Shark - A very good player.
Poker is a game which combines elements of luck with
elements of skill. This means 5️⃣ that in the short run, anybody can win regardless of how
well they play. In the long run, however, everybody’s 5️⃣ luck tends to balance out, and
skill levels typically determine the winners and the losers. Since each individual
player plays 5️⃣ differently, and at his own skill level, a rudimentary food chain forms
over the long run, with each player losing 5️⃣ to those who play better than they do, but
profiting from those who play worse. The players at the top 5️⃣ of the poker food chain do
very well and are often wealthy and famous. Those at the bottom of the 5️⃣ food chain play
very poorly, and so provide opportunities for everybody who is higher up.
The food
chain metaphor is one 5️⃣ that is commonly used in the poker community. Players who play
well and are higher up the food chain are 5️⃣ often referred to as “card sharks,” or
simply, “sharks.” You may also hear these players referred to as “card sharps,” 5️⃣ or
“vacuum cleaners,” or as being “tough,” or “strong.” The weaker players who are closer
to the bottom of the 5️⃣ food chain are commonly referred to as “fish.” Fish are also known
by a variety of disparaging names including “donks,” 5️⃣ “donkeys,” “muppets,” “monkeys,”
“bozos,” and many others. Occasionally, you will hear someone who is a really big loser
referred to 5️⃣ as a “whale.” The term “whale” usually connotes large losses at high
limits, and can apply to either the pit 5️⃣ or the poker room.
Many new, inexperienced, or
recreational players do not like to play against sharks. There is a good 5️⃣ reason for
this. If one person is playing at a skill level which is significantly higher than the
other players 5️⃣ in the game, he can often win a large amount fairly quickly, leaving most
everyone else in the game a 5️⃣ loser. A shark may refer to a game like this as being a
“berry patch.” Weaker players do not want 5️⃣ to play against someone who dominates the
game and they do not like feeling as if they are being taken 5️⃣ advantage of. Many will
shy away from a game if they spot a player with a reputation for being a 5️⃣ shark. They
tend to prefer a “friendly game,” where players are there to have fun playing poker and
are not 5️⃣ really concerned with extracting maximum profit. When you first sit down in a
game, it is not always easy to 5️⃣ identify the sharks and the fish. It is a good idea to
watch the action, even when you are not 5️⃣ involved, so that you can try to get a line on
how everyone plays. And keep in mind the old 5️⃣ poker truism, if you look around the table
and don’t see the fish, it’s probably you.
The bottom line is that 5️⃣ if you want to make
a profit playing poker, you have to smart about game selection, and you also have 5️⃣ to
become a shark. Being smart about game selection means avoiding games where the
potential for long term profit is 5️⃣ minimal or nonexistent. This means avoiding games
where not enough fish are present or the field is too tough for 5️⃣ you. Try to seek out
games with a high ratio of fish to sharks. Do not try to avoid every 5️⃣ shark or every
single player who is tougher than you. First of all, this will not even be possible
unless 5️⃣ you play very well, as there are typically at least a couple of decent players
in every game.
More importantly, if 5️⃣ you are to become a shark, you need to have the
correct approach. Understand that becoming a shark is a 5️⃣ lifelong process that is never
complete. No matter how well you play, there will always be areas of your game 5️⃣ that can
be improved upon; there are always ways of doing things better. If you can accept this,
then every 5️⃣ time you play is a learning opportunity. If you are paying attention, you
can always learn something, especially from those 5️⃣ players who play better than you do.
When you are playing against a shark, take the opportunity to watch how 5️⃣ they handle
themselves in various situations. Look specifically for spots where they acted
differently from how you would have, and 5️⃣ ask why. You can also develop your game by
watching the fish. Being able to anticipate in advance how your 5️⃣ opponent will act is a
huge advantage. Look for area where they consistently play poorly, and be ready to take
5️⃣ advantage of that. The best players are never satisfied with their level of play and
are always hungry to optimize. 5️⃣ That is exactly the approach it takes to become a poker
shark.
*Card sharks is different than a "card sharp" or 5️⃣ "cardsharp". Sharks use skill
to win, while sharps are card manipulators or cheaters.
Usage: Shark On My Left, Seat 1
Is 5️⃣ A Shark, Card Shark, Poker Shark, Table Shark
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