Opponents in poker

Before we dig into the different types of fish used to describe poker players or consider some of the other aquatic references used in the game, let’s talk about one fellow in particular. David A. Ulliott is known in the poker world as Devilfish. He got the name when he was playing in his home country, the United Kingdom. In the world of marine biology there really is a devilfish, a poison swimmer that can kill a person who eats it, if the meal is not prepared properly.

Poker Fish, Sharks and Barracudas

A number of other names are used to describe certain types of players. These include fish, sharks and barracudas. When someone is labelled a “fish” he or she is considered a weak player or a player whose money can be taken by more accomplished players. This is the type of player referred to in the saying, “Look around the table and if you don’t see the sucker, you’re it.”

Fish=Food

A fish earns that nickname by doing a few foolish or unreasonable things.

• Fish generally play too many pots. Better players are more patient and play some pots just because the fish is in it.
• Fish play weak hands in early and middle positions, committing money to the pot and getting caught by a raise from someone in a later position.
• Fish don’t often watch other players and the cards when they are not in a hand. Sometimes they are too busy drinking or gabbing.

Shark Attack

What if someone gets the reputation as a “shark” at the poker table? That’s a good thing, really. Sharks are aggressive without being foolishly so. They are actually rather tight players who often attack pre-flop or when they sense weakness in another player. While the good players among sharks usually have a good hand, it’s important to understand that this type of player can also run the “fish” away from a pot with aggression and/or solid moves. It’s difficult to tell when a shark is bluffing if they are consistently aggressive.

Barracudas Nibble

If you want to “tag” a person as a barracuda here are some characteristics of the real thing: appearance that frightens other players; somewhat solitary, keeping to themselves away from the table and talking very little at the table; aggressive predators that look for just the right opportunities. A poker barracuda will watch for signs of vulnerability in others and may even prefer taking another player’s money in small chunks rather than hammering the opponent all at once. This is, in fact, the way real barracuda sometimes eat their prey.

See if you can spot some of these players next time you’re at the table.