Classic tells: limping into unraised pots pre-flop, making weird sizing mistakes on the river (like min-betting when checked to), and refusing to fold top pair with a weak kicker no matter how much action there is. Once you spot someone calling down light consistently, just value-town them to death.
@philipabb For me I usually spot the fish in the first 20-30 hands, not by one big hand but by small patterns.philipabb said:
The first sign is limping too much, especially limping and then calling a raise. Good players rarely do that.
Second is playing too many hands and showing down with weak hands like bottom pair or bad kicker. If someone shows down J-4 offsuit from early position, I know who to target.
Third is bet sizing. Fish usually bet too small with strong hands and too big when bluffing, or they just min-bet all the time. It's very easy to read.
And to be honest, yes, I have been the fish many times. Especially when I was tilted or tired, I started limping, calling too much, and chasing draws. That moment when I realize I'm the fish is when I know I need to quit the session.
How about you, do you spot them fast or does it take you a while?
I agree, especially about spotting patterns rather than judging a player by one big hand.koalapanda said:
I would add one thing: pay attention to how players react to aggression. Some players call too much preflop but become very passive after the flop. Others call almost every bet with weak pairs or draws.
I also think it's important to distinguish between a bad decision and a recurring habit. One questionable showdown doesn't tell you much, but seeing the same mistake several times gives you a much better picture of the player.
And yes, recognizing when you're becoming the fish yourself is probably one of the most valuable skills in poker!
