marginal hands, and reduce the number of players in the hand. Generally, those who limp a lot are entering with too many hands that they shouldn't.
fish is like a cockroach, you finish one, 3 come to the table right away….
Hahaha, very good.
great article, nice sense of humor, excellent.
Hi, I found this topic very interesting and it is well explained, but I still have some doubts about identifying a “fish”. They play a lot of hands, they play a lot until showdown. But do they usually bet or just “call”? What is the average percentage of hands that a “fish” plays?
Thank you and a hug to all
Antônio, fish usually make a lot of calls and few raises. And they tend to play a lot of hands, especially limps. But it's not possible to say a fixed percentage.
Think about this: fish limp a lot and play equally in any position at the table.
kkkkkkkkkkkkkk. Awesome. I think the most important thing against fish is patience, and never, ever opt for slowplay, because then you're asking the fish to do what they like most, which is rely on luck. And when you see your QQ, it's been beaten by a double pair of 2/3 lol.
Very good article indeed... excellent
the ending was hilarious brother
Wow!
I identified with the article, it seemed like I was the one being described. Now it explains why I always left the tables with zero, even winning some big pots. I have already improved a lot with these articles and others.
But in my opinion, more than having this information, it is knowing how to control your emotions. It is one thing for you to read here on the website, another for you to be at a poker table, where you often act on impulse. Often being stubborn, getting too caught up in a losing hand, wanting to recover the loss.
I recommend to anyone who plays real money poker, the book: The Zurich Axioms, by Max Gunther.
That's it, Diego. In poker, balance is key. You'll lose ridiculous hands, but in the long run, these same players will give you the most profit. Against fish, the trick is to play tight and value the big hands you have.
I'm new to the forum, and first I'd like to congratulate everyone on the excellent work they've done here. I've learned a lot by reading the articles and reading the tips from the more experienced players...very good indeed...
This is a sensational article, I had an experience like this a few days ago.
I play AA in PF in MP, UTG raises 10 BB, 3 more players in the sequence call, as I was very short stacked I shoved the guys, one calls after me, and the rest of the table folds until UTG calls and the other 2 also call...
So far so good, I thought, the UTG regardless of the position he was in would always raise PF of 200 BB, would over bet from 200 to 400 BB when his cards flopped and when he didn't flop the guy would always check-fold the hand, extremely easy to read a player like that...
OK, here comes the FLOP 33J rainbow, I was all in, there was no more action on the table, I wanted this UTG to lose as much as possible, and then it comes... the guy checks me and the others also check after him!
Tell me guys, isn't this absurd? After all, I get a 10 on the turn and another on the river and UTG makes me a full house and takes the pot...
How come these guys, after paying “hundreds” of BB preflop, give me a free card like that!!!
I was really mad, because the UTG hand in the PF should be something like TQs TKS and the guy calls me with a practically beaten -EV, and gives me the chance to make a full house!!!
I thought this was a typical fish hand, if I hadn't been all in I would have at least C-bet 3/4 of the pot
and for sure, judging by the rock solid way the guy was, he would have folded his hand.
………………………………………………………
If anyone wants to comment on this hand, give opinions on how they would play it or something like that, it would be good to hear the opinions of the more experienced ones!
Big hug to everyone, and good luck at the tables!
Thanks, very good information, I'll definitely use it in the next game
EXCELLENT TOPIC!… As Raphael Mendes said above, I also always had a much better performance with more educated players than against natural fishes, I remember even today playing with some acquaintances of mine (mega-fishes)
Me with Ak from CO, raise 5x
the table is folded until the BB calls
the flop comes 5 5 8 (rainbow)
I bet 1/2 pot, the BB calls again
Then the flop comes K.. and I go all in.
And the great BB, shows me with great pride a J3 off!!
What is the possibility of a GOOD player PAYING 5BB to play a J5off out of position?
really to play against a fish, you have to be twice as careful
lol….good job man!
The part about raising the “know-it-all’s” spirits and inviting him back, I cracked up here… lol