Shark

Also known as: Sharks

A strong, winning player who preys on weaker opponents — the opposite of a fish.

A shark is a strong, consistently winning player who hunts weaker opponents at the table. The term is the direct opposite of a fish: where the fish leaks chips, the shark collects them.

Sharks combine technical edge — solid ranges, accurate hand-reading, disciplined bankroll management — with predatory game selection. A serious grinder or winning reg is, by definition, a shark in the games they beat.

The practical lesson is table selection. Sharks don't just play well; they choose where to play, seeking soft tables full of fish and avoiding seats packed with other sharks (where edges vanish and only rake wins). The old line — if you can't spot the fish at the table, you're the fish — is really a warning about sharks: a recreational whale is a magnet that draws them in.