In poker, a fish is someone who doesn’t have much experience and is often seen losing pots to more experienced players. Fish can be found in all types of poker games, but they are most common at online tables. These players are known as fish because they tend to make questionable and ill-advised plays that lead them to lose money in the long run. They can be difficult to isolate and target, but there are some telltale signs that you can look for to spot a fish.

One of the first signs of a fish is inconsistent betting patterns. A fish player will frequently make erratic bet sizing decisions based on their feeling at the time. This can be a great indicator of their lack of understanding of how to extract value from a strong hand. In addition, they will often enter pots with weak starting hands and remain active in the pot, contributing to their long-term losses.

Another way to spot a fish is by watching their behavior preflop. A good poker player will always be careful to make sure that they are a good preflop player, as this can make all the difference in winning a pot. A fish will often be reckless and aggressive in their play, and they may try to make big bets to steal a pot.

Fish also have a tendency to overvalue their own hands and don’t think about what other players may have in the hand. This can be a huge mistake when playing poker, because it is important to consider the other players’ potential holdings. A fish will often call any bet with a weak hand, believing that they are being bluffed, even if it is a logical large value bet.

A fish is also likely to show off their hands when they have a good hand. This can be annoying for other players, as it can give away information about their strength and intentions. Those who regularly show off their hands are usually referred to as showoffs in the poker world.

It is important to remember that it is considered rude to call a player a fish in poker, regardless of how bad they’ve played or how annoyed you are with them. This is considered to be abusive towards the other player, and some poker rooms may penalise you or take action against you for this kind of behaviour. Ideally, you should avoid calling other players fish, and instead focus on studying your game and learning more about poker. This will help you become a better player and increase your chances of making money in the long term.