How to Spot the Fish at A Live Table In 10 Seconds

Usually to spot the fishies at a live game is simple all you have to do is sit down at a live table and look at the people sitting in the seats surrounding the table..

However one some rare instances some good players find their way to the live cash games or during a big MTT some cash game sharks like to tour circuit events looking to clean up the side games.

During these circumstances or in case it is a rare moment and some one good may be sitting down here is what you do to find the fish and make sure that their aren't any sharks swimming with them, it's simple and easy anyone can do it!

The secret you've been waiting for that can maximize your profits!

Just randomly say "That's positive EV" anyone who doesn't look at you like you are from a different planet is not the fishy you want to be going after everyone else - I hope you like sea food cause them are fish!

How do you spot the fish at the table?

I wish I could answer this...... Damn age restrictions.

They are usually the ones with gills and fins and struggle to breathe they normally carry a glass of water around with them

This reminds me of A cash game I was playing after I busted out of an event.
I had folded A flopped low set on a fourth street bet that brought on a lot of possibilities on the board,when I folded I showed the fold(I know I know).
The guy was in awe that I could even think about getting away with that hand and folding it.
I simply replied it was an easy fold due to the math possibilities and the percentage of you having made your hand etc.
He showed I had made the right move and flipped over A bigger flopped set that on the flop he could have got more value out of me from.
I had to change tables after A few more orbits because noone would bet into me or etc etc.

S3mper said:

Just randomly say "That's positive EV" anyone who doesn't look at you like you are from a different planet is not the fishy you want to be going after everyone else

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Dunno if that's foolproof - some live players will give you a weird look when you say that because "you must be one of those guddam internet genius players", not because they don't know what you meant

When the blind comes around, usually fish don't know to put in the blind before the dealer tells them to. Good for spotting tourists.

wsorbust said:

When the blind comes around, usually fish don't know to put in the blind before the dealer tells them to. Good for spotting tourists.

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This could be used to spot fish, however online players starting to play live may also forget to do this, doesn't necessarily mean they're fish.

usually when he shows a winning a hand and it was 63 off suit and he chased his gutshot hit it on the river and some schmuck pays him off. Happened to me at grovesnor casino's i had him down as tight at first cause he folded for 2 full rounds then he started playing every hand and chasing draws and i ended up paying his straight off when i had flopped 2 pairs with my kq and i bet 3 1/2 pot bets then he reraised me on the river and i called he showed 63 off rivered straight. i bought back into the tourney came back to win. And i had the last laugh though cause we both made the final table and he wanted to do a deal to get more money so did alot of people cause they were tired and everything. But i said no im here to win and busted the guy so he finished last

I believe one has to play at least an orbit or two before getting a sense who is decent enough fish at the table to exploit. At a live tournament this might take around 20 to 30 minutes so one has to be a keen observer taking in all the information one can collect. Online this might take 10 minutes - so you have to give yourself that bit of time.

Since you are talking about a live game scenario within 10 seconds i don't think one can spot a fish. You have a better chance of spotting a drunk player though but he/she might not necessarily be a fish.:bath:

At 10 seconds, you can spot a fish if he always ask for something like value of color chips, importance of the rotating button, asking whos turn to act, etc.

Another is how he hold his chips.

Lastly, mostly fish are talkative at the table.

I just look for the closest reflective surface. Works every time.

If somebody sits down at a cash table and doesn't wait for the blind, that should be a pretty good indicator.

Propane Goat said:

If somebody sits down at a cash table and doesn't wait for the blind, that should be a pretty good indicator.

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@ my Casino you don't always have to wait for the BB they just deal you in with no post.. I've only seen once where a player had to wait for the BB because a player complained..

They just won't let you in on the BTN or if you were playing and left and missed your BB or SB you have to post to be let back in

Here's the thing, if you can't spot the sucker within 5 minutes of sitting down. Then you are the sucker.

Get a mirror and stare right in it.

S3mper said:

@ my Casino you don't always have to wait for the BB they just deal you in with no post.. I've only seen once where a player had to wait for the BB because a player complained..

They just won't let you in on the BTN or if you were playing and left and missed your BB or SB you have to post to be let back in

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This is pretty common.

Plus in a lot of live games, waiting until your big blind when you sit down will have the whole table label you as a no-fun nit. That's fine if that's an image that works for you, but if you actually want action when you make a bet, not so much...

carry a mascara kit, take it out, look in the mirror, bingo

wsorbust said:

When the blind comes around, usually fish don't know to put in the blind before the dealer tells them to. Good for spotting tourists.

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i've used this to my advantage. i'll ask players what the blinds are a couple times. this is 1/2 whenever i visit vegas. after several orbits and winning hands, they soon realize i'm not just a tourist. well, i guess i'm technically a tourist, but not a fishy tourist.

OzExorcist said:

This is pretty common.

Plus in a lot of live games, waiting until your big blind when you sit down will have the whole table label you as a no-fun nit. That's fine if that's an image that works for you, but if you actually want action when you make a bet, not so much...

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absolutely not true at all. in vegas, this is very common at the 1/2 tables i play at. you have a few fish at the table (usually with a drink in their hand) where they'll play right away and start spewing chips. however, there are plenty of regulars as well where they understand to wait for the bb.

akaRobbo said:

This could be used to spot fish, however online players starting to play live may also forget to do this, doesn't necessarily mean they're fish.

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Sounds like me my first time playing live a couple weeks ago.

I was in awe about how bad they were. As for OPs statement, I would not do that because I try to hide my poker knowledge from the table. I don't know if this is necessary or matters but I try to not talk like I know whats going on.

IPlay said:

Sounds like me my first time playing live a couple weeks ago.

I was in awe about how bad they were. As for OPs statement, I would not do that because I try to hide my poker knowledge from the table. I don't know if this is necessary or matters but I try to not talk like I know whats going on.

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exactly, i'm the same way. if i were to ask the table about ev, the other players would probably take mental notes about, oh this guy at least knows something about poker. if anything, i want to play dumb. the only thing where it may get people's attention is when i say, "i'll wait for bb". i think it tips players off to the point of, again, oh this guy knows a little something to wait for bb. perhaps not, i don't know.

Hi
This kind of so call techins that have aloud some internet freaks to take the tables by storm there are lots of internet players that can handle them selfs a cash table as well as at tournament

goaldriversv said:

exactly, i'm the same way. if i were to ask the table about ev, the other players would probably take mental notes about, oh this guy at least knows something about poker. if anything, i want to play dumb. the only thing where it may get people's attention is when i say, "i'll wait for bb". i think it tips players off to the point of, again, oh this guy knows a little something to wait for bb. perhaps not, i don't know.

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YES! Lol, sometimes I actually think the people using the poker lingo at the table are fish themselves because a shark would hide their knowledge. Idk, I am probably just leveling myself now

IPlay said:

Sounds like me my first time playing live a couple weeks ago.

I was in awe about how bad they were. As for OPs statement, I would not do that because I try to hide my poker knowledge from the table. I don't know if this is necessary or matters but I try to not talk like I know whats going on.

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Im still yet to play live.

Were you the one who forgot to post, or was it your opponents?

Haha, ive always heard about how bad live players are, how bad were they?

My nearest casino is like 2 hours drive when im not at university... wanna try live very soon though. I feel a bit nervous about it, but I guess if I do forget to do things like post blinds or make mistakes with chips or whatever, then i'll look like a bad player.

How did your first live sesh go?

I like the answers on her lol. Usually I can spot the fish because he thinks there arent any sharks around.