Gone Fishin'

You may have picked up a few dollars in an online tournament here or there, or trounced some friends at your weekly Thursday-night game, but how good do you really perform against professional poker players? Are you really a force to be deal with, or just a fish just waiting to get caught? Let us find out!

You are a fish if...

You play hands because you only want to gamble. Strong poker players always demand an advantage with each hand that they play. One of the biggest differences between a champion and a fish, is that a fish is content with the thrill of playing, not the thrill of winning. A fish is often just as happy playing poker as he is playing slots, craps, roulette and other games of pure chance, hoping to get lucky. A good poker player does not rely on luck to win the game in the long run; they just hope that other players do not get lucky.

You are strictly a textbook player. Many inexperienced players approach poker like the game of blackjack, playing according to strict guidelines and strategies, as if there is an optimal textbook strategy in place for every move in the game. But poker is a very situational game; often what is correct and applicable in one instance may not be the best play in another. Skilled poker players are able to vary their style and make tough decisions on the spot, even they go against the 'guidelines'. Players that rely on a ready made play books are doomed and punished in the long run because of their predictability.

You play to impress. Lots of players of moderate caliber become obsessed with showing off their developing skills. Understandable, since it is only natural to want to impress others with your skills and abilities after going through so much time and effort to master the game. Ultimately, however, the search for recognition of your achievements may result in risking too much money that should have remained safely in your stack. Remember that avoiding 'fancy plays' and sitting and waiting hour after hour for the time to strike may not be sexy, but it is the path to winning poker.

You fail to appear optimistic and confident. A common mistake, especially among novice players, is to appear defeated when losing. Players who grumble, slump in their seats and generally give off an aura of weakness, make themselves targets for their opponents who are more than ready to take advantage of that defeatist attitude. Yes, the fact that you are losing has already made you a target, but do not make the situation worse. By conveying confidence and remaining calm, even jovial if the situation warrants it, your opponents may think twice before they swoop in for the kill. And if you are able to prevent them from betting or raising even once, you've earned something.