Picking on Weak Players
Sharks and fish co-exist in the online poker
world, with sharks needing the fish to keep
their bankrolls afloat, and the fish needing the
sharks to help them improve their game and
ultimately swim in the bigger pond. The law of
nature says that it is okay for a shark to pick
on a fish; however there are some good reasons
for stronger players to exercise moderation when
picking on weak players.
When you first identify a weak player at your
table, the temptation is to focus solely on that
one player and ignore the other seven seated
around you. This error can lead to you getting
involved in too many hands as you try to take on
the weak player every time they enter a pot, and
disregarding the actions of the other players –
some of whom may also be sharks who have been
circling their prey and waiting for the right
opportunity.
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As well as taking on the weaker player with your
less-than-premium opening hand selection, you
may also be attacking a stronger player who has
you covered. This shark is not going to try to
isolate the weaker player once he has noticed
that you are following his actions, and will
happily go along with your betting manoeuvres
until wiping the pair of you out at showdown.
Repeat this scenario up to six times more for
the other players seated around the table, and
you can see how important it is not to deviate
from your regular game.
Remember also that some poker players are
excellent at laying traps. If you feel that you
have a weaker player at the table, yet realise
that no other player is taking him on, this may
be an indication of a player prepared to take
the occasional short term loss to enable a long
term gain. Watch out for any sign that he is
slow playing or trying to lay a trap before
labelling him as a fish. Observing the way in
which other players interact with each other can
also prevent misinterpreting the signals given
off by an individual player.
Inasmuch as making these mistakes in a cash ring
poker game is not fatal – you can always reload
your chip stack – it will end your tournament
life again and again and again. If you develop
the bad habit of picking on weak players,
ultimately you will become one yourself.
The best way to deal with a weaker player is not
to constantly pick on them, but to consider
their chips as a bonus to what you may normally
win against players of your own calibre. Getting
involved in too many hands, or fighting with
other sharks over the bones of a weaker player,
is just going to get you into trouble. If you do
it too often, you could end up reversing the
laws of nature and transform yourself from a
shark to a fish!
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