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.