Differences between a donk and a fish

As we all know donk and fish are two slang words for bad players in poker, and I never thought of this until today. So what are the differences between a donk and a fish? I mean somebody must of came up with these terms, so what exactly are the definitions, because I have no idea? How do we figure out what to call bad players when we are mad that he/she got lucky, who is a donk and who is a fish? I don't think we ever had this discussion before and some might even think this is dumb, since some players don't like the terms donk and fish but I will be interested to see what are everyone's thoughts on this. So any thoughts? do you happen to know who came up with these two terms and the difference?

Funny that you should post this, as I was just thinking the same thing. As far as donk goes, I think it's just another way of calling someone a jackass. I'm not sure about fish, though.

Probably little difference in usage, but I would suggest a fish is any "bad" player who is spewing money. Being a donk implies some level of idiocy and is usually related to the more aggressive bluffing varieties of fish rather than the passive calling station type.

Ok so what I'm getting is, donk is someone who kind of knows what he/she is doing but makes silly dumb mistakes, and fish is someone who just has no clue and is just a calling station. right?

I would say the opposite

Donkey; is some one that only looks at his own hand and as he has a pair of Jacks (for instance ) thinks he can go all in without considering anything.

Fish; is some one thats on a a straight or flush draw and bets in the 'hope' he may catch regardless.

Dont like calling people either but heres one version what it might mean:
Donk: Terrible player that will always be terrible and makes dumm moves.
Fish: A bad/new player that makes stupid mistakes but one day grows up to be a shark

I've always thought of fish as being weaker players, soft spots, or marks. Someone may be a winner a 50NL, but a fish at 1kNL. Whereas a donk is just a horrible player.

I think a fish is more like a calling station. A donk to me is people that go all in on flush draws or any draw for that matter, when they absolutely know they are beat but still push knowing that you have to call.

Hit the nail on the head IMO.
Donk - Aggressive player who plays ATC regardless of the outcome.
Fish - Passive player who plays ATC regardless of the outcome.

FYI, ATC(any two cards)

Fish: A player who has no clue about the game
Donk: A player who has no clue about the game but thinks he does

Basically, fish are those recreational players who play for the fun of it and don't really care.
Donks are those guys that have a tiny bit of knowledge about the game, but it's so incomplete that it's counter-productive. Donks like to say "ty" after they've won a big pot. And they call other players donkeys without realizing they're in a pot meet kettle scenario.

Fish = Me when I think what I am doing
Donk = Me when I couldnt care less...

I like that distinction, especially the fish/shark part. I think a fish is more or less a newbie that can be exploited by better players. On the other hand, a donk is someone that is impatient and wants to get their money in on a gamble that any two cards are going to rule.

Well from my experience most of the time if someone gets called a donk it's because they sucked out. Mostly I've heard fish used about someone else, and donk about the person whoever is talking to. For example:

"Zach you're a complete donk"

"I was playing with that zachvac character and he's just a complete fish".

Ive always thought a fish is someone who goes chasing straights, flushes or keeps calling when there is a really good chance they are loosing.
Calls against pot odds and plays bad hands out of position.
Someone who is out of their depth and can be picked off by the better players.

A donk is someone who just puts their money in with rubbish, often all in when only the blinds are in play.
Thus donking off his/her chips

I like fcumred definition as at one time or another we all have played like donks or fish depending on your pschological mood at the time.

You beat a fish because he plays the wrong hands. A donk beats you playing the wrong hands.

ive heard that a fish is someone who fishes for a lucky card...

ive heard a donk is just a bad player who plays 28o preflop and gets a flop of 288

A donk is the guy that beat you when you went all in with jacks and didn't think about anything else. A fish is the guy that everytime he loses with what he thinks is the nuts, calls the winner a donk.

if i win you are a fish
if you win you are a donkey

Exactly. There must be bad play involved on the fish/donkey's part tho... and good play on yours!

Fish ....... doesn't get lucky
Donk ...... is too lucky

I mostly aggree with the aggressive donk/passive fish line of thinking. So a donk sucks out while betting at you and a fish does so by just calling.

I'm usually refered to as a "F'ing donk". That's when I know I'm doing something right. ty

On thing I'm surprised noone has mentioned to the OP in regards to this

"NH", "NH Sir" "Well Played" or whatever is all there is to say. Never say anything else (where they can hear). Don't tap on the glass.

Joking asde, I define the two as follows.

A fish is someone who will play almost every hand no matter what cards they are holding, and will call in the hope that they hit. This isnt to be confused with draws. A fish will have an Ace and keep calling in the hope an Ace turns up.

A Fish does not understand the concept of laying a good hand down, and will not fold AK even faced with an all in raise on a board of 10, 10, 5. He will make the call in the hope an A or a K turns up.

Fish have no concept of pot odds, value betting or equity.

If they get a top pair or any pocket cards with an Ace they will raise all in. They likewise will call absolutely any raise if they have an Ace. Regardless of the kicker.

In short a fish plays his cards no matter what the circumstances. They are solely looking at their own two cards and nothing else.

A donkey however is slightly more clued up. He is aware of the hand structure, he will be more inclined to fold his cards, but at the same time he will take risks that really they shouldnt be taking, just for the hope of his hand hitting. A classic example is calling an all in raise with two suited rag cards ie 7 3. He knows about flush draws and he is solely aiming ( despite the long odds of it happening ) to hit the flush.

Its not that he doesnt understand the cards are bad cards to be playing, its that he sees the potential gains to be made as being of greater consequence than the losses he is more than likely going to incur, and the thing about Donks is they will always tell you when they hit, they are the ones laughing and giving it "hehehe" however, if they lose and you ask them why they made the call they always say "well I have to go so I just thought I'd go in with anything"

A fish is just plain naive and to be frank, stupid.

A donkey is a plain and simple idiot who will take risks that no serious poker player ever would take.

I've always thought of a fish as someone who regularly chase down his draw ie fishing for a hand and a donkey as someone who is an atc player and bets raises with anything

This is along the lines of how I think it is. I thought donkeys would follow a carrot and were the chasers without odds while fish may have a foundation in poker but are simply outplayed and pushed off hands by sharks. Tigers are to donkeys as sharks are to fish btw. Now figure that one out, Bob .