If you play poker often you will have most likely heard the term poker shark. To most players, poker sharks are best avoided because these types of players have the skill, experience and knowledge to take down most players that cross their path.
So you might be asking yourself, how do I become a poker shark?
The answer is simple. Know your game. A poker shark is a player that knows the game of poker inside out. This includes hand rankings, pot odds, probabilities and percentages. Each of which they will calculate during each stage of the game. They are able to seek out and destroy the weaker, less experienced poker players also known as the fishes of poker. The poker shark is very good at reading poker tells and bluffs and know exactly how to adapt to their opponents tactics and playing styles. Overall the poker shark pays attention to not only their own game, but the game of every other player at the table.
The opposite of the poker shark is the poker fish. The poker fish is everything the poker shark is not. They are unsure of themselves in almost every situation and have little knowledge of the rules of poker. A fish has little confidence in their game and is unable to calculate pot odds. They have limited experience and have little idea about the strengths and weaknesses of the hands they play and the opponents they face. And probably most importantly. They are incapable of playing their strong hands correctly and lack the skill to squeeze money out of other players at the table.
How To Be A Shark In Poker
To be the shark you must possess the necessary skills mentioned earlier. You must know the rules of the game, the maths involved and the strategies needed to take advantage of every situation you may encounter when you play. Whether it is Texas Holdem, Omaha, Stud or any other game you choose. You must learn the rules of the game and commit them to memory.
In addition to knowing the rules, you must learn to assess your opponents and get to know their playing styles. Are they tight aggressive, loose passive or are they just plain maniacs. Learning everything you can about your opponents in the long run will give you a big advantage when it comes to making a play. For instance if you are playing against a tight player, chances are that if you bet they will more than likely fold due to their tight playing style. The same can be said for loose players. who will more than likely call your bet.
These are just a few of the simple tips that will help improve your game and get you well on your way becoming a poker shark. Just remember that there is always going to be someone out there that is better than you so it is important to continue to build you experience and knowledge of the game.
