7 Poker Mistakes That Announce: ‘I’m a Fish!’

Nathan  «BlackRain79»  Williams
04 Sep 2025
Beginner
This material is for beginner players
Strategy

Professional poker player Nathan Williams breaks down seven telltale signs that identify weak recreational players at the poker table. From paying off obvious flush draws to limping premium hands, this guide helps you spot fishy play while teaching you crucial mistakes to avoid in your own game.

Master fish identification by recognizing common amateur mistakes like donk betting, playing trash hands, and never folding pocket aces.

Common Fish Tells Explained:

  • Paying off obvious draws when flush or straight completes on board is a classic recreational player mistake
  • Donk betting into the preflop aggressor with weak hands signals lack of strategic understanding
  • Reraising preflop with trap hands like KJ and QJ leads to dominated situations against premium holdings
  • Playing trash hands like A9, K8, or 97 is the number one reason players lose long-term at poker
  • Never folding pocket aces even when the board strongly indicates a straight or flush beats one pair
  • Limping big hands preflop instead of raising shows weakness and allows opponents to see cheap flops
  • Missing value bets on the river with strong hands like top pair costs significant profit over time
About the Author
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Nathan «BlackRain79» Williams Professional Poker Player & Author

Nathan is one of the most famous microstakes players in the world and the author of several popular poker books. He shares proven strategies and clear advice that help beginners and low-stakes players improve their results and grow their confidence at the tables.

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