Recognizing Fish: Screen Names

The online poker community can be divided into two groups: fish and regulars. Regulars are professionals or semi-professionals who take the game seriously and have achieved some level of competency. Fish are casual players gambling for fun. While some regulars are better than others, your win rate against a fish will usually be many times greater than what you could achieve against a decent regular. Thus, it is important to be able to spot the fish. One of the few pieces of information that's always available is the player's screen name. By the end of this post you will know how to use a player's screen name to instantly gauge his ability.

Name Feature: Numbers after name

Example: Mike43975209874592

Indicator: Fish

Reasoning: Not creative enough to come up with an original name, probably not creative enough to come up with a clever line.


Name Feature: Excessively macho name

Example: SkuLLcRushA666

Indicator: Fish, often overly aggressive

Reasoning: Thinks he has to prove something with his screen name.


Name Feature: Girl's name/feminine name

Example: LilJenny

Indicator: Inconclusive

Reasoning: Aware enough to pick a girl's name to try to influence opponents' behavior. Simplistic enough to think that might actually work. (Note: never actually a girl.)


Name Feature: French word/reference to France

Example: FrenchDawg

Indicator: Fish

Reasoning: The French suck at poker, and no one would pretend to be French.


Name Feature: Funny/ironic name

Example: OMGClayAiken, WiltOnTilt

Indicator: Strong player

Reasoning: Someone with the keen sense of irony required to craft a funny screen name is more likely to have the objectivity and outside-the-box thinking required to be a great poker player.


Name Feature: Real-sounding first and last name

Example: FredJohnson

Indicator: Inconclusive

Reasoning: Dull and to-the-point, but may have a certain amount of pride and work ethic.